Joseph is 15!

Here's Joseph today with Fishtail Mtn in the background.  For all of Joseph's life, he has loved the mountains.  So with great joy we trekked today day 4 on Joseph's 15th birthday.   We can't help as parents but remember what he went through last year at this time.  Wow, what a miracle and thankful we are...

Loved the jungle walk yesterday and today...

See the fireplace?  This was a lifesaver last night and this morning.  It's an old oil barrel with clay plastered around and piping going out of celing.  All the bedrooms are cold but this one room was warm!  It was around this fire that Raju shared his life story with us.  With laughter and tears we took in all he shared with us.

Having breakfast...

There are long trains of donkeys that we have to watch out for as we share the narrow mountain path.  They carry rice, supplies and people up and down the village path.  It's the only way supplies can go to and from these villages.  

See this local Nepali woman?  We are trekking for leisure but she has a basket soon to fill up of produce to take from one place to another.    It's amazing how hard these people work just to live.

Local Nepali lunch time!

What an adventure!

Day started at 5 am...12 hours later

Wow boot camp in the Himalayas...unreal diversity in terrain today.  First we saw the Annapurna mtns from poonhill-amazing!  Here's the group that got up early at 5 am for this adventure...

Here's what we conquered today...

Here's the start of the terrifying ice slide.  Yesterday 2 foreigners broke their legs.  I totally understand why.  There were times in this 2-3 hour period when I had no idea how we would make it through this. As I looked at the nightmare of ice that was our path and wondered how we would manage, local Nepali guides would be there to help us along with our dear friend Raju and our porter Harley.  

The camera came out again when the path was stable...

A stop for lunch after hours of stress and adrenaline rush.  I gotta say I didn't see ANY folks our age out there nor did I see ANY teens or kids.  Kinda tells ya something but I feel like I guess we can do anything if we did this!  

Beautiful mountain falls...

Again breath- taking beauty all around us...

Mikes pack is enormous and without a porter he has had to tackle crazy conditions but he's still smiling here!

Mike and Adam resting when possible...

Then a walk through the jungle...

See what creature is in the tree?  There were lots of them...

And then we saw wild monkeys- awesome!

On top of the world!

Wow here we are close to Poon hill.  Can't believe this family can do this with joy.  There are moments when we ask "how much longer?", but more often than not, we are engaging in conversation, song.  At the guest houses, we all collapse and warm up by the fire.  For myself it's amazing to actually exercise ALL day surrounded by incredible majestic mountains and waterfalls.   As we talk with the locals and pass through trekking villages, we get a new appreciation for all we have and at the same time we gain insight on what these folks have.  

Trekking!

Amazing view, unreal work out and a determined team makes for a wonderful week.  Here we are 1/2 way through our 4 day trek.  I gotta say I'm super proud of the youngest member-Samuel! 

It's been great to stop and visit with some local people in the villages.  Raju introduced us to the pastor of victory church.  We were able to hear his story and pray with him. 

For God alone my soul waits in silence,

for my hope is from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken. Ps 62:5,6

We tackled A LOT of stairs today but you can see how worth it, it's been!  

Ktm...daily life and Vineyard community

Joseph has to play trumpet to get a credit for school.  Others around really enjoyed his practice today!  Isn't this a sweet picture?  This wonderful Nepali man does all the carpentry work at the church.  It was so sweet when he literally dropped everything to come hear Joseph...honestly the look in his eyes says it all.

Washing clothes.  Sakiyanji  and Raju teaching Sarah how!  These people are so creative.  While we use machines in the western world, they use their feet!  Life isn't easy for people in Nepal but the joy they have can sure speak to us.

The WCV gang! (Missing emielia and Elisa).  Sarah is very sick here and you can see it on her face.  

The plan is to leave tomorrow am to head to Pokora with Raju leading us. We will then trek for 4 days in the Annapurna Mtn range.  After that we look forward to a trip to Ghorka.   Sarah was sick last night.  We have 2 kids who have not had this sickness; Mikayla  and Samuel.  Please pray they would not get this especially as we are about to travel through some narrow mountain roads and head on a 4 day trek!

Today's service at the Ktm vineyard!

Here's Pooja and her baby along with another woman from Champi.  Pooja would love a really strong baby carrier and baby clothes for her baby girl.   The baby carrier (backpack/front pack carrier- not a car seat)  would allow Pooja to travel from Champi to Ktm with baby snuggled close.  WCV ers does anyone have an extra or one they are done with?  As well Pooja's daughter (15 yrs) just had a baby girl so any extra supplies can go to Jasmina's baby.  Let me know if you have any of these items and we can figure out a way to get them here.

Ktm vineyard community...

More soon from Pokorha...

Champi

We went up to Champi today just outside of Ktm.  We visited and prayed with Uttav and Puja.  Here are some pics...

They would love prayer for 

~land 

~a church plant 

~that many Hindu families would come to know the Lord

~also pray for their daughter Jasmina 15 yrs who just had a baby.  

Kids enjoyed the view... Wow clean air, goats and chickens and wonderful warm weather.  

We look forward to visiting with this church again during our stay here.  These people are passionate for God's love to pour out on all the people here.  

Goats..

Mikayla with Uncle Noel and Uncle Ben

Sarah my artist who wants to sketch and paint all of these memories.  

Mike is beginning to feel better.  He's been in bed for 2 days.  Thanks for your continued prayer for health for the rest of us.  We look forward to what tomorrow holds.

Visit to temples today in Kathmandu

Sickness is hitting us one by one and today it hit Mike.  Joseph and I had been out for 2 days with this so finally today we were feeling better and we needed to explore.  So we left Mike with a bucket and sprite and went out to experience a different side of Ktm...

First we went to swayambhu or the monkey temple...

Then we went to Boudhanath Stupa a famous site for Buddist and Hindu worshippers.  We read all the history of this place as we had lunch on a roof-top cafe.  

We have a joke going on among the family wondering who will break the next cup.  We've all taken turns in Thailand and today Joseph broke a cup in Ktm.  (These are all accidental breaks but it's getting kinda funny so here's a pic)

That was a 200 rupee mistake!

Here's the guilty one!

Mikayla is now in charge of hiring our taxis.  She gets the best price and seems to have the knack for this!

As I write this Mike is still sick in bed.  We'd love prayer that this will be the end as three of us have been out of commission for a couple days.  Connection at the church is going great and plans are underway for us to travel to a few villages soon!  

Lots of love from the Labuns