Our last week in Nepal, half of the squad went to the Jungle and half went to the mountains. I was in the Jungle group. From our understanding, we were going to be roughing it out in our tents and dodging monkeys. Okay, I was the only one worried about the monkeys. We didn’t really have a plan going into the villages of Ulabari, just to go where we were lead!
In reality, we stayed in the home of one of our contacts and the village was pretty far outside of the jungle! So we were clear of the monkeys, thank goodness! Our second morning there, we wake up to “Wake up, someone died!” A woman in the village had died during the night and we were to go over and be with the community for the funeral. We walk a couple miles into the village where the family had laid the woman outside while speeches were given and songs were sung. We then walked into the actual jungle and waited while the grave was dug. It was very interesting to experience a funeral in such a different culture. In one corner, the family was crying and in the other, girls were taking selfies with us and laughing with each other. Obviously that wouldn’t fly in America, but it was clearly the norm there. The rest of the week we spent with that same family, encouraging them and spending time loving on them.
One of the highlights for me, and this will make sense if you know me at all, was that one of the goats in the village has three little babies while we were there!!! I was over the moon, naturally, and tried to cuddle them as much as possible. They are my favourite things ever.
Month two was so wonderful. I absolutely loved seeing the villages in Nepal, it’s unlike anything I have ever seen. The people live so simply and so joyful. We were able to go to/ participate in an event in a village where we danced, sang, ate ice cream with the kids, and talked with all of the locals. It was a fun and dusty week in the “jungle” and I’ll never forget
Fundraising Update:
I only have $3,497 left to raise!!! I have to be fully funded by April, and I know that it can happen! Any small amount helps, sharing my blog helps, and any prayer of course helps as well!
Blessings!
