Sara and the girls chewing on sugar cane
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
christmas in nepal...
some photos of the christmas program which ran for 4 hours!!!!! then had a nepali feast for 400 people. many people came from mountain villages to be a part of the festivities.
i was standing in line for food when i was embraced by a woman from behind...and i mean embraced!!! she held me uncomfortably close. i thought at first...how nice...but then that quickly turned to what the...??? then i discovered that as soon as you left room - and i mean i had given only 2 inches since emielia's head was level with the man's butt just in front of us - you would lose your place in the line. i watched in irration as 4 people butted in front of emielia and she ended up crying because her feet got squashed. is it good to get angry at poor starving people? not sure but i was. i was surprised by the level of heated frenzy that happened when food was introduced. people pushing...people yelling...starving people needing nourishment. my angry quickly subsided when i realized this might be the first meal they have had in days. desperation runs rampant here...not sure i want to get in the way...not sure what i can do.
quick updates...
so many people have been wondering about our lack of communication so i will try to bring you up to speed.
we have moved to a new location for the month of january...housesitting...the problem is no internet service so we have to wait until we come to the church to get online. the problem everywhere is lack of water therefore minimal electricity. the power outages are up to 12 hours per day. in february it will be up to 16 hours.
it feels as if the church activity is in sleep mode - the leaders take the month of january off. no housegroups, no visitation, no meetings just church on saturday. i wonder if the inactivity has made us a little lazy :)
our little house feels busy with the kids, and school work. we have been introduced to a beautiful young woman named sara who comes to help everyday. we have been adopted into her family...been invited to birthday parties, baby dedication, suppers. she is the eldest of 4 children, her dad died when she was a young girl, her mom remarried and her step father treated her horribly. her mother is now widowed again and suffers from mental health issues. sara's one sister just had a baby out of wedlock, another sister and a younger brother are home for the holidays from the hostel they live in. sara works to support the whole family. this family is from the lowest caste...which means people will not touch them, will not eat the same food with them and if she touches something it is deemed unholy. it is shocking at how mean people are. she is the most caring and compassionate girl i have met. her dream is to have an orphanage for those children no wanted by anyone. she is our teacher - she teaches us nepali and how to cook. i teach her english and how to bake cookies and cake. it has been fun!!!!
today i went to visit a place that rescues nepali girls that have been sold or kidnapped into the sex trade. many of these girls have contracted HIV and are dying.
so many sad stories and so much need here. i feel almost so overwhelmed that i cannot process the pain - i want to run to my little "home" and bake. talk about denial hey??
we have moved to a new location for the month of january...housesitting...the problem is no internet service so we have to wait until we come to the church to get online. the problem everywhere is lack of water therefore minimal electricity. the power outages are up to 12 hours per day. in february it will be up to 16 hours.
it feels as if the church activity is in sleep mode - the leaders take the month of january off. no housegroups, no visitation, no meetings just church on saturday. i wonder if the inactivity has made us a little lazy :)
our little house feels busy with the kids, and school work. we have been introduced to a beautiful young woman named sara who comes to help everyday. we have been adopted into her family...been invited to birthday parties, baby dedication, suppers. she is the eldest of 4 children, her dad died when she was a young girl, her mom remarried and her step father treated her horribly. her mother is now widowed again and suffers from mental health issues. sara's one sister just had a baby out of wedlock, another sister and a younger brother are home for the holidays from the hostel they live in. sara works to support the whole family. this family is from the lowest caste...which means people will not touch them, will not eat the same food with them and if she touches something it is deemed unholy. it is shocking at how mean people are. she is the most caring and compassionate girl i have met. her dream is to have an orphanage for those children no wanted by anyone. she is our teacher - she teaches us nepali and how to cook. i teach her english and how to bake cookies and cake. it has been fun!!!!
today i went to visit a place that rescues nepali girls that have been sold or kidnapped into the sex trade. many of these girls have contracted HIV and are dying.
so many sad stories and so much need here. i feel almost so overwhelmed that i cannot process the pain - i want to run to my little "home" and bake. talk about denial hey??
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
it's christmas time in the city...
hard to believe but it is christmas eve here...like at home i am not quite done my shopping but for other reasons - it just doesn't feel like christmas here.
we have moved to a flat for 6 weeks - housesitting...feels like a palace because it has hot water and heaters. sucks because we have no internet access but i will not complain!!!!!
the power is going off more frequently here - it is now up to 10 hours a day and they are threatening up to 18 hours. the paper says if that happens then there will be a revolt and it could be dangerous here.
the church is a flurry of activity as they are getting ready for the big christmas feed tomorrow and program. emielia is practicing her dance, ava is counting ribbons and anya is running around with the boys.
rod and i are taking language lessons. you should see the people's faces when we ask them questions in nepali - it is a mixture of admiration and amusement. it draws laughter but they keep encouraging us.
i went to a small village on monday - on a mountain!!!! we sat on a rooftop and sang christmas songs and then they treated us to an amazing feast. on the way home urmilla told me there is a tiger that lives in the forest. i said oh great. she cut thru the forest and started to whistle really loud - she stopped and turned to me and smiled...it's for the tiger she said. needless to say i joined in the song. i was relieved to be on the bus back home.
well, i must go and shop.
merry christmas to all
and to all a goodnight.
we have moved to a flat for 6 weeks - housesitting...feels like a palace because it has hot water and heaters. sucks because we have no internet access but i will not complain!!!!!
the power is going off more frequently here - it is now up to 10 hours a day and they are threatening up to 18 hours. the paper says if that happens then there will be a revolt and it could be dangerous here.
the church is a flurry of activity as they are getting ready for the big christmas feed tomorrow and program. emielia is practicing her dance, ava is counting ribbons and anya is running around with the boys.
rod and i are taking language lessons. you should see the people's faces when we ask them questions in nepali - it is a mixture of admiration and amusement. it draws laughter but they keep encouraging us.
i went to a small village on monday - on a mountain!!!! we sat on a rooftop and sang christmas songs and then they treated us to an amazing feast. on the way home urmilla told me there is a tiger that lives in the forest. i said oh great. she cut thru the forest and started to whistle really loud - she stopped and turned to me and smiled...it's for the tiger she said. needless to say i joined in the song. i was relieved to be on the bus back home.
well, i must go and shop.
merry christmas to all
and to all a goodnight.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Why?
God ...why have you given our family so much wealth compared to the majority in the world. I see so much poverty all around me and I long for them to have more......clean water, lots of good food, medicine, work which does not cripple their bodies, warm clothes and a house. It seems like they're trapped in this life of poverty and sickness. Many can't afford to buy bottled water, a box of Kraft dinner or medicine for their kids and some lay at night on the streets out in the cold. God...I wish I could take their poverty away. Was I born "lucky"? Was I dealt a good hand? I know the cookie cutter answers that I have used so many times like "they are so rich in other ways" or "God likes to give gifts to me - His child".....I don't dispute the truth of these statements Lord, but would I be willing to trade places wth these people ...I now know why so many people are flocking to the Maoist party....they are poor and don't want to be poor any more. God, these man made solutions don't seem to be working. At times I feel so guilty just having more than others, and maybe justifiably so ......What do you want us to do?....the starving are no longer on my TV screen where I can change the channel to the Weather Network or to my favorite fishing show.....These people are my neighbors....they are becoming my friends. Should my geographical location matter? Do you want me to be like St. Francis of Assisi or Mother Theresa who gave up their wealth to live with the poor?...Am I "entitled" to my wealth because "I am Canadian!"?..... Does the money in my bank account really belong to me? Sometimes I have such a tight grip on my wallet.
The responsibilty for these people is ever increasing. My love for these people is growing more and more. I am sorry for all the times I spent cash on things just to accumulate more or to help me pass the time away. I am sorry for using your name in vane saying that those things were gifts from You when they were really gifts to myself...Help me Lord to be more generous to others and remove this selfishness from my blood. I am sorry for the times I gave the poor my crumbs. Thank you for your forgiveness. Let me steward the money that you have put in my trust that is pleasing to You. I need so much wisdom.
Lord, please heal the sick, bring them some yummy food and clean water... or maybe even apple juice, give them really warm clothes and a place to sleep without a leaky roof. And I pray that they would know that You reallylove them and that You think that they are important. Thank you for listening.
Love, RJ
The responsibilty for these people is ever increasing. My love for these people is growing more and more. I am sorry for all the times I spent cash on things just to accumulate more or to help me pass the time away. I am sorry for using your name in vane saying that those things were gifts from You when they were really gifts to myself...Help me Lord to be more generous to others and remove this selfishness from my blood. I am sorry for the times I gave the poor my crumbs. Thank you for your forgiveness. Let me steward the money that you have put in my trust that is pleasing to You. I need so much wisdom.
Lord, please heal the sick, bring them some yummy food and clean water... or maybe even apple juice, give them really warm clothes and a place to sleep without a leaky roof. And I pray that they would know that You reallylove them and that You think that they are important. Thank you for listening.
Love, RJ
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
i look at the calendar...see the date december 10 but yet can't quite grasp it. wherever i look it denies the existence of winter for a good ole saskatchewan girl. no snow, no frostbite, no near death gusts of wind....just banana trees and flowers and a slight nip in the morning air. yet i see people in scarves, winter jackets, hats, blankets all trying to keep the chill at bay. my children still want to wear short sleeves with no jackets and shorts.
when i go out there is no christmas decorations or music or comments on what will you be doing for the season - i live in a hindu country. people are excited for the holiday...there is a 6 week break from school for the festivals but no mention of jesus in a manger.
something is missing.
i hear the early morning bells ring and this strange sounding horn but it all sounds so empty and hollow. i have been told stories of the young people breaking away from the hindu faith because they believe there must be so much more - am i really bound by a caste system? can i not extend a hand to someone "beneath" me? do i have to follow in my parents occupation or could i do something more? what happens after i die?
searching...
hoping...
rebelling...
there have been a lot of unrest in kathmandu lately - youth angry with the treatment of the people, many youth killed because of clashes or questionable ties with extremist groups, many questions asked but no answers.
we have seen bans, road closures, burning of tires in protest, demonstrations in the streets, fighting. in the height of the anger it is advised that you not go out, stay home where it is safe.
sadness...
despair...
anger...
i wonder what will become of this crowded country as it tries to find its way...it's people cry for democracy. it finally has it but no change has come or maybe change has begun but it is too slow for the people here.
i look at canadian politics and hope they never ask for advice from us!!!!!
when i go out there is no christmas decorations or music or comments on what will you be doing for the season - i live in a hindu country. people are excited for the holiday...there is a 6 week break from school for the festivals but no mention of jesus in a manger.
something is missing.
i hear the early morning bells ring and this strange sounding horn but it all sounds so empty and hollow. i have been told stories of the young people breaking away from the hindu faith because they believe there must be so much more - am i really bound by a caste system? can i not extend a hand to someone "beneath" me? do i have to follow in my parents occupation or could i do something more? what happens after i die?
searching...
hoping...
rebelling...
there have been a lot of unrest in kathmandu lately - youth angry with the treatment of the people, many youth killed because of clashes or questionable ties with extremist groups, many questions asked but no answers.
we have seen bans, road closures, burning of tires in protest, demonstrations in the streets, fighting. in the height of the anger it is advised that you not go out, stay home where it is safe.
sadness...
despair...
anger...
i wonder what will become of this crowded country as it tries to find its way...it's people cry for democracy. it finally has it but no change has come or maybe change has begun but it is too slow for the people here.
i look at canadian politics and hope they never ask for advice from us!!!!!
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