January 2010 ~ The Adventure Continues!

I will leave for Nepal on Saturday, January 2, 2010! I'm very excited to be visiting Nepal again to continue the work of the Madhav Ghimire Foundation and to further the work of supporting literacy in the villages of our Scholarship recipients.

I have been receiving updates, messages, and pictures from our friends in Bandipur concerning the library and it seems things are going well. Biju, the librarian has done an amazing job in continuing to maintain an environment of welcoming all castes and ages into the library so everyone is able to enjoy and learn together, regardless of their "position".

I'm very excited to visit and see how things are going. I have collected more learning games for the kids, books, and donations for more supplies.

During this three week trip I will visit the homes, schools, and villages of many of the scholarship girls and look for the next library location. The goal I have in mind is to build/make a library in each scholarship girl's village. The benefits are for the girls and their communities. Supporting the teachers and education in these villages is also beneficial to all and a great joy as well.

I will be posting here and share my findings and explorations...joys and sorrows....
and love with you all. Namaste Friends...thank you for being an important part of this journey and this work....

Love to All~
and
Happy New Year as we continue on this Journey of Love and Learning.

Heather

Reminders~

As I share my pictures and experiences with friends and family I am reminded over and over again of special moments in Nepal.  I miss the simple pleasures of living in Nepal...sometimes the smallest things in life are those we appreciate the most. It feels that way to me. Here are few things I miss and I love about Nepal and the people I met through the summer.

As I walked through the village each day I saw children "playing"... these sweet girls are preparing food for their babies...small girls "dress up" so they are beautiful like their mothers and aunties.
I adore the flowers and plants in Nepal~ such a variety and amazing colors~ everywhere you look you can find natural beauty and amazing views surround you...whether near or far....

This picture shows the dining area at Gaun Gahr Hotel in Bandipur.  The hotel is rustic, but BEAUTIFUL beyond... a Newari family home originally it has been renovated back to it's original beauty. I learned much of my Nepali here through dialogues with the staff... and the food was incredible! Rabindra is an excellent chef ~ "ek dom meto chaa" ~

"Birdie drinks" ~ Nepali people all "birdie drink" so they can all use the same water containers without worry of sharing germs!  I am still working on this skill~  :)

I appreciate the challenges of everyday life when I am in Nepal and realize it is not really the "things" in life that make us rich or poor, but more so...the love and connection we have with others... (photo is of typical stove inside a Nepali home).

I miss the moon in Nepal~

I adore our scholarship girls~ they are all so wonderful! It was a great experience to get to know them more personally. I was amazed by their desire to learn each thing I shared with them. It was nice when they became more relaxed with me and I really got to experience each of their personalities in the group and separately. I cannot wait to see them again to continue to see them grow and develop. They are beautiful young women...  :)  so fun!

I love the Nepali women's dress~ they are so elegant as they work hard and carry the burdens in their lives. These ladies would walk through the village each day going about their business. Umbrellas are used for the rain and the sun, and often both sun and rain are experienced within one hour's time in the summer! I have a great respect for Nepali women~ I found them to be strong, kind, compassionate, and patient. 

The Himalayan Times ~

Shortly before the Library opened the Himalayan Times  in Kathmandu asked a question in the paper about which is better...the internet or a library! I simply had to submit a 200 word response...

and I just found it on the internet just tonight!

Mine is on top!!!

Exciting to bump into this because I did not know if they printed it or not!

:)

fun!

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?id=Mjk4NzE=#

that's the link....

Here's what I wrote:

Internet Vs Libraries: Let’s enjoy the best of both

Internet Vs Libraries: Let’s enjoy the best of both

2009-08-29 1:37 PM

Although it is true that modern technology offers those seeking information certain benefits, there is no comparing the use of the Internet and the experience of visiting a good library. A library is a gift to all because libraries offer individuals the opportunity to explore and experience the very essence of the authors’ efforts, wisdom, and knowledge through the ages. We quite literally hear the voices and capture the essence of writers through time. The library is a reverent place that offers each individual, the opportunity to learn and understand if they so choose. Knowledge in the library is free to all. The Internet offers many of the same benefits, so we are truly blessed with both at our disposal.

With great appreciation, devotion, and passion for libraries, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to open The Children’s Library in Bandipur, Nepal on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 4:15pm. With the gracious help of Digumber Piya, and many donors, the library will be a place where children, teachers, and community members can visit and have the best of both worlds — a library with books and the Internet as well!

— Heather Guay, 
California, USA/
Bandipur, Nepal

Pheri Bhetula~ "See you later!"

Pheri bhetaunla~ "I hope we meet again"

Leaving Bandipur was difficult... I had become such good friends with so many of the village residents and the hotel staff. We had, after all, spent a great deal of time together and worked on a variety of projects together. We had many laughs and shared many details of our lives~ so hard to say "goodbye".

I spent most of the night packing my suitcases and figuring out what I needed to take back to the states with me and what I could leave in Nepal for the staff. I was up past midnight trying to make sure I would have enough room in my bags to carry back a few items for my loved ones as well. I had brought so much with me when I arrived and now through the teachers' training, the English classes, and opening the library I had "unloaded" most of it! I was down to one duffle bag, a suit-case, my backpack, and my purse....not bad...for an American!  :)

The Gaun Ghar Hotel staff gave me a Nepali goodbye and showered me with tikas, flowers, yogurt, and gifts...they thanked me for everything and gave me blessings for safe travels...it was so lovely and beautiful. How I had come to really love and admire these people. Several friends from the village also came to the hotel to say farewell...Bimila, Biju, and Asutosh~ Dabika (a little girl I met during my first visit to Nepal) stopped by the hotel early to give me a beautiful flower and wish me safe travels...she told me "I love you." :) so sweet.

The teachers from Dil School came out of one of the homes to give me flowers and wish me farewell...very sweet...the library is directly behind me at the end of the bazaar...

As I walked down the bazaar many of the residents and merchants I had come to know came out of their homes and business to say goodbye. It was sweet...I have never received so many beautiful flowers and gifts and such love...it was really amazing...I felt so humbled, blessed and thankful. It was a beautiful way to end my stay in Bandipur~ sweet, sweet memories.

The Children's Library~ Bandipur, Nepal 2009 "A Library is a Gift to All~"

"A Library is a Gift to All~"

The making of The Children's Library has been a long and wonderful journey~ The opening day was rushed, and I was doubtful of having everything complete even at the noon hour on Monday. Rain was threatening and still I had not even placed the books in the library as the workers were still finishing their final touches. I had hoped to have several days to place the 450 books, educational games, stuffed animals and decorations in the library...but as it stood I had only several hours. Thanks to help of several of my lady friends and young college students in the village, and the hotel staff I managed to get everything in the library and set up so it "looked" like a library!!!! I was simply astounded at how gorgeous the library looked...simply wonderful...beyond my wildest dreams and expectations!

The opening of the library was very grand! I had been inviting all of my "friends" and people I knew in the village and Digumber and I visited the different schools in Bandipur and invited the teachers and let them know when it would be. At the opening there were over 150 people and they all gathered around the library area to celebrate! Mahendra and his wife (the owner of the building) also came from Chitwan to speak and celebrate the opening of the library.

I was the " honored guest" (which is a big deal and means I speak first and the longest~ and women are not usually the honored guest...no pressure!) I gave a not so long speech and tried to speak in a way that everyone would understand me... I simply wanted them to know that the library is a "gift to all" and that "ALL PEOPLE" are welcome in the library...I wished that they would use the library in any way that enhances them and that the hopes from me and all of the donors was that the library would help to enhance literacy and improve the quality of life for all people. I told them that it had been an honor to work with them and that I had come to find many of them my friends...and how thankful I was for that...I thanked Digumber for all of his tremendous energy and hard work... without him the library would have never happened, I thanked each person who helped make the library come into existence....it was a beautiful day...

Several other speakers spoke about the library... Mahendra, Bikram Sir (my Nepali teacher), a local politician, and Digumber spoke last by summarizing the entire journey and speaking about his family roots and dreams for the village of Bandipur, and how everyone must work together to hlep improve education and help children. It seems the making of the library is a sort of catalyst for growth...and that is just as it should be...the sharing of inspiration, knowledge, and spirit...inspires people to DREAM..... if we can share that, in whichever way we are given to share it, then we have accomplished a great deal....

The library has been "open" for two days....each day the library has been literally PACKED... over 60 children are there reading all the books...adults of all ages have visited and are thrilled to explore the many different books. I felt so blessed when two grown sons of a local hotel owner came into the library and browsed a picture book on Nepal... they told me they saw and learned new things about Nepal they had not known before...... truly... a library can make a difference.... at any age.

After polling the children I found about 1/2 are from the local private school and 1/2 from the local public school. The children are so careful with the books and they are truly, truly enjoying the beautiful space to relax and explore books and learn. The children are also playing with the learning games and are choosing the games that require reading and writing in English! They LOVE TO WORK HARD! Our librarian, Biju, is a beautiful and wonderful lady, (she was one of my students from the women's group) and I feel thankful she took the job. She is perfect for the job and it affords her many benefits, win/win situation.

I feel so very thankful and blessed beyond.

I am leaving tomorrow.... I am ready to go "home".
I miss my friends and my family so very much... I will say though, I am going to miss my "new home" and my new friends~ I feel I now have two homes...and that makes me very rich indeed.

Namaste~

hg

The Children's Library Grand Opening!

Due to the delay in some of the construction in the library building there has been a delay in the opening of the library and therefore a delay in my return to America. I will be "home" a week later than expected...Sept. 6! I have been organizing and typing the lists of books for the library and getting everything ready to go, once the paint and glaze in the shelves and floors are dry. It is raining still here every other day so the drying process takes time.
"Nepali time" comes into factor here as well....

The opening will be officially on Monday at 4:15 p.m. and the entire village will be there....
the scholarship girls will be there and so will the women and teachers I've worked with this summer...it feels great!

I will take lots of photos and videotape as well...I'm planning on speaking a little in Nepali as well...we'll see how that goes!

HOpe you are all well...

missing you all so very much...my interent is down and I am on dial up in a mud hut....
can't upload photos.....

xooxxoxo
and Namaste~

Heather

Today~

Today and yesterday the scholarship girls came to the Gaun Ghar, (my home away from home), to learn how to play the learning games that will be in the library and to explore the books. The idea is if the girls know how to use the games they can "teach" and share with the other children in the village. It has been great fun exploring all the different books and playing games with the girls. They love the challenging spelling games, the synonym/antonym games, and also I taught them to play the All American Game- Checkers!!! They loved it!

The library is really beautiful....I mean...amazingly beautiful!

There is a sense of beauty and peace there that I hope you can "feel" from the photos (once I get them uploaded). I think perhaps this is related to many factors~ first...tremendous love and goodwill that this project has been brought forth with...the good intentions and best wishes of all of you who donated and who are keeping us all in your thoughts and prayers....also...the building itself is located at the heart of the village and when you stand on the front porch you can hear children playing, men and women working and moving through their day....Nepali music and a gentle breeze blow across your cheek and through your ears...."Namaste~" and smiles abound.

The library is built in the lower section of a building that is a holy place for people to stop and rest while they are traveling (called a Pati) Women gather here in the evening and sing and play music. The carpenters are from Chitwan and have been working so beautifully~ they are expert wood workers (Thank you to Digumber, once again for his "connections" and dedication to making this library quality for the girls!) Local village people have been working (for minimum fees) painting, staining, cleaning, carrying, working, working, working...... the shelves are half way in and I can see "the library" materialize before my eyes.

When I think of all of these things together, the love from all, and the amount of dedication and work it has taken, and takes to not only bring forth books, and literature, and learning....but the building, the workers, every person who has been involved...and the benefit (that we may or may not know~ the effects of our efforts.....) I have been moved to tears several times when I take all this in.....
and in...
and in......

it's really amazing.

The Library~ Progress Update~

Hello Friends!

I am having trouble uploading my photos, so I will have to write for now!
The past few days have been fast and furious~ there are workers everywhere in the library and
it is really coming along. It looks Dheri RAMRO....BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
I have so many beautiful photos and I can't wait to show you! Everyone in the village has been stopping by to see the progress of the library~ everyone is excited...

The children have been visiting~ one sweet little girl came by and I told her we were building
a children's library...and that we brought many different books on many different subjects....and that she could come and read the books in the library~ She asked me "How much does it cost?"
I told her "FREE" and she said, "FREE?" and I said, "Yes!!!!"
I took her pictures at that moment...she was so excited and happy!!!!

I'm so excited!!!!!!
more later....with pics, I hope!!!!!

Library Update!

Digumber Piya and Pradeep inside the library...aren't the doors beautiful?????

Library Update!

Yesterday we bought the books for the library in Kathmandu! It was FUN hard work choosing a wide variety of books for different levels and interest. It took hours to gather them and once they were all packaged up, it did not look like that many books! OMG....I'm terribly excited! When I think of the people of Bandipur having a quality library (even if it is small) I feel so happy! I think about what a difference books and the library have made in my own life..... how wonderful to help provide this for others.

The books are being shipped to Chitwan and then to Bandipur...I do not know how all these things work in Nepal and Digumber has been absolutely a lifesaver....It would have been tremendously more challenging for me to do this without his help and "connections"!


I am hoping each year our volunteers and friends will bring books, send books, and donate books to keep the library growing. THIS IS A PROCESS.....and evolution~ it will be interesting to see how the children and teachers value the library....I think they will...the books are all high quality and on a variety of subjects and levels. We have to find someone to be the "librarian" and I am hoping for one of my women students or someone from the teacher's training to do the job~ when I return to Bandipur I will find the "librarian".

The inside of the library is being finished currently and I will return to Bandipur either this afternoon or in the morning to get everything "finished" before I leave. I will post photos...don't worry!!!!! :)

Pictures & People~

I've met and developed relationships with many people in the time that I have been working in Bandipur. The village people, who I see and greet daily; the staff at Gaun Ghar, who have become my good friends; my students, who have become my friends as well; and the scholarship girls, who are "our" girls. I have been able to learn a great deal about the culture of different groups, what the daily lives are like for different people, and to understand more fully what it feels like to be an "immigrant" (even though it's only for 8 weeks....) I met an Italian lady who actually has been living in Nepal for 17 years and I asked her how it was for her to be an immigrant here...she said, "They perfectly tolerate you, but never fully accept you." (That made me laugh so hard! I think she is a smart lady!)

Ranjana is from Gorkha. She works in the hotel in housekeeping and any other job they need her to do! The staff all work together throughout the day on little and big jobs...they laugh when I join in and help around the hotel too...I tell them that is part of "my culture" to work and help... "Americans are like that...." ~ Ranjana is just about the sweetest person I've met and when I first came to know her she always looked so sad. She has been smiling lately and we even make private jokes together..it's fun and hilarious. She often watches me and laughs as I give the male hotel workers and Digumber a hard time...my outspoken ways and expression of my opinions are not customary in Nepali culture for women...the women staff members see me as something out of the ordinary...but I can see the twinkle in their eyes as I wink at them and "call people" on their "stuff"!!!! :)

Sujan & Heather on Thani Mai (a local area to climb UP, UP, UP and the view is AMAZING!!!!)~ Sujan works in Kathmandu at one of the other hotels/restaurants that Digumber and his partner own. He came to Bandipur to participate in the English training for the staff. He is a great person! I've so enjoyed getting to know Sujan.... he is the eldest child in his family and he helps send his siblings to school as well as to provide for his parents who live in a reomote area of Nepal and are farmers. Sujan has the best attitude of anyone I've ever met and he is always asking me questions.... oh...and he loves Michael Jackson... he listens to my Ipod while he prepares food in the kitchen...one day I could hear the "Thriller" song loudly coming from the kitchen .... I knew it wouldn't be long before Pradeep (the manager) put that to an end...but it was funny! I imagined him down their doing the Thriller Dance.... (Sujan is the one who helps me read with the kids in the evenings...he wants to be a teacher....)

This little girl was doing a dance for me before teaching the ladies group one day...she was so beautiful as she did her Nepali dance with the older girls...isn't she adorable?

Three Taps is on the edge of Bandipur and this where the villagers and those who live in the surrounding areas come to bathe, wash clothes, and gather water in their water jugs for their homes....(we had to use these taps during the water shortage in Bandipur as well....) This little girl lives across the way from the hotel. Her grandfather is raising her as her parents have abandoned her. She is so cute and each day she is in the group of children who waits for me to read them a story! This day she walked with us to Three Taps to watch the start of the Krishna parade.

Children wait for the parade to begin and then they are able to act out their favorite religious and cultural stories of Krishna and Radha. It is fun to see the excitement and realize how these activities and festivials are part of their lives, their memories, and how they will carry on these traditions with their own children.

This is a picture of a village woman and her bull....it was taken on the way to the village where the Christian church was....this bull did not recognize us and he became agitated and acted as if he would charge us...it was very scary for a moment!!!! The lady beat the tar out of the bull and took him away from us....OMG....she is one tough little lady!!!!

~Festivals~

Krishna's Birthday Party brought huge crowds and wonderful costumes through the night!

This festival is called Gai Jatra a celebration to remember ancestors and honor recently passed family members.

This little girl came and sat by me quietly while we waited for the parade to come by the hotel. She did not speak for a very long time, but merely sat and waited. She lives outside Bandipur in the poorer area where the lower caste members live. Several of the children from the town came by and looked at her, as if "What are you doing here?"..... she held her self well and stayed. I felt happy sitting next to her.... :)

These children prepare to participate in the celebration of Krishna's birthday parade! This was a huge celebration that lasted from the morning well into the evening~ maybe you notice Danika/Dabika...

There have been many festivals while I've been here and each has it's own name, significance and traditions. It has been fascinating to be a quiet observer in these festivities and I wish I understood each one more so I could share that with you, but for now I hope the pictures will give a taste of what I've been able to see while I've been here. I think perhaps since the clouds hide the spectacular beauty of the Himalayans during the monsoon, the people bring forth the beauty in their costume, singing and dancing as they celebrate ceaselessly during this festive time....

~The World Peace Pagoda ~

The World Peace Pagoda on the top of a mountain in Pokhara...so beautiful and truly PEACEFUL~

I had the good fortune to visit the World Peace Pagoda yesterday! Digumber was in Bandipur and we both needed to get a few things from a "big town" so we drove to Pokhara for the day~

Pokhara is west about 1.5 to 2 hours from Bandipur and quite a "fun and exciting" drive... :)

I was able to get a small bit of shopping done, we were able to get the paint for the library walls,

and we both visited the bank (there are NO banks in or near Bandipur~ banks are only found in major cities such as Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara so you must plan accordingly!)

Digumber said if we had time we could go up and see the World Peace Pagoda and I was excited! It took us almost the entire day just getting our errands done....it takes "longer" to do business in Nepal~ people are not in a rush and oftentimes (at least this is what I find) it takes some time to get down to the "final answer"..... (I often become frustrated and say..."JUST SAY WHAT IT IS~ Let's Go!!!!!!" American Freakout...that's me!) :) but alas, we finally had time to go UP!

This is the "road" up to the World Peace Pagoda~ mind you the edge of the mountain is just to the right~ we met another car coming up on the way down and it took us five minutes to finally pass each other...we were literally 1 inch apart from each other.... (Nepal...got love it!!! :D)

The drive was absolutely terrifying! The road was several miles of jagged rocks and ditches that went straight up ~ I could not believe Digumber was going to drive his car up that hill...but he did.... he was determined (Jane~ the Digumbermobile made it!).... I couldn't say a word because I was so scared and at one point I thought we would slide off the side of the mountain!!!!! The car went sideways and slid.... Amazingly, with the skill of a person who has driven these types of roads forever, (he said the road to Bandipur was similar to this road until 5 years ago...omg...scary!) we made it to the walking area that would lead us up to the top of the mountain and the World Peace Pagoda.

It was worth it!

The moment we reached the World Peace Pagoda gate I felt instant peace and love...really, it was amazing~ There was a small building where a white woman monk with a shaved head was beating a big drum....the vibrations resonated through the building, through my body, and through my soul....I wanted to stay there and feel that feeling of bliss.... (Digumber said it would be funny if I ended up living there...and I thought to myself.... "not really that funny now...would it?"!!! :))

We left the beautiful worship area/drum area and headed up to the World Peace Pagoda . The view was astounding... 360 degrees of mountains, lake, and jungle/forest, along with the town of Pokhara~ my words and pictures cannot express properly the feeling of peace and thankfulness I felt...but I will not forget it.

Namaste~

A Four Hour Walk, Just Over that Hill & A Sermon on the Mt.

Me with the Christian fellowship~ it was fun to experience a Christian service Nepali style!

The people were so warm and grateful for my visit~ it was great!

During the training for teachers I met a young man who is currently finishing his education in teaching. His name is Ek Bahadur Gurung and I came to know through the training that he was a Christian, something rather rare in Nepal, and certainly out in the middle of Nepal. We chatted a little about our faith and beliefs and he invited me to his church fellowship. I told him I would be happy to attend and then found that his village w1 1/2 hours walk over the mountains. He makes this walk everyday to get to and from school each day and he walked every day to attend the teachers training as well. I agreed that I would visit his village and attend the church service and we decided on Saturday, August 8, 2009 (my son, Gabriel's birthday...)

While I was in Kathmandu at the bookstore I bought a NIV Bible for Ek Bahdur and a few other books and resources to help support their church. The monsoon has been raining fiercly off and on and I had already decided that if it was raining on this day I would not walk to the village, because the roads would be so muddy and there would be leeches for sure....I spoke to Ek Bahadur on Friday and told him if it was raining I would not go the next day. He said, "Then let's pray for no rain!" Sure enough, Saturday was CLEAR and SUNNY and we set off for his church at 8:15 a.m.

This beautiful cat caught my eye as I walked for hours through the mountains.

We walked through Bandipur past the Three taps area where many of the villagers go to wash their clothes, take baths, and collect water for their homes. As we left the village of Bandipur I felt fine and we began to walk and walk. The view was beautiful as we climbed out of the valley and over the side of one hill and down to the next. The road was a bit muddy from the rains before, but overall the quality of the road was good and it wasn't so hot, at least not as hot as it would be coming back. The walk was hard and long and the 1 1/2 hour walk for Ek Bahadur was a 2 hour walk for me... my face was red and I had to stop a few times when climbing really high hills, but I was okay. I have to admit I was tired and happy once we arrived! Pradeep, the manager of the Gaun Ghar Hotel, was with us and he walked so carefully in his perfectly ironed white long sleeved button down shirt and black shiny shoes! He was dressed for church, I was dressed for survival!!! (LOL!!)

"It's just over that hill." ~ Famous Last Words in Nepal! :)

After some time I couldn't help but ask..."Are we almost there???" "How much longer?"

He kept saying, "Just over that hill...." and I kept seeing hills that looked close, but I knew they were not!!!

Finally we got to his village, whose inhabitants come from three different tribes than are commonly found in Bandipur and the surrounding areas. The village and the people "looked" different and they even speak different languages. I told him I can only speak English and very little Nepali... and he taught me how to say, "Hi!" in Gurung... the children just looked at me like I was crazy... this happens often in Nepal.

The service was held in their "church" which was a small mud and grass hut, made in the common style of their tribe. It was quite interesting and wonderful! There were about 20 people including children and they all sang and spoke in Nepali actually. They used the Nepali drum to sing their songs and it sounded beautiful. The service was somewhat different than I have seen in the United States, but many things were the same. They said The Lord's Prayer, and read different scriptures, they took an offering, and gave testimonies of how they became Christian. Then I was asked to share something with them.

I shared my simple advice and favorite scriptures~ I talked about my Faith, Forgiveness, and Love~ They asked me questions about facing hardships in life and how to deal with the suffering of others~ We also discussed how to respond to those family members and friends who were not accepting of Christianity~ Faith, Forgiveness, Compassion & Love.... same as Buddha would say, or what we find in most faiths.... :)

It was a blessed day.

~Bina~

Bina


Bina is a girl that you like instantly. She has a twinkle in her eye and a smile that radiates from her entire body. She is curious, intelligent, hard working, and kind. She has a graceful spunk that makes you want to spend time with her. When I visited her home I was stunned by the simple charm and obvious energy it takes for bare survival.



Bina and her bag of treasures.


Bina holds her treasures in a bag that she hangs from the ceiling of her mud house to stay dry during the heavy monsoon rains. I had to smile when she brought out the things she "treasures" they were a poloroid photo from Jeffrey Kottler (that her brother marked on) and photos of Caitlin and Drew (two volunteers from Canada who recently did a marvelous job with the girls)! My heart smiled as I realized how the effort that we put forth makes a deep difference...at least to Bina.

Caitlin and Drew volunteered earlier in the year and made a great impact on the girls~ Bina treasures these photos.



These photos were taken by Jeffrey Kottler, the founder of the MGF, on a previous visit. He takes poloroid pictures of the scholarship girls and their families....these become lifelong treasures and reminders of those who care and believe in them. (And...naughty little brother drew on Bina's photo...)

Finally arriving at Bina's house...the climb was challenging but fun!




As we climbed up and around the narrow path that led to Bina's home I felt a bit frightened a few times because the path was very small with a deep drop immediately left...at one point, Bina took my hand to help me across and I was surprised by her strength! I was not going anywhere with her holding my hand... I could feel it! How do they manage that path in the rain and at night? I can barely walk it in daylight with someone holding my hand.... wow!



We came across an old blind man who was babysitting a small child by the edge of a cliff. I did not know how he managed to keep the baby safe because he had to feel around to locate the child and the edge of the mountain is so close.... We shared a few "Namastes" and watched for a moment...Bina told the little man where the child was and he quickly felt his way to the baby and picked the child up. Really amazing...we found out that was Bina's Grandfather and her cousin... everyone else was out working in the fields so Grandpa babysits! Everyone works! Somehow, amazingly, they work it out....

~ALL ABOUT ME by BINA~

My name is Bina Majakoti. I live in BandipurNepal and there are many things to know about me. First,I am 11years old and I’m in class 6. I go toBhanu school. I like school
because I can read,write, learn and see new English books. Another reason I like school is because my teacher teaches very well.There are six people in my family.I have 1 brother and 1 sister.My mother cooks food and my father digs the rice in the fields.Each day I cut grass,wash clothes,go to school,go to temple, and carry water. You can see there are many things to know about me.