One Year

The past couple of months have been crazy to say the least. I have either been without a computer or far away from home thus preventing me from updating this blog of mine.

The problem with being away for so long is now I have all these things that I want to write about but am not sure where to start. Should I start with today and work my way backwards? Yes, I think it would be best if I just started with today...

Today marks my being in Nepal for one year. I've known for some time now that time flys by. This is especially true in the states. You see, Americans jam pack their lives so full of stuff that they don't have enough time in the day to complete everything. South Asians on the other hand view time completely different. They are all about stopping in the middle of their busy work day to drink tea and shoot the breeze. So what, if there is a line of people waiting for them. A tea break is a tea break.

So although in hindsight this year has gone by quickly, I've got to admit that there were days and weeks when time seemed to slow down and an hour felt like an eternity. If you have ever lived in a third world country for any amount of time you know what I am talking about.

You may be wondering how I am going to celebrating this one year of living in Nepal.
First on my list is to get the car tire repaired. I punctured it on a rock coming home from the store yesterday.
Second to do on my list is to walk my scooter to the mechanic because it will not start.
Also on my list is try to figure out what happened to my Word and Excel programs for the did not seem to make it with new hard drive. I would not mind too much except for the fact that I can not do my financial reports without the Excel program.

Today is truly a Nepal day...i.e.. nothing will come easy, sweat will be poured, and there will be some confusion. I guess there is no better way to celebrate being in Nepal then to have a "Nepal Day". Maybe if I'm lucky I will get stuck in a traffic jam, run into a protest, fall in a hole, and the power will go out.

Stick with me readers for I promises the next couple of blogs will be much more positive. I just had to get that off my shoulders before I could move on.

Medical Camp in June

Yesterday I returned from a week long trip to an area of Nepal called Helambu. I took a team of 10 Americans from South Carolina to put on a medical camp. The medical camp was great...hard but great. Here are a few facts about the camp


* In four full days we treated 1,111 people
* Four people had bugs pulled out of their ears (insert shiver)
* Every morning I would wake up with mysterious bites on my arms and legs
* One toilet for 1,000 + people emits an oder that one cannot begin to describe
* I have seen enough fungal rashes to last me a life time
* People from the village+hot weather+standing in line= flies flies and more flies
* I still believe ridding on top of the bus is the best way to travel
* although at times my faith is small God constantly shows up in BIG ways


On a different note....

some of you know that I have been having visa problems. You will be happy to know that I am just a few days from obtaining my visa. Tomorrow (Sunday is a work day here) I will drop off one document needed to complete my visa process and then barring any strikes I will pick up my visa on Monday.
The visa will arrive just in time for me to board a plane to Thailand on Wednesday. I will be in Thailand for two weeks for training.

I will be getting my computer back soon and hopefully will be able to keep up with e-mails, skype, and blogging. (thank you Ang Holy and friends for helping me with lil Mac)

Happy June and I will talk to you again in July.
(thanks Stacey for the pics)

if I could...

A few weeks ago my Mac lap top died. It has been sent back to the states and I hope to have it back soon. Until it's return I am now forced to use internet cafes and phone booths to make contact back home.

If I had my computer here are a few things I would take more time to tell you about...

*my sisters birthday

*Nepal's first lack luster independence day

*how I miss Mac's automatic spell check

*the history of my electronic curse (6 digital cameras, 2 lap tops, and countless copy machines have fallen prey to said curse)

*pray request for my Nepali visa. If I don't have one soon I will have to leave the country for the rest of the year

*a congratulations to my friends who have recently graduated

if I could write about these things I would but as it is I have been at this computer cafe for an hour and I need to go home.

It's a BOY!

On Monday morning at 4:11am my sister gave birth to a perfect baby boy. His name is Justin and although I've only seen his picture on facebook I lOVE him so much. Here are a few thoughts about my new Nephew...

I can't even begin to explain how my heart aches over the fact that I can not hold him.

I need to start ordering WSU baby t-shirt on line.

my sister is beautiful

I'm thinking about writing a love song to baby Justin...must learn how to play guitar and write songs

wondering how easy or difficult it would be to sneak onto a plane. I'm pretty sure I could get sneak on in Kathmandu but after that may prove to be a problem.

"welcome to the world baby Justin...I'm not sure when I'll get to see you and hold you but MAN do I love you!"

April happenings

The month of April has seemed to pass me by...

Before I knew it, I was stepping into May and looking at all the things I have to do by June.

April brought about change. The weather started to feel distinctly warmer. The evenings started to last a little longer and I packed away my sweaters.

My roommate Amanda left for the states. Her last week here was a busy one. It seemed that every friend she had ever made wanted to sit and have tea with her one last time. I’m sure I’ll see Amanda again soon but I must admit her leaving put me in a little bit of a funk...gone are the days of dancing to Beyonce and singing along to early 90's songs.


April also brought “hellos”. My team went from two to five. Some of these hellos were old friends and some were brand new. None the less, getting to know eachother and settling into life here were all apart of April.


The last week in April had me packing for the mountains. Not to mention working on a visa application, setting up a bank account, and working on financial reports.


Here are a few other things that happened in April…
Ran out of gas due to the gas shortage.
Gained a few more hours of power a week
Got sick and can now fit into my “skinny” jeans again
Purchased a new chair
Set up my guest room
Celebrated Easter
Ate pepperoni pizza (compliments to Ang for the pepperoni and to Andrea for the idea to take it to Fire and Ice)

To all the fans out there, sorry I neglected my blogg. Hopefully this month is better. I have already started writing about this most recent trip to the mountains. Talk to ya about it soon!

Thame in May

 

Leaving the mountains is bitter sweet. You are excited to go home to the amenities that Kathmandu can afford. Hot showers, clean sheets, and good food are just a few of the things one craves. Yet, as you get ready to board the twin prop odder plane you take one last breath of clean air and one last glance of the mountains knowing that these are two things Kathmandu is without.

They say that the Lukla airport is one of the highest and shortest in the world. If you look at the short strip you travel down you don’t debate the “shortest” claim. The plain starts to shimmy as it gears up to head down the runway and before you know it you are in the air. The flight home is amazing. If the weather is clear you can see the whole Himalayan range.
Unlike the trip to Lukla the return flight is filled with an intimate knowledge of the mountains. They are no longer things seen in the far far distance or on a post card but rather they were home to you. You have walked amongst their majesty and splendor. You have spent ours walking up, only to lose your breath, and realize how small man is. They are not intimate like a friend, but rather it is the sort of intimacy that comes from a relationship where you are fully aware that it could take your life and are due respect.

Once you arrive in Kathmandu there is no easing into the city life again. After haggling for a taxi you hit the crazy streets, swerving in and out of traffic littered with bicycles and cows. Once you reach your destination it is assumed that you are a tourist so you are surrounded by those trying to sell you tiger balm hindu statues, and other nick nacs…to me it is Kathmandu’s way of saying hello and welcome home.

This most recent time home as I approached my house the blowing of horns, beating of drums, and the hundreds of people surrounding my place tipped me off that something was up. It turned out that my Landlord’s father had died four days earlier. In Sherpa culture when a family member dies they have puja (a sort of worship to Buddha) for four days. On the fourth day they take the body to a Buddhist holy place to be burned.

As I approached my gate and swam through the crowd of grieving Sherpa my heart felt heavy. My friends were grieving over the loss of a loved one. They had just spent the past four days praying that that Grandpa would make it to a better place, unsure if their prayers would be heard. In that moment God soberly reminded me why I was here. He reminded me why I go to the mountains. He reminded me that I have a hope for a future and I am not to keep that a secret.

Happy Birthday Mom

Mother/Daughter relationships are probably the most complicated and complex relationship between humans. My Mom and I have certainly had our “moments” no thanks to my wacky teenage theories on life and sarcastic mouth. Adult hood however, has brought me an amazing gift, the gift of friendship with my Mom.


I truly noticed how much I appreciated Mom when I moved away to college. Every Sunday she would call and get an update on my week. She would in return give me an update on the family, how the grandparents were, and other misc. things that every daughter should know.

When I moved over seas my Mom would write me a long e-mail every Sunday, same as college, full of the goings on at home. God often used my Mom to be the voice of reason and encouragement She became someone who I could anchor me with wisdom in the midst of the storm that is life over seas.

Now that I am back in Katmandu technology has brought us skype, facebook, and e-mail. We are able to talk face to face (internet permitting).

Through the years I have had the opportunity to KNOW my Mom. She is not just a mom but I've found out that she is a wife, sister, co-worker, and friend. Here are just a few things that I love about my mom and that others should know about her…

She drives fast…no dilly-dallying for this lady

*She has a great laugh, especially when she is really tickled and can’t stop laughing

*She is beautiful. Hands down one of the cutest Moms around.

*She is an amazing Grandmother, and not only to her own flesh and blood but to other peoples children as well.

*She has a direct line to God. Her gift of discernment is creepy at times. Don’t even try to lie around my mother…you will be found out.

*She is an amazing prayer warrior. There are countless times when God has woken her up in the middle of the night to pray.

*She is not only a mom to my sister and I but to our friends as well. She is constantly asking about how friends are doing. She will gladly be your facebook friend.

*My Mom is one of the STRONGEST women I know. She has been to a place of complete brokenness and in her weakest moment she turned to Christ and waited for Him to deliver her and her family. Her relationship with Christ is something to emulate. Her faith is grand and God has rewarded her.

 

Proverbs 31:28 was right on when it says, “ her children will arise and call her blessed.”
I love you Mom. Happy Birthday!