Nepal Revisited – Day 18

This morning prior to church we continued working on the updates and financials, so that we can more or less get all the administrative areas up to date and prepared for the draft final reports. Much of this coming week is going to be spent getting these prepared, so that when I head home, in less than two weeks, Richard just needs to monitor the progress of the project & update any financials and finalise the reports.

Some of the projects due to the fuel shortage and festival period are going to continue into the new year.

At church the Corps held their Self Denial Altar Service and Richard’s welcome, so the meeting was a bit longer than normal.

For such a small Corps I was amazed at the funds received and in many ways it would put many Corps to shame across the western world, that they can give so much when they have so little to start with.

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty…

This is truly what self-denial is all about and it reminded me of the Biblical story (found in Mark 12:41-44) about the poor widow giving just a few coins after all the fanfare created by those that had wealth.

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.””

With all the hospitality that has been shown to us since we have been here; with so much destruction of homes and livelihoods, with so much need, and with so much generosity of spirit shown by those that receive – I am reminded that “the poor people are often the most generous” because they continue to give even when they have nothing. They know appreciation for what it truly is…

The thing is generosity of spirit is such a blessed thing, when we give with no thought at all about what we will receive in return, that is true giving – in that we will be blessed and display our true heart. As Jesus teaches; “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

In the afternoon, after a late lunch we were back into the office…

Then in the evening Heather & I rearranged the seating in preparation for the 1st semi-final between the All Blacks & the Springboks – it could get a little tense – may the best team win! Go the All Blacks…

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Nepal Revisited – Day 17

Today Damaris headed back home to the UK and left us with a list of things to accomplish over the next few days and weeks. So much of the day was spent in the office at the house working on reports and distribution updates.

Apart from a walk to our usual restaurant around the corner at lunch time we didn’t really venture out of the house much today at all. We even had dinner at home for a change which was quite pleasant.

We were able to get an International Media Release organised, an overall distribution database updated that shows how much we have distributed to the people of Nepal since the beginning of the earthquake response, and a few project financial reports got completed to varying degrees. Which was all good!

Although Richard has been brought up to speed with where things are at, tomorrow we need to start work on a summary report for him so that he can have a clear snapshot of the active projects and other tasks that need to get completed over the next few weeks and months. I guess to a large extent the last few days have been a bit hectic and he’s most probably come away thinking that he has got information overload.

You can view the International Media Release here.

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Nepal Revisited – Day 16

This morning I was woken up @ 4:00am by the sound of a rooster crowing by the tent.

As I tossed and turned trying to get comfortable I heard the voice of Basanta in the tent next door and he explained that Heather was staying in his house.

After a brief exchange of laughter fortunately I was able to roll over and get at least another hours sleep before it became unbearable and I just had to get up.

Many of the villagers were already taking advantage of the early morning rays, which were breaking up the mist that was circulating and were preparing breakfast, or busying themselves getting things ready for the day. And it wasn’t long before breakfast was ready for us to eat as well. Goat meat & noodles along with a hot black tea…

After breakfast and some business talk around additional assistance we may be able to offer to the school and community, we headed down to the school as the helicopter was due in by 9:00am.

While we waited we were endowed with a large number of khada (scarves) and garlands of flowers at a ceremony of thanks. The villagers exchanged a few words of appreciation for all the assistance that we had given them to date and we thanked them for their hospitality towards us.

After the thank you’s were done I had an opportunity to give Rainbow loom bracelets to some of the children gathered.

My youngest daughter and a few of her friends from church had made more than 350 bracelets to give away while I was in Nepal, for them it was a way in which they could contribute to the children something of worth.

The children that received them were very grateful and they each greeted me with a ‘Nameste‘ and ‘Dhanyabad‘ as I put them on their wrists. They wore them with pride rolling up the sleeves so that the other children could see what they got. The remainder will be handed out at school when it goes back next week.

After our flight back to the airport Heather & I grabbed a taxi and headed back to the house to have a meeting with Damaris, the local C.O’s and Capt. Richard Vanlalnghaka who is the Assistant Project Officer who will be based in Nepal for the next few years to work on the permanent projects. This was so that everyone could be brought up to speed with where things are at, that Richard could get hi head around the current projects, many of which may carry on into the following year and see how the permanent projects fit with what has already been done in Nepal to date.

In the evening I had the opportunity to have a sort of debrief with Damaris, which was more like a really good chat, about my observations, thoughts, ideas, and suggestions etc. For the official debrief I need to complete some papers which she will send through in due course.

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Nepal Revisited – Day 15

This morning Heather & I needed to be up at the crack of dawn, so that we could head into the airport for our flight to Runchet in Gorkha via a helicopter.

The weather was nice and clear and it wasn’t long before we were through security on the tarmac making our way to the Fishtail Air depot and boarding the helicopter.

A representative from MAF came along for the ride and was astounded by the scenery, which was absolutely stunning. The clouds were clearing revealing magnificent views of Manaslu.

Upon arriving in Runchet we were greeted by what seemed like the whole village and they presented us with a couple of Khada’s and garlands of flowers, which symbolizes purity and compassion towards us.

We were welcomed into their community as one of the family.

We headed into the village and started making the ascent towards Basanta’s house, which was almost at the upper region of the village. He proudly showed us our sleeping quarters, two tents pitched close to his house. Then we were introduced to the rest of his family, and given a hot cup of black tea.

After a while I had a tour of the village to see the extent of the damage to all but a few homes within the community. It was saddening to see, but the villagers had already cleared much of the rubble and were in the process of starting to rebuild homes. In some case they need to completely deconstruct the house so that they can rebuild it which will obviously take years.

While on the walk of the village I also got to check out the progress of the toilets that they had been building for the school. Very impressive, I’m amazed at what they could do with so little funding. They have been extremely resourceful using as much as they can from damaged buildings not only at the school., but around the community also.

Today due to the preparation for the festival celebration each household performs a short preparation ritual and slaughters a goat, or in some cases a sheep. This provides enough meat for the family for the week.

However, hearing the bleating of goats throughout the community was a bit disconcerting. It almost seemed as if the goats were pleading for their lives, or pleading for mercy & then thud…

For these villagers though it is a way of life, and they only kill what they need to feed the family.

A bit later in the afternoon, Basanta took Heather & I for another tour of the village (as Heather didn’t go the 1st time) and introduced us to the two ward secretaries for the village.

Heather was dumbfounded by the condition of the school, especially the original temporary toilets and was also amazed by what the villagers had been able to accomplish with the new ones. Not only had they built more for less – but they had also future proofed the septic tank by allowing for an overflow tank to be built at a later stage as funds allow.

We both commented on the way back up the hill that this trip had been an eye opener, not only was it a fabulous opportunity, but it was an immense pleasure to be accepted into their culture and community so readily.

As the sun went down we had a rest and later shared in a meal together. We had advised Basanta earlier, not to tell us what we were eating or drinking. When we had stopped off at his fathers house for an afternoon snack he told us as Heather was taking her 2nd bite that we were eating the innards of the goat, which Heather couldn’t stomach.

All in all this had been a fantastic trip and we marveled at how the community works together supporting each other with food, skills and other resources even though we might argue they have next to nothing – they have so much more than what we do have…

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Nepal Revisited – Day 14

This morning I was feeling a lot better, although the stomach was still gurgling away and a bit queasy. But I was keen to get out of the house and out into the field to do a site visit. So, MJ & I headed out to Dhading to check on the use of the CGI that was distributed for the people of Thakre, while we were out of the country a few weeks ago.

Some of the people in the community have already started using the CGI sheets that we supplied them with, for roofing or for the side walls of their homes.

While others have set it aside as they start rebuilding their homes on the original site so that they can stay in the temporary shelter until their house is completed.

Obviously due to the upcoming festival many people have put building work on hold and the ongoing fuel shortage has caused quite a few hassles in getting much needed building supplies.

Therefore, some people are having to wait until building materials such as nails, screws, bolts and tools start coming back into the shops.

Again, as in the majority of cases that we have come across, the people are very thankful for any assistance that is given to them and they are keen to show their appreciation to us for what we have provided for them.

In the afternoon we headed back to the house to have a team meeting with Damaris and get an idea of what is expected over the coming few weeks as our part of the Emergency Response starts to transition to Recovery.

Obviously as much as we are able to, we need to close as many of the open projects as we can, so that the Permanent Project Team can concentrate on the projects that are currently being put through the approval process.

Due to the way I had been feeling yesterday and how my stomach was still a bit tender I had an early night, as Heather & I need to be at the airport tomorrow bright and early for our excursion to Runchet in Gorkha where we will be staying overnight.

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Nepal Revisited – Day 13

I forgot to mention that Damaris (International Emergency Services Field Operations Officer) had arrived yesterday while MJ & I had been out, and she had started getting her head around where we were at with all the projects that we had on the go at the moment. And that by tomorrow (today) she would like to do a team catch-up to go through them in more detail one by one…

Also I hadn’t mentioned that I tried staying up to watch the remaining Rugby World Cup 1/4 finals, but I had picked up a chill, or a bug and for whatever reason couldn’t get warm. So rather than sit shivering all evening I went to bed earlier than normal.

In the morning after a rather interesting night of cold sweats, shivering, getting to hot and not being able to get comfortable, headaches and neck aches to name just a few ailments, I went and got breakfast. Only to be greeted with the comment that I looked like death warmed up and you had better get your backside back into bed!

So pretty much the whole day I was banished to my room, communicating with the rest of the team via email & mobile. I was able to give Damaris a summary of where things are at with the projects that I have been involved in. All going well I will be able to give her a more detailed update on Tuesday afternoon when MJ & I get back from Thakre (providing that I’m up for it).

Later in the afternoon I was feeling a bit better and I’m thankful to MJ & Heather for mothering me and making sure I was taking my drugs and keeping my fluids up…

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