homesickness

I’ve always loved Christmas. If you are not sure how much I love this holiday and it’s traditions then feel free to ask Angela or Beckie Bruhn. My slightly obsessive need for tradition led to all sorts of Christmas shenanigans such as the blood star and removing the tree top first.

As I am far away from my family this year I am constantly feeling the pangs of homesickness and the traditions of “home”. Nothing makes one appreciate their family more than being on the other side of the world.  Here are a few of the things that I find myself daydreaming about this holiday season.

Eggnog * Beth’s bunko party * The Blood Star * Picking out a tree with Ang & Beau * Christmas carols at church * neighborhood lights * Zillah’s downtown Christmas decorations * Christmas service with Mom & Dad * ABC family Christmas movies * Seeing old friends in my home town * Hot Chocolate at my Sisters * Nephews opening gifts * Christmas sweets * Christmas dinner with my entire family * fire places * The Christmas lights from my parent’s house * snow * cozy coffee shops * going to the movies with my Sister and Cousins * sledding * the complete silence at Mom& Dad’s as I lay my head down on the soft pillow Christmas Eve *

As you celebrate the holidays this year with your friends and family don’t take it for granted. Take some time out to enjoy the people around you…and while your at it tell them how much you love and appreciate them.

Merry Christmas! 

Christmas Music

If you know me then you know I love me some Christmas music. When I worked in an office I would tune my radio to the 24hr Christmas music radio station…yes, I’m that girl. To be honest with you, I question the character of someone who claims to hate Christmas music. 

Living overseas I do not have the luxury of having a 24hr Christmas radio station…and before you suggest listening to something over the internet please note that my parents dial up 9 years ago was faster than Nepal’s internet today. I have had to rely on CDs sent from home and the music that friends have shared with me.

Because I love Christmas music I have learned a thing or two about these seasonal tunes that I would like to share.

*Mary Did You Know should NOT be sung as a group worship song…it’s a solo song people!

* When leading a group in Christmas Hymns you must provide words. I guarantee that although the majority of people assume they know the words, they actually have no clue as to how the second verse of Angles We Have Heard on High goes.

*U-tube videos of a worship band playing Christmas music on their iPads does not seem to co-inside with the fact that Jesus was born in a manger.

*There is something about Mariah Caries “All I Want For Christmas” that makes me dance and sing at the top of my lungs.  Don’t judge me for loving Mariah’s Merry Christmas album. Her songs “Jesus Born On This Day” and “Jesus Oh What A Wonderful Child” are as clear of a Christmas message that you can get.

*O Holy Night can move one to tears. The line “fall on your knees” should be sung with reverence and emotion.

This season, I would like to introduce you to a few of my new favorites…

Joy To The World by Sojourn-

I’ve always loved the classic Christmas hymns. I loves Sojourn’s take on this song. Sojourn has a Christmas album called Advent. If you were looking for some classics with a harmonious twist I would highly recommend this album.

 

Another great Christmas album would be Chris Tomlin’s “Glory In The Highest.” Right now my favorite song on this album is called Winter Snow. Here are a few words from the song that have captured me

“ You came like a winter snow

Quiet and soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below”

And just incase you were wondering…the song I hate the most is “Christmas in the Northwest.” The best thing about spending Christmas in Nepal is that I don’t have to listen to this song! 

Thanksgiving 2010

 I’m not sure how I ended up volunteering to host Thanksgiving…but I’m pretty sure my friend Kristin played a role in it. Before I knew it I had sent out an e-mail to all of my friends in Kathamandu inviting them over to my house.

A week before Thanksgiving I had confirmation of 18 people coming. Just days before the big event the guest list shot up to 30 people. I have to admit that I was pretty nervous about having enough food. A friend and I even sent up a “loaves and fish” prayer i.e., at the end of the meal everyone would be full and there would still be a ton of food left over.

God answered this prayer.

As friends started coming so did the food. By the time it was time to eat my kitchen counters were full of food! It was amazing.  It was a great day of good food and great friends.

For the first time in my life I cooked a whole chicken and a ham. My friend Becca took on the turkey and stuffing. Everyone else…well everyone else brought a ton of delectable goodness.

Living overseas constantly teaches me how to be grateful in a way that I never understood living in the states. I am grateful for things such as electricity, hot water, and an indoor toilet. I am grateful for skype , long distance phone calls, and care packages.

I am grateful for my family and the fact that they support my working here in Nepal.

Most of all I am grateful for the salvation I have through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  For I serve the one true God who loves me and has a plan for my life.  That plan thus far has included some pretty amazing adventures and pretty amazing friends along the way.

As we are currently in the midst of this holiday season how fitting is it that we should kick it off with being Thankful. 

KCR at Tihar

As the band started setting up, their mic checks felt like they were in the living room right there with us. We all knew this meant an evening of loud music to come and for the Parker family this meant a long night with small children and the futility of trying to sleep.

It was Kristin’s idea to get out of the house and to try and find a place to eat. As luck would have it a favorite restaurant of ours was open. So five adults and two kids pilled into the Parkers truck and we were off.

The sun had gone down and all the lights on the houses put us in the Christmas spirit. So the iPod was switched to Christmas tunes and the fun began. A little white dog became a “snow dog”, a man wearing all white became a “snow man” and a baby with a red pointy hat became a “Christmas elf.” At the restaurant we even saw Santa!

After dinner our driver, Ryan Parker, was kind enough to take our friend Missy home. She lives on the other side of town, thereby adding on another hour to our Christmas adventure. Along the way we sang along to Christmas songs, spotted the ever-elusive camouflage Christmas elf and honked and cheered when a house’s lights rated a10.

After some brainstorming we decided to name our evening the KCR (Katmandu, Christmas Road trip) at Tihar. It was late by the time we got home. As I crawled into bed I noticed a large smile plastered on my face. We had a fun night indeed.  I probably won’t be around for the 2^nd annual KCR at Tihar but I will have fond memories of laughing and singing in the car as we start to remember Jesus’ birthday coming up. 

Tihar

**I wrote this note about 3 weeks ago and am just now getting around to posting it..please forgive me!

Nepal just recently finished their holiday season capping off their month long vacation with three days of Tihar. This holiday is one of my favorites for reasons I will get to later.

Although this festival is 5 days long there are three main days that everyone participates in.

The first day is “dog puja”…or dog worship. I’ve been given a variety of reason as to why the dog is worshiped on this day but suffice it to know that all dogs are given a garland of flowers around their neck and often a red mark on their forehead. Even the street dogs get in on this action. I am always amazed at how proudly the dogs wear these flowers. They never try to take them off…in fact they will wear them until the flowers die and fall off.

Day two is worshiping Laxmi. She is the fortune goddess. On this evening everyone makes these colorful icons that are meant to lead Kali to their home or shop. The idea being the icons will guide her to your home so she can bless you with money.

These are actually very pretty and intricately done with colored powder. There are tea lights lighting up the entire city and the houses and stores are covered with lights.

 Day three is brother worship. On this day the brother is honored and given a large garland of flowers to wear for the day. All of his relatives give him a tikka (red powder) on the forehead. Males walk around proudly with their flowers and red forehead…a symbol that their family loves them.

A few other things done on this holiday are:

The decorations, lights are everywhere and flowers adorn the buildings. I’m a sucker for lights, especially when tea lights line the stairs or hallway. Along with lights are fireworks. All evening you hear someone setting something off.

Groups of singers go from house to house singing. This can be something simple as a few relatives singing a few songs but these days it is popular to put a band together and play for hours. Yes, I’m talking about drums, electric guitars, amps, speakers, and the whole thing. They are known to play for hours on end. At the end, the house owner gives the band tea and money.

Shopping, everyone is out getting sweets, flowers, and gifts. There is nothing like shopping to make one get into the holiday spirit. 

The last night of the festival fell on a Sunday. This day my friends and I happened to be together having church. Little did we know what our night would turn into.

I’ll tell you more about that in the next post. 

One year ago

A year ago this week my parents came to Nepal. I find myself missing them like crazy.

While they were here we hit all the big tourist spots and more. Every day was full of new experiences and Mom and Dad ended each day exhausted. As I look back over their time here I think about some of my favorite memories.

Eating breakfast outside. This time of year is perfect in Nepal. The morning air is crisp but the sun is bright and the sky is blue. I loved sitting outside, eating breakfast, and just talking. If you know my family then you know we like to talk. This sort of quality “talking” time is my love language and although breakfast outside seems simple it’s a big deal to me.

Bhaktipur. There is a traditional city called Bhaktipur just outside of Katmandu. My good friend Nirmala is from this city and was kind enough to spend the day with my family showing us around. What I love about Nirmala is that as she explains the meaning and significance of the Hindu temples she in turn unabashedly tells you to pray for the people of Nepal. Nirmala’s family is Hindu but as a small girl Nirmala questioned why she had to give offerings to statues while beggars slept on the streets hungry. God continued to work in her life and now she is a bold witness for Christ. I am proud to call “Nirm” my friend and was blessed that she now calls my parents friends.

One of the sweetest moments that I experienced with my parents came on their last evening. We went to my Nepali friend’s restaurant for dinner. While there, a couple of friends popped in carrying a guitar and drum. Thus started an impromptu time of worship with Dad on the drums. The song was simple and my Nepali friends picked it up easily. On a cool November evening, in a tiny Nepali restaurant, Nepali and Americans were singing, “yes Lord, yes Lord YES YES Lord.” My heart is happy just remembering it.

As I mentioned before I find myself missing Mom and Dad and wish that they were here. I am however blessed beyond measure knowing that my parents have walked along side me and have experienced my life. Nepal has captured their hearts and they will forever be changed. 

volunteers

A large portion of my job involves working with short-term volunteers. This year has been full of working with a variety of volunteers from all over the US. I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve been able to spend with them and have been encouraged by them. With every team I learn something new and try to improve on my leadership skills so that I can better help the next volunteers that come. Here are a few things that I have now added to the orientation that I give.

**Some of these things may seem obvious but trust me when I tell you that for some people the obvious eludes them.***

• When trekking through the Himalayas you will be walking at high altitudes AND you will be walking up hills…a lot. 

• Don’t bring your Social Security card to a foreign country. 

• Don’t give Hindus your beef sticks. It’s nice that you want to share but for the millionth time “HINDUS DON’T EAT BEEF!”

• Nepal's restaurants specialize in Nepali food not American food…lower your expectations.

• Blood in your stool is a big deal. Medical professionals should be contacted.

• When I say pack light I’m talking 15 or 20 pounds NOT 60lb…there is a big difference between need and want.

• Don’t pet wild animals. Yes, wild horses will bite you.

• New life rule, if it’s not yours don’t pet it.

To all the volunteers that came to Nepal to serve this year THANK YOU! It was a joy working along side you. You will be remembered…even if it is in telling an embarrassing story to the next set of volunteers.

May the Lord Bless you for your faithfulness!