# Verdant Hills

> The mountains of Nagaland during the golden hour
- **Published**: 2022-12-10
- **URL**: https://rikiphukon.com/blog/verdant-hills

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## Prologue

I recently went on a trip to Nagaland. It was such an incredible experience,
and I'm still reeling from all the beauty and wonder I saw there.

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## Merangkong Village

The road that led to it was absolutely breathtaking--winding and narrow, it clung
to the side of the mountain and offered stunning views of the surrounding
landscape.

The forests were dense and verdant, and the peaks of the mountains rose up like
jagged teeth on the horizon. It was a truly beautiful and exhilarating
experience, and I'll never forget it.

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<figcaption>Golden hour at the cliff.</figcaption>

One of the highlights of the trip was the ascent to Merangkong village, where I
found a bust of Godhula beside the Merangkong village church.

### Godhula Brown

**Godhula Brown** was an Assamese boy who grew up to be a missionary and played
an important role in spreading Christianity in the Naga hills. Brown was born
Gendhela Barua and was known as "babu" among the Nagas.

<Image width={600} height={400} src="/blog/verdant-hills/image.png" />

He is an important figure in the spread of Christianity in the Naga hills and
belonged to the Ahom clan. He was the first missionary to set foot there
in 1871. He was known for his unruly behavior and was even expelled from school
for disciplinary reasons.

Later, he joined the British Army and learned English. He was converted and
baptized in the Sivasagar church in 1860 and began working with William Ward as
an evangelist and teacher. He married Ward's student, Miss Lucy.

### stone

<Image width={600} height={400} src="/blog/verdant-hills/stone.webp" />

He and Dr. Clark (a missionary who, along with his wife, sailed from Boston to
India) made the journey to Molungkimong, where they were welcomed with open arms
and established the first church in the area. This was the beginning of
Christianity in Nagaland, and it paved the way for the spread of the Gospel
throughout the region.

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<figcaption>We made a pit stop in Merangkong Village.</figcaption>
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