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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 6^th 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 6^th 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.

Shree Mahji School – Terai

Another dust covered long 10 hrs. to reach the school. So much dust and bumps in the road as construction is everywhere to widen roads and build new infrastructure.

1. Painted the entire school inside and out 4 classrooms

2. Supplied Jackets and Pants for all children ( 40)

3. Supplied Back Packs for all Children

4. Supplied playground equipment- kick balls, soccer balls, jump ropes, etc.

5. Purchased a big screen TV for the educational office to enhance education thru YouTube programs ( they now have internet)

HOME OF DREAMS:

Made a contribution of $100 and distributed 20 packets of seeds from Renees Gardens

The girls first plants the seeds in bags and buckets then transfer there to a small plot of land near their home.

Humanitarian issue:

The goats will be purchased in the next month…that will be a short addition/heheh

Kalitar Town

1. Supplied two water tanks 1000 Liters each for the School – transportation was prohibitive for the 2000 liter tanks because of the river

2. Supplied Playground equipment for the school- footballs, basket balls, nets, kick balls, badminton etc.

3. Supplied Bookshelves for the Library 15×5 feet stained and trimmed

4. Painted inside of the library first with a primer then with color- light blue.

Kalitar Village: A Team of 4 and 2 doctors and a nurse.

Kalitar Village: a Team of 4 and additionally 2 doctors and a nurse-

1. Primed and painted the community center, outside kitchen and church inside and out

2. Built an inside stove for the ladies in the outside kitchen the CFH built a few years ago.

3. Distributed organic seeds a donation from Renee’s Garden to the villagers (over 150 packets)

4. Facilitated a Medical Clinic and Pharmacy: We had 2 Nepali doctors and 1 nurse for 235 villagers – and supplied all medication

6. Facilitated sewing classes for 10 woman who stayed in the community center for 1 month- we supplied food – 5 sewing machines and paid a lady in the village to cook for them