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October 2024 – From the Top of the World

October 2024

My return to Nepal was late ( and shorter) this year as I flew on October 8th and returned on the 28th. I had back problems in the spring (I had a back ablation done) and did not want to push the issues with the long flights and rough roads in Nepal.

 
In Kawasoti we had the joy of doing a medical camp for over 180 people. We were able to change the amounts of medicines people took or advised them on alternatives.  Young and old came, the oldest being 90 and the youngest 9 months.  We were able to hire 4 doctors and 2 nurses and Sagar, the pharmacist, to facilitate this needed project.  We had a full pharmacy and were able to resolve quite a few issues.  One of our doctors also had a PT background and we were able to instruct how to alleviate some physical issues.  One lady in a wheelchair came who had had a stroke – the doctor went over a series of exercises that she could do every day to help her.  We have refurbished this school in previous years which we found was overgrown, and so hired locals to trim trees, cut grass and prepare for the  medical camp.  All in all, a very successful help to some of the most vulnerable people in Nepal.
 
 
In another area, we spent 10 hrs one way on the road to reach a mudslide area. Three houses were lost as they slid down the hill.  Four people lost their lives, and two bodies have never been recovered.  The man in the picture with me lost both his son and grandson- they are the ones that have not been found.  Our team carried the supplies into the village, supplying the entire area with needed food for a month. We will continue our efforts in this area. 
 
Backpacks to be delivered to a very rural area school.  These children are some of the poorest of the poor.  Pictures will follow when we can complete the delivery.
Mosquito nets for the village of Kalikatar we have been working in for the past 5 years. 
 
We purchased 300 plates for functions for “Prasansha Social Service Nepal” and the church that does much of the coordination for ChangeforHope.
 
Additional support was provided:
  1.  We began to support a radio station that gives Local news, “good news”,  and news about the humanitarian efforts through ChangeforHope for a period of 1 year with a weekly program
  2. Our student in Hotel Management ( He is in his 3rd year)  will be going to Japan for his internship for 6 months and we are paying for his Flights, visa and paperwork.  In Japan, he will work at a ski resort on the west side of Japan and earn a small salary to sustain him.  He has one more year of classes and has worked hard to achieve and be selected for Japan.  He has had to take classes in Japanese.  The selection was not easy to go to Japan.  

We were not able to accomplish a few things as the landslides are still not all cleared.
  1. We were unable to look into bee hives at this time
  2. The other organization put off their trip to Nepal because of the flooding and landslides so we were unable to meet with them for stoves
  3. Goat purchases are being made but again, we have to wait until landslides are cleared to buy and deliver the goats for 5 widows in a very rural area
 
We will also build two toilets for  Kalikatar when we can reach there by the river as there is only 1 at the moment for the 100+ people who live there and so still use the forest!
 
At this time roads are still covered in mudslides in rural areas and so goats will be purchased and delivered in the next few months. Last APrils Medical camp was such a success with treating hundreds of patients and so we hope April of 2025 to do another. So much more to be done, this is a small sample.  Thank you for your generosity.

April 2024 – From the Top of the World

April was full of excitement as Kathmandu Prashansa Church and Change for Hope were working together to receive the government’s permission to do a medical Camp near the village of Kalitar.  With the Medical Camp, we hope to be able to serve 300 patients with minor surgeries, infections, and women’s issues.  The success was outstanding as God is always the source and we are but His Means and we received permission in record time.
 
 
 
Sandip in conjunction with the church organized and recruited 11 doctors and nurses. The pastor from Kalitar where we finished some roofs also came and helped. 
 
 
A local school allowed us to use their facilities which made examinations so much easier as we had separate rooms for minor surgery, women’s issues, pediatrics and general practice, a Physical Therapist, and a certified pharmacist with a trainee. The medical camp had a vulnerable population of over 450 people, who were treated.  Two cases of cancer were found, two women were treated for the removal of various skin issues and many infections were treated with medications.  Women received gynecological treatment by a female staff member which makes exams so much easier in the rural communities.
 
 
Minor surgeries were performed, ears examined, babies treated, the elderly examined and treated, and medications distributed with explicit instructions.
 
 
 
Sagar (Promod Tamang) was the pharmacist in attendance giving back to ChangeforHope.  He has been so helpful in the past few years as we paid for his education and start-up clinic fees several years ago. Sagar now has a thriving business, a wife, and two children at a pharmacy outside of Ring Road in Kathmandu. This all came about as he took notes during a medical camp CFH did 10+ years ago and I noticed he was very interested in medicine. Dr. Ooi from Canada came and worked with me that year and was Sagars major supporter during is school years. 
 
We also finished the 11 roofs in the Kalitar village that had been waiting. Now a total of 28 homes ( the entire village) have new roofs so that the people are able to live safer lives during monsoon seasons. They will no longer be subject to leaking water and various vermin living in the grass roofs! The pastor there is working hard at teaching this village about the love Christ has to offer and more people there are being helpful to each other.  The fruit trees we planted several years ago are thriving (only a few were eaten by the goats) and many are over 10 feet tall and may produce fruit this year!
 
 
In May we will be buying more goats and water buffalo for the most vulnerable: widows and handicapped persons.
 
This October  when I return to Nepal we will continue our efforts in another area with hopefully the following:
  • A medical camp
  • We are looking into Bee Hives 
  • In conjunction with another organization, we are looking at putting in stoves that require less fuel and are smokeless chimneys – this will help in the collection of wood as less is needed
  • More goat and animal purchases
  • Distribution to the most vulnerable of Blankets/food and necessities in rural villages
  • Backpacks for children to carry their school supplies during their long walks in mountainous areas
And much more.
 

Thank you again for your continued support

Update on Work Done in Q1 of 2024

Although I was unable to go to Nepal this year due to back issues the work continues through the generous contributions made and my trusted project manager, Sandip. My hope is to return December of 2024.
 
Inflation is as high as it has ever been in Nepal. Costs for basic needs have gone up as much as 100%. We continue to help those less fortunate to encourage and promote self sustaining efforts, school projects to encourage children to attend ( not mandatory in villages and many drop out before 6th grade) and animal husbandry. 
 
The mountain village required many hours on a road that was definitely a road less traveled. Situated on a flat plain in the mountains the school is in need of much repair
that will be considered for future work.
 
The roads were so rough that the jeep carrying supplies and men (7 men, 100 backpacks, a computer, and printer) broke down on a very dangerous mountain road.
The driver quickly averted a disaster by running the jeep into the mountainside of the road as a canyon roll would have been devastating.
 
As it was the team carried 100 back packs, a computer and printer and papers to a mountain school which was 20 min up, Nepali style but 45min by American standards!  As always, the children squealed with delight and the teachers were excited to have a computer they could teach their children on.  Older Students were thrilled they would learn basic computer skills.
 
Our second trip was to another rural area where we facilitated the distribution of wheelchairs for handicapped people. These chairs were supplied by another NGO that needed the cost of delivery covered.
 
Bina is an endless supply of energy and hope for these children.
 
 
We have for many years supported Orchid Garden Nepal which is managed by Bina Basnet in the Kalopool area of Kathmandu. Orchid Garden takes care of the poorest children in the area with excellent education from infants through 6th grade with supplies but most importantly lots of love. 
 
This school is so well run with excellent teachers and staff but for years suffered flooding of the entire school area including all classrooms,  playground area, and kitchen. Last year a generous donation allowed the school to be elevated by 2 feet.  All buildings were taken down truck loads of dirt was brought in to elevate all land for rebuilding. The former dirt areas around the school were covered with pavers.  Change For Hope was happy to redo the kitchen with new tile, sinks, counters and paint. Over 100 children are fed every day breakfast and lunch ( they don’t go home hungry) and snacks. We have previously supplied blankets beds, water tanks, outside sinks, school supplies etc.
 
 

Our goat project are going well with the two widowed women in the Kathmandu outskirts producing a good income.  Both ladies take such great care of these goats that they are having 3 kids at a time.  One widow ( as seen in a previous blog) lives in a shack and supports her son’s college needs by selling these goats.  In January we also supplied her with warm blanket for the cold winter ( metal shacks do not retain heat) as you can see she and her son carrying the blankets.  Both women have expressed such hope in their lives that they have donated a goat every year to Prasansha Church in Kathmandu.
 
In April our work continues with a medical camp for over 300 people and we will finish all roofs in the village of Kalitar.  We will evaluate the needs of the villagers at this time, especially of the elderly. The nearby school is also in need of supplies so we will evaluate that also.
 
As always it is a delight to speak with grandparents who love their grandchildren who benefit from the work of Change for Hope
 

Thank you and many blessings for your continued support.