A never ending parade of shoes for all occasions greets me in Nepal. Shoes for outside but once you step in the door you must put on another pair of shoes to walk in the house with. Please don’t forget to take those off those shoes and slip on a pair of rubber sandals to wear in the bathroom that are often wet from the previous user who washes their feet by pouring a small bucket of water over everything. Clean and efficient? Forget wearing socks to enter those frozen halls of concrete to use the facilities!

Stepping out of the bathroom you again slip on your inside shoes…..bedroom slippers can be different too….all in a day in Nepal.

The six hour drive took us from Kathmandu to the Terai region where it is warm and humid. Jungles abound as one enters the area after traveling up and down mountains and valleys. I had my first glimpse of the snowcapped mountains as we were into our trip by about an hr.

Terraced fields of cabbage and other cool weather plants grace the hills as we travel…little towns dot each area that has a flat expanse along the river. In the distance one can see the “slips” of land that the earthquake caused in 2015 and because of soil erosion. Huge cranes along the riverbanks supply the endless need of gravel for the cement factories. There is a never ending need as cement buildings are being made in Kathmandu. Women carry baskets on their backs filled with rock they pull from the rivers also. Children scamper precariously near the edge of the road as we careen around hairpin turns. I pray.
The Terai region is very different from Kathmandu. Warm and moist, chilly at night but very sun drenched in the day.

A barren inner courtyard meets us. Brown grass and withered bushes. Monsoons are yet to come. The “A frame” to a swing set without swings sits as a reminder of what is not. Classrooms with small round tables and mats on the floor are a reminder of needs. Broken chairs and visual aids hang lopsided on the dirty light green walls that greet us at the door. These children are of a very low caste in Nepal. The Mushar people. They are forgotten.

We came to visit this small school. The children here are all in K-3 class and very impoverished. Children of all sizes in ragged clothes met us with curriosity and some in fear but most in wonder.

Faces that reflected little hope. A little girl, perhaps six years old, dressed in what appeared to be blue pajamas sits on the ground with her only booklet of paper firmly under her leg. Another child grabs at it wanting to take it away she cries out…I sit down among them. Little do they know that the book bags we are about to give them contain 6 booklets of paper, new pencils, an eraser and a sharpener! We sit and I show them some English words. In a matter of seconds I am surrounded by 38 children all wanting to learn something. One little boy is frightened of me and stands back with his nose running and hair sticking up all over his head. He must be around 4. Luminous brown eyes look me over but he still stands back.

Our presentation lasts about 30 minutes. Sandip interprets for me and I ask the children to pay attention in school and ask several what are your dreams to be when you are older. There are no answers as if they have no idea of possibilities. I encourage them with words to learn and grow and become what they wish for later in life. We hand the book bags out with the supplies and each child gets and orange and banana. So little is met with joyous smiles. A first bag for many. The little boy who was frightened runs and grabs his bag but never comes close.

Homes of mud and stick meet our eyes with rejection of the possibility people can live this way. The families each have little fields in front of their homes. This is true subsistence farming. And this is tiger country.

We leave then go to a small church CFH helped to build many years ago. A place of sanctuary for many. Some of the school children attend small programs during the year that enhance their lives. They learn songs and get treats for a few hours. As we drive away I watch two 5 year olds carry large round disks of dung into their field. Piles dot the barren land as the first planting is about to take place. One child is showing the other child how to dump this precious material! Two five year olds working, just amazing.

As we continue I see a father trying to help his 6 year old son carry his new book bag. The young man cries out in terror and keeps a tight hold of it. The father waves to us with a great smile and allows his small one to continue down the dusty road hanging on to his precious new prize.

Always in His name….
Pam

The flight was long but good. It ever ceases to amaze me flying into Kathmandu.

Buildings upon buildings creep out of the small squares of land everywhere. Green, pink, blue homes seem to rise up 3 or more stories along the narrow unpaved roads. Some never completed after years remain as bones of cement. Rentals abound as only the rich can afford homes now with a small plot of land (342 sq feet) costing more than $20,000…so rentals abound with owners not responsible for any repairs of any kind. People are lucky to have a place to live I hear. The homes build up to rent lower floors and owners live on the top. This is the city of Kathmandu in Nepal. A faith in the Christian community is maintained against all the odds. Inspiring.

The van slowly follows traffic to take me to the Hotel for two nights. A small child wrapped in blankets of various colors squats on the street as dogs bark and growl at each other. Coldness is everywhere as little fires add to the air pollution but needed to keep warm. Fires made of anything- glowing in small round metal disks…..children squatting close with hands hovering to keep warm. Rain causes a deeper cold among the people who run with anything they can find above their heads. So cold.

Our mission is to go to rural areas where we can help the poor in villages, we will attempt to deliver goats to widows,facilitate a medical camp, deliver blankets, book bags full of needed supplies to children who have none , take two laptops and school supplies to a childrens home I have worked with for 5 years now, Mercy Children Home. And wherever we need to go and have the time.

We will start next week by going to the Terai – with an 8 hrs plus drive (warmer there I am told) where we have heard of a small village school where the children cannot afford any supplies. This school has 75 children below grade three. Our goal is to supply them with book bags, pencils and tablets of paper so that they have a better opportunity to learn. This will be my first trip there so I will evaluate the needs for the next trip. This is where CFH helped to build a church some years ago. In the past we have helped teachers with desk top computers loaded with learning materials to enhance learning for all in Babare. I will evaluate this trip to see if it is possible to bring computers to this school also next year.

This trip brought me to my knees., already. The temperature has hovered at night around 37 degrees. Thin window panes and no heat has allowed me to view life very differently. I have been here when cold before but this year it has also rained and the damp cold is bone chilling. I have spent two days in bed with stomach cramps (thank God that was all) reading scripture and leaning on the Lord for deliverance from this and motivation for this which I have been sent. My host family are wonderful and were concerned but I awoke today ( Tuesday in the US) feeling refreshed. God is good.

Dogs bark throughout the night, birds chirp with the morning sun. There is NO silence in Nepal. Streets are crammed with bikes,motorcycles, taxis, cars and various animals as always and the sounds of never ending construction. I have found my rest here in the hands of the Lord….he has forgiven me much and has graced me to be used. To give is the greatest pleasure to see a moment of joy in the faces of people and children here…such a blessing.

We are limited now outside of a church setting to preach the Gospel. India has applied a lot of pressure and now a government that opposes Christians is on the move. Arrests have been made again and so the pastors I work with are cautious. We know that God will work through our aide and know the pastors that have churches near by…as in Babare the church grew from 12 to over 50. God works in so many wonderful and mysterious ways in His great compassion.

In His Name

Pam

HELP CHANGE A LIFE

ChangeforHope was able to help another student Alisha Khadka finish her Nepali nursing degree in September 2016. This degree is less than equivalent to an AA in the United States. She attended United Mission Hospital/Nursing school in Tansen/Palpa for three years. The on-site work schedule and classes were rigorous and quite difficult (many fail) often working and in study in excess of 14 hrs a day 6 days a week. The test they must pass to work often takes months to sit for. In her case she had to wait 5 months for a spot. Alisha, however, wasted no time and while she waited and took additional English classes and testing preparation classes. She passed her exam the first try! She also took courses for her IELTS testing during these 5 months and passed first try with results of 6.5 out of 7. This enhanced her chances to read, write and speak English.

Alicia, Mom, and brother in 2005

Alisha began working in the fall of 2017, 6 days a week for 8 hours a day. She worked at one of the most prestigious hospitals in Nepal, called Grande in Kathmandu. She had received awards for her excellence at Grande in patient care, which is a novelty for one as young as she is ( 20 at the time). I witnessed her care for patients when I lived in Kathmandu September/October 2017. She is quite experienced in her abilities which she handles with maturity and kindness. While working at Grande she diversified her experiences and worked in many departments. Her main goal was to become a geriatric and/ or surgical nurse. However she made only made $140.00 a month which was insufficient to support herself and there was no time to further her education. For poor families it is nearly impossible to make this transition.

Alicia in 2008

In Nepal one must have two years working experience to enter classes for a BSN/BN so Alisha decided to look at other opportunities.
Alisha heard of a college in Australia (we were unable to get her to the US) that had a good reputation and had other Nepali girls attending classes. She was accepted because of her academic record and work credits. In February she borrowed money and took a flight there and has been attending school and working. She has survived thus far on family loans and limited employment opportunities, but will not be able to continue unless we can help.

Alisha’s potential is excellent to achieve this goal as she is a diligent focused young lady with a high character and an excellent work ethic.
2017

Alicia in 2017

Awarded at Grande Hospital

I have lived with the Khadka family for the last 7 years of my 14 trips to Nepal ( I have known them for 13 years). They are a poor family and Alisha will be the first to graduate college and make a decent living to facilitate a better life for her family. She will finish her schooling in three to four years and then help her younger brothers reach their potential.

Tuition is Around $40,000 US and all contributions will be greatly appreciated. With your help she can reach her goal.
Thank you and be blessed as you bless others
Pam Smith, Director
ChangeforHope001.org
1704 West Nopal Drive
Chandler, Arizona 85224
480-899-8041

A 501(3)C under Millennium Relief and Development
Web page www.changeforhope001.org enjoy the previous projects and work done.
Tax deductible contributions can be easily made thru the web page-
Checks can be sent to the above address made out to MRDS

The trip to Babare in the mountains of Dolakha to do the medical camps was difficult but well worth it. The first jeep that arrived was too small to accommodate a doctor, two nurses, myself, the driver and three interpreters (two men and one woman) including all the medicine and gear needed to sleep on the church floor. We paid the first driver and went to find a larger jeep … which we did and all was well 2 hours later than expected.

In another 9 hours after traveling very windy roads and getting stuck in mud once, we made it to the stop above the church where we were to sleep. DARK!! And so with backpacks strapped to our backs we traversed the narrow path for about 15 min (slipping once) up to the blue roofed church.  We arrived safely and began to unroll sleeping bags and use the 20 blankets we had purchased to use as mats on the cement floor. Pastor James brought us food and we were all ready for sleep by 8:30.

One cannot express the wonder of how people live in these areas. The road has been recently plowed but never stays level and we are constantly going in and out of ruts. Landslides are everywhere – leftovers from the earthquake and heavy rains they have had. I admire these people who live simple but difficult lives. All have thin legs from the daily walking in the hills. They too have many leg problems as they don’t exercise the other muscles in their legs.

Saturday morning, we rolled up our bags and placed them in a back storage area and worshiped with others. Then we put our medications as the people there asked if we could start the medical camp. Five hours later with a variety of worms, strained muscles, sore throats, headaches and such we closed the medical camp (about 50 people) and would reopen the next day. James prepared us a dinner of eggs and we walked around a bit and then slept.

Sunday bright and early we set up, ate breakfast and began the work of tending to patients. I spent my time observing but allowed the doctors and the nurses and the interpreters to do their work. I wished to see what kind of things they will need the next time. What were the major complaints, needs and supplies needed to help them. Are there medicinal plants that can have a long term positive effect that are grown in the mountains? Lots of research needed. I am not there to change a culture but to allow them their differences but to live and maintain healthier lives. Most grow their own vegetables … which are good but also ingest worms from the water and undercooking. Classes are needed. Women have normal woman problems, so there is a great need for Nepali women interpreters to help these women understand some of the “cures” for some normal ailments and necessary preventative care. Men need a men class taught also. WE need to teach physical exercises to both men and woman in order to stretch muscles that are not normal used going up and down … so that they walk better and have less stress on their backs. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure … if the culture understands.

A little girl was brought in with seizures once a week … her grandmother told us she had demons … the doctor examined her and said she was having seizures, not demons. I think the grandmother was relieved. We treated around 120 men women and children. Many ears were cleaned that were impacted and now men laughed and said they could hear their wives. Cultures are the same in many areas!

Monday we headed home by 7 am…another 10 plus hrs. We all went to our respective homes and got ready to visit Mercy Children’s home in Pokhara the next morning.

Tuesday … there was a delay at the airport of over an hour (getting used to this) and we arrived a few hrs late. Literally this is an up and down flight that saves 7 hours on the road again. The team visited MCH for the day and I evaluated the needs. I also attended a conference of teachers and was asked to return next year. The school is on a very positive road to educating children and is private with an excellent principal wanting to encourage children rather than berate them as most schools do here.

Home on Friday and resting. Will visit people I have known for 13 years now and do home visits with others.