Our internet has been off, on, off, on for the last 5 weeks, and so it's been difficult to write and load pictures for my blog. Today they were here a couple of hours so hopefully it will stay on so I can get this sent. This blog will be a little random because it's been so long since I've been able to write.
We're getting close to hopefully having an election that may provide a way for a constitution to be written, but with that said, the next few months we will also see many bandhs (strikes). People shutting down the country because they want things their way and if not they will make life even more difficult here in Nepal. Last week we had 2 days of bandhs, we can walk around, it's just that there is not much open and there is no transportation, but it is usually a quiet, relaxful day.
The Lord Loves, The Lord Lives, a simple and powerful testimony of Yaknath Adhikari , our 22 year old "rm" who has gone back to school to finish his education. He is in a 9th grade class with all 14 and 15 year olds. The teacher whacks him when he gives a wrong answer, it's very embarrassing to him, he says, " I am an adult, I should not be treated this way" but he returns everyday and tries to do his best. School is very difficult for him, but he knows how important it is to get an education. On top of going to school he is taking care of his younger brother and sister, who his parents have left in his care as they have returned back to his village. He has no job, what a difficult task for this young man but such is the life of a Nepali.
We're getting close to hopefully having an election that may provide a way for a constitution to be written, but with that said, the next few months we will also see many bandhs (strikes). People shutting down the country because they want things their way and if not they will make life even more difficult here in Nepal. Last week we had 2 days of bandhs, we can walk around, it's just that there is not much open and there is no transportation, but it is usually a quiet, relaxful day.
The Lord Loves, The Lord Lives, a simple and powerful testimony of Yaknath Adhikari , our 22 year old "rm" who has gone back to school to finish his education. He is in a 9th grade class with all 14 and 15 year olds. The teacher whacks him when he gives a wrong answer, it's very embarrassing to him, he says, " I am an adult, I should not be treated this way" but he returns everyday and tries to do his best. School is very difficult for him, but he knows how important it is to get an education. On top of going to school he is taking care of his younger brother and sister, who his parents have left in his care as they have returned back to his village. He has no job, what a difficult task for this young man but such is the life of a Nepali.
Yaknath Adhikari and President Bishnu
Not only is it bandha season it is also Nepali festival season, at least one and sometimes two a week, probably until the middle of November, so nothing gets done around here. We are waiting for our new project agreement to be signed. We were hoping to have it signed by the sixth of September, when our Visa's expired, but no such luck so we had to spend two days in the immigration office getting a tourist visa until the project agreement is signed and then we'll apply for our last non-tourist visa which will last until we come home. The immigration office could not understand why we'd be applying for a tourist visa, it took us two days for us to explain, your country is very inefficient and we can't do anything until the 50 or so people who have to sign the agreement get around to signing it.
We were having a RS activity making breadsticks and homemade noodles, so our husbands went to town and get away and watched the colorful and strange procession. Kent said it was a little too strange for him as many of the men were dressed as women, A little too weird. But us women had a good time.
TEEJ Festival (Women's Wish-Making Day)
Teej is the women's festival, there is always a little variation as to how and who is celebrating but this is the beginning of all the fall festivals and it's a big deal. Carol and I (no husbands) were invited to Sunila's mother's home to celebrate with her sisters, mothers, aunts and cousins. This is their big meal before they begin their fast the next day. They fast for the long life of their husbands or if they are not married they fast for a good husband. When we got there Sunila had bought red saris, necklaces and bangles for us. She took us upstairs where she helped get us dressed. I do not know how these women can put on a sari by themselves. A sari is about 6 yards of fabric that they wrap, pleat, tuck and drape, oh and pin just in case your sari falls off when you're dancing. I've actually heard of this happening to one of the previous missionaries.
August 21 and 22, 2013: Janai Purnima and Gai Jatra:
A most colorful religious procession of cows and people with peculiar head dress painted as figure of cows goes round the market places. Relatives of deceased of that year send religious groups to join the procession The ‘Gai’ or cow is holy to Hindus. She represents Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, and guides the souls of the departed to the gates of the Netherworld. (maybe this is Never,Never Land) But Gaijatra is not a somber occasion. Satire, jokes, fancy costumes, and colorful processions are the order of the day as people recall how an eighteen-century king rallied his people to cheer his queen upon the death of their son. Those who have experienced the death of a close one during the past year share their sorrow and take comfort in the fact that the Gai (cow) has safely transported the departed souls on their afterlife journey.
A most colorful religious procession of cows and people with peculiar head dress painted as figure of cows goes round the market places. Relatives of deceased of that year send religious groups to join the procession The ‘Gai’ or cow is holy to Hindus. She represents Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, and guides the souls of the departed to the gates of the Netherworld. (maybe this is Never,Never Land) But Gaijatra is not a somber occasion. Satire, jokes, fancy costumes, and colorful processions are the order of the day as people recall how an eighteen-century king rallied his people to cheer his queen upon the death of their son. Those who have experienced the death of a close one during the past year share their sorrow and take comfort in the fact that the Gai (cow) has safely transported the departed souls on their afterlife journey.
Young men wearing women’s saris, children dressed up as cows, and whimsical characters of all sorts fill the streets.
We were having a RS activity making breadsticks and homemade noodles, so our husbands went to town and get away and watched the colorful and strange procession. Kent said it was a little too strange for him as many of the men were dressed as women, A little too weird. But us women had a good time.
NOODLES
And more NOODLES
Fun day with our Nepali sisters
TEEJ Festival (Women's Wish-Making Day)
Teej is the women's festival, there is always a little variation as to how and who is celebrating but this is the beginning of all the fall festivals and it's a big deal. Carol and I (no husbands) were invited to Sunila's mother's home to celebrate with her sisters, mothers, aunts and cousins. This is their big meal before they begin their fast the next day. They fast for the long life of their husbands or if they are not married they fast for a good husband. When we got there Sunila had bought red saris, necklaces and bangles for us. She took us upstairs where she helped get us dressed. I do not know how these women can put on a sari by themselves. A sari is about 6 yards of fabric that they wrap, pleat, tuck and drape, oh and pin just in case your sari falls off when you're dancing. I've actually heard of this happening to one of the previous missionaries.
Sister Rempp and Sunila tucking, wrapping and pinning
I didn't have a red blouse, going to have to go and have it made. It's funny, they won't ever share a drinking glass with one another but everyone pulled out their red lipstick for us to put on. I don't think it's my color though.
I found this article in the newspaper today. What year are we living in? Oh yeah, 2070. I just find it so interesting that they cannot move forward and they do not understand why. A week or so ago I read another article about the WHO Millennial Goals that all countries are to meet. Nepal figures they will meet or almost meet most of those goals accept the one regarding equal treatment of women. They said they are unlikely to meet that one, the only goal that has no financial obligation attached to it. Traditions are not always a good thing!
We then had lunch, rice, dahl, prawn pickle, potato pickle, chicken, buff and a few other things that I can't remember. Then we had curd and some cookies for dessert. It was a fun day and it is fun that she includes us in so many of her family celebrations.
We first checked out the view from our apartment window before we headed to the park.
This is our next door neighbor, she's leaving her home to go to the park.
These women are leaving the park after going to the temple to worship and pray for their husbands.
There was a radio station or tv station that was putting on this big TEEJ celebration. While we were out dancing (or making fools of ourselves) they came down and asked Carol and I to come up on the stage and dance. Sooooo embarrassing, we grabbed two of the younger girls and made them come up with us. We were probably on the stage for 30 minutes, they asked if we would sing a Nepali song, which we did but we made the audience sing with us. (I know my kids are dying as they read this) We all got a CD for being such good sports and were on the local news station. and then when we got off the stage we were bombarded, everyone wanted to dance with us and have their pictures taken with us.
The next day was Indra Jatra
The Lord lives and the Lord loves all of us in ways I would have never, ever imagined. He blesses us and provides us with those things we need, though it may not always be those things we want.
I've come to recognize the Lord's hand in ways that I could have never imagined and am so grateful for the blessings and opportunities He has given me while in Nepal. I know He died for each of us that we may live again with Him. I'm getting to know Him better as Kent and I study the scriptures together and read about His life and His teachings. I want to be a follower of Christ and bring others unto Him so that they may find hope and peace in their lives, whatever their circumstances may be.
The Lord Lives, The Lord Loves,
Thank you Elder Adhikari for reminding us by the example you set for your brothers and sisters in Nepal
We then went down and ate snacks before the dancing began. I think I've shared this before but when a woman is menstruating she is not allowed to go into a room where food is served, in some Hindu families the women still are not allowed into the house during that time of the month. Four of the women had to sit out in the hallway to visit with us, you are not even allowed to touch them.
Not allowed in the room with the others, so they sat in the hall with smiles on their faces.
I found this article in the newspaper today. What year are we living in? Oh yeah, 2070. I just find it so interesting that they cannot move forward and they do not understand why. A week or so ago I read another article about the WHO Millennial Goals that all countries are to meet. Nepal figures they will meet or almost meet most of those goals accept the one regarding equal treatment of women. They said they are unlikely to meet that one, the only goal that has no financial obligation attached to it. Traditions are not always a good thing!
After we had snacks we all went up to a small bedroom where all the furniture had been moved out. There were about 20 of us and the music started and we danced and danced and danced. It was much more fun to watch the Nepali women dancing.
So much fun!!!
We should have danced AFTER we ate
We then had lunch, rice, dahl, prawn pickle, potato pickle, chicken, buff and a few other things that I can't remember. Then we had curd and some cookies for dessert. It was a fun day and it is fun that she includes us in so many of her family celebrations.
The women begin their fast the next day, they do not eat or drink anything for 24 hours. We have heard that some believe it's okay to eat dairy products and fruit on this day.
The second day of Teej, all of the volunteers at one of the orphanages wanted to come with Sister Rempp and I to celebrate the 2nd day of Teej. Two of these young women are members of the church, one from Germany and one from Switzerland. They are all young single women, we were a little surprised that they wanted to hang out with us old women. Our RS presidency wanted to fix us a Nepali lunch before we all went to the park to dance. It was so nice of them. Needless to say we weren't fasting, I'm not sure how they celebrate so when they have been fasting.
We live next to the big park where Teej is celebrated in all it's glory. And I mean glory, look at all the beautiful women in their red saris. We all wore our kurtas for fear if we danced too much we'd lose our saris.
We first checked out the view from our apartment window before we headed to the park.
This is our next door neighbor, she's leaving her home to go to the park.
These women are leaving the park after going to the temple to worship and pray for their husbands.
There was a radio station or tv station that was putting on this big TEEJ celebration. While we were out dancing (or making fools of ourselves) they came down and asked Carol and I to come up on the stage and dance. Sooooo embarrassing, we grabbed two of the younger girls and made them come up with us. We were probably on the stage for 30 minutes, they asked if we would sing a Nepali song, which we did but we made the audience sing with us. (I know my kids are dying as they read this) We all got a CD for being such good sports and were on the local news station. and then when we got off the stage we were bombarded, everyone wanted to dance with us and have their pictures taken with us.
Here we are coming down off of the stage, Kent took this picture from the roof of our building with his super duper lens. Can you find me? I'm one of the four white faces.......
Finally after 3 hours Carol and I told the younger women, we were done, we couldn't dance anymore so we dragged ourselves home. This is what we looked like at the end of the day.
Finally after 3 hours Carol and I told the younger women, we were done, we couldn't dance anymore so we dragged ourselves home. This is what we looked like at the end of the day.
Another festival a few days later, can't remember what it was called, but early in the morning we got a call from Nabin, our Apartment Manager asking if we wanted to come down to his office to worship the tools, I had to ask him several times, TOOLS? I told him we would come down to watch but not to worship the tools. We went downstairs to the office and there were 2 tables set up, one with a little statue of one of the gods surrounded by all kinds of foods, fruit, cookies, and cakes. a place where people could put money, the other table had the tools which had been blessed with tika, and flowers.
The girls who clean the building then offered us sweets and fruit. This is how this festival was explained to us, a day off for the tools andsince the tools aren't used this day, those who use the tools also get the day off, it only would make sense, right? As we walked around the building we could see that the elevator had been blessed, that's a good thing since it's a little jerky around the 2nd floor. The generator also had a blessing and the gates into the apartment building. As we walked out to the road we could see that many of the cars were decorated and had also been blessed with tikas. I should have taken better pictures.
The girls who clean the building then offered us sweets and fruit. This is how this festival was explained to us, a day off for the tools andsince the tools aren't used this day, those who use the tools also get the day off, it only would make sense, right? As we walked around the building we could see that the elevator had been blessed, that's a good thing since it's a little jerky around the 2nd floor. The generator also had a blessing and the gates into the apartment building. As we walked out to the road we could see that many of the cars were decorated and had also been blessed with tikas. I should have taken better pictures.
The next day was Indra Jatra
A week long festival begins by hoisting Lord Indra’s flag (Indradhoj) at midnight and faces of Bhairavas deities are displayed in important public places.
Indra King of heaven and controller of the rains, has once again blessed the Valley. As the end of the monsoon nears, farmers look forward to a rich harvest, everyone is grateful to the deva for his help. For eight days, Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is the focus of a great celebration fit to “flatter the King of Heaven”. Indra’s dhwaj, or flag, is erected on the first day. It is said that many centuries ago, Indra’s mother needed specially-scented flowers but could not find them in heaven’s gardens. Indra discovered parijat flowers in the Kathmandu Valley and tried to steal them for his mother. He was caught and imprisoned by the Valley people. When Indra’s mother came searching for him the people were appalled by what they had done. They released Indra and dedicated one of the most colorful festivals of Nepal to him to appease his anger. Masks and statues representing Vishnu, Bhairab, and Shiva are shown to the public, and the living (child) Goddess Kumari witnesses the special occasion from her chariot. Indra is thanked for the rains and assured once again that he is respected in the Kathmandu Valley.
We haven't participated in this festival too much, but we've noticed shops closed, we're getting a little festivaled out and they've really only just begun.
Some other things we've done in the last month.
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We had President Bishnu and his family to dinner, they are a wonderful example of the gospel here in Kathmandu, I wish more of our members would follow their example
Rebecca, Smina and President Bishnu
Rakesh and Sunila took us all to dinner to celebrate Sunila's visa. They are coming to Provo next week and this is the first time she has ever left Nepal, she is so excited but they will be doing a little traveling for a month and she is very nervous about leaving her children. It was fun to be included in another one of their family celebrations. Sunila is wearing a t-shirt and jeans, Rakesh said she was practicing for when they come to the U.S. I think they will be going to conference. I told her she should wear one of her beautiful saris.
We've been having the YSA meet twice a month for FHE. Sometimes we watch a movie, have a lesson or play games. This night we were playing "Minute to Win It". We're going to have to be creative and figure out a different way of holding FHE since it is getting darker earlier and we don't like sending the girls home on the buses after dark, it is just not safe for them.
Ajay playing Minute to Win It
Maya's turn
We also received approval on two of our projects, one is with the JAWS which is a program for the blind, teaching them how to use computers. Once they learn this program the one thing they like doing the best is being able to FACEBOOK. The program actually talks and reads to them so it is very interactive and really helps them in their college studies and hopefully to find better jobs. Yesterday we went to the first six month certificate ceremony.
Kent with the President of the Nepal Blind Society handing out certificates
The other project that was approved was the next years HBB training that we hope to do before we come home and in conjuction with our replacements arrival. It's getting pretty tricky but we'll see how it all works out. We should be hearing from the new couple within a month.
We had four baptisms, YEAH! Kent's kind of had to push President Bishnu into making this happen. President Bishnu wants them to all be perfect before they are baptized, and that is not going to happen. Hopfully the perfecting will come as they become fully active and involved in the blessings of the gospel.
We had 3 brothers ordained as Elders and a new Deacon, and Kent is really working with one of our young men to get him to go on a mission.
Priyanka was baptised by her husband Siddhant and their daughter Prizam.
Santa was ordained an Elder and he also baptized his son Sajun and Sajun's friend Baudel
Ramela and Rebecca have become good friends. Rebecca helped her get ready before and after her baptism.
Sajun and Santa
A wonderful day for everyone!
Elder Yaknath is on the back row with the black tie, Ramela is his sister and the young man in the suit is Jarek, who was just made a deacon, his brother, whom he now has to provide and take care of. He said it his hard but it will prepare him to be a good father one day.
The Lord lives and the Lord loves all of us in ways I would have never, ever imagined. He blesses us and provides us with those things we need, though it may not always be those things we want.
I've come to recognize the Lord's hand in ways that I could have never imagined and am so grateful for the blessings and opportunities He has given me while in Nepal. I know He died for each of us that we may live again with Him. I'm getting to know Him better as Kent and I study the scriptures together and read about His life and His teachings. I want to be a follower of Christ and bring others unto Him so that they may find hope and peace in their lives, whatever their circumstances may be.
The Lord Lives, The Lord Loves,
Thank you Elder Adhikari for reminding us by the example you set for your brothers and sisters in Nepal
