So much to take in...

On Monday, we had a bit of time before our flight left Kathmandu for Biritnagar (the flight was delayed several times).  So, since we had some time, Ken took us on a field trip to experience Tibetan culture.  As we were walking the streets, our first purchase was masks for all of us!  Since there are so many people and vehicles in a small area, pollution is a problem here.  Everyone walks around with these masks on!  

We took a 15-minute walk down the road to some shops that were run by Tibetan refugees.  Their shops had many handmade items of wool (knit slippers, earmuffs, hats, mittens, rugs).  We were able to see some workers weaving the rugs.  These women were amazing in their work.  Some have done this from childhood while there were others who had only done it for a few months.  A rug about the size of a bedroom takes six ladies two months to complete.

We grabbed a quick lunch at a nearby café.  I enjoyed some tomato soup, ostrich and veggie momo’s and a mango lassi.

  

After our lunch, we piled in some taxis and headed to the airport.  It’s always fascinating to me to see how airports and flights are organized and managed.  Our flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar was only 45 minutes.  Ken had requested seats for all of us to be on the side of the plane that faced the Himalayas.  Just beautiful!  It’s hard to capture the beauty in a photo, especially when you are in a seat next to the propeller!

When we landed in Biratnagar (think Lancaster airport size), to claim our luggage, they give out each checked bag individually, matching your baggage claim ticket with what you are taking.  It’s quite a slow process, but everyone leaves with the correct bag!

  

It was so nice to be in this part of Nepal.  Kathmandu and Biratnagar are so different, in the fact of very busy and chaotic in Kathmandu and much more peaceful and tranquil in Biratnagar.  We felt the difference immediately once we got off the plane!  And..the air was clean! 

  

After getting to our hotel in Biratnagar, Hannah (Shemlal’s wife) took us out shopping for some true Indian women outfits.  I wasn’t planning to buy anything, but, you know how that goes. 

We ended the day on Monday with supper at the hotel and talking about the day ahead (Tuesday).  Pam, Renee and I are sharing a room together everywhere we go on this trip.  As we were preparing to get ready for bed, we learned that our toilet was not working properly.  So, we called the front desk.  Shortly, 3 people came up to our room and entered the bathroom and closed the door.  There was much chatter (in Hindi) and lots of water sloshing.  When they came out of the bathroom, the apologized and said they could not fix the toilet.  They would have to call a plumber in the morning.  So, to take care of us, they gave us a room key to another room, to use that bathroom.  The thought was nice; however, the room was on another floor.  Now, I don’t know how any of you would feel about that, but, if you wake up in the middle of the night and have to use the bathroom and have to do a flight of stairs…doesn’t sound great, right?  So, we decided we would continue to use our bathroom during the night if we had to and we would bucket-flush it in the morning.

So, when I woke up on Tuesday morning, I thought I would try to rest longer and then realized I had my first opportunity on this trip to exercise!  I had an empty room that I could use and not disturb my roommates.  I always travel with my jump rope.  I was  able to get in a great bodyweight workout and a jump rope workout.

We all gathered for a delicious breakfast – continental.  Interestingly enough, in the US, a continental breakfast is small (bagel, juice, fruit).  Well, not the case here!  It was scrambled egg, toast, a veggie pancake (fried), fresh orange juice, some cooked veggies, fresh fruit and a few French fries (all of their plates at meals are “garnished” with French fries!?)  I added a pancake with honey!?  Their pancakes are sort of a cross between crepes and pancakes.  It was all delicious and a great start to the day.

After breakfast, we met with the BIC church leaders in Nepal.  We met at the BIC office here, which was kind of cool to compare—they are basically the equivalent to our office staff in PA.  They are just operating out of the office in Nepal.  They greeted us with the traditional greeting, giving us flower lays and we shared tea together.  Then we spent a bit of time just talking together and asking questions to understand the way the SPICE program is run.  These are the sort of discussions we will have with multiple leaders on this trip, for the various hostels.  This is a huge help to me in my role in my job. 

(BIC church in Biritnagar)

It’s so hard to put the day’s experience into words.  After our meeting, we went to two SPICE hostels in Nepal – the Mary Hoke girls hostel and the Thomas G. MacClay boys hostel.  The children lined up on either side to form a walkway for us to go through.  Such beauty!  So many bright smiles and beautiful colored clothing.  It was so moving.  They sat us down near the “stage” and we were again greeted with flower lays.  They put on a program for us that included much singing, dancing (some dances from specific tribes), scripture reading.  It was like a children’s program that an elementary school would put on in the US.  We ate lunch with them and then had time to just play with them.  Many things were going on t one time – gifts for each child, craft/bracelet making for the girls, jumping rope, soccer, and then it turned into one big dancing celebration!  What fun!  I was able to connect with many children and talk with them, explaining to them that when they have their photos taken with the chalkboard showing their name (think mug shot, but nicer), that I receive those photos in the US to prepare photo cards for people to pray for the children.  That was a sweet moment to explain that to them – they are so appreciative of the support they receive.  Several of the girls “adopted” me and pulled me into their circle of dance and kept teaching me the various tribal dances.  It was really a lot of jumping around and kicking.  This went on for quite a while…and, I was sweating profusely!  The girls and some boys kept telling me that my “sweat was welcome there!”  It was such a joyous time together with the children.

(being greeted at the hostel)

Mary Hoke Girls Hostel

Thomas G. MacClay Hostel

serving the meal

washing dishes

dancing together

For those of you back home, the children in the SPICE program are from poverty-stricken areas.  Most of them would never have the opportunity to read or write.  This program provides many new and bright opportunities for the children and their future.  Many that we talked to want to become engineers or teachers.  We are gathering many success stories during this trip of many who have gone through the program and now as adults they are leaders in the church, and even some, are continuing to help run the SPICE program to give other children opportunities like they had received.

Of course, it was difficult to leave all of their smiling faces, but we left to go around 4:30 or so.  As we were going back to the hotel, we were surprised to find out that we were making a stop at Ganesh’s home (he is the General Secretary over the BIC Nepal church and has quite a story).  I had heard recently, that his mother makes the best rice pudding ever.  Well, the surprise was, we were invited into his home and met his mother, and were served this pudding.  I have to say, I don’t like rice pudding at all, but “when in Rome” I couldn’t pass this up.  It was delicious!  We had a nice visit with he and his family.  They also served us coffee and cookies, and yes, I even had some coffee (and liked it?! – who am i?) 

When we returned back to the hotel, they informed us that our toilet was fixed.  Well, it really wasn’t…so, we’ve decided to keep the other room key for our spare bathroom.  We had a nice meal together and talked about our day.  We were all pretty beat – such a “high” of a day, so much to take in and process.  We’re trying something new – since it took almost an hour for our breakfast food to be prepared in the morning, we have decided to order our breakfast the night before and have it ready for us at 7:30.  We will see how that goes.  We plan to leave on Wednesday morning at 8:30 for our next visit today – the Jhapa area.  We do not have a SPICE hostel here yet, just some land with hopes to start another hostel.  We’re told it is about a 2 hour drive, but I’m sure it will be longer since we will probably stop for tea on the way. 

I have so many pictures that I want to share, but it takes much time to load things with the internet here—and I need to sleep!  I’ll share a few photos, but know that once I’m home, I’ll be sharing many more photos with you.  Also, check out the team blog at spicelt2017.blogspot.com for more!

Thanks for praying for our team.  Everyone is doing well—adjusting well, no sicknesses.  Pray for good rest for us.  Pray that we will be sensitive to the culture and those we meet.  Pray that we will have open eyes and closed mouths so we can truly be learning from our friends here, not trying to tell them how things should be done.