I forgot to ask for you all to pray for safe travels as I return to New Zealand and then on to Australia. Especially jet lag as I have to front up for work on the Monday.
Jaimesi from Nepal
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Finally an update
Hello to you all,
I know it has been a few weeks that I have had the opportunity of updating my blog. Yet in that time so much good has happened...now where to begin. There is so much to tell.
I have had the chance to catch up with my Nepalise family in Sankhu. They live about 45mins from where I am staying with the team in Jorpati. I was lovely to see them all. I just wish my Nepali was better than the few words so that I could have a proper conversation with them rather than having someone translate all of the time. I am sure that will come as I return to Nepal on a longer term assignment all going well in 2011.
The classes are going well. The knowledge of God and His works amongst the students is just amazing. They seem to grasp everything they can even though the class is conducted in English and translated by interpreters into Nepalise. We are blessed to have all of our translators come from the Hossanah Church. The Students seem to thrive on the group activities especially the simple stories by Max Lacardo, other life experience stories, the role plays of Bible stories, and group work really well. Over here amongst Christian we say Jaimesi which means Praise our God.
One of the blessings we gave the students to show that as Teachers in schools we are all equal in God's eyes yet the children should still show respect. We used the example of Christ washing his disciples feet. We managed to get 3 buckets, soap and towels and Ian, Agnes and I broke the day class students into 3 groups. As the leaders we set about to wash the feet of each student. I had 8 people's feet to wash. I had 3 male students and 5 females in my group. By the end of the washing I was made to sit down so that the three male students could wash my feet. Wow my feet have never felt cleaner. It was the most humbling experience and one that will stay with me for a long time.
I would like to ask you all to pray for Haris who has converted from Hinduism to Christianity because of what he has learned and seen in the work we are doing with Educate Nepal. Haris is one of the workers at the Conference centre where we are working. He fits into the lower end of the Hindu caste system. You would often see him standing or sitting...sometimes through whole sessions trying to take it all in. I approached him at the end of last week and asked him what he was thinking about as he stood and listened to us sing, talk, discuss things, pray and so on. He said he liked our God and would like to know more. We talked about the issues that he would need to be prepared for when becoming a Christian in Nepal. There is much persecution for those who convert from Hinduism to Christianity. More so from families. He said he was aware of this. He told me that Christians seem to always be happy even when things go wrong. In Nepal this seems to be the case. He liked the way people praised God through prayer and worship and were not afraid to talk about their faith. He said that the team did not care who heard in the dining room that we prayed and gave thanks for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I passed on what I had learned to the other team members so that we could commence praying for him and put him in touch with the Pastor of Hossanah Church. We also ensured he was given a Bible in Nepalise. He would also like to go to Bible College. In Nepal it costs around 5000 rupee to put a person through Bible College training. This is less than $100 Australian. It covers all costs, accommodation, books, uniforms and training.
On Sunday we drove for 2 hours to attend one of the satilite churches via a taxi. Our taxi was a small Suzuki. So not a lot of room for 5 people. The roads were rough and dusty. We had a long climb through the mountains and we took a number of back roads to avoid the traffic conjestion of Kathmandu. We went via Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel and then took the road leading to Tibet/ China boarder to a place called outside of Dolalgat called Kalika. We passed through some of the most amazing countryside. Just beautiful. People walk everywhere if they are not riding a motorbike or on a bus. Very few people own cars as they are too expensive. Kalika is a really small run down village. Of course westerners seem to be an attraction. I doubt many westerners come here. Approx 60 people gather in an upstairs building above the local shops. It was hot and steamy considering Nepal was coming to the end of its monsoon season and heading towards autumn/winter. The service was conducted in Nepalise. Grahame who is the backbone working with the Hossanah Church provided the teaching. An interpeter was provided for this. The service went for 3 hours, a break for lunch and then a few hours of worship. We did not stay for lunch as we had to return to prepare for classes the next day. I sat in the lotus position for the whole 3 hours and am no quite sure how I managed to do this. I was so stiff when I got up off the floor. The trip home took a lot longer than anticipated. We got a flat tyre. Mind you the tyre was pretty bald in the first place and the replacement was not much better. I think we all prayed hard so the driver of the taxi could get us back to accommodation safely.
Another one of the highlight and memorable moments was to visit the Bardi Orphanage. It is located outside of Kathmandu in Bhaktapur. There are 32 girls aged from 3 to 18 who have no family and would have been sold into prostitution. It is interesting to note that the government will not allow these girls to be mixed with other children in other orphanges.. These are the girls that I mentioned in my previous blog. There stories are horrific, tearful, pain and sorrow yet when you meet them you get the great big smiles. All we could do is just love them, hug them. They deserve so much more and in this orphange there are going to be so many more opportunities once the Christian School is set up. Hossanah Church is also opening up an orphange in a village in Chinchu, close to where these river children live. Child trafficking is as big in Nepal as it is in places such as Thailand or any other developing country. One of the teachers who lives and works at this orphanage is undergoing the training program with us in Jorpati. Rama is amazing and has the most beautiful heart. Here are some pictures taken at the orphange. They are blessed with an amazing house-mother and father and some additional helpers and their children. Just as well that we have a great God with a huge heart for the lost. Please pray for this unique people group especially as the girls find new direction, hope, peace and safety at the orphanage. May they feel that they have a sense of belonging without fear of persecution.
We saw Ian leave for Hydrabaad in India after week 1 and we had Brendon replace him for the remainder of the training. It was good to observe and have both of the men on board. I valued all what the team brought to this teaching program. There was just so much interaction in both the Teacher Session which ran from 6 - 8.30am. The teachers then went of to the respectives schools to teach. Preparation time for the day students occured from 9 - 11.30. Many of the day students attended Uni, or College before attending our classes and some had to travel 45 minutes just to attend the classes after already being at school from 6am in the morning. The day session ran from 11.30 until 4pm and then the last session for Bible College students ran from 5.30 to 8pm. These students had already been to classes before attending our sessions or going to classes afterwards. It made me wonder just how many teachers or students would attend a session before or after already being at school in our western culture. This went on for 3 weeks. Graduation is tomorrow for all of the students. I have heard some really amazing testimonies from many of the students. Too many to write home about but happy to share over a good coffee. It has really opened up my eyes and heart to see the work that is happening in this place.
I give thanks to God for this amazing opportunity to be part of His bigger plan and as I am called for a longer term assignment in 2011 I am open to what He has in store for me. I know I already have a home to go to when I arrive back to Jorpati. This is a huge blessing as finding suitable accommodation for a westerner can be difficult.
I head to New Zealand on Wed and return to Australia on Sunday. Looking forward to be catching up with as many people as I can on my return.
Jaimesi
I know it has been a few weeks that I have had the opportunity of updating my blog. Yet in that time so much good has happened...now where to begin. There is so much to tell.
I have had the chance to catch up with my Nepalise family in Sankhu. They live about 45mins from where I am staying with the team in Jorpati. I was lovely to see them all. I just wish my Nepali was better than the few words so that I could have a proper conversation with them rather than having someone translate all of the time. I am sure that will come as I return to Nepal on a longer term assignment all going well in 2011.
The classes are going well. The knowledge of God and His works amongst the students is just amazing. They seem to grasp everything they can even though the class is conducted in English and translated by interpreters into Nepalise. We are blessed to have all of our translators come from the Hossanah Church. The Students seem to thrive on the group activities especially the simple stories by Max Lacardo, other life experience stories, the role plays of Bible stories, and group work really well. Over here amongst Christian we say Jaimesi which means Praise our God.
One of the blessings we gave the students to show that as Teachers in schools we are all equal in God's eyes yet the children should still show respect. We used the example of Christ washing his disciples feet. We managed to get 3 buckets, soap and towels and Ian, Agnes and I broke the day class students into 3 groups. As the leaders we set about to wash the feet of each student. I had 8 people's feet to wash. I had 3 male students and 5 females in my group. By the end of the washing I was made to sit down so that the three male students could wash my feet. Wow my feet have never felt cleaner. It was the most humbling experience and one that will stay with me for a long time.
 | ||
| Our day time students preparing for Devotions |
Haris has since been in touch with one of the church associate Pastors who is working with him to find suitable accommodation with a Christian family. Please pray for this to eventuate and also that Haris makes some good connections through the church, and has the support needed to grow This will help him grow in his new found faith. There are many Haris's around Nepal just reaching out. Please also pray that similar opportunities come their way too.
 | ||||||
| Haris |
On Sunday we drove for 2 hours to attend one of the satilite churches via a taxi. Our taxi was a small Suzuki. So not a lot of room for 5 people. The roads were rough and dusty. We had a long climb through the mountains and we took a number of back roads to avoid the traffic conjestion of Kathmandu. We went via Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel and then took the road leading to Tibet/ China boarder to a place called outside of Dolalgat called Kalika. We passed through some of the most amazing countryside. Just beautiful. People walk everywhere if they are not riding a motorbike or on a bus. Very few people own cars as they are too expensive. Kalika is a really small run down village. Of course westerners seem to be an attraction. I doubt many westerners come here. Approx 60 people gather in an upstairs building above the local shops. It was hot and steamy considering Nepal was coming to the end of its monsoon season and heading towards autumn/winter. The service was conducted in Nepalise. Grahame who is the backbone working with the Hossanah Church provided the teaching. An interpeter was provided for this. The service went for 3 hours, a break for lunch and then a few hours of worship. We did not stay for lunch as we had to return to prepare for classes the next day. I sat in the lotus position for the whole 3 hours and am no quite sure how I managed to do this. I was so stiff when I got up off the floor. The trip home took a lot longer than anticipated. We got a flat tyre. Mind you the tyre was pretty bald in the first place and the replacement was not much better. I think we all prayed hard so the driver of the taxi could get us back to accommodation safely.
 |
| Some of the beautiful children at the church we visited |
 |
| The view from the church window |
 |
| People on the roadside |
 |
We saw Ian leave for Hydrabaad in India after week 1 and we had Brendon replace him for the remainder of the training. It was good to observe and have both of the men on board. I valued all what the team brought to this teaching program. There was just so much interaction in both the Teacher Session which ran from 6 - 8.30am. The teachers then went of to the respectives schools to teach. Preparation time for the day students occured from 9 - 11.30. Many of the day students attended Uni, or College before attending our classes and some had to travel 45 minutes just to attend the classes after already being at school from 6am in the morning. The day session ran from 11.30 until 4pm and then the last session for Bible College students ran from 5.30 to 8pm. These students had already been to classes before attending our sessions or going to classes afterwards. It made me wonder just how many teachers or students would attend a session before or after already being at school in our western culture. This went on for 3 weeks. Graduation is tomorrow for all of the students. I have heard some really amazing testimonies from many of the students. Too many to write home about but happy to share over a good coffee. It has really opened up my eyes and heart to see the work that is happening in this place.
I give thanks to God for this amazing opportunity to be part of His bigger plan and as I am called for a longer term assignment in 2011 I am open to what He has in store for me. I know I already have a home to go to when I arrive back to Jorpati. This is a huge blessing as finding suitable accommodation for a westerner can be difficult.
I head to New Zealand on Wed and return to Australia on Sunday. Looking forward to be catching up with as many people as I can on my return.
Jaimesi
Thursday, 23 September 2010
In Nepal - Kathmandu
Hello to you all out of Jorpati - Kathmandu - Norling,
I have arrived safely and have commence training the Nepali to be teachers and Bible college students. They are such wonderful people. I am using a colleagues computer as I did not bring my laptop with me. I was already within my luggage limits bringing with me training material for these students. They are such amazing young people who come from in and around Kathmandu and many out lying districts within Nepal. Such a heart for the Lord.
I learnt something yesterday which has really disturbed me. I always thought that the Dalits were the lowest of the Hindu Caste system and now I find that Badi people group are the lowest of low. I am not sure that anyone could get much lower. It is really heart breaking. There are approximately 6000 Badi people in Nepal and the girls are often sold into prostitution to India (Bombay). This has really touched my heart. We have two of the young girls here with us doing training. To me they both look just like us. The discrimination of people is so strong. Please pray for the Badi people group. I give thanks to the Hosannah Church, in Nepal who are working with these people. Nepali people working with Nepali people to change the nation through introducing Christian education.
We have an average of 40 people attending our day time session and and again 40 from the Bible college in the evening session. All with beautiful hearts for the Lord.
Some of you may be aware before I left for this trip to Nepal I was quite ill. I was given the go ahead to travel but over the last few days I have develop a severe throat infection which is now impacting my hearing. Fortunately the cough has gone. I have had a lingering sore throat for nearly two weeks. It comes and goes. Today I was put onto antibiodics. You can go and buy amocilyn for about $1.50 over the counter in a Chemist hall. In Australia and New Zealand we need a prescription and it costs us heaps. And before anyone asks me ....the pills don't expire until 2012.
Please pray for healing not only for me but the other 3 team members who also have similiar types of ailments. If I get an opportunity I will try and load up some photos. I have to work out how to do this. Also I do not have access to a computer and take the opportunity where I can.
Other than that things are going well. I can really feel the work of the Lord in amongst the work being done here. I see the students taking up the challenge and asking questions. We have a few translators who are helping us out with the sessions. This is a good thing as my Nepali is very basic. I give thanks for these people. The team would be lost without them and I would be lost without their support.
God Bless you all my friends
Until next time
I have arrived safely and have commence training the Nepali to be teachers and Bible college students. They are such wonderful people. I am using a colleagues computer as I did not bring my laptop with me. I was already within my luggage limits bringing with me training material for these students. They are such amazing young people who come from in and around Kathmandu and many out lying districts within Nepal. Such a heart for the Lord.
I learnt something yesterday which has really disturbed me. I always thought that the Dalits were the lowest of the Hindu Caste system and now I find that Badi people group are the lowest of low. I am not sure that anyone could get much lower. It is really heart breaking. There are approximately 6000 Badi people in Nepal and the girls are often sold into prostitution to India (Bombay). This has really touched my heart. We have two of the young girls here with us doing training. To me they both look just like us. The discrimination of people is so strong. Please pray for the Badi people group. I give thanks to the Hosannah Church, in Nepal who are working with these people. Nepali people working with Nepali people to change the nation through introducing Christian education.
We have an average of 40 people attending our day time session and and again 40 from the Bible college in the evening session. All with beautiful hearts for the Lord.
Some of you may be aware before I left for this trip to Nepal I was quite ill. I was given the go ahead to travel but over the last few days I have develop a severe throat infection which is now impacting my hearing. Fortunately the cough has gone. I have had a lingering sore throat for nearly two weeks. It comes and goes. Today I was put onto antibiodics. You can go and buy amocilyn for about $1.50 over the counter in a Chemist hall. In Australia and New Zealand we need a prescription and it costs us heaps. And before anyone asks me ....the pills don't expire until 2012.
Please pray for healing not only for me but the other 3 team members who also have similiar types of ailments. If I get an opportunity I will try and load up some photos. I have to work out how to do this. Also I do not have access to a computer and take the opportunity where I can.
Other than that things are going well. I can really feel the work of the Lord in amongst the work being done here. I see the students taking up the challenge and asking questions. We have a few translators who are helping us out with the sessions. This is a good thing as my Nepali is very basic. I give thanks for these people. The team would be lost without them and I would be lost without their support.
God Bless you all my friends
Until next time
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Nearly.....
Greetings to you and thank you for all your prayers. I am now have the OK to travel after my recent bout of illness. I give the glory to God.
I am ready and packed. This is pretty unusal for me as I don't normally pack until the day I leave. I must say most of the luggage I am taking are teaching aids and items for the women shelters. I will have a few days before I start to complete all of my lesson plans and finalise preparations. The days will be long commencing at 6am and working through until 10pm. We have 60 Nepali teachers to train up in the New Hope International material. I will be staying in the centre of Kathmandu.
I am hoping to have some opportunities to catch up with my Nepali family in Sunkhu and Sarangot and perhap visit a few of Nepal's landmarks.
Now looking at the clock it is time to go to bed. My next yak will be from Nepal.
God Bless
I am ready and packed. This is pretty unusal for me as I don't normally pack until the day I leave. I must say most of the luggage I am taking are teaching aids and items for the women shelters. I will have a few days before I start to complete all of my lesson plans and finalise preparations. The days will be long commencing at 6am and working through until 10pm. We have 60 Nepali teachers to train up in the New Hope International material. I will be staying in the centre of Kathmandu.
I am hoping to have some opportunities to catch up with my Nepali family in Sunkhu and Sarangot and perhap visit a few of Nepal's landmarks.
Now looking at the clock it is time to go to bed. My next yak will be from Nepal.
God Bless
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Hi Folks,
I am asking all of you to pray as I have come down with horrible cough, sore throat and now I have managed to burst an eardrum which may put my travels in jeopardy. I am praying for quick healing as I leave on Tuesday evening and have a long flight ahead of me. I have also been informed that an outbreak of dengi fever is through parts of Kathmandu. Please pray for my safety not just for me but also for the Nepalese people.
Thank you in advance and God bless you all
P.S God willing I will be in Nepal when I next write.
I am asking all of you to pray as I have come down with horrible cough, sore throat and now I have managed to burst an eardrum which may put my travels in jeopardy. I am praying for quick healing as I leave on Tuesday evening and have a long flight ahead of me. I have also been informed that an outbreak of dengi fever is through parts of Kathmandu. Please pray for my safety not just for me but also for the Nepalese people.
Thank you in advance and God bless you all
P.S God willing I will be in Nepal when I next write.
Saturday, 4 September 2010
One week to go
Hello to you all.
This is my last week in Canberra before I leave for Nepal. I still have much to plan. Prayer cards were emailed out this morning so if you did not receive one and would like to be added to the list please email me at awirtitsch@gmail.com or anji59@gmail.com.
An update: Last week I caught up with the team "Educate Nepal" in Sydney. It was sad to learn that the 2 teachers that were to join us from Nepal had their visa's declined. We are yet to find out from immigration as to why their visas were rejected. It would have been a wonderful opportunity for these two teachers to experience Christian education at a good Christian School. It was not to be.
The Aussie contingent got together and spent the day planning and preparing for the upcoming trip. On Sunday dear Agnes and I worked on the training material for the Introduction to Christian Teaching and came up with a plan. I give thanks that she is prepared to do the ground work so that I can organise other things that need to be completed. I pray all will be accomplished in due course.
Please pray for the city of Christchurch, New Zealand and the people there. This includes my family and friends who were at 4.30am this morning woken up to a massive earthquake of 7.4 on the rector scale. They are ok and casualities are light on.
Please pray that the work the team and I will be undertaking in Nepal and that it will be according to God's calling. I give him the glory and thanks for this awesome opportunity.
God bless you all
My next update will be in Nepal
This is my last week in Canberra before I leave for Nepal. I still have much to plan. Prayer cards were emailed out this morning so if you did not receive one and would like to be added to the list please email me at awirtitsch@gmail.com or anji59@gmail.com.
An update: Last week I caught up with the team "Educate Nepal" in Sydney. It was sad to learn that the 2 teachers that were to join us from Nepal had their visa's declined. We are yet to find out from immigration as to why their visas were rejected. It would have been a wonderful opportunity for these two teachers to experience Christian education at a good Christian School. It was not to be.
The Aussie contingent got together and spent the day planning and preparing for the upcoming trip. On Sunday dear Agnes and I worked on the training material for the Introduction to Christian Teaching and came up with a plan. I give thanks that she is prepared to do the ground work so that I can organise other things that need to be completed. I pray all will be accomplished in due course.
Please pray for the city of Christchurch, New Zealand and the people there. This includes my family and friends who were at 4.30am this morning woken up to a massive earthquake of 7.4 on the rector scale. They are ok and casualities are light on.
Please pray that the work the team and I will be undertaking in Nepal and that it will be according to God's calling. I give him the glory and thanks for this awesome opportunity.
God bless you all
My next update will be in Nepal
Monday, 28 June 2010
Preparations for September
Lillith Elizabeth Rose Wirtitsch arrived on the 28 May 2010 whilst I was in Brisbane. Another beautiful grand daughter. A cousin for Spiral. Preparations are now on the way for my next assignment to Nepal. I managed to buy my tickets for a great price and have also been able to tack on a few days to go to New Zealand to attend Spiral's 5th Birthday. I fly out from Canberra on the 14 Sept and return to Canberra on the 12 October. There will be a few days to settle in and catch up with some of my Nepalise friends before teaching commences.
As much as I am excited about returning to Nepal there is much to do before I leave. There are a couple of training days up in Sydney that I am trying to squeeze in before I go. My teaching and assessment calendar are full and it seems everyone is trying to squeeze more into it. My language CD's have not yet arrived so I may need to rely on my interpreter. I have to say I am looking forward to meeting up with the team who are also joining me in Nepal. Work starts for all of us on the 20 Sept until the 1 Oct. I am hoping to have a few days after the training to visit Marguerite who is volunteering in the South of Nepal close to the boarder of India.
In the meantime I ask that you pray for my family in Canberra, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand. For the team I will be joining as we prepare the teaching material, for the teachers who will be receiving this new knowledge and skills to teach from a Christian view not a with a view of the world.
God Bless you all
Anji
As much as I am excited about returning to Nepal there is much to do before I leave. There are a couple of training days up in Sydney that I am trying to squeeze in before I go. My teaching and assessment calendar are full and it seems everyone is trying to squeeze more into it. My language CD's have not yet arrived so I may need to rely on my interpreter. I have to say I am looking forward to meeting up with the team who are also joining me in Nepal. Work starts for all of us on the 20 Sept until the 1 Oct. I am hoping to have a few days after the training to visit Marguerite who is volunteering in the South of Nepal close to the boarder of India.
In the meantime I ask that you pray for my family in Canberra, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand. For the team I will be joining as we prepare the teaching material, for the teachers who will be receiving this new knowledge and skills to teach from a Christian view not a with a view of the world.
God Bless you all
Anji
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Back in Oz and preparing for September
Well now I have been back... coming up to 3 months and I am already planning for my next trip to Nepal in September where the plan is for me to train up Nepali teachers in Christian Schools. I am anxiously waiting for my language CD's to arrive so I can put them in the car and listen and learn Nepali before I head across again. Ho hum I am told they now won't arrive until the end of July or better still arrive some time after I return in October. I am not sure how I will go about learning to write as Nepalis write using the Devengari Script. I think I have spelt that one right.
In the meantime I am awaiting the arrival of my 2nd grand daughter Lillith. She is due any day now. I still find it weird to know that she has not yet entered our world and already we know that she is a she and has a name. Still it is very exciting. A new life and a blessing!
I will keep you update as to how my plans are going for my next adventure. Stay well, happy and God Bless you all ...
In the meantime I am awaiting the arrival of my 2nd grand daughter Lillith. She is due any day now. I still find it weird to know that she has not yet entered our world and already we know that she is a she and has a name. Still it is very exciting. A new life and a blessing!
I will keep you update as to how my plans are going for my next adventure. Stay well, happy and God Bless you all ...
Friday, 12 February 2010
Long awaited photos
Here are some long awaited photos now that I have been able to down load them. Enjoy them.....
Housing area in Kathmandu 
Kathmandu is a dirty city. Most of the city is littered with rubbish as you can see in this photo. Whilst I was there the garbage workers were on strike and had been for a number of weeks. By the time I had left they decided to go back to work. Locals would say to me...'that is just how it is in Nepal"
The village houses in Sankhu
Sankhu Village, 17 km from Kathmandu (1.5 hour to get there). A typical Nepalise child looking out onto the street.
A typical fruit and vegetable stall seen in nearly villages and along roadsides.
Women typically sit in the square selling fruit in a Kathmandu tourist area.
It is festival time in the village. Many Hindus travel from far and wide to worship one of their many Hindu Gods. Married women wear red. Mostly Sari's. Some of them are just so beautiful. Here the women have grouped together to pray to the God of Wisdom and Education.
One of the local stores. These can be found on roadside as well as in many of the villages. Note the roof... it is held down by rocks not nailed down. Some places I saw tyres on the roof to hold it down.
You will find cattle just roaming the streets not only in the village but in the cities as well. Cattle are scared animals and seem to have free reign in the cities. I am not sure who owns them but they are everywhere. So amongst the congestion of the traffic you are fighting with the cows, motorbikes, trucks, buses, bicycles, rickshaws, people etc for some part of the road to get to where you want to go. No wonder it to get anywhere takes such a long time. :-)
Here I am having a rest and enjoying the crisp sunny day on one of the Islands which holds a Buddist temple on Fewa Lake in Pokhara.
One of the many villages along the hillside. Their farm pastures are set up the hillsides. It is pretty amazing. You see homes like this scattered in various pockets along the mountainside. 
Check out the water areas. You will see these as you drive along the roughly built highways. One of these water areas every 50 meters. It is interesting that the women will wash clothes, cooking utensils, themselves in full view with not a care that people could be watching them. They have no privacy when it comes to bathing. Also I began to wonder why you would bother as there is just so much dust around.
This is a common scene. Women standing around chatting with their community people. Women in the village wear the traditional Nepalise dress. Only in Kathmandu will you now see the younger generation wearing more western style of clothing.
For any Engineers. Check out this construction site. Most of the work is undertaken by women. There is no such thing as OH&S. Bamboo poles are used to brace concrete. I have seen the same through other parts of Asia.
Women shovelling sand and stone mix for concreting into baskets which they carry on their back and onto the construction site. There are no such things as safety shoes. Plastic bags tired to their feet and the flipflops worn over them. This is the only protection they have on their feet.
A view from the top of the Buddhist Stupas in Boudhanath Area. It is one of the World Heritage Sites.
Neeva was my translator and guide for most of my stay within Sankhu and Kathmandu. Behind us is the Boudhanath Buddhist Stupas. This great stupa stands approximately 6 km north east from the centre of Kathmandu valley. It is surrounded by hills. Buddhists see the stupa as a jewel point in the centre of a natural mandala, a store of scared energy. It is one of the most important pilgramage for the Buddhist.
With some of my Nepalise friends and family members just outside of Boudhanath
Monkeys roam freely through Kathmandu. I have seen them cross the streets over electrical wiring. They reside in a number of temples, and parks close in the city. In Sankhu I saw a few monkeys but not as many as I did in Kathmandu. Here the monkeys come in from the forests looking for food. It was interesting to observe them as they knew what time meal times were and they came across a golf course in large numbers.
Leaving the best for last. Food....the traditional Nepalise diet consists of rice and lentils. "Dahl Bhaht"). A number of condiments, chutneys, curried vegetables are also included. I can't wait to cook this in my own kitchen. I have not been able to succumbe to eating this dish with my hands. I have to say in the village that is the only way you will see this dish eaten.
Housing area in Kathmandu 
Kathmandu is a dirty city. Most of the city is littered with rubbish as you can see in this photo. Whilst I was there the garbage workers were on strike and had been for a number of weeks. By the time I had left they decided to go back to work. Locals would say to me...'that is just how it is in Nepal"
The village houses in Sankhu 
Sankhu Village, 17 km from Kathmandu (1.5 hour to get there). A typical Nepalise child looking out onto the street.
A typical fruit and vegetable stall seen in nearly villages and along roadsides. 
Women typically sit in the square selling fruit in a Kathmandu tourist area. Below are some of the children of the family I stayed with in the village of Sankhu. In this family there were two mothers, 5 girls, a boy and their father. In Hindu culture if the wife is unable to provide a boy with in 10 years of marriage the husband is able to go out and find himself another wife in the hope of producing a son.
Check out the kitchen in the background of the photo below.
Most of the preparing of meals is undertaken on the floor.
It is festival time in the village. Many Hindus travel from far and wide to worship one of their many Hindu Gods. Married women wear red. Mostly Sari's. Some of them are just so beautiful. Here the women have grouped together to pray to the God of Wisdom and Education.
One of the local stores. These can be found on roadside as well as in many of the villages. Note the roof... it is held down by rocks not nailed down. Some places I saw tyres on the roof to hold it down.
You will find cattle just roaming the streets not only in the village but in the cities as well. Cattle are scared animals and seem to have free reign in the cities. I am not sure who owns them but they are everywhere. So amongst the congestion of the traffic you are fighting with the cows, motorbikes, trucks, buses, bicycles, rickshaws, people etc for some part of the road to get to where you want to go. No wonder it to get anywhere takes such a long time. :-)
Here I am having a rest and enjoying the crisp sunny day on one of the Islands which holds a Buddist temple on Fewa Lake in Pokhara. 
One of the many villages along the hillside. Their farm pastures are set up the hillsides. It is pretty amazing. You see homes like this scattered in various pockets along the mountainside. 
Check out the water areas. You will see these as you drive along the roughly built highways. One of these water areas every 50 meters. It is interesting that the women will wash clothes, cooking utensils, themselves in full view with not a care that people could be watching them. They have no privacy when it comes to bathing. Also I began to wonder why you would bother as there is just so much dust around. 
This is a common scene. Women standing around chatting with their community people. Women in the village wear the traditional Nepalise dress. Only in Kathmandu will you now see the younger generation wearing more western style of clothing.
For any Engineers. Check out this construction site. Most of the work is undertaken by women. There is no such thing as OH&S. Bamboo poles are used to brace concrete. I have seen the same through other parts of Asia. 
Women shovelling sand and stone mix for concreting into baskets which they carry on their back and onto the construction site. There are no such things as safety shoes. Plastic bags tired to their feet and the flipflops worn over them. This is the only protection they have on their feet.
A view from the top of the Buddhist Stupas in Boudhanath Area. It is one of the World Heritage Sites. 
Neeva was my translator and guide for most of my stay within Sankhu and Kathmandu. Behind us is the Boudhanath Buddhist Stupas. This great stupa stands approximately 6 km north east from the centre of Kathmandu valley. It is surrounded by hills. Buddhists see the stupa as a jewel point in the centre of a natural mandala, a store of scared energy. It is one of the most important pilgramage for the Buddhist. 
With some of my Nepalise friends and family members just outside of Boudhanath 
Monkeys roam freely through Kathmandu. I have seen them cross the streets over electrical wiring. They reside in a number of temples, and parks close in the city. In Sankhu I saw a few monkeys but not as many as I did in Kathmandu. Here the monkeys come in from the forests looking for food. It was interesting to observe them as they knew what time meal times were and they came across a golf course in large numbers.
Leaving the best for last. Food....the traditional Nepalise diet consists of rice and lentils. "Dahl Bhaht"). A number of condiments, chutneys, curried vegetables are also included. I can't wait to cook this in my own kitchen. I have not been able to succumbe to eating this dish with my hands. I have to say in the village that is the only way you will see this dish eaten. Back in Australia
Greetings and a big Thank You to all of you for all your prayer support. I could sense and feel the energy of prayer around some difficult situations where I knew that I could not do without the support of prayer. To often we place little emphasis on the power of prayer and think we are able to do it all in our own strength. I have come to rely on praying and more so asking for that prayer support.
I am now back in Australia. I was fortunate to be able to sleep on the plane between Kathmandu and Hong Kong. I struggled but did manage to stay awake on the next leg of my journey from Hong Kong to Sydney. Thank goodness for a good book, a German traveller to Sydney and some OK movies. It all helped to while away the hours.
It was sad to leave Nepal especially my new friends and contacts I had made whilst over there and before going. Is it good to be back? Well ask me in a week or so. I would like to take some time to reflect on my experiences and as to what God now wants me to do with all these new learnings and experiences. I have become so much more enriched by spending time with the Nepalise people, experiencing their culture, their difficulties, their struggles and lack of hope as to how things can change for them. I have seen the best and the worst, the injustice surrounding women. I have talked to many of the students who see no hope in obtaining a career of choice. Young women who only see themselves being married off in an arranged marriage. In the village there are many illiterate women and men. Many cannot even write in their own language. Proper sanitation in remote locations, children walking 2 to 3 hours to go to school, children who don't go to school and the list grows. Some of this is very difficult for even me to grasp. Yet I know in my heart that I can make change through assisting communities setup sustainable programs (where they will take the ownership) that will incorporate change to improve conditions and the way of life for the basic Nepali person. I see much of this undertaken through education and training.
I can also say that the Nepali people I worked with were genuinely appreciative of any assistance they could get to help them improve their circumstances. These groups of people gave me so much more. I stayed with a number of Nepali families. I was very welcomed into their home and very much made to feel part of the family. For all of this I am very thankful.
I can see myself returning to Nepal in the very near future. I have a couple of reports to complete for various groups of people and I hope to complete them over this coming weekend. After that I will see where to next.
On that note I will sign off and go to bed. I should have gone a couple of hours ago.
God's Blessings to you all and I hope to see many of you in the coming weeks.
I am now back in Australia. I was fortunate to be able to sleep on the plane between Kathmandu and Hong Kong. I struggled but did manage to stay awake on the next leg of my journey from Hong Kong to Sydney. Thank goodness for a good book, a German traveller to Sydney and some OK movies. It all helped to while away the hours.
It was sad to leave Nepal especially my new friends and contacts I had made whilst over there and before going. Is it good to be back? Well ask me in a week or so. I would like to take some time to reflect on my experiences and as to what God now wants me to do with all these new learnings and experiences. I have become so much more enriched by spending time with the Nepalise people, experiencing their culture, their difficulties, their struggles and lack of hope as to how things can change for them. I have seen the best and the worst, the injustice surrounding women. I have talked to many of the students who see no hope in obtaining a career of choice. Young women who only see themselves being married off in an arranged marriage. In the village there are many illiterate women and men. Many cannot even write in their own language. Proper sanitation in remote locations, children walking 2 to 3 hours to go to school, children who don't go to school and the list grows. Some of this is very difficult for even me to grasp. Yet I know in my heart that I can make change through assisting communities setup sustainable programs (where they will take the ownership) that will incorporate change to improve conditions and the way of life for the basic Nepali person. I see much of this undertaken through education and training.
I can also say that the Nepali people I worked with were genuinely appreciative of any assistance they could get to help them improve their circumstances. These groups of people gave me so much more. I stayed with a number of Nepali families. I was very welcomed into their home and very much made to feel part of the family. For all of this I am very thankful.
I can see myself returning to Nepal in the very near future. I have a couple of reports to complete for various groups of people and I hope to complete them over this coming weekend. After that I will see where to next.
On that note I will sign off and go to bed. I should have gone a couple of hours ago.
God's Blessings to you all and I hope to see many of you in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Returning to Australia
(This was written a few days ago before the power cut and never got completed)
Hello to you all,
This will be my last blog for now from Nepal. I have had the most amazing time and experiences, and meet the most amazing people. Nepalis are so hospitable and friendly. I have been welcomed wherever I went and many a time been invited into their homes for 'dahl badht'.
Today I have just found out that whilst I was in Pokhara I was in the midst of a SARs (Bird Flu) epidemic. I am glad that chicken and eggs was not on my menu. The Government of Nepal held off for nearly a week before they informed the locals and came in and slaughtered many of the farmer's chickens and removed eggs from shops, farms etc. It was pretty deverstating for the local people...losing their livelihood. There are issues between the Government and locals around suitable compensation and the burying of carcasses on Hindu/sacred land. This meant that the carcasses laid around until suitable Government land became available to bury them. I guess this has made the situation worse. I am thankful that I was given the heads up even before the information was released to the public.
Now my time is coming to an end. I spent my final days reviewing a school and its business processes putting in place some changes to the curriculum. The school is conducted in English with some Nepali in the areas of dance and grammer. The school age for these children start at two and half through to six years old. Nepali children go to school 6 days a week. Some start as early as 6am through to 11am and then the next group commences at 11am until 4pm. This is so that the school can cater for many children.
Now I am back in Kathmandu staying at the Holy Himmalaya Hotel. This is a blessing from one of the Director's at the school I was assessing. Having some 'ME' time has been good as it is giving me time to evaluate all that I have been doing and finding some purpose to it all. Many doors have been opened for the future and I see God's work in many things. Sometimes I wonder how it all can be achieved and what do I really have to offer these people and their community. I am reminded constantly that I am the catalyst that God needs to inject change for His people... beginning through education. Human rights and safety issues are only just coming to the forefront in Nepal. The younger generation are keen to see and assist with change in a positive way in their country.
I have had a couple of interviews since I have been here. One with the Kathmandu International Study Centre as the Human Resource Manager where I would be looking after the Staff at the school, and Equip Nepali Teacher Program, and Staff who help out in administration, kitchen, recruitment, evaluation of curriculum etc and one to be the Director of another Nepali School. One is a volunteer positions and the other is a paid position but in Nepali Rupee. The difficulty many mission agencies are finding is that it is difficult to retain volunteers due to the financial position and to pay and recruit Nepalise means that the costs will need to rise for education. There are also visa issues that cause complications when recruiting from outside of Nepal. Volunteer visas are becoming very difficult to obtain. Even though a person volunteers to assist a variety of projects they are still required to pay foreigner prices for many things. Please pray that the right doors will open for the right people to assist the wider Nepali community and that the funds will be available for volunteers to stay longer than a few months.
Continue on for 7 Feb 2010 or a Nepali Year of 2066.
Today I headed back to the remote location of Sankhu to say good bye to my Nepelise family and friends. I managed to visit a few heritage sights, play some badminton with the children. I also visited one of the National Parks which backs right on to one of the golf courses once owned by the King of Nepal. There are many monkeys that drift in from the forest across the golf course in search of food from nearby residents, hotels etc. It is a pretty spectacular sight. I did refrain from feeding them. I actually thought it was best not to encourage them. I went for a long walk around the edge of the forest with one of my good Nepali friends. I found as long as you left the monkeys alone they left you alone. By now I have manage to build up a good network of Nepali friends with whom I will stay in contact with when I return home.
I can see myself returning to Nepal sooner rather than later. There is much unfinished work to be completed. I was surprised how many doors have been opened and just how many people are looking for assistance from the west. Not necessarily financial, but more for ideas, and options to build a better community, ensuring all children no matter where they are located have an opportunity to good education, sanitation improved amongst the slum areas of Kathmandu, and an improvement in infrastructure including roads, transport, health, power, human rights, justice for the poor and women etc.
There are many NGOs set up in Nepal but their purpose does not focus on the agenda's of the community nor do some of them meet the needs of the Nepali community. The people I have been working with are local people who are greatly aware that to make an impact with their people one needs to listen to them not to resolve their problems but to actually hear what their needs are. It is about working with them, not for our own agendas but theirs. I have learnt like us in the western world we too have to learn by our own mistakes so why would this not be the case for Nepal. The Nepali people do know what the needs are for their community. The people I have worked with and spent time with certainly do. I pray that the Government officials will begin to listen to the needs of their people and take some positive action not for their own agendas but for their people.
9 Feb 2010 or a Nepali year of 2066.
Today is my packing morning. This evening I am flying out from Kathmandu via Hong Kong and on to Sydney. I am being taken out to dinner for my last meal of 'dahl badht'. After that... if I would like to eat Nepali food I will have to cook it myself ....back home. I will spend the day with one of my Nepali friends and be joined by a number of other friends to say 'see you later' not 'goodbye'. It will be a chance to re-live a few special moments. I hope that I have been able to make some sort of an impact or a difference for these people, through my faith, the examples I have set and providing hope that through my belief in God change definately can occur. I am thankful that I believe in only one God. I could not imagine worshipping many Gods. I would feel in adequate in many areas and could never live up the expectation of these Gods. I am grateful that I have a forgiving, trusting, merciful and loving God who is worth all honour and much more.
My next blog will be the summary of when I return home. My love to you all.
Hello to you all,
This will be my last blog for now from Nepal. I have had the most amazing time and experiences, and meet the most amazing people. Nepalis are so hospitable and friendly. I have been welcomed wherever I went and many a time been invited into their homes for 'dahl badht'.
Today I have just found out that whilst I was in Pokhara I was in the midst of a SARs (Bird Flu) epidemic. I am glad that chicken and eggs was not on my menu. The Government of Nepal held off for nearly a week before they informed the locals and came in and slaughtered many of the farmer's chickens and removed eggs from shops, farms etc. It was pretty deverstating for the local people...losing their livelihood. There are issues between the Government and locals around suitable compensation and the burying of carcasses on Hindu/sacred land. This meant that the carcasses laid around until suitable Government land became available to bury them. I guess this has made the situation worse. I am thankful that I was given the heads up even before the information was released to the public.
Now my time is coming to an end. I spent my final days reviewing a school and its business processes putting in place some changes to the curriculum. The school is conducted in English with some Nepali in the areas of dance and grammer. The school age for these children start at two and half through to six years old. Nepali children go to school 6 days a week. Some start as early as 6am through to 11am and then the next group commences at 11am until 4pm. This is so that the school can cater for many children.
Now I am back in Kathmandu staying at the Holy Himmalaya Hotel. This is a blessing from one of the Director's at the school I was assessing. Having some 'ME' time has been good as it is giving me time to evaluate all that I have been doing and finding some purpose to it all. Many doors have been opened for the future and I see God's work in many things. Sometimes I wonder how it all can be achieved and what do I really have to offer these people and their community. I am reminded constantly that I am the catalyst that God needs to inject change for His people... beginning through education. Human rights and safety issues are only just coming to the forefront in Nepal. The younger generation are keen to see and assist with change in a positive way in their country.
I have had a couple of interviews since I have been here. One with the Kathmandu International Study Centre as the Human Resource Manager where I would be looking after the Staff at the school, and Equip Nepali Teacher Program, and Staff who help out in administration, kitchen, recruitment, evaluation of curriculum etc and one to be the Director of another Nepali School. One is a volunteer positions and the other is a paid position but in Nepali Rupee. The difficulty many mission agencies are finding is that it is difficult to retain volunteers due to the financial position and to pay and recruit Nepalise means that the costs will need to rise for education. There are also visa issues that cause complications when recruiting from outside of Nepal. Volunteer visas are becoming very difficult to obtain. Even though a person volunteers to assist a variety of projects they are still required to pay foreigner prices for many things. Please pray that the right doors will open for the right people to assist the wider Nepali community and that the funds will be available for volunteers to stay longer than a few months.
Continue on for 7 Feb 2010 or a Nepali Year of 2066.
Today I headed back to the remote location of Sankhu to say good bye to my Nepelise family and friends. I managed to visit a few heritage sights, play some badminton with the children. I also visited one of the National Parks which backs right on to one of the golf courses once owned by the King of Nepal. There are many monkeys that drift in from the forest across the golf course in search of food from nearby residents, hotels etc. It is a pretty spectacular sight. I did refrain from feeding them. I actually thought it was best not to encourage them. I went for a long walk around the edge of the forest with one of my good Nepali friends. I found as long as you left the monkeys alone they left you alone. By now I have manage to build up a good network of Nepali friends with whom I will stay in contact with when I return home.
I can see myself returning to Nepal sooner rather than later. There is much unfinished work to be completed. I was surprised how many doors have been opened and just how many people are looking for assistance from the west. Not necessarily financial, but more for ideas, and options to build a better community, ensuring all children no matter where they are located have an opportunity to good education, sanitation improved amongst the slum areas of Kathmandu, and an improvement in infrastructure including roads, transport, health, power, human rights, justice for the poor and women etc.
There are many NGOs set up in Nepal but their purpose does not focus on the agenda's of the community nor do some of them meet the needs of the Nepali community. The people I have been working with are local people who are greatly aware that to make an impact with their people one needs to listen to them not to resolve their problems but to actually hear what their needs are. It is about working with them, not for our own agendas but theirs. I have learnt like us in the western world we too have to learn by our own mistakes so why would this not be the case for Nepal. The Nepali people do know what the needs are for their community. The people I have worked with and spent time with certainly do. I pray that the Government officials will begin to listen to the needs of their people and take some positive action not for their own agendas but for their people.
9 Feb 2010 or a Nepali year of 2066.
Today is my packing morning. This evening I am flying out from Kathmandu via Hong Kong and on to Sydney. I am being taken out to dinner for my last meal of 'dahl badht'. After that... if I would like to eat Nepali food I will have to cook it myself ....back home. I will spend the day with one of my Nepali friends and be joined by a number of other friends to say 'see you later' not 'goodbye'. It will be a chance to re-live a few special moments. I hope that I have been able to make some sort of an impact or a difference for these people, through my faith, the examples I have set and providing hope that through my belief in God change definately can occur. I am thankful that I believe in only one God. I could not imagine worshipping many Gods. I would feel in adequate in many areas and could never live up the expectation of these Gods. I am grateful that I have a forgiving, trusting, merciful and loving God who is worth all honour and much more.
My next blog will be the summary of when I return home. My love to you all.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Back in Kathmandu
Blessings to you all.
Hmm interesting I am working from a Nepali keyboard and it is making typing a tad interesting. I am grateful that I can touch type. My presentation went well and was well received. Actually much better than I had anticipated. I will be forwarded the outcome of it in a fortnight. The good thing that came out were the amount of fantastic questions that were raised. This always a good sign.
Today I went to assess a school where I will be comprising a report focusing on curriculum improvement. I get around this congested city of Kathmandu by taxi or on the back of a motorbike. At first I found it very nerve wracking but now I am used to it. The motorbike is the best way to get through the congested traffic on all of the narrow streets. Today I saw monkeys climbing over the electrical wiring to cross over the street. I wish I could have stopped and taken a photo. I had to explain to my interpreter that we do not have monkeys on our streets but that we can find them in our zoos. He just laughed.
I went to join a group of medical profession and some medical students who have gotten together wanting to set up an NGO and put in place programs to teach and improve sanitation to slum community on the outskirts of Kathmandu. I thought straight away at some material I have brought along with me that focuses on Community Health and Education (CHE). I will sift through some of the material this evening and see if there is something that can be of use to them. They are an amazing bunch of Nepalese, around the age of 25, who are very keen to help their people. We discussed starting of small, trialling or piloting what they want to do in a small area, iron out any problems before going all out. This way, they will not be taking on too many projects and too large an area. I see many doors opening, many opportunities for me to give my story and to talk about my God openly in a country that has been suppressed for many years. I have made many Nepalie friends who gather their friends who are like-minded and want to make a difference and ask me to speak, offer ideas, and facilitate their brain storming sessions to come up with a plan. They had no idea that Nepal had a leprosy hospital or that leprosy was an issue in Nepal. Yes leprosy is hidden in Nepal. Out in the far western district of Nepal it is still very much an issue and people are outcasts. The International Nepal Fellowship (INF) has set up this hospital in the Pokahara district.
Tomorrow I head back to my homestay village at Sankhu for the day. I will spend it with my homestay family. I can't believe I have been in Nepal for nearly 3 weeks. I love the people, even though I struggle with the language. I have learnt to adapt by mimic and many hand display actions. The Nepalise are just so friendly and hospitable and I am so thankful for the opportunities, the openness of the people, and their eagerness to show me their world. I have had some trying times but I know that God is so much bigger and even though I may get frustrated at the injustice or in communicating, I see and know that God works here too. I am reminded that I am His instrument...a tool for his purpose. On that note I must love you all and say good night until next time. God bless you all. I can't thank you enough for all your prayers.
Hmm interesting I am working from a Nepali keyboard and it is making typing a tad interesting. I am grateful that I can touch type. My presentation went well and was well received. Actually much better than I had anticipated. I will be forwarded the outcome of it in a fortnight. The good thing that came out were the amount of fantastic questions that were raised. This always a good sign.
Today I went to assess a school where I will be comprising a report focusing on curriculum improvement. I get around this congested city of Kathmandu by taxi or on the back of a motorbike. At first I found it very nerve wracking but now I am used to it. The motorbike is the best way to get through the congested traffic on all of the narrow streets. Today I saw monkeys climbing over the electrical wiring to cross over the street. I wish I could have stopped and taken a photo. I had to explain to my interpreter that we do not have monkeys on our streets but that we can find them in our zoos. He just laughed.
I went to join a group of medical profession and some medical students who have gotten together wanting to set up an NGO and put in place programs to teach and improve sanitation to slum community on the outskirts of Kathmandu. I thought straight away at some material I have brought along with me that focuses on Community Health and Education (CHE). I will sift through some of the material this evening and see if there is something that can be of use to them. They are an amazing bunch of Nepalese, around the age of 25, who are very keen to help their people. We discussed starting of small, trialling or piloting what they want to do in a small area, iron out any problems before going all out. This way, they will not be taking on too many projects and too large an area. I see many doors opening, many opportunities for me to give my story and to talk about my God openly in a country that has been suppressed for many years. I have made many Nepalie friends who gather their friends who are like-minded and want to make a difference and ask me to speak, offer ideas, and facilitate their brain storming sessions to come up with a plan. They had no idea that Nepal had a leprosy hospital or that leprosy was an issue in Nepal. Yes leprosy is hidden in Nepal. Out in the far western district of Nepal it is still very much an issue and people are outcasts. The International Nepal Fellowship (INF) has set up this hospital in the Pokahara district.
Tomorrow I head back to my homestay village at Sankhu for the day. I will spend it with my homestay family. I can't believe I have been in Nepal for nearly 3 weeks. I love the people, even though I struggle with the language. I have learnt to adapt by mimic and many hand display actions. The Nepalise are just so friendly and hospitable and I am so thankful for the opportunities, the openness of the people, and their eagerness to show me their world. I have had some trying times but I know that God is so much bigger and even though I may get frustrated at the injustice or in communicating, I see and know that God works here too. I am reminded that I am His instrument...a tool for his purpose. On that note I must love you all and say good night until next time. God bless you all. I can't thank you enough for all your prayers.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Hello to you all from a very cold day in Pokhara,
Today I have the experience of seeing the most amazing sunrise from the small town up on the mountain - Sarangot . This is where you get to see the most amazing views of the Annapurna mountain range as the sun comes up. Truly one of God's amazing creations.
I took a bus today which seemed to take for ever. Along the way we come across many small villages which backup right against the road. The roads are dusty yet you find women washing, not just their clothes but themselves and their children, their cooking utensils, and collect water etc. I was wondering why they bothered with all the dust that comes from buses and the many trucks that drive up and down those mountains. The odd thing is that the water areas all face the streets. You also see many people not doing anything, other than basically sitting around. I am amazed at the school uniforms of some of the children...white trousers and or skirts with either a differing coloured jersey. I wonder how they manage to keep those uniforms looking so white. If I have anything to go by when I stayed with my host family in Sankhu ... I can see the way they soaked and scrubbed their whites. It makes me wonder how long their clothes keep before they are worn out.
Also many of the homes have galvanised sheeting for their roof. It is held down with rocks, junk, tyres...basically anything that will stay on top of the roof otherwise the galvanised sheeting will just fly off. You do see a combination of really poor mud brick homes in between some what I would call mansions. There is a class distinction of rich and poor. Along the mountain roads you will find mainly tin sheds, mud brick homes, where the home may also be a small shop. Yet against the mountains you see a lot of pastures. You will see farmers plouging the soil with a hoe and the hoe pulled by a buffalo. Small plots run up the mountain side. It is easier for them to get water to their respective areas if the plots are smaller. Farming is very traditional and you certainly don't see the use of a tractor anywhere. I can see why... as it would be difficult as some of the plots are very narrow and very steep.
Nepal produces quite a bit of rice. It is the countries staple diet. Nepal has no storage facilities to store the rice so it sells it to India who store the rice and then the Nepali's have to buy it back again. One would have thought that perhaps someone would have come and assisted Nepalis and put in some large silo's to store the rice for future need. Rice is expensive for the everyday Nepali. There basic diet is dal baht (rice and lentils).
I head back for Kathmandu in the morning where I will be presenting a small presentation to some of the mission schools regarding what the Human Resource position can offer the KISC community and outlying regions to enhance better transitioning from mission schools to KISC. The outlying mission schools have issues in obtaining resources as do many missionaries homeschooling their children in Nepal. It is an opportunity for all to work together. I have visited a number of remote locations to collect some of their concerns and issues which will be consolidated and presented tomorrow afternoon. Please pray that the presentation will be well received by all parties as KISC and improves relationships with the remote teaching locations regardless of whether the community is a school or homeschooling community.
I have gotten used to Nepali's not using please and thank you. My Nepali friends say that once you get to know someone, one does not need to say please and thank you. A lot of Nepali's use sorry and excuse me in the wrong context. Also pronouns and prepositions are not used or perhaps forgotten by most Nepali's that speak English. The level of knowledge seems to make no difference. I am thankful for my Nepali translator. I think I would find it a bit of a struggle if this was the case.
The power just went. I thought I had lost everything. I am fortunate that this post was saved in a draft format. We are now running off a generator. Until next time may my love go with you all and may you all be blessed.
On another note from DownUnder...my son Kieran in Canberra has informed me that I am going to have another grand-daughter. Please pray that all goes well and that Renee soon starts to feel better. She still has morning sickness though it is not every day that she is being sick. The baby whom they have name Lillith is due at the end of May. It will be an exciting time for all of us as a family.
Today I have the experience of seeing the most amazing sunrise from the small town up on the mountain - Sarangot . This is where you get to see the most amazing views of the Annapurna mountain range as the sun comes up. Truly one of God's amazing creations.
I took a bus today which seemed to take for ever. Along the way we come across many small villages which backup right against the road. The roads are dusty yet you find women washing, not just their clothes but themselves and their children, their cooking utensils, and collect water etc. I was wondering why they bothered with all the dust that comes from buses and the many trucks that drive up and down those mountains. The odd thing is that the water areas all face the streets. You also see many people not doing anything, other than basically sitting around. I am amazed at the school uniforms of some of the children...white trousers and or skirts with either a differing coloured jersey. I wonder how they manage to keep those uniforms looking so white. If I have anything to go by when I stayed with my host family in Sankhu ... I can see the way they soaked and scrubbed their whites. It makes me wonder how long their clothes keep before they are worn out.
Also many of the homes have galvanised sheeting for their roof. It is held down with rocks, junk, tyres...basically anything that will stay on top of the roof otherwise the galvanised sheeting will just fly off. You do see a combination of really poor mud brick homes in between some what I would call mansions. There is a class distinction of rich and poor. Along the mountain roads you will find mainly tin sheds, mud brick homes, where the home may also be a small shop. Yet against the mountains you see a lot of pastures. You will see farmers plouging the soil with a hoe and the hoe pulled by a buffalo. Small plots run up the mountain side. It is easier for them to get water to their respective areas if the plots are smaller. Farming is very traditional and you certainly don't see the use of a tractor anywhere. I can see why... as it would be difficult as some of the plots are very narrow and very steep.
Nepal produces quite a bit of rice. It is the countries staple diet. Nepal has no storage facilities to store the rice so it sells it to India who store the rice and then the Nepali's have to buy it back again. One would have thought that perhaps someone would have come and assisted Nepalis and put in some large silo's to store the rice for future need. Rice is expensive for the everyday Nepali. There basic diet is dal baht (rice and lentils).
I head back for Kathmandu in the morning where I will be presenting a small presentation to some of the mission schools regarding what the Human Resource position can offer the KISC community and outlying regions to enhance better transitioning from mission schools to KISC. The outlying mission schools have issues in obtaining resources as do many missionaries homeschooling their children in Nepal. It is an opportunity for all to work together. I have visited a number of remote locations to collect some of their concerns and issues which will be consolidated and presented tomorrow afternoon. Please pray that the presentation will be well received by all parties as KISC and improves relationships with the remote teaching locations regardless of whether the community is a school or homeschooling community.
I have gotten used to Nepali's not using please and thank you. My Nepali friends say that once you get to know someone, one does not need to say please and thank you. A lot of Nepali's use sorry and excuse me in the wrong context. Also pronouns and prepositions are not used or perhaps forgotten by most Nepali's that speak English. The level of knowledge seems to make no difference. I am thankful for my Nepali translator. I think I would find it a bit of a struggle if this was the case.
The power just went. I thought I had lost everything. I am fortunate that this post was saved in a draft format. We are now running off a generator. Until next time may my love go with you all and may you all be blessed.
On another note from DownUnder...my son Kieran in Canberra has informed me that I am going to have another grand-daughter. Please pray that all goes well and that Renee soon starts to feel better. She still has morning sickness though it is not every day that she is being sick. The baby whom they have name Lillith is due at the end of May. It will be an exciting time for all of us as a family.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Greetings from Pokhara - Nepal
My love to you all. Wow after travelling 202 kms through some amazing countryside and very rough roads ...seven hours later I made it to Pokhara. A bit like going 17 km to the village and it taking 1.5 hr. After Kathmandu this town is at least somewhat cleaner. Kathmandu is such a dirty and oppressive city. It is a city where I can see God do some amazing things.
Anyway, since arriving into Pokhara I have been to visit the International Nepal Fellowship Mission School, Leprosy Hospital which is now a hospital that takes on many spinal cases. Many of the spinal injuries are not from falls or injuries sustained in some way. It seems to be bacterial or viral of some nature. I was asked to assess the wheel chair project and am identifying training needs that would be suitable for people that obtain artificial limps and remain in wheelchairs. We in the West are so fortunate.as we have good OH&S policies in place. OH&S is just coming on to the radar here.
Imagine the terrain that these wheelchairs will need to travel along. The roads here are not smooth . In fact very much the opposite. I know absolutely nothing about the training needs that these people will need and how it can work. I need your prayers especially in the area of making suitable suggestions that will be useful and of benefits to these patients. The rehabilitation hospital already has a number of rehabilitation tracks built of varying terrains eg rocks, rough roads, dirt tracks, gravel etc. I am sure with the guidance and prayer I will be able to identify some way that will meet the requirements.
A bit about Pokhara...what can I say...I see the Annapura (how ever it is spelt) mountain range every day. It is beautiful. God's amazing creation at its best. :-)
There is a large tourist section located in Pokhara. People come from all over the world to Paraglide as it is one of the best places in the world. The sad thing is that they take of from an amazing mountain village in Sarangot, where you can see the most amazing sunrises...and are destroying the pipes that feed water to the orphan day care centre for under-priviledge and disabled children. I have visited this day care centre. I was shocked to see that the children are not called by name. When roll calling the teachers call the child by a number.. eg If your name was Sorana...the teacher would call out say number 2 and Sorana's number was 2 she would respond. These kids are under 5. How heart breaking is that to be considered as just a number.
Of course there are many other things that have not sat well with me when I am visiting and looking at school curiculums. The teachers ask for assistance but in the remote locations I am able to identify that many teachers have great issues with volunteers. Even though we are not paid they still are not pleased. Many teachers are not trained. They have some university college education but jobs in their fields are often difficult to get so they teach...hating it ...but also they need to live.
I do see the hand of God working in other areas. With continual prayer not only for me but for the people of Nepal, their Governments God can do amazing things. I need to sign off as my time is about to run out. Also I am being hasseled in a nice way by my Nepali friend.
Love to you all and God Bless
Anyway, since arriving into Pokhara I have been to visit the International Nepal Fellowship Mission School, Leprosy Hospital which is now a hospital that takes on many spinal cases. Many of the spinal injuries are not from falls or injuries sustained in some way. It seems to be bacterial or viral of some nature. I was asked to assess the wheel chair project and am identifying training needs that would be suitable for people that obtain artificial limps and remain in wheelchairs. We in the West are so fortunate.as we have good OH&S policies in place. OH&S is just coming on to the radar here.
Imagine the terrain that these wheelchairs will need to travel along. The roads here are not smooth . In fact very much the opposite. I know absolutely nothing about the training needs that these people will need and how it can work. I need your prayers especially in the area of making suitable suggestions that will be useful and of benefits to these patients. The rehabilitation hospital already has a number of rehabilitation tracks built of varying terrains eg rocks, rough roads, dirt tracks, gravel etc. I am sure with the guidance and prayer I will be able to identify some way that will meet the requirements.
A bit about Pokhara...what can I say...I see the Annapura (how ever it is spelt) mountain range every day. It is beautiful. God's amazing creation at its best. :-)
There is a large tourist section located in Pokhara. People come from all over the world to Paraglide as it is one of the best places in the world. The sad thing is that they take of from an amazing mountain village in Sarangot, where you can see the most amazing sunrises...and are destroying the pipes that feed water to the orphan day care centre for under-priviledge and disabled children. I have visited this day care centre. I was shocked to see that the children are not called by name. When roll calling the teachers call the child by a number.. eg If your name was Sorana...the teacher would call out say number 2 and Sorana's number was 2 she would respond. These kids are under 5. How heart breaking is that to be considered as just a number.
Of course there are many other things that have not sat well with me when I am visiting and looking at school curiculums. The teachers ask for assistance but in the remote locations I am able to identify that many teachers have great issues with volunteers. Even though we are not paid they still are not pleased. Many teachers are not trained. They have some university college education but jobs in their fields are often difficult to get so they teach...hating it ...but also they need to live.
I do see the hand of God working in other areas. With continual prayer not only for me but for the people of Nepal, their Governments God can do amazing things. I need to sign off as my time is about to run out. Also I am being hasseled in a nice way by my Nepali friend.
Love to you all and God Bless
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Update from Kathmandu
Greetings to you all from Kathmandu Valley,
I have come into town to spend some away from the small village where I am staying and get in a bit of sightseeing of Kathmandu itself. The village is 17 km away and the road rough. Yesterday I came in via motor bike and it was rough. Sitting on the back of a motor bike in congested traffic is a real experience. Sometimes I was not sure which way to look. I can tell I you, was saying a few quick prayers along the way.
If you are a Nepali women then life is a real struggle. There is very little value for women, girls and they are not encouraged to learn. I am having some very interesting conversations with the two older girls and their friends as to what they think about the situation in Nepal and also their future. They see it that they have no way out. For them education and English is their only hope. If you have the money to send your children to an English speaking school then there opportunities are better. The government schools are all conducted in Nepali except for 25% given to English grammar. I am at the school at 7am each morning teaching years 7 and 8 conversation English. School is 6 days a week and the rest day is the Sabbath Day (Saturday). Only schools and government close not shops.
I am struggling to come to terms with so much of the injustice surrounding women. This morning I was looking out of the window of one of my Nepali friends place where I am staying in Kathmandu and I saw this women carrying a large basket on her back. It must have been heavy as she was slumped over. I cried. We in the Western world would not consider even carrying things in this fashion never-a-lone the health and safety issues that would prevent us from doing this.
The country is suppressed and lacks a lot of infrastructure. There are no such things as street names, people don't receive mail and this would only happen if you had a business and then you would invest in a post box. Modern technology in the village is virtually non existent.
Some of my Nepali friends have live in the western countries and have returned to make change and improve the living standards for the poor, women, street kids etc. Many Nepali men leave their wives and go to the UAE to seek work. They may come home once a year. Job opportunities are few and far between. Yet in saying that the country grows a lot of its own food crops. There staple diet is rice and lentals (dal bahlt). The women at the home I am staying at are teaching me to cook Nepali food.
I had my interview with the Kathmandu International Study Centre where I will be working with Nepali Teachers. A 7 minute presentation to Board of KISC will be conducted on the 4 Feb. I am overseeing some of material and looking at ways it can be improved. There is much need for Nepali teachers to return to the remote locations and for this to happen they need to be equipped to do this. KISC has a very high standard of education as it reports back to the US and UK. Many missionary children attend this school so that they are not left behind in their education when they return to their home countries.
Hey Briony and Nadine, I have taken the CHE and the New Hope International stuff with me and I am talking to the CEO at KISC about implementing this into their program. I have also been informed for now it is safe to Evangelise though that window may close again if the Moiest (how ever it is spelt) have anything to do with it. So we take the opportunity where we can.
I have had the opportunity at the school to talk about my Christian values and beliefs because there is currently a large Hindu Festival in the city for the month of January. People are coming to this quiet town to worship. I have visited the temples as a visitor and have politely declined to have the Tikka place on my forehead. When I have informed them that I am a Christian they are accepting. Nepal currently respects all religions. The house I am staying at is a Buddist family yet they rent the room downstairs to a Christian Church who gather there on Saturdays as Sunday is a working day in Nepal.
Please continue to uphold me in your prayers. The country is going into a planned strike tomorrow. What that will mean and how it will affect me is yet to be determined. This strike has been up in the air for some time. Basically the country comes to a standstill. It is good that I am out in the village. How long it will last I am not sure. I head for Pokhara on Wed and return on the following Monday.
Sorry that I am unable to post pictures but will put them on to facebook when I return. It takes forever to load anything. Until my next update, may God bless you all. Thanks to for your prayers they are very much appreciated.
I have come into town to spend some away from the small village where I am staying and get in a bit of sightseeing of Kathmandu itself. The village is 17 km away and the road rough. Yesterday I came in via motor bike and it was rough. Sitting on the back of a motor bike in congested traffic is a real experience. Sometimes I was not sure which way to look. I can tell I you, was saying a few quick prayers along the way.
If you are a Nepali women then life is a real struggle. There is very little value for women, girls and they are not encouraged to learn. I am having some very interesting conversations with the two older girls and their friends as to what they think about the situation in Nepal and also their future. They see it that they have no way out. For them education and English is their only hope. If you have the money to send your children to an English speaking school then there opportunities are better. The government schools are all conducted in Nepali except for 25% given to English grammar. I am at the school at 7am each morning teaching years 7 and 8 conversation English. School is 6 days a week and the rest day is the Sabbath Day (Saturday). Only schools and government close not shops.
I am struggling to come to terms with so much of the injustice surrounding women. This morning I was looking out of the window of one of my Nepali friends place where I am staying in Kathmandu and I saw this women carrying a large basket on her back. It must have been heavy as she was slumped over. I cried. We in the Western world would not consider even carrying things in this fashion never-a-lone the health and safety issues that would prevent us from doing this.
The country is suppressed and lacks a lot of infrastructure. There are no such things as street names, people don't receive mail and this would only happen if you had a business and then you would invest in a post box. Modern technology in the village is virtually non existent.
Some of my Nepali friends have live in the western countries and have returned to make change and improve the living standards for the poor, women, street kids etc. Many Nepali men leave their wives and go to the UAE to seek work. They may come home once a year. Job opportunities are few and far between. Yet in saying that the country grows a lot of its own food crops. There staple diet is rice and lentals (dal bahlt). The women at the home I am staying at are teaching me to cook Nepali food.
I had my interview with the Kathmandu International Study Centre where I will be working with Nepali Teachers. A 7 minute presentation to Board of KISC will be conducted on the 4 Feb. I am overseeing some of material and looking at ways it can be improved. There is much need for Nepali teachers to return to the remote locations and for this to happen they need to be equipped to do this. KISC has a very high standard of education as it reports back to the US and UK. Many missionary children attend this school so that they are not left behind in their education when they return to their home countries.
Hey Briony and Nadine, I have taken the CHE and the New Hope International stuff with me and I am talking to the CEO at KISC about implementing this into their program. I have also been informed for now it is safe to Evangelise though that window may close again if the Moiest (how ever it is spelt) have anything to do with it. So we take the opportunity where we can.
I have had the opportunity at the school to talk about my Christian values and beliefs because there is currently a large Hindu Festival in the city for the month of January. People are coming to this quiet town to worship. I have visited the temples as a visitor and have politely declined to have the Tikka place on my forehead. When I have informed them that I am a Christian they are accepting. Nepal currently respects all religions. The house I am staying at is a Buddist family yet they rent the room downstairs to a Christian Church who gather there on Saturdays as Sunday is a working day in Nepal.
Please continue to uphold me in your prayers. The country is going into a planned strike tomorrow. What that will mean and how it will affect me is yet to be determined. This strike has been up in the air for some time. Basically the country comes to a standstill. It is good that I am out in the village. How long it will last I am not sure. I head for Pokhara on Wed and return on the following Monday.
Sorry that I am unable to post pictures but will put them on to facebook when I return. It takes forever to load anything. Until my next update, may God bless you all. Thanks to for your prayers they are very much appreciated.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Arrival into Nepal
Nameste from Nepal.
I have finally arrived. Thank you Chris and Peter for dropping me off at the airport. I had a great day doing a quick tikki tour of Hong Kong in a few hours before having a late lunch and shower and my friends getting me back to the airport in time. I had two gate changes and for those of you who know Hong Kong airport it can be rather a long walk. Eventually we boarded and headed for Dhaka in Bungladesh. We could not get out off the plane, so the people clean the plane around those of us that were flying on to Kathmandu. It seemed to take for ever.. So many security guards, checking in flight luggage and people not once or twice but five times. The remaining people then came on to the plane and again this took a long time. May be I was tired but my patience was being tested. I arrived in Nepal at 10.15pm on the 18 Jan. Nepal is 5 hours behind Australia.
Arriving into Nepal I became aware of the security surrounding the airport. It virtually was non existent. I filled out a very basic immigration paper (one 5A piece of paper). To my surprise my Nepalese friends were waiting for me at immigration. I received the traditional Nepalise welcome where I was given a cream scarf by my friends. I felt very welcomed. There was no need to fill out a customs declaration form as it was non existent. An x-ray machine existed for the luggage check but that was all. So easy...
I stayed in Kathmandu that evening with a friend of one of my friends who took me to a small villiage outside of Kathmandu the next morning. I am staying with a lovely family. I have a small but spacious room with shared toilet and bathroom facilities. Thankfully I have been provided with bottled water, toilet paper(not used by Nepalise people). I see the mountain range from my bedroom window. The weather to date is much like a Christchurch or Canberra winter where the days are beautiful and the nights very cold. There is no such thing as heating. Electricity get turned off between the hours of 2 - 5pm and again for some time 5 - 10am in the morning. This is somewhat challenging. I get the feeling that it changes somewhat from day to day. I have had the opportunity to walk around the village. The streets are all dirt. There seems to be very little bitumen streets in Nepal. The roads are all narrow and it is interesting to watch the challenge it is for bus drivers, people and motor bikes that all want to access the road. Very few people have cars. (this is my observation).
I will try and get some photos put up but the internet here is just so slow it would take for ever...Briony I now know what you mean ...slow internet and I am sitting in a cafe...my cell phone does not work here. Reception and modern technology are lacking in this country. Education is important though they struggle with coming to grasp. Parents feel it is important for their children to learn English to enable them to have a better opportunity of work prospects. More so the sons. Sons are very important. They are the ones that will support the parents when they are older as there is an expectation that the girls will someday be married off. The value of women is virtually non existant. The discussions I have with the young girls at the home I am staying in ...is that it is a concern for them. They want to improve their lives hence education for many women is important.
Tomorrow I will be teaching a local Nepalise School, English Conversation and later in the afternoon I will be travelling back to Kathmandu to commence teaching at KISC. So this afternoon during the power cut I will commence preparations for my class tomorrow. I am teaching years 7 and 8. Please pray that I will be able to connect with these young students. Learning should be fun and this is going to be a challenge for me to provide something a little different from their traditional learning.
I seem to be adjusting well but do have difficulty with the poverty I am experiencing all around me. This I am finding a challenge. I will write again in the next few days. Time is running short if I would like to add this too my blog. I apologise in advance for my spelling mistakes.
God Bless you all.
I have finally arrived. Thank you Chris and Peter for dropping me off at the airport. I had a great day doing a quick tikki tour of Hong Kong in a few hours before having a late lunch and shower and my friends getting me back to the airport in time. I had two gate changes and for those of you who know Hong Kong airport it can be rather a long walk. Eventually we boarded and headed for Dhaka in Bungladesh. We could not get out off the plane, so the people clean the plane around those of us that were flying on to Kathmandu. It seemed to take for ever.. So many security guards, checking in flight luggage and people not once or twice but five times. The remaining people then came on to the plane and again this took a long time. May be I was tired but my patience was being tested. I arrived in Nepal at 10.15pm on the 18 Jan. Nepal is 5 hours behind Australia.
Arriving into Nepal I became aware of the security surrounding the airport. It virtually was non existent. I filled out a very basic immigration paper (one 5A piece of paper). To my surprise my Nepalese friends were waiting for me at immigration. I received the traditional Nepalise welcome where I was given a cream scarf by my friends. I felt very welcomed. There was no need to fill out a customs declaration form as it was non existent. An x-ray machine existed for the luggage check but that was all. So easy...
I stayed in Kathmandu that evening with a friend of one of my friends who took me to a small villiage outside of Kathmandu the next morning. I am staying with a lovely family. I have a small but spacious room with shared toilet and bathroom facilities. Thankfully I have been provided with bottled water, toilet paper(not used by Nepalise people). I see the mountain range from my bedroom window. The weather to date is much like a Christchurch or Canberra winter where the days are beautiful and the nights very cold. There is no such thing as heating. Electricity get turned off between the hours of 2 - 5pm and again for some time 5 - 10am in the morning. This is somewhat challenging. I get the feeling that it changes somewhat from day to day. I have had the opportunity to walk around the village. The streets are all dirt. There seems to be very little bitumen streets in Nepal. The roads are all narrow and it is interesting to watch the challenge it is for bus drivers, people and motor bikes that all want to access the road. Very few people have cars. (this is my observation).
I will try and get some photos put up but the internet here is just so slow it would take for ever...Briony I now know what you mean ...slow internet and I am sitting in a cafe...my cell phone does not work here. Reception and modern technology are lacking in this country. Education is important though they struggle with coming to grasp. Parents feel it is important for their children to learn English to enable them to have a better opportunity of work prospects. More so the sons. Sons are very important. They are the ones that will support the parents when they are older as there is an expectation that the girls will someday be married off. The value of women is virtually non existant. The discussions I have with the young girls at the home I am staying in ...is that it is a concern for them. They want to improve their lives hence education for many women is important.
Tomorrow I will be teaching a local Nepalise School, English Conversation and later in the afternoon I will be travelling back to Kathmandu to commence teaching at KISC. So this afternoon during the power cut I will commence preparations for my class tomorrow. I am teaching years 7 and 8. Please pray that I will be able to connect with these young students. Learning should be fun and this is going to be a challenge for me to provide something a little different from their traditional learning.
I seem to be adjusting well but do have difficulty with the poverty I am experiencing all around me. This I am finding a challenge. I will write again in the next few days. Time is running short if I would like to add this too my blog. I apologise in advance for my spelling mistakes.
God Bless you all.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Finally on my way to Nepal
Isn't it exciting. I can't believe that I am flying out in a few hours to Nepal. The mess in my bedroom has now been sorted and moved to my suitcase...all neat...and the floor space empty.
I said good bye to my wonderful friends who were visiting me from Darwin. They are now travelling on to the Blue Mountains. My house is only 13.5 squares and yet we managed to cope with 5 Adults and 6 kids. (I am not sure how.... but we did). The kids are just great and a lot of fun.
Now I still have a few things to do before I am picked up and dropped of at the airport. Such as a having a shower, tidying up the house a bit, and then relaxing.
My trip is as follows:
Canberra to Sydney, then on to Hong Kong, then on to Bangladesh and finally Nepal. The time difference is 5 hours. I am so glad for the break I am having in Hong Kong before the next long haul. I could not imagine being on a flight for 26 hours and not having a lot of time to stretch my legs. Thank goodness for friends in Hong Kong who will be picking me up and spending the day with me before I proceed with the final leg of my journey.
On with my new adventure and new experiences. I am not sure how often I will get to blog...power cuts are a daily event in Nepal. God Bless you all and will drop you a line as and when I have access to the internet.
I said good bye to my wonderful friends who were visiting me from Darwin. They are now travelling on to the Blue Mountains. My house is only 13.5 squares and yet we managed to cope with 5 Adults and 6 kids. (I am not sure how.... but we did). The kids are just great and a lot of fun.
Now I still have a few things to do before I am picked up and dropped of at the airport. Such as a having a shower, tidying up the house a bit, and then relaxing.
My trip is as follows:
Canberra to Sydney, then on to Hong Kong, then on to Bangladesh and finally Nepal. The time difference is 5 hours. I am so glad for the break I am having in Hong Kong before the next long haul. I could not imagine being on a flight for 26 hours and not having a lot of time to stretch my legs. Thank goodness for friends in Hong Kong who will be picking me up and spending the day with me before I proceed with the final leg of my journey.
On with my new adventure and new experiences. I am not sure how often I will get to blog...power cuts are a daily event in Nepal. God Bless you all and will drop you a line as and when I have access to the internet.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Preparations Cont......
Hello to you all.
The preparations for Nepal are not moving along any faster despite the fact I leave this coming Sunday. There is still much to do :-)
Hmmm this may have something to do with the fact that I am up in Sydney currently attending Personal Development Training - Effective Teaching Phase 2. We are covering Approaches to Christian Teaching. I am attending this training with a wonderful bunch of people from New Zealand, Australia, India, Fiji, Vanuatu, PNG, Uganda....and I am sure I have left some of the countries off my list. It is such a multi cultural opportunity to learn from a diverse group of people. An awesome experience and so very valuable. I think I will be able to use some of my new learnings in Nepal.
Sorry that this update is so short but I will write again before I fly out to Nepal. God's blessing to each and every one of you...until next time....
The preparations for Nepal are not moving along any faster despite the fact I leave this coming Sunday. There is still much to do :-)
Hmmm this may have something to do with the fact that I am up in Sydney currently attending Personal Development Training - Effective Teaching Phase 2. We are covering Approaches to Christian Teaching. I am attending this training with a wonderful bunch of people from New Zealand, Australia, India, Fiji, Vanuatu, PNG, Uganda....and I am sure I have left some of the countries off my list. It is such a multi cultural opportunity to learn from a diverse group of people. An awesome experience and so very valuable. I think I will be able to use some of my new learnings in Nepal.
Sorry that this update is so short but I will write again before I fly out to Nepal. God's blessing to each and every one of you...until next time....
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Day 2 and 3 of my Preparations.
Yesterday was a full on day. It included a visit to my Doctor for my what I thought, was the annual medical check up...hmmm it was 3 years since my last visit to the Drs. All OK to go. Then it was off to the Travel Medical Centre for all of my innoculations. (One sore arm and a cost of $550). I am hoping the health fund will contribute to some of that cost. It is far better to be safe than sorry.
I was on SKYPE speaking to my dear Nepali friend to get the run down of the weather, food, power outages, clothing to bring over, do's and don'ts and anything else I could think of to ask. The message I got was to travel light because most of the things you can purchase in Nepal relatively cheap. We are talking winter time where the tempurature does not get below 0 in the Kathmandu Regions. It is the windchill factor and humidity that will make it very cold in the evenings and early hours of the morning. During the day it is usually a pleasant 20 degrees. In NZ we call it T-Shirt weather. In Canberra we would still be wearing a light jersey or cardigan. In Nepal it is thermals under ones clothes.
I also learnt that it does not snow in Kathmandu even though the Himmalayas Mountain range is close by. It must have something to do with Kathmandu being in a valley.
My Nepali is progessing ever so slowly and it good feeling that I have learnt a few more words than just Hello and Thank you. The aim is to do an hour of intensive language training before I leave. There are some good Youtube lessons that have been helpful with the pronunciation. I am hoping for some intensive training when I arrive in Nepal. I will also have my Lonely Planet Nepali Phrasebook to assist me.
Oh my goodness where has the day gone. I had better away and get some other work done before the day ends. Talk to you all again soon.
I was on SKYPE speaking to my dear Nepali friend to get the run down of the weather, food, power outages, clothing to bring over, do's and don'ts and anything else I could think of to ask. The message I got was to travel light because most of the things you can purchase in Nepal relatively cheap. We are talking winter time where the tempurature does not get below 0 in the Kathmandu Regions. It is the windchill factor and humidity that will make it very cold in the evenings and early hours of the morning. During the day it is usually a pleasant 20 degrees. In NZ we call it T-Shirt weather. In Canberra we would still be wearing a light jersey or cardigan. In Nepal it is thermals under ones clothes.
I also learnt that it does not snow in Kathmandu even though the Himmalayas Mountain range is close by. It must have something to do with Kathmandu being in a valley.
My Nepali is progessing ever so slowly and it good feeling that I have learnt a few more words than just Hello and Thank you. The aim is to do an hour of intensive language training before I leave. There are some good Youtube lessons that have been helpful with the pronunciation. I am hoping for some intensive training when I arrive in Nepal. I will also have my Lonely Planet Nepali Phrasebook to assist me.
Oh my goodness where has the day gone. I had better away and get some other work done before the day ends. Talk to you all again soon.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Preparation and Count Down
Greetings to you all.
Over the last week I have found myself slowly accumulating things that I think I may need to take with me to Nepal. I look at the pile of stuff on my bedroom floor and wonder do I really need it all. I can only take 20 kgs. I have to remember it is winter over there. I have been informed that the days are a pleasant 20 degrees celcius but the evenings are a very different story. It gets down into the minuses. It is currently their dry sessions. This reminds me a bit like the Northern Territory...a wet and dry season with nothing in between.
I have less than two weeks to get myself organised. I laugh, as I am working from home this week; developing training material for a Government Department in between visits to the Travel Medical Centre for my update of my innoculations, sorting through some financal issues, compiling contact lists, preparing for the second phase of Professional Development (Effective Teacher Training) with New Hope International (NHI) due to take place next week up in Sydney, visitors arriving from Darwin and other "bits and bobs" that need to be completed before I leave.
Gosh are you tired reading this...I am. Well the countdown has began..... I am sure as it gets closer to the date I will have it all sorted. I am accustomed to undertaking the final pack on the evening before I leave.
I am excited and apprehensive all in one, yet on the other hand cannot wait until I have arrived in Nepal. Until my next write up. God Bless
Over the last week I have found myself slowly accumulating things that I think I may need to take with me to Nepal. I look at the pile of stuff on my bedroom floor and wonder do I really need it all. I can only take 20 kgs. I have to remember it is winter over there. I have been informed that the days are a pleasant 20 degrees celcius but the evenings are a very different story. It gets down into the minuses. It is currently their dry sessions. This reminds me a bit like the Northern Territory...a wet and dry season with nothing in between.
I have less than two weeks to get myself organised. I laugh, as I am working from home this week; developing training material for a Government Department in between visits to the Travel Medical Centre for my update of my innoculations, sorting through some financal issues, compiling contact lists, preparing for the second phase of Professional Development (Effective Teacher Training) with New Hope International (NHI) due to take place next week up in Sydney, visitors arriving from Darwin and other "bits and bobs" that need to be completed before I leave.
Gosh are you tired reading this...I am. Well the countdown has began..... I am sure as it gets closer to the date I will have it all sorted. I am accustomed to undertaking the final pack on the evening before I leave.
I am excited and apprehensive all in one, yet on the other hand cannot wait until I have arrived in Nepal. Until my next write up. God Bless
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