The Moderator, Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank Sellar, is currently in Nepal. In his first blog from Kathmandu, he talks about the assault on his senses as he is welcomed to the Himalayan nation. He also reflects, not only on the 2015 earthquake, but the work that has been done to rebuild buildings and lives – and how people's lives have been touched ‘through the generosity of strangers - first touched by the gentle hand of the Saviour

It's a funny thing. Senses. Most of the time you forget all about them and then, bam! All of a sudden, assault: Sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. That's what its like arriving in Kathmandu.

The sight of people, busy people, jostling for their luggage. Men returning from the Middle East with flat screen TVs. Frenetic people desperate to get home through the traffic, by motor bike, overflowing taxis and weaving in and out cars.

Sound. Oh my! The sound of horns, ‘toot-toot’, ‘honk honkkk’, motor bikes revving, women calling - and did I mention the noise of the left handside of the road traffic? (Or is it right hand drive as well?) And roosters. Early morning raucous ‘doodle doos’.

Smells, big smells, not quiet, gentle whiffs, but large, spicy, dusty, smoggy smells.

Touch. Yes, bumping into you, touch - and ought I wash my hands touch? And Taste. Bananas straight off the palms, bananas handed that taste like they should. Daal, lentil soup, rice. The taste of Nepal.

What must it have been like on 25th April 2015? That Saturday and the sight of buildings shaking, walls collapsing, houses, schools and hospitals bursting their stitches. The sound of an out of control train rushing, arriving, departing with its devastation before noisily departing. Silence, shouting, screaming, "Hide", "No, escape!" " Get under a table," "No! run outside into the open!" Conflicting messages, the sound of earthquake.

Smells. Devastating, desperate smells of pain, of crushing, of large smells looming even larger.

And touch, "Where is she? " "Is he still breathing?" "Are they beside me?"

Taste. The dry, dusty taste of dying, of death.

And now I start to see. People serving. Agencies caring, churches in other parts of the world practically sharing and projects making a difference in Jesus's name. The fragrant smell of nard. Pure nard.

The sound of earthshaking-proofed houses being built, hospitals mended and schools educated in the way of solid construction, children laughing and reciting their five times tables and minding their s'es and 't's'.

The sweet scent of marigolds in generous welcome. People's lives touched through the generosity of strangers - first touched by the gentle hand of the Saviour. A taste of God at work.

I'm only just beginning to make sense of it all.

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You can read more about Dr. Sellar's overseas visit to Nepal here. You can also follow his travels on Twitter at @pcimoderator hashtag #pcioverseastour