Kids will be kids

When I stepped out of the airplane and breathed in the air filled with the wonderful sent of cumin, coriander, and turmeric I knew I was in Nepal.  Leaving the airport for the crowed, noisy streets and my hosts meeting me with their shy smiles and greetings of Jaimashi, transitioned me that first night back to a place I’ve grown to love and a people I care deeply about.  This trip I am meeting with some new communities that wish to develop more fully their care for orphans and vulnerable children.

Carpet tying is one of the lowest paying jobs one can have in Nepal.  Carpet workers generally live in brick rooms next to the factory. Having recently priced carpets for my home, I know these hand-knotted versions cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.  It’s sad to see that this does not trickle down to the workers whom make less then $1 and hour for their work.  The families I visited had four to seven people living in an 8 x10 foot room.  The rooms had one or two beds, a cabinet and a hot plate.  Children played in the dirt courtyard while their parents work in the factory nearby.  A pump outside provided water and outhouse sanitation facilities.  The hours are long.  One woman said she generally works from 4 am to 7 pm unless they are rushed to finish an order in which case she works even longer hours.  Neither the rooms nor the small factory have heat or air conditioning.  One particular factory had rooms for eleven families.  Children Rescue Mission (CRM) is working with a number of families who live in these circumstances. I hope to help them increase their services and create more comprehensive systems of care targeted at the specific needs of each family.

A few days after first meeting this group of families.   We held an evening event there. Children and adults poured into the dirt courtyard.  The children pushed one another forward to greet me.  Wanting to interact with a foreigner, but not wanting to be the first.  I began taking pictures and they warmed up.  The kids all wanted their pictures taken with their friends and the adults wanted their picture taken with me.  

After some live music, the kids were given a lesson on hygiene.  It is so hard to stay clean and healthy living in such meager surroundings.   Hand washing before eating is not common among the lower class but everyone eats with his or her hands.   I made a silly pantomime of washing my hands, and another team member did the same with tooth brushing.  They each received a gift bag with a bar of soap, washcloth, toothbrush and paste, nail clippers, pencil, school copybook, and a bracelet.  The also all received a blown up balloon.  Of course the balloons were the exciting part.  The kids were thrilled to receive the big colorful balloons and the courtyard was soon filled with squeals of excitement.   After the gifts were handed out, a meal was served to all the kids and parents working at that factory.  They squatted Asian style in small groups eating the rice, lentils and meat enjoying this special evening, something they seldom have the luxury of.  CRM will begin assessing these families and their needs.  Does the family have basic needs (food and shelter) met?  Are there any handicapped family members or members with medical needs?  Do the children attend school?  Is there a way to supplement their income with one parent running a small business?  These people are a joy and a blessing to spend time with; I’m so thankful to be a part of improving their lives.

"share your food with the hungry..."

What a privilege it was to serve the people of Nepal today.  Another flight was taken into the mountains with rice.  This time we flew to a to a remote village in Gorkha called Nyak not far from the Tibetan boarder.  This Buddhist village at almost 7500 foot elevation (Denver is 5280) was suggested by a local pastor as a group needing aid.  The people normally walk on what could loosely be called a trail in a treacherous route down the mountain to the river below.  After seven days walking they can reach a very small town where they can buy items they need or catch a bus into Kathmandu.  A landslide has closed off the walking trail so even that option is no longer open.  The 6000 lb of rice delivered by helicopter today will help them until the trail can be uncovered, probably not until October or November.

We weren't sure if we'd even be able to land when we reached there but the villagers had prepared a small helipad about 10 x 20 feet with a 1000 ft precipice on one side. But that was sufficient.  It took seven trips by helicopter to bring the rice into Nyak thanks to our friends at Mission Aviation Fellowship who are giving us a 90% discount on the flights.



We also gave a ride up the mountains to a young mother and her baby who had not been able to return home since the landslide and gave a ride down to three high school students who had been cut off from coming back to their boarding school.   There is a building for an elementary school in the village but no teacher.

Situations like this exist all over Nepal.  This beautiful land is so rugged much of it is inaccessible.  Programs like ours are meeting the immediate need of the people for food during this time of crisis, but we will also be here long term.  We will be working with communities like Nyak to bring the services everyone should have access to like education and health care as well as helping individual families to create a safe environment for their children where basic needs are met.  We will be caring for children without parents to look after them in family settings and advocating for the rights of women and children.

These are exactly the actives we are told to do in Isaiah 58:6.7

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"