Nempi Vaiphei | By Hand and by Heart: A Nurse’s Journey through Scripture

 A 59-year-old woman from Manipur has meticulously handwritten the entire Bible -- a testament to her hard work and sincerity.

SISTER Nempi Vaiphei, a mother of two sons and two daughters and the wife of a hospital mechanic, has accomplished a remarkable feat -- writing down every scripture of the Holy Bible by hand.

According to the King James Bible, the Old Testament (Genesis to Malachi) comprises 39 books, 929 chapters, and 23,145 verses, while the New Testament (Matthew to Revelation) consists of 27 books, 260 chapters, and 7,957 verses. In total, 66 books, 1,189 chapters, and 31,102 verses. Sister Nempi set out with a dream to transcribe every single one of them in her own handwriting.

Balancing her household responsibilities and her duties as a nurse, she managed to make time for this arduous task. She began her writing journey on February 26, 2013. “As a woman, I have faced many hardships, sadness, and loneliness. I realized that there is no lasting peace in life, especially after losing my beloved parents,” she shared with our correspondent.

Her father, Thangkam, was a church elder in Thingchom village, located about three kilometres from Lamka town in Churachandpur, Manipur. He passed away in 1994, and her mother, Vungzathang, followed in 2010. The grief of their loss weighed heavily on her. “There is no absolute happiness in life. I wanted to escape from my sorrow,” she whispered. To overcome these negative thoughts, she turned to writing the Bible --  a goal that became her solace and mission.

At the outset, she feared she might not complete the enormous task. However, this fear became a motivating force that pushed her to write until the last word was penned. As a mother, she carried many responsibilities from morning till night, yet she carved out time to write. Her daily routine began early -- waking up, washing, preparing breakfast, and cooking for her family. By 10:00 AM, she had to be at the hospital, but she always set aside 60 minutes before leaving for work to write scripture.

Once at the hospital, her attention shifted entirely to nursing. Patients, both young and old, depended on her with unwavering trust, considering her a guardian angel in their suffering. Some required urgent medical attention, and many days, she was unable to leave work on time due to the overwhelming number of patients who needed her care. Often, she returned home as late as 7:00 PM or beyond.

Despite her long hours, she remained committed to her mission. After returning home, she changed her clothes, took a bath, had dinner, and completed some household chores before finally sitting down to write. “I could barely manage one to two hours at night. Time was fleeting, like a whirlwind,” she recalled.

From the very beginning, she used only blue and black ballpoint pens. There were challenges along the way -- one of the worst was an accident that left her right hand fractured. It was the same hand she used to write. Despite the injury, she refused to give up. She attempted to hold the pen with her bandaged hand, but at first, it wouldn’t move. Undeterred, she kept trying, even amid scoldings from family members. Eventually, she regained control of the pen and never looked back. Then, one day, she realized something incredible -- her wounded hand had healed without her even noticing. “It was a miracle,” she beamed.

Born in 1955, Nempi completed her Class X from Molnom Government High School, Churachandpur, in 1971. The following year, she pursued a four-year nursing course at RIMS, Imphal (formerly RMC). A brilliant student, she joined Churachandpur District Hospital, Lamka as a staff nurse on March 6, 1978. She now serves as the sister-in-charge of the Surgical Ward and is expected to retire next March.

Her husband is equally hardworking, running a motor workshop in their residential area in Hill Town, the heart of Lamka. When our correspondent visited her home along with two gentlemen, Khum Vaiphei and Hauboi Vaiphei, she was already at the hospital. They rushed to see her, and despite her busy schedule, she greeted them with a warm smile. A brief conversation took place in her room, filled with the sounds of patients around her. She revealed that her handwritten Bible had been preserved in Hill Town’s Mizoram Presbyterian Church.

Upon visiting the church, the caretaker opened an almirah containing ten thick register books -- her labour of love. The Old Testament spanned 3,098 pages, while the New Testament covered 897 pages. Every word was neatly and accurately written, her handwriting captivating all who saw it. On October 6, 2013, after seven months and ten days, Sister Nempi completed her extraordinary mission -- a testament to faith, perseverance, and dedication.

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal
Special Correspondent, New Delhi
The Mizoram Post | Manipur Chronicle | Zogam Today

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