A day of celebration at a Nepali school

What a great day!  (Apart from still being sick!). The youth who live at the church had "parent day" at their school.  We loved it!  We had no idea going in that it would be 7 hours and a full out celebration.  In North America this kind of event would be an hour or two but here it's an all day show full of culture, awards and tea.  Wow do these people know how to be together!

Benita getting an award...

Myanmar...

Nymbutto

These youth who live at the church are so wonderful.  They work so hard with their school work and everyday they cook and clean and help with the younger kids at the church.  It was a blessing to be able to celebrate with them during their parent day.  

Samuel is 11 years old today!

Samuel was really gracious about letting us begin our work project today which is painting the interior of the church.  

We started the day painting and went for a good 5 hours...

So much fun working together.  After the work we took Samuel to the civic mall to watch a 12 D movie and play laser tag.  Lots of fun ...

Dessert night on the way home!

Happy 11th birthday to our youngest member of the family who fills our life and family with so much joy.  We love you Samuel!

A beautiful day with the poorest folks I've met..

Urmilla who works at the Ktm Vineyard has established some meaningful relationships with the Nepali people who make their homes out of scraps and garbage down at the riverbed.  We were able to reap the benefits of her work as the folks welcomed us into their homes and lives.  Here are the pics...

Making and preparing packages of rice,oil and salt...

We arrived at one home and the woman laid this mat out for us to sit.  Guess what it's made of?  Recycled garbage from candy wraps! 

This couple was so thankful for Suhail and team coming last year!

Moments our kids will not forget...

We asked folks how we could pray for them.  Their requests were for physical healing, the country of Nepal and their children.  Not one person requested a change in living conditions.  

Here is one home...

We prayed for these two women in the centre and they were healed of their physical pain!  

This Nepali woman (beige scarf around her head) has been blind since birth.  Her husband (in the village right now) is also blind.  She lives alone for another month until he comes back.  We are praying protection for them both.  Here we are in her crammed little space she invited us into.  This is her home and we are honoured to be invited in ...

The Riverbed in Kathmandu...

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...

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...

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

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.