Monday 7th January

Another lovely sunny day here in Kathmandu.  Very cold at night though.  I hear it is very hot and bad bush fires in Tassie and Victoria.  My girls in the doll making class were a bit tired today, as they were out till 10 p.m.on the final day of shooting on the movie.  But because the three I had yesterday were a long way ahead of them, they really worked hard.  We were putting faces on the dolls of three girls today and I am absolutely amazed at how good they are.  Binu, who has never touched a machine in her life, is remarkable.  Her hand sewing is so neat and she is instructing the other girls.  All during the class they want to know if my marriage is a love or arranged marriage.  They are dreaming of love marriages just like any young teenagers.  As one girls was stuffing her doll she said she wanted to make it fat like Mama ( that's me)  A little demoralising. I am sorry to be only talking about me side of things, but when the trainers get home, we have dinner and then they are preparing for the next day.  I will try to get them to write some comments because they are so impressed with everything and it would be nice to hear from someone else other the me.  Dr. Steve Fyson arrived last night at 11 p.m..  It always falls to poor Grahame to go out late at night to the airport.  Grahame is on his way to the airport now to meet another man, Kumar, whom we have not met, but he is coming to train on Community Development.  We were anticipating another man, Lloyd Dunlop as well but he had to have a minor operation unexpectedly, so I think he will be arriving on the 12th.  On the 11 th, one of our sponsors arrives with her adult daughter, and they will be here till 19th.  Then we move into the new guesthouse on the 20 th.  As you can imagine, I'm ecstatic (not) about moving all this furniture and equipment and "stuff".  Fortunately, I'm sure there will be many strong young men from the church to do the heavy lifting, leaving only the organisation at the other end. Grahame and I will be here till the 27th to make sure all is in place for the next team at the end of March.

Robyn

Sunday, Inverter Heaven

What a relief.  After a week and a half we finally have an inverter operating.  It charges our computers and phones etc. during the power outs but most importantly it runs the sleep apnea machines while the power is off.  Two of our gentlemen  snore like bullock drivers and it will be great to have some silence tonight.  It has taken all this time for the "experts" to work out what was wrong and we were also very happy to find our warranty as it was going to cost at least $200 for a new battery.  My sewing class was very small today.  Only three were there at class.  The others were out  being extras in a movie that is being made about the underprivileged  in Nepal.  They were very excited.  Doll making played a very poor second to being in a movie.  Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined they could do anything like it.  We are thrilled, as it draws attention to the situation here.

Robyn

Saturday5th

What a big day.  We left this morning at 8 a.m.  with 5 team members to a village church about 2 hours drive from here.  David Coates was preaching.  It is a magnificent drive through the mountains.  All the terraced hillsides, and snow capped mountains.  The Church is in a loft in a tumble down little building.   They are simple country folk but they always appreciate visitors.  We also walked over the land where we plan to have a new church, community centre, campsite etc.,  It is on a slope leading down to a beautiful river surrounded by mountains.  We  have put down a deposit and are trusting the Lord for the balance.  We have seen so many wonderful things happen here since we first came, so we look forward to seeing what will happen.  Two team members went to  other churches to preach.  Each of the new team members are enjoying their time here and are blown away by the beautiful people here.  We are on the go all the time and we all fall into bed worn out each  day.  But it is a nice feeling after a full day.  Yesterday, I was at the Miriam Centre and saw the little babies having a massage with mustard oil.  It seems they do this instead of bathing.  They are as brown as berries, and  putting on weight.  We went to all of the hostels and also the half-way house also.  The women at the half-way house look so wonderful.  They are so changed, much softer looking, and so happy to see us.  Out comes the lovely ginger and pepper tea for all.  They also have a little puppy to look after and it is being loved to death  We have another team member arriving tomorrow, and another one the next day.  And three  more in a few days.  Will write again tomorrow

Robyn

Friday

It is 5.45 a.m. and five team members have just left for a plane trip of the Himalayas.  It is an hour flight.  They are all very excited about being up close and personal with those magnificent mountains.  Our two new members arrived yesterday and what delightful gentlemen they are.  One is a school principal and the other is a church pastor who is the chairman of the board at the school.  Craig is teaching christian leadership.  Ted and Steve leave at lunch time and tomorrow another man arrives.  There are many comings and goings.  We have acquired the new guest house and we move in on the 20th.  It is quite near the Tusal hostel and closer to the little vegetable carts that come out each evening so buying the fresh  veges will be a little easier.  Raju is also planning on  moving all the Australian sponsored children into one hostel instead of them being in other places.  That will make visiting and keeping up with our girls so much easier.  The doll making class is a big hit with the girls.  I am getting photos, Jill, so you can show your doll group.  I am out to lunch today with some of our girls.  Friday is always a free day as the church spends the day preparing for their church day which is Saturday as in Nepal it is the day off.  So there is no conference today, but it commences again on Sunday, which is like our Monday.  I am always confused about what day it is when church is on Saturday.  This afternoon the team will be visiting the hostels and the school, though it is holiday time here, and the half-way house.  Last night, we took the team out for a meal and afterward we were surrounded by a tribe of street kids.  Stephen took them all to a cake shop and bought them all a big slice of cake.  The shop owner was happy, as he almost sold all his cakes.  But it was so cold out at night, and these kids were not warmly dressed.  Some would only be 9 or so.  They will probably curl up together somewhere to keep warm.  Life is pretty tough here.            

Robyn

January Conference Plus

Dear Friends of Educate Nepal who faithfully follow and pray for the team.

The Conference is now in full swing and the presenters are first class. It is the first time for Miriam and Stephen and they are first class. Their are around 80 delegates in the Effective Teacher Training and Training Christian School leaders classes and 10+ in the Governance class. Then Robyn is teaching 12 girls how to make dolls.
Due to the projected growth in the number and frequency of teams as well as the encroaching recycling depot that is now on our doorstep we have been seeking a new Guesthouse. WE have located a suitable building where we can treble the amount of beds as well as commence the  TransformationVocationalTraining Centre. We hope to finalise the lease this morning. It is much more expensive than where we are currently but we need to move on if we are to service the needs of the ministry.
Yesterday we were able to purchase a mini cultivator for the Chinchiu ministry. It will not only enable the easier cultivation and irrigation of our agricultural plot in Chinchiu but our chosen operator will be able to contract out and thereby build bridges for the Good News into the community. This machine was donated by a generous donor.
We did a whirlwind tour of the four of the hostels, the 'Miriam Baby Care Centre' Transforming futures
and the Sychar half -way house Transforming Lives yesterday afternoon and evening after the teaching program. By the time we arrived at the Half-way house it was dark and there was no power so we met the ladies by candlelight. They were very pleased to see us and sang and danced by candlelight. Ted and Stephen were really impressed by the obvious transformation in the lives of these liberated slaves.
There training and counselling is on going. They had an all physical disagreement last week and Raju took them to the Zoo for the day and brought them lunch at a restaurant. Once the new Transformation Community Guesthouse is secured and the Voc Ed set up there the ladies will walk there each day for training and this will improve the situation where they never get out of the houses training has been done in the half-way house to date. This will also make room for more ladies.
Our original intent was to have the Voc Ed at Tusal but due to the locating of the Miriam Baby Care Centre there we are increasing the number of girls to 90 or 100 there. We are now hoping to move the training kitchen to the bottom floor of the new guesthouse so long as we are successful in our negotiations today.
We have been trying to get the inverter fixed since we arrived and found out last night that it is the battery that has failed and it will cost around $300 to replace. God will provide.
I am picking up Craig Murison and David Westbrook from Mackay at lunch time today.
Dr. Ted and Stephen Trew leave tomorrow. They are taking an Everest flight tomorrow morning before they fly out.
I picked up 100 Educate nepal T Shirts today in Black or White let us know if you want to purchase one at $20 and we will bring it home for you.
We are going into town for Dinner tonight to farewell Ted and Stephen.
The power is on until 10am today which is luxury as we are normally in the dark for breakfast and you cannot use the photocopier when there is no power.
That's it for today. Have a happy and fruitful New Year. Grahame



 

Wednesday

Back on line.  Internet troubles again.  Sewing classes are going very well  except  only 2 machines out of 5 are working properly, one has a hissy fit from time to time and two others are not working at all,  But I  am having a wonderful time with the girls.  Raju wants me to do another training with the carer's of the little babies.  Apparently the babies were having an oil massage in front of the fires  today and they were all very dreamy and enjoying it.  Tomorrow, 2 new team members arrive at lunch time..    Our trainers are very pleased with their classes at the Conference.  I am taking out to lunch my little sponsored girl, Bimala, and also Juna, Kalpana and Binu, who are sponsored by family and friends.  We will go out to the Bakery Cafe, where all the staff are mute, except for the little manager who is a dwarf.  We always like being there, and have a lot of fun playing charades.  Will write soon.

Robyn

Tuesday 1-01-2013

Happy New Year

I wonder what the new year will hold.  It is again a beautiful day here.  I actually got the washing dry on the balcony.  Last year. it was hanging up for three days inside because the weather was so bleak.  I had a wonderful day with the girls today.  We emphasised ONLY 10 girls and in true Nepalese style 12 turned up.  Now that I am a bit more used to how things work around here I had cut out 12 anticipating this would happen.  They just loved the morning.  It was of course quite chaotic, especially with the language barrier, but finally we got all the body parts assembled in the right order.  The new sewing machines were there. Not the ones we ordered, surprise, surprise.  Binu, a young 13 year old who we brought back from the village in September was in the class.  Her english is so good.  She was helping translate while the other translator was busy with others.  She is quite tall and is going to be a real leader.  Even though she is new at the hostel, she is already taking charge.  Yesterday, I was so thrilled to see two other girls from the hostel doing the training.  Raju chooses those who will be the leaders of tomorrow and takes every opportunity to train them in all sorts of things.  Grahame had a look at the new prospective guest house, and it would be ideal, but we have to work out how to pay the rent.  As we have 4 school teams coming this year and one will be here at the same time as we are in September, we need much larger accommodation.  Power is about to go so must finish off.

Robyn