10/2007 - Nepal - A rare picture of Ryan while some kids at church were playing with the camera.
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6 months and 15 pounds less. -
It's hard to believe it has already been 6 months. Most of the time it feels like we're falling down a hole and life is a blur flashing by. New opportunities come several times a week. Changes come back to back which makes boredom a rare commodity.
One change is the fact that today Ryan weighed in almost 15 pounds lighter than he was when he first got here. The doc says it's pretty normal with the diet here. As long as he is feeling strong everything is okay.
Another change is our impending move to a new campus. With all of the work that has been put into the current campus you'd think people would be disappointed. However spirits are high! Every change is like a new chapter. Some are good, some aren't so good, but the first page really reveals no clues and a new chapter means new possibilities. We're in this with not just brothers and sisters, but with our heroes. It is quite exciting.
09/2007 - Nepal - Some students from youth group waving at the crowds bussed in from the villages by the Ma0ists. They are "required" to come and most welcome the chance.
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Yet another change, the Ma0ists have bailed out of the government. They decided things weren't going the way they wanted and quit. Now they promise that if the government tries to hold elections in November that they will leverage all of their influence to disrupt them. The government has since decided to postpone the elections. Who knows what the story will be next month? It sure makes a Democrat in the White House seem like a petty concern. At least the loser won't burn tires, block roads, or worse yet, just block elections altogether. It could be a great opportunity though... after all the Ma0ists have promised all kinds of perks to their supporters including property, higher pay, free fuel, and any other bogus propaganda a lunatic can think of.
At 6 months we really feel at home in our flat. We enjoy the people here, we have friends, and we even refer to our place as "home". Some of the things that made life hard are normal now. Power outages have shortened and when they come we just keep living right through them. The terrible smells are still terrible but tolerable. The situation of the poor and our responsibilities are more clear now. We think we are adjusting well.
10/2007 - Nepal - Another shot by a young would-be photographer.
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There are different troubles these days. The doubts aren't the same. How can our small family make any difference? How do we know we aren't hurting instead of helping? Is this really where you want us Lord? ... To proclaim Jesus is our priority, but just saying His name is not enough. No matter how much we "try" we are just people... The hopelessness here is contagious. We realize that. One very favorite saying here is "ke garne?" It means "what to do?" It is hopelessness.
If you read our blog you know about the thulo maanche (big man). While writing this month's update I got a call from a Nepali friend describing his second consecutive entire day spent trying to get the "big man" to do his job. It is very discouraging. Positions of power here just mean the opportunity to order people around. Servant leadership is completely alien. In the states most of us have little tolerance for that nonsense, here... it is status quo, whether we like it or not.
10/2007 - Nepal - As we visit Punam's village.
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However, the chapters we've learned about prior to our arrival have consistently produced progress. Even now that it is history it seems hard to believe. The hopelessness is an illusion. The reality is God is moving here. His kingdom is advancing. When in doubt we just need to trust.
The family is doing great! Elijah understands Nepali and English equally well. Alicia also, counting to 10 in Nepali while she is still stuck on 11 in English... 9, 10, 11, 8, 9, 10, 11... lol... I guess it sounds too much like seven. Chandra's reading is moving along chito (quickly) and she can read most things. The other day she was looking at some food imported from India and reading the package (they use the same alphabet), they were English words spelled in the Devanagari alphabet. Pretty funny. Ryan is still moving along behind Chandra, but has more lessons now and plans to start the alphabet next month.
We are asking for prayer about the school move and property hunt, our visas, our friend and fellow teacher whose father died, our house since we had to release our tenants from their lease (and for them and their tragic situation), and that God would keep our vision clear. Thank you so much for your support.
We are truly privileged to be here and we thank God for you!
09/2007 - Nepal - with Surrendra and his family.
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A song we recorded on our laptop here in Nepal: Use Me.
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VIDEO: To watch the video tell us: how fast is your internet?
