Kathmandu.
Cold for the first time in months!
Winter hats, gloves, and scarves.
Church with beautiful people.
Himalayan Java.
Urlabari.
Supporting The Church Boys United futball team.
Running cattle, goats, buffalo, and hogs off the field.
Giving first aid and water when needed.
Cheering, yelling, screaming, encouraging.
Building an orphanage brick by brick.
Carrying rocks and sand.
Digging trenches for a foundation.
Dung Dunge
Hiked up the mountain.
Through the river we forged twelve times.
Up the steep cliffs and through the fields.
Oh, what a day.
Camped in our tents.
Assembly-line for rocks and boulders from the river.
We're building a school.
Whistle while we work (not really).
We do say something we're thankful for with each stone.
Children watch and laugh at us.
The pile gets bigger and bigger.
Then we jump in the river for a shower.
Back down the mountain.
Cross the river twelve times.
Be careful not to fall…
In Urlabari for one night.
Momo's for everyone.
It's still dark when we leave to load into safari jeeps.
Nineteen people packed into a truck made for ten.
Across rocks and through the water we race the other jeep.
We win!
Up the mountain we go.
Straight up.
Mud everywhere, slipping and sliding.
No such thing as guard rails.
An axle breaks.
We wait.
We get stuck in the mud.
We run out of gas.
Can't see through the fog.
Finally we make it.
Sixteen hours to ascend six thousand feet.
Dasami.
Even colder!
Sleeping in an empty barn on straw.
Crowded together like 101 Dalmatians.
The Himalayas outside our door.
The majestic mountains all around.
One of the most beautiful places on earth.
For some, it's their first time seeing white people.
We show two Jesus movies.
We talk with and get to know each other.
More futbal.
Visiting people's homes.
We clean up trash on the streets.
Back down the mountain.
Only five and a half hours this time.
Get on the bus to go back to Kathmandu.
Stop and see and elephant or two…
Say goodbye and then we're off
to a new country, continent, and culture.
Nepal is a place of breath-taking beauty, adventure, and amazing people. I'm so thankful for the time I had there in the outdoors surrounded by the beauty of God's creation. This month was a hard one for me emotionally and spiritually, but my surroundings were a gift straight from the Lord.
