We've spent the last two weeks working on entering a new wheelchair project into CHaS, that's the Church's computer system we use when we submit new projects, and visiting with the STS, short term specialist for clean water, and traveling around Kathmandu looking at various water projects. We're preparing to submit our Project Agreement with the government so we've been meeting to discuss next year's projects for the government and budgets for the Church. It's a very interesting process that Humanitarian missionaries have to navigate, make the government happy, spend the Church's monies wisely and help those in need.
On Saturday, April 6, after Church, the whole branch along with about 100 neighbors were invited to Sister Ellen's orphanage for a darling program. Sister Ellen is a Church member who runs an orphanage here in Nepal for about 60 children, from very small to around 20 years of age. She is from Germany and one of several Church members from around the world that fund an orphanage in Nepal. Sister Odavic from Switzerland has an orphanage and Sister Cecil from Paris also has an orphanage here. You can look at the I'm a Mormon Youtube and see Sister Cecil's profile. She is a fashion designer, has designed for Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Diana, and many other famous names.
I have met so many wonderful people here in Nepal that just come here to help those that are less fortunate, the poor, the down trodden. I am so amazed at not only their generosity but a desire to become more Christ-like and serve our brothers and sisters. It is truly amazing to me. I feel so blessed to know these women.
This picture is a little blurry because he was rockin' out. He also has quite a tale to tell. He had only been in the orphanage for a few days. His mother had died and his father didn't want him and his brothers and sister anymore and so he left them all but one little four year old at the orphanage. Sister Ellen said they did not know where the four year old was but feared she may have been sold. They are trying to find her. But this little guy had not a care in the world and was so happy. I'm glad that he now has a place where he will get to go to school and be loved.
You had to be here to see how cute this program was. After they all performed their songs and dances, the put on a production of "The Lion King" now that was pretty cute and it was all in English.
Karen and Jim Greting from California, they are the water specialists for the Church in the Asia area. We all went to Shangrala for dinner and literally felt like we were in Shangrala this night.
On Saturday, April 6, after Church, the whole branch along with about 100 neighbors were invited to Sister Ellen's orphanage for a darling program. Sister Ellen is a Church member who runs an orphanage here in Nepal for about 60 children, from very small to around 20 years of age. She is from Germany and one of several Church members from around the world that fund an orphanage in Nepal. Sister Odavic from Switzerland has an orphanage and Sister Cecil from Paris also has an orphanage here. You can look at the I'm a Mormon Youtube and see Sister Cecil's profile. She is a fashion designer, has designed for Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Diana, and many other famous names.
I have met so many wonderful people here in Nepal that just come here to help those that are less fortunate, the poor, the down trodden. I am so amazed at not only their generosity but a desire to become more Christ-like and serve our brothers and sisters. It is truly amazing to me. I feel so blessed to know these women.
This picture is a little blurry because he was rockin' out. He also has quite a tale to tell. He had only been in the orphanage for a few days. His mother had died and his father didn't want him and his brothers and sister anymore and so he left them all but one little four year old at the orphanage. Sister Ellen said they did not know where the four year old was but feared she may have been sold. They are trying to find her. But this little guy had not a care in the world and was so happy. I'm glad that he now has a place where he will get to go to school and be loved.
You had to be here to see how cute this program was. After they all performed their songs and dances, the put on a production of "The Lion King" now that was pretty cute and it was all in English.
The children in Nepal all have English classes, if they're in a private school all their classes are in English except for one Nepali grammar class if they go to government schoosl they only have one English class. Parenst sacrifice a lot to put their children in private schools. Rukmina and Hari pay 9,000 rupees a month for Hitson to go to private school, almost 1/3 of what they make a month.
This little girl wanted to sit on Kent's lap during the program, Isn't she cute. They shave the little girls hair all off when they are small, they say their new hair will grow in thicker and more beautiful.
On Sunday it was another banda day, throughout all of Nepal. Something to do with protesting the way the governments is going about or not going about the election process. But banda days are kind of interesting. No cars in the streets, no honking horns. No one can go to school, most can't get to work. I asked what they do about the doctors getting to work. I was told, "they call the hospital and an ambulance comes to pick them up." Now that's weird! We went out and thought we could walk somewhere to have lunch. Nope, everything was closed. But it was kind of fun being out and seeing what Nepal looks like without hundreds of motorbikes, tuktuks and taxis.
You can actually walk down the road without risking life and limb.
No one cares that you walk in the middle of the road, even the traffic police are just standing around with nothing to do.
These are a bunch of older men just sitting in the middle of the road. Kent asked them what the banda was about, they didn't know and they didn't care either.
The group is gathered in the round about by our house, notice all the Maoists flags? But they're all just hanging out with nothing to do and no place to go.
But it was a good day and a safe day to have your brothers help you learn to ride a bike.
The rest of the work Kent and I mostly were working in our office. On Saturday we got to watch the Saturday sessions of conference and next Saturday we'll watch the Sunday sessions. I love watching conference it especially made me feel a connection to home, knowing that all of you had experienced and heard the same messages that I was listening to. I especially liked Elder Cook's message about Peace. " The heavenly aspiration of good people everywhere has and always will be for peace in the world. We must never give up on achieving this goal. But, President Joseph F. Smith taught, “There never can come to the world that spirit of peace and love … until mankind will receive God’s truth and God’s message … , and acknowledge his power and authority which is divine.”13
We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice." The peace to which I am referring is not just a temporary tranquility. It is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.16
Considering the events of the past week, isn't this something we all should remember and hold on to?
I think this kind of peace is the only thing that helps men, women and children survive in third world countries. They have so very little everyday, but if they can just hold on to the kind of peace and hope that our Savior offers them, if they can understand and have that "abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment" then that is all that matters.
During this week as we've looked at some possible water projects we looked at schools that needed clean water, sanitation facilities . We talked with some government officials about not only the lack of facilities but the complete lack of education in Nepal. There are almost 30,000,000 people in Nepal, about 3,000,000 in Kathmandu. The other 27,000,000 live in villages around the rest of the country. Villages where many children have never attended school, where most of the parents have never been to school. I think on Nepal's part, it's shameful. They say they are trying to improve but it is such a slow process. I've been cutting out newspaper articles regarding education, so many of the articles are so archaic. I have a picture of a headmaster washing his students "cold-bitten feet". He says most of his pupils "do not get proper care at home."
Another article I have is about young girls dropping out of school when they start menstruation, because they are embarrassed. scared or there are not proper facilities at school.
This is a picture of one of the bathrooms we were looking at. And this is a new facility. I remember going on a Mediterranean cruise a few years ago. We walked through a very ancient roman village and this is the same toilet set up as they had during the Roman Empire. Unbelievable!
"learnt" should be used in phrases like "I learnt a valuable lesson today".
The *descriptive* answer in British English is:
"learned" is used in phrases such as "a learned professor", in which case it is pronounced with two syllables.
Either "learnt" or "learned" are used interchangably in phrases like "I learnt a valuable lesson today".
The *descriptive* answer in American English is:
There is no such word as "learnt". Use "learned" always.
The *descriptive* answer in British English is:
"learned" is used in phrases such as "a learned professor", in which case it is pronounced with two syllables.
Either "learnt" or "learned" are used interchangably in phrases like "I learnt a valuable lesson today".
The *descriptive* answer in American English is:
There is no such word as "learnt". Use "learned" always.
British English, who says we're right and their wrong? Not me anymore.
At least they are trying to make it a happy, friendly place. And the children we've met LOVE school. They would much rather be in school learning than at home doing nothing.
Loved this sign on this school. Boy isn't that the truth
The school bus delivering the happy children to school.
Looking through the barred windows of this school,
This is a brand new school, the whole school is made out of cement.
........ or play on this playground?
The teeter totter
Children that go to private schools
Children that go to government schools
Children start school when they are three years old. The little boy on the right must have been 3 but he didn't look 3 to me. The first few times we tried to take pictures he would cry and run away.
He warmed up to us ....... a little.
And these are the children who don't go to school at all. These boys were probably from 10 to 16. These are street boys, many have run away from the orphanages. They spend their days stealing shoe glue from the street shoe repair guys and then put it in little bags and sniff it. They are all over Nepal, both girls and boys. As we walked through Thamel, Kent snapped this picture. There were flies crawling all over their faces. It was so sad. Sister Greding said, children who start to sniff glue usually will only live 3 years after taking up the awful habit. It just kills their brains.
"It is so important that you young men and you young women get all of the education that you can. The Lord has said very plainly that His people are to gain knowledge of countries and kingdoms and of things of the world through the process of education, even by study and by faith."
Here are pictures of the Hope for Nepal, children who know education is their hope for a better tomorrow.
Education will take away the poverty, education will bring them abiding peace because they can read, and study and learn. The can know for themselves who they are and that they have a purpose here on earth. Nepal's hope will be through educating their children,their abiding peace will come through knowing the Savior.
