Cleanliness

YFor people who have so little and have to work so hard for what they have, they work hard to make there places clean.  The wash the street  in front of their houses at night.  They sweep their sand/dirt yards all throughout the day.  The broom is made of rice stalks tied together with strips of stalks.  The sweep the house with this as well.  Many carry water from a central point in old coke and sprote bottles to have any water to do chores with.  Most families are multi family woth 10 or more people under one roof.  So there are many people available to do the chores.  Where I am, I believe that it is mom and dad, and their 6 children are grown, but 102 yo Mother lives in a small room out back. 2 girls who have no home or family are her all the time, but don't sleep in the hose, so must sleep somewhere out back as well.  People are always coming through the front gate and don't know if they are just passing through or if the also live out back.  Pastor Man and Anita are the kind of people who would never turn anyone away, so if there is a place here better than what they ave, I'm sure they are welcome.  I am invited to come anytime and bring all of you and I'm sure they will ake a place for s and treat us like royalty.  That seems to be the way of Nepal.  A very beautiful country filled with warm and loving, caring, sharing people.  They are very happy and really don't miss what they don't have.  Almost makes me resent what we have, it does spoil our true existence.  We miss the pleasures of life because of all our advancement.  Hummm.

I will spend some time today cutting off legs and sleeves.  I brought long pants and long sleeves for Nepal and it is NOT cold unless you are in the mountains at night.  Ave only seem a couple of mosquitoes, and it was night so went inside.  glad I brought scissors.  Hope I can cut off enough to cover the weight of all I've bought.  Some things were just irresistible.  My flight yesterday was the best ever.  A little 20 sweater on Buddah air.  Would have been 6 hours by bus but 20 min by air.  Got here in time to go eat dinner at a hotel cause the power was out here.  They call restaurants hotels.  They have only been in the eating out culture for about 3 years.  Before that that the only paces that served food ready to eat on site were hotels, to travelers.  So now if a place serves food ready to eat, it is called by locals , a hotel.  They are learning that fast, cause they are everywhere.  Some are in closed buildings, some huts, some jut free standing you sit they cook kinda like a picnic.  But they do have tables and chairs and me use and napkins.  It works.  Sometimes the menu is on the wall,and they don't always have napkins.  Every time I find napkins or toilet paper, I take a little extra.  It has often come in handy.

Speaking of seating, the church hase a few chairs, mainly for senior citizens.  There were about 70 people there yesterday and 8 of us were in chars, everyone else sat on the floor.  Kids met outside with no chairs.  The service was in Nepalese so after the music I went outside with the kids.  They were from about 4-12 yo, about 20 of them with 1 teacher, and very well behaved.  People either walk to church or take the bus, but come ready to praise and worship.  

Yesterday I needed an ATM before I left, so pastor took me on his motor bike to town and showed me around.  Glad I didn't see it sooner or I would have ad to buy another suitcase to send home.  Really beautiful, indian fashions.  It is much closer to India so mor Indian influence in fashion.  There was a beautiful river and many families out...you guessed it, washing clothes in the river and pounding them on the stones.  Now they will take them home and lay then out to dry on the shrubs.  Shrubs bad flowers are amazing.  I recognize a lot of them, but they are larger here.  Our shrubs are trees here.  Makes for many flowers with lots of large blooms and leaves.  When I was ready to leave, 4 of the youngest children in the house, made me a beautiful bouquets.  They were so proud a,d I was so blessed.  I loved pastor and Anita and their 25 yo daughter Pratima.  She was home with her little girl to visit.  They all took me to the airport.  Mom and dad on the bike and the rest of us in the Taxi.  Mom and dad stayed u til the plane took off.  It was about an hour late.  I thought they had eft when they took us into a secure area and looked through our carry ons, but later I looked through the window and saw they were still there waiting to be sure I got off ok.  Remember when we used to do that.  Mine was the only plane at the airport so they knew which one it was.  Anita, mom did not speak English, so what little talking we did was through dad or daughter. I really felt a kinship to mom, and really wanted to share just with her.  I think we could have talked for hours.  At breakfast I asked Pratima to translate and told mom, when we get to heaven I think we will all speak the same language and I look forward to sitting with a cup of tea and talking with her.   She made a lot of hand motions and smiled real big, and I know she looks forward to that too.  We hugged and patted each other a lot and smiled a lot.

Some of the ladies at the meeting I did

The children in the back yard of the church

Pastor Man and part of the congregation

The family outside on the porch

The plane to Kathmandu

Chitwan

I missed my bus stop so just went to Chitwan a day early.  Gods idea.  almost primitive.  No cars some trucks, some motor bikes, lots of bicycles deliveries made on bikes. Ladders carried on bikes. some horse drawn carriages, some riding Elephants and carrying London Elephant.  Electricity off 3  times  In 24 hours.  Dinner in hotel by candle light.  Best meal I've had in a week cause I had no clue what it was and could not see it.  Chicken patties, rice and fried veggies.  Nothing in Nepal has seemed clean, but acceptable. Cannot find a restaurant, or hotel that is better than the others so be happy and eat and sleep.  

The people here are unbelievably friendly.  At the animal reserve, the entire hotel staff of about 12 guys was at my beckon  call.  They came to get me when meals were ready , took me to everything ,available, in town.  It was like having my grands on hand to take care of me.  Riding on the bak of Tacos bike with my luggage between us was my fav, but the canoe was great until we saw the the crocks having sex and later another one resting.  We saw monkeys, and kingfishers, peacock and boar hogs.  Enough for me,  and the Elephant breeding compound.  That night was a Cultural program and I think everyone in town came.  Lots of native dance ,music and costumes .  Next morning, breakfast and a truck ride to the Elephant safari.  We rode Elephants for 2 hours all over te jungle, basically looking for something wild. , not me, I really did not want to see anything Big and wild altough I was on an Elephant he was slow. But on my goodness we went Down a hill to get in the river and Up hill to get out.  There was a rider, then a Steel box that 4 of us sat on up on the Elephant.  They had deer stand looking wooden stairs and plAt forms that we climbed he walked out on the Elephants back.it was way cooler than I expected.  Saw basically the same things as before plus about 80 deer in 3 different types.  Spotter deer or summer deer.  Looked like a full size Barbie that never lost its spots bu the size of a. Mule deerThen regular looking mule deer, and then barking deer.  About the size of Parker county deer but sorta  , dark red, with short stubby horns.  

After the ride it was back to the hotel and another bath and lunch then my new friend arrived to take me to his home.  He is a pastor in his town where I am now.  This where I met Birkram while I waited for Manuel. Birkram is 23 yo travel planner, in Chitwan. Adorable with a big white smile.  Was orphaned 10 years ago when both parents died in the same year.he was very happy to meet a foreigner.  Feels trapped in Nepal with no family, and unable to do anything to advance.  He is of Hindu faith, but not practicing. Sees no hope in Nepal or Hindu. Severe have expressed the same frustration about no hope for advance in Nepal.  We talked about hope and Jesus, and he was ready to make a change.  I explained how to ask Jesus into his life and he wanted to do it.  We prayed, and by the the paster hold be at the hotel so I took him to meet Birkram and make sure he understood what he we were saying.

He talked with him and got his number and told him where the earnest church was.   We talked a bit more and exchanged contact info. Pray with me that he follows through and let's God make a difference in his life.

Drove home, stopped and picked up my ticket to fly to Kathmandu tomorrow, Saturday.  Then came to pastors house.  He speaks good English but his wife none.  They live about 5 houses from their church, which if one room.  If had chairs would seat about .25 chairs, but here holds about 80 people, many standing outside.. They are building a new. Church next door to their. Home.  Have been here about 38 years.  Owned the land and donated it to the church.  His 102 yo mother lives. Out back.  She speaks no English but we talked with each other for a long while today.  Both smiled a lot and enjoyed the visit.  Afterwards, I was scheduled to share with the ladies. Of the church.  Pastors daughter and granddaughter are here for a visit, so she interrupted for me.  I was really not nervous, and had prayed about it a lot, am

Nd this was one of the repos for my trip, so actually was excited about it.  Probably had about 20 ladies.  Shared my testimony and family and. Trip experience, the some verses that were important to me for them, and a couple God had expressed upon me, and I pray and believe it went well.  What ison my  heart as i havee mentioned is the back seat position so many women around the world are taking.  I reminded  them that God created men and women I his own image, and God doesn't make mistakes, and we all have a purpose in life and if we don't each one do what God. Has called us to do, then that part want be done correctly as only we can do.  We talked about Joy and encouraging one another.  They all sat on the floor and the interpreter and I sat in chairs.  Tomorrow at real church I work with children.  Pray with me that God will repair any

Thing  I mixed up and and bring to their mind anything I left out.  Theses are wonderful women  and happy and content.

Yesterday was a day I hope I will never forget.  About 4:30 I went for a walk.  I felt like the prince who wore no cloths or the pipe piper.  No sooner left the yard until people started staring.  I smiled and put my hands together as praying bowled my head and said Jaime see, as is the custom for Christians to say Hello in Nepal.  Non Christians say Nomisee so you can tell a Christian.  After a block I gathered about 5 kids the 8, then about 4 uniformed girls raced out of school with a million questions in Englsh.  

They were so excited to find an American, they wanted to show me their school.  I told them only if my little friends could come.  They agreed and off we ran.  It was like movie.  They took me to their class for everyone to see me.  They asked me a ton of questions so I just told them all about me and my trip.  Added a little geography and asked a few questions in return.  Then they asked me to sing.  Oh no, my grand don't even let me sing, but I sang for them. I sang deep in the heart of Texas.  Only got 2 lines and another bunch came in to meet me.  Students and teachers.  I told them about church on Saturday, and told them all to stay in school and graduate and come see me in Texas.  It was a boarding school for 14-16 yo..  As I tried to leave about 16 of them insisted on walking me out, on the way out they took me to the canteen to meet the cook, then to their Hostelm where the lived with 8 bunks per room.  They each one showed me their own bunk.  That was what got tome.  The pride they had on having a bed,mattress and sheet and pillow.  Very likely never had one before.  Very clean and neat but old and beat up.  But it was theirs and they were happy to show it off.  They each one told me how happy they were tomeet me andi invited them to church again.  They explained that they could not leave the school except on school trips, but one told. Me several times that she was a Christian.  I told the others that Jesus loves them to and ask them if I could pray for them. With an overwhelming yes, we all held hands and I prayed. For their education, AND school, and their future, and that they would come to know Jesus.  Then we met the teachers again and they shook my hand and thanked me for coming and said it really made the students happy to have visitors.  Then the girls all took me to the gate.  When I say we went or the took. Me.  There were about 6-8 touching me every step, they were so careful that I not stumble or fall that I could hardly walk.  At the gate they got in a line to hug me and I knew I had been hugged.  I walked away looking over my shoulder to see them still waving.  Now rejoined by my little friends on bikes and walking, they walked me home.  My heart was so full I could hardly get through the gate.  God ga blessed me again and again.  Today after sharing with the ladies, I took my cue from the girls yesterday and stood at the door as they left and got hugs from all of the.  Felt very familiar as that is how I tried to end my sales meetings for the last

26 years.  

This really a friendly town.  Everyone has a garden and busily picking or plowing or burning or hoeing.  This home is very nice as well, for Nepal.  Not a lot of electricity, water or other things we take for granted but everything you need.  I am definitely seeing how excessive we are. In America.  Am personally going to try to get by with less when I get home, but flushing toilets as often as I like, and using TP will not be on my cut list.  I smell supper so goodnight.  Everyone goes to bed around dark.

Long trip on the short bus.

IGot up at 6 to see the sunrise from my room and it was quite impressive again.  Then off to Chitwan 

on the 7:30 bus.  Got some good laughs at the bus lot.  Ya know cows are sacred here in the Hindu or 

Buddist religion.  Well there is one in the middle of the parking lot,and everyone is having to go around 

him. 

I love the dogs here and have noticed every city since istanbul have had dogs everywhere.  

The sleep all day and howl all night.  They have these great curly tails and are very strong and 

short haired.  Need to get a pic cause would love one like that if I have another dog when I get old 

and stay at home more.

Last night the power went out at the hotel for a couple of hours.  Had a while of on line games.

About to leave so more later.  Don't know how I got that bold print. Well I'm here now and have wifi, 

but sounds busy.  Canoeing at 4 dinner at 5 cultural show after dinner.  6:30 am elephant ride. Leave at 1

Maybe later maybe not. Tomorrow I go to the Mann home ...wifi iffy

The view at the top

This is the view out my window.  Gotta be the best view in tow.  I went out to get pics of the sunset and turned around and the clouds are clearing.  I leave the hotel at 5am for a sunrise over the mountains so hope for better picks tomorrow.  I don't even think these are Mt Everest but they are gorgeous   Had a stunning 2 hours on a bus ride here.  Unfortunately the bus ride was from. 7:30to 3pm. It really was all great to look at, but remember the part about the very bumpy roads.  I am talking serious bumps that hurt my body.  2 hours would have been tough but 7.5 ugh.  But not it's just a distant memory.  Hope it's only a memory tomorrow when I get up.  Anyway, I did something last night and cut the power off to my I pad charging, so ended up on this gorgeous drive with no camera at all.  I travel again Wed so hopefully can get some good shots.  Only 7-1. I missed ya today though.  I always take the pics thinking I'm talking to someone telling you about that scene.  But I was not alone.  There were about 7 teenage boys that kept me laughing and helped me with some iPhone issues I was having. 

Time for some potty talk.  

Should it be embarrassing that I am getting pretty good at squat pot.  I talked to a guy the other day who pulled his hamstring doin the squat.  I avent ad any serious business, but getting better at #1. 

Today I asked my self, as I watched an 80 year old woman come out of the potty, " did she really squat and get up?"  Then I wondered if that is what people thought when they saw me come out!?

I'm just wondering if they can figure out how to put a porcelain squat pot in, why can't the just do a seat on it.  No one really wants to squat do they.

How much would it cost to add a bar to hold onto. I really don't want to fall in there

How about a hook to hang your purse on.  The floor is covered in other people's p, so you can't put it down.

Even in homes they say, there is a water shortage so we don't flush every time we pp.  just when it's necessary.  Now tell me, whose call is that.  Rancid p in the morning is not me favorite cup of p.

But then let's consider the 1st of our 4 breaks this morning.  PTL I did not need to go.  We pulled over in an ok place with a little snack bar and the driver yells toilets.  I wish!!!  We get out and I walk over to the edge and start looking over the edge of the mountain since I didn't need to go.  Well lo and behold, there was no toilet, you just walk down the mountain about 10 feet and do your thing.  Ladies to the left, guys to the right, There is nothing right about that, even in Nepal.  So when I looked over the edge I was looking at the heads of the potty goers.  I knew then it would be a long day

Enough potty talk.  I do have Internet here so I'll blog while I can, don't worry till Sunday.  Then I should be in good service again

Look closely and you can see the snow covered mts in the center.  Clouds over others

Sunset and clouds mainly but mts behind the clouds

As the clouds cleared

Hello y'all

Moving on quicker than I thought.  My new friends here have graciously arranged for me to go toPokhara  tomorrow for a visit cause that is what you are supposed to do,  then on Wed ill go to Chitawah to a jungle retreat to ride and elephant and see other wild animals, then spend a couple of days with her parents who are ministering in Chitawah and I will work with some of their ladies.

.  I'm just doin what they say cause I've given this ministry part to God too and expecting well all be blessed f I shut up and follow.  Had a great day today visiting the Baptist church and sharing pot luck as they celebrated 10 years of English services.  Good crowd, good music and local food.  For diner I took a coupe to dinner.  We had the local favorite of MoMos.  A doughy pastry filled with veggies, or chicken or buff.  I thought Buff was Beef in Neal but it was short for Buffalo.  Really good dipped in a really spicy, hot sauce.  With soda the 3 diners totaled $3.65.  

I have to get up at 6an

M to get the taxi to the bus for Pokhara.  I don't know if I will have any Internet access for a few days but I will be able to call Franklin who can call Marsha if I have any issues.  I am in good hands so if you don't here from me, just relax and enjoy and I'll be back by Sunday.  If I have access I will get in touch, but if you need me, start with Aunt Margarete.

Beautiful day in Nepal

When I woke up in Katmandu this morning and it was just as beat up and run down as it was last night, I was ready to make my excuses and move on.  Instead I went to the rooftop for breakfast enjoyed a visit with great guys from NY and Toronto. They were to trek and we had a great N American visit about, politics and religion, and travel.  The I got a cab to Franklins.  He was a student and dear friend of my cousins in Myalysia.  He and his wife and 2 kids are precious.  We will go to their church tomorrow here in Kathmandu.  They are renting a wonderful home home here in Lilitup Nepal, 15 min out of city.  Much nicer area than downtown Kathmandu. The family of husband, wife a 19 month old girl and 9 year old boy s precious.  They have extra bedrooms that they provide for traveling ministers, missionary's, family and friends.  They can't actually rent it but we can make donations to their ministry.  Great deal.  Attached some pics from my balcony on 2nd floor.  Also as rooftop from 3rd floor and washing machine on next level after roof.  Today we went for a walk to buy food for diner.  Shops are unbelievable.  Cows and chickens and goats along the street with a good number of pedestrians but not crowded.  Not many cars here as everyone rides motor cycles.  Probably not e.  well see.  Today we saw rooster and 2 hens across the road from a place that sells chickens ready to cook.  Had to wonder what those chickens were thinking.  they will probably be laying on that counter tomorrow.  We had spaghetti tonight.  Made with Buffalo.  Another 1st I think.  There are mountains all around but most about like Colorado.   Then in the distance you can see the snow capped tops of taller ones.  Cloudy today but I'll get pics soon.   Kathmandu is in a valley so temp today ranged 55-75.  Been raining a lit lately but not normal.  Result of the Cyclone that hit India.  I think I'm fine not going to India.  This is pretty close to what I expected there and frankly more beat up than I expected here.  Taj Majal, not so impressive after all I've seen.  Lady staying with Franklin and family has filled me in on Thailand and Indonesia and Myalysia and I think I'm gonna be just fine without India .  So far now enjoy theses pics.

Off my balcony

Off balcony

Early morning view from other hotel in Thamel, a nice section of Kathmandu.  See why I was ready to flee!

View from hotel this morning in the other direction