Saturday 31 January 2015

Ktm daily rhythms and a walk...

Kids are in a wonderful rhythm of school work for a few hours each morning.  Electricity and water are off at church so we are stationed at a cafe each day for a few hours. It's a must for Mike's work as well as necessary access kids need for Internet for school work. 


Ktm is extremely dusty and polluted especially at this dry time of year.  I don't remember this affecting me 18 years ago.  But the deep chest couph that greets me each morning reminds me that there's an impact.  

Despite the challenges of the living conditions, the Nepali people astound us with their cheerful disposition and graciousness towards us.  The other day I took Mikayla to Raju's friend the dentist for an appointment.  He greeted us at the door with tea.  After the appointment the tea came out again.  We were amazed.  The culture here operates on relationships not on the clock!  We talked at length of life for the folks in Nepal.  I asked him how he manages when the temperature drops at night.  He responded by saying that's when his family goes to bed.  They escape the cold by going to bed!  (Even the professionals) 

Walking the streets...


Always action on a walk..traffic, monkeys, dogs and cows...




At one point a few of us try to escape the pollution if only briefly...


So blessed to be on this adventure with this guy...





Thursday 29 January 2015

Back in KTM

Ok time for these kids to hit the books.  They have a lot of homework!  Mike's joining the crew cleaning at church while I supervise these cuties...

Having kids close in age has it's benefits.  Joseph teaching Sarah how to multilply decimals.  


Catching up on Grade 11 work...


Samuel taking a "recess"..,

My work station.  Preparing for Chompi tomorrow...



Tuesday 27 January 2015

A day on the Lake...

Phewa Lake in Pokorha is beautiful!  We rented 2 boats for the day and took advantage of the calm beauty;  a stark contrast to city life in Nepal.  We trekked a couple hours up and down to see the Stuppa (Hindu temple) and the rest of the day paddled around the lake.  
It's 8 pm and we are all back in our hotel exhausted and ready for bed.  







By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains.... Psalm 65:5,6



Monday 26 January 2015

Left Ghorka...in Pokhara for a 3 day reprieve


Here's Raju's family;  his parents and brother & sister in law and kids.  Raju's brother Arjun left a really good job in Malaysia to come look after his parents in the village.  This way Raju's parents can live life how they enjoy it- in the village.  Arjun has plans to own many goats possibly 100 to raise and sell as a business.  Right now he has 25.  These wonderful people hosted us in their village home for the weekend.  We really enjoyed their hospitality!






The beautiful trek out of Ghorka...


Coming from the prairies we could stare at the Mtn range forever...



We promised Joseph an enchilada for his birthday and finally we could make our promise come true...


Evening celebration... (We know it's days past the actual b day but during the trek we didn't have his birthday dessert!). So here's the gang...we have been so blessed to have Adam join us during these 2 weeks!


A day out in Pokorha seeing David's falls, cave and a Tiebetan refugee camp...



One thing you don't see out here are "foreigner families."  We totally stick out as it's usually 7 of us walking around with our friend Adam.  Tonight a woman approached us and said "Way to go for travelling with your kids."  It's a real gift and a really unique time we are savouring.  

Tiebetan refugee camp where they live and make many items to sell.  It was so fun to make purchases and know that we were supporting them- beautiful women!
Here is one woman making a carpet;  one square takes 4 days...



Tomorrow we will get a boat and row on the lake.  This is another treat to do in this landlocked country.  It's a great couple days for the kids to enjoy showers, warmth and space before we launch into life back in ktm.  We will be ready in 2 days to head back and live and serve in the church in different ways especially as their work will start up first wk of feb.
























Saturday 24 January 2015

Day 2 in Ghorka

Pastor Paul and Sumitra.  We were able to hear from them in regards to their needs and the needs of their church and village.  
Here are some prayer needs:
- pray for funds to come in monthly for their two boys to go to a better school.  Paul and Sumitra have sacrificed good jobs and opportunity in the city to come pastor the Vineyard church in Ghorka.  It doesn't cost much to live on the village as they farm their own food.  However without any cash, they are unable at this point to send their two boys to a good school.

- resistance among those in the village to the church.  If this was not Paul's home village, some folks would beat him for his work in the church.  But as Paul is from Ghorka they have not hurt him.  Pray for protection and provision for Paul, Sumitra and their boys.  Pray that the folks who are resistant would have hardened hearts softened.  


The Ghorka vineyard 

Mike shared and began asking what questions the folks here would like answered.  It was a great beginning to hear from our Nepali friends.  Mike then shared from 1 jn 1:5...walking in the light.


At Raju's family home there's never a dull moment with all the animals.  So much fun.  We all want a pet goat now! 



We left Samuel for 45 min and came back to see he had made about 15 new friends!  



The beautiful river.  Guess what?  We found the weather quite warm today so we jumped in the crystal clear crispy cold water!  What a treat to do this in Nepal.  Not something that happens in the city that's for sure.



Samuel is in his second month of having local people notice him and find him adorable.  He's not used to this! No one even imagines that our tall teenagers are still kids (esp as they tower over the Nepali adults) so Samuel gets a lot of attention.  


And guess what else?  While we were swimming, Raju caught our dinner!




Soccer game with the Canadians and Nepali kids!


How can we leave such beauty?  


God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.  1 Jn 1: 5















Ghorka village

Love this village.  Here we are on the way...


The hike up is nothing compared to the 4 day trek we just did...

Hospitality here is off the charts.  Tea is served as soon as we land...



Love the animals here!  Here's the Buffalo ...




Goats...




Fresh grapefruit off their grapefruit trees!


And fresh peas.  What a treat!

It costs almost nothing for these folks to live in the village as they grow everything they need.  When a goat is 2 years old they sell it for meat for $200.00.  So every two years there can be a chance to earn some cash if they own a goat.  Many villagers just farm for themselves here.  Some farm to sell in Ghorka or in Ktm.