Bridge to Nepal

2011 Christmas Programs Are Almost Here!

2011-12-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Kids from the Tikapur Children's Home help prepare materials for the 2011 school Christmas programs

It is not too late to donate to this important effort! Madan has assembled a team of local pastors in Nepal for the 2011 school based Christmas outreaches. Together, they have organized programs in 30 schools, and plan to reach over 11,000 children and staff with the good news of Jesus' birth. The local churches in Nepal have committed to raising 40% of the funds needed for this outreach. Additional funds are still needed to cover the remaining 60%. Please consider how you might bless the people of Nepal this Christmas. Email bridgetonepal@gmail.com for more information. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

New Benches for Karnaleshwar School

2011-09-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

An outdoor classroom at Karnaleshwar School

New benches for outdoor classrooms

In August and October 2009, massive floods struck the Tikapur area. Just south, a border town called Simrahine was seriously damaged. Houses and the school were destroyed. Many from that town now live on government land near Tikapur. In 2009, Madan started the Karnaleshwar School , named after the river Karnali which washed away much of their town. Karnaleshwar school currently serves about 200 children from grades one through five. There are three indoor classrooms and two outdoor classrooms. A donor recently gave money to purchase benches so students do not have to sit on the ground during school. This will make for better learning conditions for the kids and will also help with sickness in the colder months.

The community helps assemble new benches for the school

Students doing schoolwork on their new benches

Children's Home Fundraiser A Big Hit! By Jason Corbin

2011-09-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, Oui, Si Art Gallery, Vancouver St, Boston MA

On Sept 16th, friends, family, co-workers and even some folks we didn’t know, came from far and wide to attend the first Bridge to Nepal Jazz, Wine and Cheese night held at the Yes Oui Si art gallery in Boston. About 40 people attended and socialized over some smooth jazz performed by the Ezra Platt Jazz Trio while sipping wine, nibbling on a variety of cheeses and enjoying the dynamic art work on display at the gallery. All through the evening we had a running slide show on one of the walls showing images of Nepal.

The fundraiser benefited the orphanage in Tikapur Nepal where we are planning on putting an addition for a study/dining area for the children, as well as a better kitchen that is further away from the children’s living quarters because of smoke from the kitchen fires. The cost of the addition is estimated at $5000 and through this fundraiser we have raised $3300 so far and money is still coming in from folks that wanted to attend and couldn’t make it!

The other purpose for the fundraiser was to raise awareness of the soft slavery and orphaned children issues that plague Nepal and what Bridge to Nepal, by God’s grace, is doing to help. A twenty minute talk was given that focused on telling the stories of six of the orphaned children that are currently living at the Tikapur orphanage.

Jason Corbin shares the stories of kids who live at the Children's Home

The night was a great success and we have had many people requesting dates for when we are going to do the next one! Who knows, perhaps we’ll make this an annual event.

Putting together a fundraiser like this can be a lot of work, but it’s worth every minute preparing and planning. We would encourage folks who have been involved with Bridge to Nepal to have your own fundraiser. It does not need to be as fancy as a Jazz, Wine and Cheese night at an art gallery (We were simply blessed with friends with connections), but you can do a simple desert night at your house, or you can have a party and charge $5.00 for your friends to come. Be creative.

At my office there were many folks who could not make it to the fundraiser and still wanted to give. I had learned that the Orphanage was going to require about 10,000 bricks. To make it interesting for my coworkers to give I called their giving “bucks for bricks”. In Nepal a brick is about 10 cents (rounded up). So every 5 bucks buys 50 bricks. When I put it in that perspective for folks we received a lot of 5 dollar bills! Feel free to steal the “bucks for bricks” idea and run with it! This could apply to building schools as well.

The event also provided an opportunity for us to talk to local businesses and get them involved. Our local wine store donated a case of wine and a Trader Joes in our area donated some of the cheese and crackers.

Thanks to everyone who made this night a great success!

Building Literacy With Dr. Seuss Books

2011-09-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

"The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

Dr. Seuss

How many of you learned to read with Dr. Seuss books? Dr. Seuss books provide repetition with sounds and vocabulary. They are also entertaining and fun to read. We would like to have a library of Dr. Seuss books at Grace School, PremNagar School and Kichahi School. Each book will have a recorded CD to help with correct pronunciation. We have selected ten titles for the level one certificate program. Upon completion of all ten titles, students will receive a certificate of achievement. Teachers will be encouraged to go through this program first. We hope to increase English literacy in the schools in a fun way that motivate the students. Our goal is to have 150 books to send to Nepal with the next team. Books need to be collected by October 15th. Please contact us if you would like to participate in our Dr. Seuss book drive! This is a great project for schools, church groups, scouting troops or local businesses.

Marian reads a Dr. Seuss book to students at Grace School

A Container School for Shiv Nagar

2011-09-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Cargo of Dreams container school at Stoneybrooke Christian School in Southern CA

Cargo of Dreams has partnered with Stoneybrooke Christian School to bring a new container school to ShivNagar. This community of 400-500 former slave families is on the outskirts of Tikapur. Stoneybrooke Christian School is located in Southern CA. They have made this a school wide mission project. Click here to read about the wonderful community support the Stoneybrooke students, faculty, staff and parents have given to this project.

The container is slated to ship sometime this fall. Once it reaches Nepal, it will have to clear customs and be transported to its final destination. This is no small task. Please pray for all of the details of this effort to bless the families of ShivNagar.

"Water4" Nepal

2011-05-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

Water4 Foundation of Oklahoma City, OK, USA is developing solutions to bring water to at-risk communities around the world. This year, we have partnered with Water4 to bring water to many communities in Nepal.

In April, five volunteers in India and two in Nepal were trained to dig wells and install pumps. The Water4 pumps will be made by CrossProducts in Goa, India, and made available for the wells that will be dug in Nepal and India. We now have one kit for drilling wells, and are ready to start drilling for water in Kichahi.

Lal Bahadur (photo above) and Narayan Singh from Nepal are excited and ready to practice their newly learned skills.

Update: Bunk Beds & A New Roof For The Orphanage by Jason Corbin (Team Member January 2011)

2011-04-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dan and a local carpenter prepare wood for building the bunk beds

In January 2011, Dan Romaine (my brother-in-law) and I traveled to Nepal to build bunk beds for the children living with Parsu and Bhawani in Tikapur. Prior to the trip, I had worked with my close friend Michael Keyes, a Boston architect. We set out to design a bunk bed that we could easily build, using locally available materials in and around the town of Tikapur. Our goal for the bunk bed project was to provide more space for the children: they needed more floor space for general activities and to do their school work. We estimated that we needed about $4000 US dollars to build roughly 12 bunk beds. With lots of prayer and support from friends, family and coworkers, the funds rolled in slowly. It wasn’t until two weeks before the trip that the majority of the funds were donated. We raised almost $5000, which was an amazing answer to prayer.

We boarded the plane in Boston and embarked on our mission with cash and plans in our pockets. Little did we know that the God had very different plans for us and the money that was raised.

Jason and a local carpenter assemble the frame of the first bunk bed

After we arrived, we quickly learned that building a bunk bed in Nepal is like trying to build a space shuttle in the middle of the desert. The majority of the materials needed such as the finished wood and metal brackets needed to be made by hand. Also to contend with were extended power outages several times a day. This slowed our progress down significantly and at first was a bit discouraging. Coming from the United States where you simply drive to the nearest Home Depot to pick up exactly what you need, this type of working environment took some adjusting to. After we reset our expectations and realized that we weren’t going to be able to set up the typical American production line, we quickly adjusted to the normal Nepali way of doing things: slowly and patiently, with many breaks for tea! In true Nepali form, to make a long story go on for a little longer, we ended up building one bunk bed. We did actually manage to get all the materials and wood cut for the second bunk bed, but did not have time to get it assembled. We left the finishing of that bunk bed to the local carpenters who had worked with us.

Even though we only built one bunk bed, and at times it seemed like we had failed our mission, it had a huge impact on the children and us. All week long the children had watched us building the bunk bed with curiosity, excitement and anticipation. I wish I could describe the looks of joy on their faces when they finally saw the bunk bed finished. I learned later that there were many arguments over who would sleep in the top bunk! I realized at the end of this project that it was not so much the bunk bed itself that made them so happy, but it was the fact that people cared and loved them enough to build them a bunk bed: that people would leave their own country and go all the way to Nepal to help them. This is the power of God’s amazing love that he plants in our hearts, so that we can share it with others.

"We get the top bunk!"

In hind sight we realized that it was God’s plan to only allow us to complete a single bunk bed. The orphanage roof was in desperate need of repair. We had heard before going to Nepal that we may have to fix some leaks in the roof: but when we saw the roof ,we quickly realized that the entire roof needed to be replaced. We were not able to replace the roof ourselves, but left our excess funds in the good hands of Madan and Sophie to complete the roof. Just a few days ago I received pictures from Madan of the completed roof! The children will have a nice dry home during the upcoming monsoon season.

A new roof will keep the building dry during the upcoming monsoon season

Now that the orphanage roof is complete we can continue our work on the bunk bed project.

Lesson learned: God is in control. We went to Nepal with faith and a plan to build many bunk beds. I still have that faith and believe that the Lord wants us to finish this project, however, His timing is perfect and I obviously needed a reminder in humility.

I can’t wait to get back to Nepal to help with this project, but most of all, I really miss the kids.

Project Update: The Zipline is Open for Business!

2011-03-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Pattriya (Stony) River runs North-South about a mile from the Grace School in Peeperkoti.

A couple of shallow boats ply the river crossing at Bani (Google maps 28.51968, 81.04253), offering a precarious ride for up to 10 passengers, with their bicycles, and often a few motorbikes.

In 2000, a bamboo bridge was installed during the dry season. It was meant to be a foot bridge but the intrepid locals rode bicycles and motorbikes across it, skidding down the loose soil from the river banks. Every year, the bridge was dismantled before the rains in June, and reinstalled in January.

A safe river crossing and a beautiful sunset in Nepal

The idea of a zip line germinated after a tree-top adventure in Costa Rica in 2008. In early 2009, we attempted to buy land on both sides of the river, but it was hard going. We eventually bought one katta (3600 sq ft) on the Peeperkoti side, right above the bamboo bridge. The river bank is slowly being eroded by the river, so the seller was motivated to sell before he lost it all. Nobody was willing to sell on the other side, but the local government allowed us to build on the strip of land between the river and the closest rice fields.

Construction started in March 2010, but the structure was not ready to build on by May. The contractor built the foundations 12 feet deep into the river bank, so dont worry your heart about it getting washed away. On the October 2010 trip we installed the cable, and tested the line with different attachments and payloads. By the end of our trip, it was ready for individuals to travel across the river, and we had a few joy-riding on the line. An attachment was also tested to take bicycles across

We are now working with a local welding shop to build a "gondola" that will carry bikes, people, and goods in the comfort to which they could easily get accustomed. People tend to arrive in groups for the boat, and will appreciate the comforts of instead riding in a car with benches over the risks of tipping over and getting wet, and losing bags and shoes, aside from engine rebuild jobs on soaked motor bikes. What is left to integrate is some western-style safety systems, which are hard to implement in a place where the local kids are already trying to hang bare-handed from the steel cable.

We anticipate that the revenues from the zip line will go a long way towards paying the costs of running Grace School.

Now imagine our sales pitch for an "eco"adventure trip to Nepal: Motor bike ride to Bani, ride one way on the zip line, return on the teetering boat. Then ride a water buffalo, milk it, pet a goat, catch a greased pig, or a muddy one. End the day on a rickety bicycle back to Tikapur, take a shower before power goes out at 7 pm. Swat a few mosquitoes, spray on bug goop, eat a sumptuous Nepali dinner, and check your shoes for scorpions before you head to bed. remember that you first read about the greatest "eco"adventures at this blog.

Video Clips of Upcoming Documentary

2011-03-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

In May, Marian will be returning to Nepal with professional filmmaker David DeArville to continue work on a full length documentary featuring the original slave redemptions and ongoing work in Nepal. Clips of the work in progress are below.

Reflections from Bryan Besette: Nepal Team Member January 2011

2011-03-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

The January 2011 Nepal team with many of our Nepali friends

Our recent trip to Nepal was a great success! I'm excited about the long term connection we have established with the church and teachers in Tikapur. The majority of our time was spent working with the teachers of Grace School and PremNagar School, mentoring, and co-teaching. Others we journeyed with worked on building bunk beds for an orphanage, engineering a zip line to cross a river during flood time, and repairing a clean water line.

Team member Kim Mayo teaching children at PremNagar School

One of the questions I often hear from Christians inquiring about the trip is, "How did you communicate the gospel?" I could tell about the conversation I had with a Muslim man and his son or the Hindu student Sam & I met in the market. In both situations we shared the story of Jesus and how it connected to our being in Nepal. I could tell about the daily devotional time we had with the teachers or how as an illustration of the gospel, we gave away 10 goats to women who lost all they had in the floods 3 months ago. But the real answer is that there is such a visible difference in how the Christian community lives as compared to the majority of folks in the villages, that no one has imagined going out to "do evangelism" as an event in the way we often think of it in the States. Both the Muslim brothers and the Hindu student were well aware of the Church and had genuine interest and positive things to say about it. In Tikapur, the church is beginning to lead the larger community, meeting needs with integrity and establishing a more healthy living environment without disrespecting the beliefs of the people around them.

Ten women received goats thanks to the generosity of several donors

I could spend time explaining how the Christian community lived differently from the majority culture in Nepal, and some of it would carry over and would be challenging to us here. But I think it would be more fruitful to encourage each of us to spend some time evaluating the priorities of our lives and how they effect the way we treat people, schedules, and resources and ask God to show us where we've bought into American culture rather than the Kingdom of God. God is moving here, in Nepal, and all over the world establishing a people who are set apart to him. And though persecution for living the way of God is real and possible, like Peter writes in his first letter, there's a good chance that if we live such good lives among non-believers they will praise God and that it will silence ignorant talk. I've heard it said that if the gospel is good news at all, someone becoming a follower of Jesus ought to be good news for everyone in the family, neighborhood, or work place. May our lives in Christ be good news for the people around us...

Sharing The Birth Of Jesus With Thousands!

2011-02-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

The children at Karnaleshower School in Badipid Basti learn the true meaning of Christmas

In December 2010, Madan had the opportunity to share the gospel with over 1720 children and their families at 7 school Christmas programs. The Nepali government made Christmas a holiday this year and Madan received many requests from schools to come and do Christmas programs for them. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the meaning of Christmas with these extremely poor, ex-slave families from the Tharu tribe, who are 90% Hindu and discriminated against by the higher casts in Nepali society. Thanks to the generous donations of many people, each child received a Christmas card, a snack and a gift. More importantly, they got to hear about the birth of Jesus and why He came to this earth.

350 people came to the Christmas program at PremNagar School

Madan is praying that the Lord will open up the doors to do 50 of these school programs next Christmas. This is such a unique opportunity to spread the Good News of the Gospel with thousands of children and their families. If you would like to make a donation to help with this initiative for 2011, please contact us at truestoriesfrommarian@gmail.com.

Listening to the Gospel at BijayaNagar School

Celebrating Christmas at Grace School

Joyti School Christmas Program

Children excitedly show off their Christmas cards at New Balchaur School

Dancing at Gyani School

Little Harbor School T-Shirt Drive

2010-11-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

Many fourth graders at Little Harbor School in Portsmouth, NH have been writing letters back and forth to students at Grace School for the past couple of years. In 2009, one classroom filled a bank with change to put towards the cost of buying a water buffalo for a Nepali family. This year they asked "What can we collect to send to Nepal?" Actually, most things can be purchased there for less money then we can buy them for here. In addition, the cost of getting things there can be quite high. However, quality can sometimes be inferior, especially on something like cotton t-shirts. In May of 2010, 4th graders at Little Harbor School organized a t-shirt drive and collected over 150lbs of gently worn t-shirts. These shirts were sent over with three members of the May 2010 service team in huge duffle bags. The $50 cost of paying for an extra bag to bring on the plane was well worth it, as there were hundreds of shirts in each bag. Since most kids play town sports in Portsmouth, many Portsmouth Rec Department t-shirts in various colors and sizes were collected. It looks like the Portsmouth Rec Department has a few teams of kids in Tikapur now as well!

Himalayan Batik Cards For Sale

2010-11-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

We just received a new shipment of Himalayan Batik cards which are now available for purchase. This year we are offering a set of five Poinsettia Christmas Cards (left)or an assortment of five Floral Note Cards (above), all with matching envelopes. Each set of cards includes an insert with a description of where the cards were made and the work in Nepal. The cards are $12 a set plus $2 per order for shipping. Larger orders might incur a slightly higher shipping charge. $7 from the sale of each set of cards will go directly towards helping the people of Far West Nepal.

These cards were handmade in Nepal and are sold by The Nepal Leprosy Trust. The NLT was founded in 1972 with the purpose of improving the lifestyle of people affected by leprosy and other marginalized people. This project employs more then 20 producer families who are able to move towards a greater economic, social and psychological inclusion.

If you are interested in purchasing cards or would be willing to sell cards at your church, a local holiday craft fair, your school or anywhere else, please contact Carla Rogers at truestoriesfrommarian@gmail.com

What is it like to be a service team member?

2010-10-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some excerpts from Wes Brock's personal blog about his experience as a service team member in October 2010. Wes is a senior in high school and lives in Pheonix, AZ. He traveled to Nepal with his father Paul and Marian.

Tikapur, compared to everything else we had seen, is amazing. We were greeted as kings, given garlands of flowers and infinite offers of assistance. We are living in a house run by a very kind family, and we spent today resting from our travel. Tomorrow morning I will be teaching how to read and use and make a map in the school, and then in the evening I will be teaching teachers how to use a microscope that we brought for them. My dad has already taught his first lesson on business to a room full of the local pastors. He explained the concept of lending, the side that the banks do not want them to know. Basically just some spread sheets showing the danger of compound intersest as it relates to lending. It blew their minds as they came to realize how the banks make money and how they themselves seem to lose it so fast. I’m glad we are already helping.

When we finally arrived at the school, we were greeted like kings. A well-practiced cry of ”GOOD MORNING SIRS!” sounded from the mass of assembled children, all itching to catch a glimpse of us. When we arrived, they formed a line in front of us, each approaching and presenting my father, Mr. Noronha, and I with garlands of flowers. It was unreal. The kids are a hundred times more adorable than you can even imagine.

After our spectacular greeting, we spent a couple hours teaching the kids math and science topics, playing games, and at the end rewarded their hard work with candy. My class’ favorite game was “Duck Duck Goose,” but it was really funny because when I explained the game to the translator, he must have said it wrong to the kids because when we started playing, the first boy started walking around saying the plurals, “ducks, ducks, ducks, goosen!” I laughed because it was like that Brian Reegan routine where he talks about moosen, goosen, and boxen.

Today I talked about the Earth’s rotation around the sun and how it affects days and seasons. Pretty basic stuff for us, but it really blew their mind. Then we practiced an earthquake drill which the kids loved because they basically got to run around and go crazy without being told to behave. And the bubbles, they loved the bubbles, even the older kids freaked out when they saw that we had bubble wands and soap.

We’ve also spent a lot of time with the teachers from the local school. Their English needs a lot of work so we’ve spent hours drilling them with grammar, spelling, and pronunciation. One of our favorite ways to practice is just walking around in the garden or through the market and pointing to different things and saying their name. It’s been a total blast getting to know some of the teachers, they truly are inspirational people.

October 2010 Trip: By Marian Noronha

2010-10-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Floods in Northern India damaged a lot of roads. Our visit to India coincided with the Commonwealth Games, and there was a flurry of activity in Delhi to put on a good face for the world, in spite of the floods and water problems in parts of Delhi. Roads outside Delhi suffered from lack of attention. The drive to Tikapur from Delhi took 18 hours, and the return took 20 hours.

Paul and Wesley Brock joined me on this trip. They followed the long trip back from Tikapur with a gratifying drive to Agra the next day to see the Taj Mahal.

Freedom: By Wes Brock

2010-10-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we freed a slave.

Yes, you read that correctly: an actual slave with an actual master and a price, was just freed in the year 2010. This is the story.

Slavery in Nepal was outlawed by the king ten years ago. This was partly due to Mr. Noronha’s efforts against it. But today, many Nepali men and their families have fallen back into slavery and cannot escape for fear of retaliation from their master. They cannot go to the government because even though slavery is illegal, they will be ignored. I do not understand how that works, but that’s just the way it is here. So these people are bound to work for their master until whatever debt they have is paid off. It can takes anywhere from a few years to an entire lifetime.

So just a couple days ago, a local teacher who attends church with our host learned of a slave in the area (about an hour’s drive away.) Our teacher friend investigated the details and told us that the slave is a 42-year-old man named Purna (left), he has a wife and three children, and has a debt of 20,000 Nepali rupees. ($280) Purna told our teacher friend that he is tired of being a kimaya (slave) and that he does not have the strength to keep working. You see, this man has been a slave all his life and he was making so little money that it would have been years before he was free.

So yesterday, we drove out to the teacher’s house which is very close to the slave owner’s house. My dad and I had to wait with the teacher because if the slave owner saw that white people were the buyers, he would have jacked the price way up. So we waited. Mr. Noronha said he would call us when the transaction was finalized so that we could witness the actual event. (By then the price would already be agreed upon.) So we waited with the teacher while our Nepali and Indian team negotiated the final price to buy Purna his freedom.

After about an hour of waiting impatiently, (I started a water balloon fight with the local kids,) we finally got the call. Our driver was there in a moment and whisked us to the site of the transaction. A crowd had gathered to witness the transaction. My father and I walked past people sitting on their tractors and elbowed our way through the crowd. Everyone involved was sitting on a circle of benches under a roof that was supported by pillars of wood. There was myself, my father, Mr. Noronha, our host, two local pastors, our driver, Purna the slave, Purna’s family, the slave owner, and the brother of the slave owner. The sun was blinding outside, giving those of us under the protection of the roof something to appreciate. It also added an almost surreal atmosphere to the events taking place.

When we arrived, our host was just finishing handwriting the official bill of sale. Everyone gathered was staring at my father and I. Purna and his family were silent and humble, not even raising there eyes to my father, the man who was about to set them free.

Then our host rose, and in a loud imperious voice, read the bill of sale to all gathered in Nepali. Finding it to their satisfaction, the slave owner and his brother and the local pastor all signed the document. (The brother and pastor were the two official witnesses.) And finally, Purna, the man who had been a slave his entire life, signed the document that gave him his freedom. My father (right) and Mr. Noronha pulled out 20,000 Nepali rupees and handed them to Purna who then handed them to his former master. The deed was done. He was a free man.

We left the crowd shortly thereafter, slightly dazed from the events that took place. My dad now has the original bill of sale of one of the last slaves in Nepal.

Note: Wes and Paul Brock traveled with Marian in October 2010. To read more about their experience in Nepal, check out Wes' personal blog http://mynepaltrip.tumblr.com/

Orphan Bunk Bed Project

2010-10-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

On the next team trip to Nepal in January 2011 some of the team will be working on building new bunk beds for the orphanage run by Parsu and Bhawani in Tikapur, Nepal. There are currently 15 girls who live in an orphanage room that is only 23ft by 15ft (see photos). The goal of building the bunk beds is to allow them to more easily accommodate up to 16 children, but also to provide improved personal space and storage for each child and to make it more like a home. Currently we are developing the plans and putting together the list of materials needed to complete the bunkbeds. Even the pillows and mattresses will need to be made. We are currently estimating around $4,000 dollars for this project. Your gift will go a long way in significantly improving the life of these children in the orphanage who desperately need more new beds and more space. If you would like to donate online go to: http://www.gatewaytonepal.org/donate/online/ . If you would like to donate offline with check, please contact Jason at corbinj123@gmail.com

New Schools

2010-10-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

The questions arise: Who will teach at the schools? How long will subsidies continue? Are we creating long term dependencies?

Tikapur has colleges and some well educated people who have attended good schools in India and Nepal. It is not the kind of place that would normally attract people from Kathmandu to come and teach. International grants are flowing to the government to increase teacher salaries, but the result appears to be better-paid incompetent government teachers, often absent from the classrooms. Government-paid teaching jobs are plum jobs, paid at $140 a month, and often are rewards for political support.

Among the young people in the churches we work with, there is a growing number of motivated people who can teach what they know, which is what they were taught in schools. Salaries in our schools are low, around $40 a month, barely more than what it takes to sponsor an orphan. There are two needs: To equip our teachers with experiences and learning that they can then pass on, and to support them financially ($60 a month) and with teacher supplies for an extended period of time, until the students graduating from our schools are better educated and can fill the ranks of future teaching staff. This will take about ten years. During that time, we expect that community incomes will rise, and the families of the students will be able to pay more for their education. The impact of the volunteers who have visited the schools and taught for a few days at a time in the last two years has been considerable.

A newly built guest house will be completed by January 2011. Attached to Madan and Sophie's house, the guest house is meant to provide some basic comforts for volunteers who may be able to visit for at least three months at a time, and provide some depth to teachers and students. The two guest rooms will have clean water, clean bathrooms and toilets, screened doors and windows, and comfortable beds, and a shared kitchen and living room. Students from several US and Indian colleges have expressed an interest in stints in Tikapur.

Grace School, started in 2008, now has 135 students from kindergarten to Grade 4 and will add Grade 5 in 2011. The teachers are motivated and have developed a strong attitude of excellence in the school. Fares from the zip line across the Patriya River, a mile away, will provide a large part of the funds to run the school. (see label Zipline Project)

The new PremNagar School will have eight classrooms, and take children to Grade 10. This school is only 2 miles from the guest house on a newly paved road, so it will be convenient for volunteers to teach here. The new school will be completely private. The first four classrooms of the new school are planned to be ready for January 2011. About 150 children attended the PremNagar school, but some have drifted away in recent years as the facility got overcrowded and the government influence increased.

In August and October 2009, massive floods struck the Tikapur area. Just south, a border town called Simrahine was seriously damaged. Houses and the school were destroyed. Many from that town now live on government land near Tikapur. Madan started a school under tents and tarpaulins. A mud building was then built and donors contributed to purchase a tin roof for the new school building (below). This school with 100 children is called Karnaleshwar, after the river Karnali which washed away much of their town. A fourth school has been started by Madan in a village called ShivaNagar. A group of 400 families of former slaves settled on government land in Tikapur. Because they do not own title to the land, they have not been able to get any kind of aid for schools or public works. The community is well organized and ready to pitch in when there is a common need, and rallied to build a mud building for their 110 children. Donors recently contributed towards a metal roof for the school, and the Tikapur Christian Fellowship provided three teachers. (below) Madan and Sophie run a Montessori school at their own house, and have 25 children in their classes. This is a private, for-profit school, and middle- and upper-class parents pay considerably higher fees.

West of Dhangarhi is the village of Kichahi, home to 400 former slave families. In June 2010, we finally succeeded in bringing drinking water to this village. Now the children (primarily the girls) no longer have to walk for hours to bring water home. A family has donated land, and funds have been committed from Australia and England to build a school. This project will be started in October 2010.

Apart from the private school, none of the schools will be self funding for a long time. The Grace school will perhaps be the first to pay its way, with the revenue from the zip line, and parents slowly increasing their income, and tuition being increased on children from wealthier families. The five schools will need about $1500-2000 a month of funding for several years.

Service Team Trip May-June 2010

2010-10-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Nepal in May-June 2010 included Natalie Bujeaud, Susanna Groen, Marcus Mann, Daniel Noronha, and Marian Noronha from America. Joining us from India were Duncan and Vasanti Watkinson from Bangalore, and Sydney Gracias from Turbocam in Goa.

Susanna returned for her second May trip to Nepal. She and Natalie spent most of their time teaching in Grace School (below) and PremNagar School.Daniel was there to follow up on medical needs, school needs, and micro loans. He also spent some time in the village of ShivaNagar, another former slave community in Tikapur. Duncan and Vasanti traveled on to Pokhara for a few days to serve there at a church. Marcus (photo below) studied the economic needs of the communities, getting a baseline for the height and weight of the kids, along with their current levels of nutrition. His goal was to collect data and prepare for college interns to spend extended periods of time in Tikapur. Sydney spent most of his time in the villages near Dhangarhi, getting the water systems working, installing pumps and the pipeline to Kichahi. (see post 9/29 UPDATE:Kichahi Pipeline Completed June 2010). A freak gust of wind had knocked out the roof and walls on the LWTS (Living Water Treatment System) installed the previous May in Khalladahe, so Sydney had to improvise solutions for that unit as well. By the end of the trip, the LWTS at Khalladahe was operational and water was flowing through the Kichahi pipeline.

New School for PremNagar

2010-10-13T06:40:00.001-07:00

The children of PremNagar tour the location where their new school will be built

The current PremNagar School currently runs six classes, and has been compromised by a small amount of government funding, and influence of Maoists. This explains its lack of standards, accountability and achievement. The new school will be completely private, and the decrepit old school, with three government-paid teachers, will be reduced to preschool and Grades 1-2 or allowed to close altogether, unless political influences keep it open. The first four classrooms of the new school are planned to be ready for January 2011. About 150 children attended the PremNagar school, but some have drifted away in recent years as the facility got overcrowded and the government influence increased.

The new school will have eight classrooms, for grades 3 to 10. Like the Grace School, built in 2008, the school will be in the shape of a cross, with two smaller rooms each on the left and right, four larger rooms on the vertical, and a library and teachers room on the top. The piece of land that comprises PremNagar 2 is about 4 acres at a slightly higher elevation than the rest of PremNagar. Ten lots are on one side, and the school land is on the other. The school area will be walled, keeping out roaming animals, and the occasional flood waters. A toilet block will be closest to the residential lots, and a well will be dug on the other side, furthest from the toilets. Water from the well will be pumped to a gravity tank, and run through a chlorinator and filter, then fed to the school toilets as well as the house lots in PremNagar. This school is only 2 miles from the guest house on a newly paved road, so it will be convenient for volunteers to teach here.

The first part of all construction is bringing in the supplies: stones are trucked from the bed of the Karnali River, then broken by hand. Sand, too, comes from the river bed. Only cement has to come from outside the community.

Breaking stones for concrete at the new PremNagar school building site

Plans for the foundation are laid

Villagers help with the construction of the new school (August 2010)

Madan and Sophie's Visit to the USA

2010-10-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

Madan and Sophie came to the USA for three weeks in September. They were not able to get visas for their two, young boys, so they had to leave them back in Nepal with Sophie's parents. This was particularly hard since the baby was only two months old when they left Nepal. Many thanks to those of you who wrote letters to the US Embassy in Nepal. Madan said they were "famous" at the Embassy, even receiving a letter from US Senator Judd Gregg on their behalf!

Even though they missed the kids, they had a great time and were kept very busy with speaking engagements, dinners and sight seeing; visiting Boston, Virginia and Washington DC. They attended a "Nepal Reunion" and visited with many past team members as well as Duncan and Vasanti Watkinson, who were in NH visiting their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. (see photo above)

They spoke in many schools, churches and home groups, updating people on the latest news from Nepal and sharing the wonderful stories of what the Lord is doing there. At Little Harbor School in Portsmouth (above), they met with a class who did a t-shirt drive last spring for kids in Nepal. Madan and Sophie brought another batch of letters from the students at Grace School and taught the kids a song in Nepali.

It was a time of fellowship, fun and a little bit of rest for our dear friends who work so hard every day to bless the former slave families in Nepal. (photo Madan in football gear)

Local NH Newspaper Features the Work in Nepal

2010-05-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

Recently, Foster's Daily Democrat, a local Seacoast NH newspaper, printed a wonderful article about Marian and the work that is going on in Nepal. Click the link below to read the article.

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100426/GJNEWS_01/704269952

A Glimpse of Nepal

2010-04-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Updates from Madan and the Tikapur Church

2010-04-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

Love Gifts from Samaritan's Purse

We have given love gifts to 205 students in Mukta Kamaiya School & Gyanodaya School, in Kailali. These gifts were given to us by Samaritan's Purse, through our dear friend Jeet Bahadur, who is blind and a very strong Christian. I am blessed by his life. We invited parents, and shared about God's love. It was a really nice time and the children were very happy to receive these gifts. Most of them had never received anything like this before. We thank God for Samaritan's Purse.

Hand Pumps for Flood Effected Community

We have given six hand pumps to those in flood affected areas. They were having a hard time getting water, and many of them were walking very far to find water which was not even safe for them to be drinking. Many got sick from drinking unclean water from rivers and streams. When they asked us why we were helping them, we told them because we wanted to show them how much God loves them. They were very happy and thankful for these hand pumps. We thank God for giving us this opportunity to serve and build a good relationship with this local community.

Door & Windows for School
Recently we gave one door and three windows for the Karnaleshower Primary School in the flood effected area of Kailali. Because of the terrible floods in 2009, many people lost their homes, animals, crops and everything and are now living on government land near Tikapur. There are more than four hundred families living together and two hundred children, who were not able to attend school. We shared this need in our church, and by the grace of God, we were able to start a small school by providing bamboo, tents, four black boards, plastic for temporary toilets and some school supplies. After two months, the tents were damaged . We encouraged the local community to build a new, temporary building. It’s amazing! We were able to a build a new school with three rooms! The church has given one door and three windows but without a roof, construction has been halted. We are praying for the roof.

(It will cost about $725 to provide a roof for this school)

Orphans in Need: By Jason Corbin

2010-04-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

I had just finished three days of visiting local Kamiya (ex-slave villages around the town of Dhangarhi in Nepal where I was working on assessing the health of Water Buffalo. Marian, who I had been traveling with, had left for Tikapur a day and a half earlier and I was anxious to meet up with him again.

At 5:00 the next morning my driver and I embarked on the two our treck to Tikapur. Visibility that morning was about five feet. The roads that were supposed to be paved seemed more like dirt roads, and the dirt roads seemed more like dried up river beds. Needless to say, it was bumpy! I tried to catch a nap, but whenever I dozed I found myself jolted by a large bump or not wanting to fully fall asleep so I could brace myself if we had to stop suddenly if something or someone were to appear out of the dense fog in the middle of the road.

In the early light when we passed through villages we could begin to make out the shapes of people and farm animals moving like ghosts in the thick mist. After a couple hours of driving the road began to improve and the fog began to lift and we emerged from the woods into a small town. We had a arrived at Tikapur. We drove down what seemed to be the main road lined with many small homes. The town seemed to still be sleeping. We came to a traffic circle and went down a straight dirt road that was in the processes of being improved. The feeling of this road seemed different. Houses were in better shape, the side of the road was cleaner. There was something special about the road we were driving down. As we neared the end of the road on the right was a long brick wall with gates and behind it hid a long square building in conjunction with a tall pink Mediterranean style house. The driver slowed and pulled in front of the gate. I got out of the car, stretched, and was reminded of how cold it was when I was able to see my yawn vaporize in the air. We went up to the gate and knocked.

We heard some rustling in the house and then footsteps approaching the gate. When the gate opened a man with a bright yellow jacket and holding flower necklaces in his hands greeted us with a smile that melted away the stress of the last couple hours and rough nights sleep and left me with sense of peace and safety. He said hello in broken English, shook my hand with strong firm grip and told us his name was Parsu and then proceeded to place the flower necklaces over our heads.

Parsu invited me in through the gates, while the driver stayed behind with the car, which is customary in Nepal and India. As I walked through the gates I was surprised with meticulously cared for gardens and various fruit trees. Parsu began to name the different trees and plants on the way to his house. We strolled down a walk way and onto a porch to his front door where we took our shoes off and he invited me in to his home, still with that calming and genuine smile. I took my shoes off on the porch and stepped into a small living room with humble furnishings. The windows were open even though it was only barely 50 degrees outside. I sat down on a small futon like couch and Parsu sat across from me. He explained to me again that he was Parsu, that this was his home, and he was the pastor of the church across from the house. He than began to ask me if I liked the road that we drove down as he was on one of the town boards and was able to get enough funding to have the street that his church and school are located on improved. I recalled the change in the atmosphere when my driver and I turned down Parsu’s road. He asked me if I would like some tea, and being desperate for a hot drink to warm me up I gratefully said yes. A few moments later he delivered the tea for me and then sat down again and stared at me smiling. After a few moments of awkward silence, but never once breaking his contagious smile he said “I think brother Marian must be up by now.”

You may be asking at this point, “why the long winded story about traveling to Tikapur. I thought this posting had to do with orphans in Nepal?” It does, but I wanted to begin by providing my own story of how I met Parsu to hopefully paint a better picture of the kindness, gentleness and caring that emanates from him and his household. Before I even met Parsu, I had experienced the impact he is having on his community just by turning down his street. And at that time, I did not even know that was the street he lived on. Finally making it to Parsu’s house and then walking through his gates into his humble gardens was like entering a safe harbor after crossing a stormy sea.

Marian had told me about Parsu and his family and all the work they are doing in Tikapur and the surrounding Kamiya villages. Parsu’s family including his daughter and son-in-law (Sophie and Madan) are doing an incredible amount of work to help orphaned children and to help make better lives for ex-slave families in their surrounding area, on top of being the pastor of a quickly growing church.

I had gone to Tikapur to meet up with Marian and help with the planning of a new zip line that was being built to make easier passage across the river for local villagers, farmers and school children, as well as to help plan for a new school in the town of PremNegar. In addition, I had been told that Parsu’s family were caring for many orphans, all girls who were in his care for various reasons. Some their parents had been killed in Nepal’s recent civil wars, others their parents simply could not afford them and gave them up, knowing that Parsu’s family would provide them with food, shelter and a good education. On my trip I sat down with all the girls at once to talk to them about their stories and ask them about their lives in an effort to raise awareness of the need to share the responsibility that Parsu has of financially providing for these orphaned girls. I’ve compiled a short profile for each of the girls seen in the picture above.

Seema
Age: 7
Village: Makri
Time at Orphanage: 1 year
Reason at Orphanage: Her father died (reasons unknown). Her mother then deserted her with grandparents. Seema’s grand parents could not take care of her so brought her to the orphanage.
Favorite thing to do: Play rope (jump roping with other girs and other games)

Seema wears a constant smile. She is full of energy and loves to play. Sophie (Parasu’s daughter) runs a school down the street and Seema attends there. Although she is seven years old, she is learning to help around the orphanage and home (when she’s not playing).

SeemaAge: 11
Village: Bashhaha
Time at Orphanage: 5 years
Reason at Orphanage: Mother and father could not take care of her and so they brought her to the orphanage. Seema came from a large family and often the youngest girl may be given up so that the family can afford to feed the rest of the children.
Favorite thing to do: Seema enjoys dancing

SonuAge: 13
Village: Amaura
Time at Orphanage: 5 years
Reason at Orphanage: Similar to young Seema, Sonu’s father died and her mother could not take care of her, so she gave her up to the orphanage.
Favorite thing to do: Sonu enjoys reading.

RanjitaAge: 14
Village: Darhma Pur
Time at Orphanage: 4 years
Reason at Orphanage: Ranjita came from a large family with 4 other brothers and sisters. Her father and mother could not afford to take care of her and put her in the care of the orphanage.
Favorite thing to do: Ranjita likes knitting. She especially likes to knit shawls and sweaters.

JunuAge: 11
Village: Lukaramandi
Time at Orphanage: 4 years
Reason at Orphanage: Junu had 3 brothers and sisters. Her parents could not afford to take care of her and gave her up to the orphanage.
Favorite thing to do: Junu enjoys art, especially drawing.

Maya (means love in Nepali)
Age: 12
Village: Bandi
Time at Orphanage: Unkown
Reason at Orphanage: Maya’s father was killed by a Maoist rebel. Her mother works, but still could not afford to take care of Maya and all of her 4 brothers and sisters.
Favorite thing to do: Maya likes to sing.

AkritiAge: 17
Village: Baghmara
Time at Orphanage: 11 Years
Reason at Orphanage: Akriti’s parents were not able to take care of and feed her as well as her 5 other siblings.
Favorite thing to do: Akriti enjoys serving.

Akriti is very kind and has a servant heart. She helps around the house, church and orphanage and enjoys cooking. She is soon to leave the orphanage to continue school. Akriti has a tight bond with Parsu’s family, especially Sophie his daughter.

Throughout the days at Parsu’s house and the orphanage I was able to witness the tight bond that these girls had and was able to get a sense of their serving hearts, loving personalities as well as their ambition to succeed in life.

Before I went to Nepal I sent a letter out to many friends and colleagues letting them know about my trip to Nepal. Originally, I had asked people to contribute to agricultural projects going on and many friends and co-workers were very generous and gave. However after seeing the need to help take care of these girls, and to allow Parsu to continue to be a help to future girls in need, a portion of those funds raised (approximately $1260.00) will go to sponsoring three of these girls for a year. It costs about $35.00 a month to provide food, shelter, electricity, school and medical for these girls. These are just some of the girls in need, there are other orphans who have been paired up with families in rural villages that also need sponsorships.

If you would like to sponsor one of these girls, or provide a donation to help Parsu’s and his family’s mission to provide a “safe harbor” for these girls, please contact us at truestoriesfrommarian@gmail.com

Got Pigs? Got Goats?

2010-04-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

On his January 2010 trip to Nepal, Marian was accompanied by Jason Corbin, a friend who grew up on farms, and is trained in animal science and husbandry. Jason looked at the buffaloes that had been purchased in several villages and figured that they were not getting enough food to lactate properly. Thus the yields were low, and decreasing, while an increasing number of people were finding it harder to forage for the vegetation needed to feed the cows. The price of water buffaloes has also increased substantially in the past couple of years. As a result of these factors, we have switched to purchasing goats and pigs for the villagers in Nepal. We can purchase more animals with the donations we have received and the payback appears better than for the cows.

Ramlal and Purnakali Choudhury from Khalladahe with their new piglets

The Portsmouth Tea Company: Providing Tea...Providing Hope

2010-04-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

The goal of the Portsmouth Tea Company is to create and offer the finest collection of teas in the world. They have also provided hundreds of dollars in donations from their customers for the purchase of livestock for families in Nepal.

Portsmouth Tea Company features the work in Nepal throughout the store. They have a simple donation jar near the cash register with a short explanation of how the money will be used to help former slaves in Nepal. There are also several small signs located throughout the store that customers come across while browsing the extensive collection of fine teas lining their shelves. During this past Christmas season, they also sold many sets of handmade, batik Christmas cards. While customers enjoy their favorite beverage or cafe menu item, they are surrounded not only by fine tea products, but by a mission and a vision.

Several Nepali families have been helped through the generosity of the patrons of the Portsmouth Tea Company. Visit http://www.portsmouthtea.com/ for more information on this company that is making a difference.

Laxmi Choudhury from Khalladahe and her new piglets from the Portsmouth Tea Company

See what a cup of tea can accomplish!

From New Hampshire to Nepal : The Robinson's Family Adventure

2010-04-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Jessica, Zach and Steve Robinson from Rochester, NH

Steve Robinson has worked for Marian as a machinist for the past 15 years. When his 11 year old son Zach, had to do a school project on a living person he found interesting, he decided to interview Marian. During the interview, Zach asked how a 5th grader could help with the work in Nepal. Together they decided that a jacket/clothing drive would be a great way to help. When Marian saw how many things Zach had collected from his school, he asked Zach if he would like to come along to Nepal and help distribute the clothes to the people there. Zach was thrilled at the idea, and Steve, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to go along too. In October 2009, Steve and Zach headed off for their Nepali adventure! Jessica met them on their return from Nepal and the entire Robinson family travelled to Goa, India where Jessica spent some time with the girls at the El Shaddai orphanage. Steve recounts some of his experiences in Nepal...

We got to the main village of PremNagar where our efforts will be put to use. Again, as in all the villages that we visited, the people had chairs out for us and offered us tea and crackers. The entire village was following us around as Marian showed us the progress of the projects. We spent the next several days working in this village. One of our projects was to test the water quality and check for coli form and e-coli .Two weeks prior to us getting there , a terrible flood moved through this village destroying homes and livestock. Everything in some homes were lost including all the clothes, cooking supplies, food provisions and personal belongings. We could still see the water marks on the buildings that were still standing. Our concern was that the water in the wells was contaminated with bacteria from the flood. Some wells are only feet away from the toilets. These toilets don’t have a leech field; they are only holes in the ground. We tested each well for coli form and e-coli. To our amazement, most of the wells were OK but several had coli form and e-coli. (see photo above left) We educated the village on how to treat the water and gave recommendations on the ones that needed to be moved. We also showed them the importance of washing their hands. We brought over petri dishes and swabbed their hands for bacteria (see photo right) before and after they washed their hands with soap. The following day they were amazed that the little red colonies were growing on the dish that was marked “before” washing. We explained that these bacteria are growing inside their bellies and will make them sick. If they wash their hand the bacteria are reduced as shown in the other petri dish. Hopefully they will continue to use soap after we leave.

Our other project included to survey the new land purchased for the new school. Most of this land was under 5 feet of water only 2 weeks before. We took several readings and plotted them down on paper. Several of the local village boys came out to help. I let them look through the transit scope and they couldn't believe it! They were shocked to be able to see something that was so far away….look so close!

Working hand and hand for a few days with the villagers made me grow a bond to them. It was very sad to say goodbye. I can still picture them touching the car then folding there hands in prayer and saying “ja-mashi”….meaning God bless. As we drove down the dirt road back to India, the car was quiet as we each reflected on what we saw. In our heads, plans and promises were made in respect to contributing to their future. The journey to get to Nepal was eventful in itself, but it’s the work done there that really hits home. I hope in the near future to be able to go back and help build the school with my new friends that live half way

around the world.New experiences, new cultures, new memories, new friends

Eight Children Are In Need of Sponsors for $35 a Month

2010-03-01T11:02:00.000-08:00

Please consider supporting one of the kids who live with Parsu and Bhawani (see post titled Parsu and Bhawani: Investing In Young Lives) $35 a month will provide food, housing, medical care and school fees. You will have the opportunity to correspond with the child you sponsor and receive letters and updates from them. Please email if you would like more information.

Christmas 2009 in Nepal

2010-01-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

On Christmas morning 2009, over 500 church members and visitors celebrated the birth of Jesus at the Tikapur church with games, food and a gospel message. Church members handed out Gideon Bibles and tracts to all visitors.

That same afternoon, an outreach was planned for college students. All students in the church were encouraged to invite three friends. They gathered over 200 students which was above and beyond what anyone had hoped for. After an opening prayer and the singing of the Nepali National Anthem, the music transitioned to worship songs. Many of those who were visiting joined in the worship enthusiastically, an amazing sight to see. Madan shared his testimony and a guest speaker gave a message about the birth of Jesus. Some of the students had prepared a skit, and other performed a dance (above right) After the program, students stayed for a snack and all visitors were given a Gideon bible. Since the event, many of the students who visited that day, have continued to attend church.
We also celebrated the birth of Jesus in our schools. At Grace school (above) children gathered with their parents for a special Christmas service and each child received a small gift (see picture below of children at PremNagar school with their gift) Altogether, Madan and his staff of teachers were able to share the gospel message with more than 350 children and their parents . Many hearts were touched and many people were blessed.
The Tikapur church has a heart to serve their community through planting schools and providing high quality, Christian educational opportunities to the poor who live in rural areas. Please pray for the Lord to provide resources and workers for this ministry.

UNH Students Get Involved

2010-01-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

Several student groups at UNH including Chi Alpha student ministries, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, and Christian Impact have joined together to raise money to purchase a water filtration system to help Marian’s efforts in Nepal and to build a relationship between a village in Nepal and the UNH community.

During the fall semester at UNH several fundraising events have been hosted to benefit “Project Nepal” at UNH including:

A lemonade giveaway – to call attention to the fact that not everyone in the world has water to drink and how we are blessed to have water to drink in abundance students gave away small cups of lemonade, explained their efforts to provide a filtration system to a Nepali village, and asked for donations. Over 15 students came together in one of the busiest spots on campus – outside the library – to giveaway lemonade and raise awareness. A water filtration system provided by Turbocam was brought to give a visual and draw attention.

A booth at a Football Game – on Community Weekend, several students from Chi Alpha and Christian Impact set up a table outside the field during a football game. The filtration system was brought again and students set up posters with information about Nepal, Marian’s work, and the need for clean water. Fliers were handed out about “Project Nepal’s” upcoming events, and donations were collected. The football game gave Project Nepal an opportunity to reach more than just UNH students but parents, alumni, and the greater community.

Dorm Penny Wars – Project Nepal was the official charity for the penny war dorm event in the South East Residential Complex at UNH. Floors competed against each other to raise the most money in their ‘Penny Jars”, with silver coins and paper money counting put in opponents jars counting negative against their pennies. All of the money raised was donated toward the water filtration system.

A Coffee House/ Benefit Show – The last event of the semester put on by Project Nepal was a Benefit Show. Two local bands, Geoff Useless and East Maggie, played a show in the Lighthouse with all benefits going toward the water filtration system. At the show an announcement was made about Project Nepal and a there was a table with the handmade Christmas cards from Nepal for sale.

Parsu and Bhawani: Investing In Young Lives

2010-01-27T08:47:00.000-08:00

For many years, Pastor Parsu and his wife Bhawani (photo left) have taken in and cared for over 30 children from the poor Tharu community in Tikapur. The children live in an orphanage that is attached to Parsu and Bhawani’s home and most of them came to live there between the ages of 4 and 7. Some of the children are orphans and some have parents who can not afford to take care of them. Several are the children of former slaves. The children help at the orphanage by growing vegetables in a small plot, looking after animals and helping in the home while they go to school. The funding for this work has come from a variety of organizations over the years but recently, Parsu found himself without any funding for this ministry. When we heard about this we offered to take over supporting the 8 girls who are currently living there for $35 a month per child. This will cover everything for them including school and medical care. We are looking for people who would like to help with this work by taking over these sponsorships.

The lives of these kids have been forever changed because of their time with Parsu and Bhawani. Here are just a few of their stories:

After an impressive top 40 finish on the nursing school entrance exam, Monima Chaudhary (right)recently left her teaching position at Grace School to pursue her dream of becoming a staff nurse. She began her three year program in December of 2009 at the Shaileshwori Far West School of Health Science in Dhangadhi. She plans to return to Tikapur after her studies are complete, to serve the medical needs of the poor Tharu community she is from with her husband .

Ranjeet Chaudhary’s (no photo) mother died when he was just a year old and he came to live with Parsu when he was 5. He is married and currently teaching school while studying for his bachelors. He also serves in the church as a youth ministry leader.

Benjamin Chaudhary (left) is teaching at PremNagar school and studying for his bachelors degree. He also serves the local church as a Sunday school teacher. Benjamin is the son of Sonayram, a former slave, who Marian released from his life long debt of $14 in 1999.

Jeeta Chaudhary (see post Jeeta- From Orphanage to Nursing School) is teaching at Grace school and leading Sunday School at the local church. She recently finished 41st on the entrance exam for nursing school and they only take the top 40 each year. Although she was disappointed, she will try again next year as her heart’s desire is to become a staff nurse. Her father was recently attacked by a bull and died.

Jeet Kumar Chaudhary (no photo)was one of the five boys sent to Goa, India to attend trade school. He was trained in carpentry, plumbing, electrical and welding. He is married and working as a welder in Tikapur.

Arvind Chaudhary (left)is teaching at Grace School and continuing his studies. He is also a Sunday school teacher at the Peeperkoti church. He is the son of Nathu Chaudhary, a former slave in Bishwashnager, and one of the many slaves Marian redeemed in 2000.

Note: The name Chaudhary (sometimes spelled Choudhury or Choudry) is the name given to anyone in the Tharu tribe who needs a last name. As most kids do not have a birth certificate, this is the name given to them.

UPDATE: Trade School for Five Young Men

2010-01-27T05:57:00.001-08:00

Last year, we sent five, young Nepali men to Goa, India to attend trade school at Don Bosco Technical High School. Four of them finished their training and have returned to the Tikapur area to work with in their new trades.

Ramjanam started off by doing carpentry work with his father Rajesh (see above picture) and has moved onto other carpentry work. Bashu is also working as a carpenter. Rajkumar (photo below) and Jeet are doing welding in Tikapur and have also worked as electricians at Grace School.

UPDATE Zipline Project: Crossing the Pattriya (Stony) River

2010-01-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Another big undertaking is building a zip line across the Pattriya river at Baadi. With a $1000 investment in cable and attachments, we will be able to get an income of about $1700 a year in fares from people and motorbikes during the six months that the river is high. Half of the income generated by the zipline, will cover operating expenses at Grace School for three month. The other half of the income will go towards salary for those looking after the zipline and maintenance costs. During the remaining six months, when the river level decreases, a simple bridge suffices to allow people and bikes to cross. (below)

The zip line will allow children to get to Grace school, and older children from Peeperkoti to attend schools on the Tikapur side.

This project originally stalled as landowners saw dollar signs when we started negotiations for land on the two sides of the river. As of January 2010, land on both sides of the river has been secured and we are currently working with local authorities for permits. We are hoping to get the project completed before the next monsoon season which will begin in June. It has been over a year since the inception of this project, and I guess patience is the lesson we are learning!

During Marian's visit in January 2009, we were able to do a dry run over an old river bed to test out the hardware and train Madan and others who will install the zip line later. Rajesh, one of the orphans at Parsu’s house (below, right), got a thrill and rode the zip line for the first time.

Flood Relief Updates for PremNagar and Simrahine

2009-12-09T08:51:00.000-08:00

Since the last two majors floods in August and October, relief aid has been distributed to more than six hundreds forty four families in PremNagar, Simrahine and other effected villages.

The Saipur school in Simrahine had lost their building, furniture and all supplies and was closed for almost two months. Madan and the church at Tikapur have been helping to get that school up and running in temporary facilities. They have provided tents, bamboo sticks, plastic mats, four black boards and basic school supplies. The school is currently teaching 120 students.

The temporary location of the Saipur school in Simrahine

The government has settled more than five hundreds flood affected families on a plantation area near Tikapur, but clean drinking water is scarce. Many people are drinking dirty water right from the river, and getting sick. We are planning to give them some hand pumps so they can try to access safer drinking water.

Hundreds of flood victims are relocated in a government camp near Tikapur

Through the relief efforts, the flood victims have seen the practical love of God expressed to them by the Tikapur church. As a result, there are now two new house fellowships in the flood affected areas.

A medical camp is planned in PremNagar and Simrahine for after Christmas.

October 2009 Floods

2009-12-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

In early October 2009, western Nepal was once again hit with severe flooding. It rained constantly for over 30 hours in some places. Landslides occurred, homes were lost, property was destroyed, livestock was lost and 36 people died in the first day alone.

The village of PremNagar, which had sustained much damage from the flooding this past August, was flooded again, recording the worst flooding in the history of that village. Water levels reached five feet deep in some places and several homes were lost. Some people sought refuge on the roof of the school where they awaited rescue. Rescue efforts were difficult due to the fact that the road leading to PremNagar was covered with three feet of water. A large truck was stranded on the road to PremNagar as it attempted to rescue people in trouble. Many people went days without food or clean water and nothing left but the clothes on their backs.

Leaving PremNagar

The road to PremNagar

A large truck gets stranded on the road to PremNagar

The flood damaged many homes

Trying to dry things out

Once the rain stopped and the water began to recede, Madan and the church at Tikapur immediately began relief efforts. Thanks to generous donations from Christ the King Church in Dover, NH, Good News Church in Goa, India and several other donors, they were able to deliver food and supplies to over 190 families in Urdepur, Bangalapur, & Rani Kula right away. In Urdepur the people were asking why they were helping them. Madan told them it was because of God's love and he was able to share the Gospel. One old man asked Madan who is "this lovely God?" Madan told him about Jesus and immediately he gave his life to Jesus and they prayed for his family.

Relief aid was also sent to PremNagar including rice, lentils, salt, oil, beaten rice & tents for some people who lost their homes completely.

Relief aid provided by the church at Tikapur

Thaggu's house was 75% covered in water and the collapsed

Showing how high the water level reached

UPDATE: Kichahi Water Project

2009-12-08T09:58:00.001-08:00

October 2009
This water project has not been successful so far. The water treatment system is working at Kichahi, but there are technical problems at the main well at the crossroads. The submersible pump is stuck in the well, and the entire pipe will have to be dug out and the pump removed. All we have now is a pipe sticking out of the ground next to the water tower, and a pond around the pipe. But there are lots of happy frogs……

UPDATE Khalladahe Projects: New Church Building and Safe Water

2009-12-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

In the western villages near Dhangarhi, the September 2008 floods caused severe damage. Khalladahe Siwir is located on a fertile river plain and is home to 400 families. At Khalladahe, the water was four feet deep as floods flashed through the village, taking food, livestock, and many possessions away, and leaving behind poisoned food and drink. Many homes had traces of mud on their walls, three to four feet high, when Marian visited in October 2008 and many people were sick.

A donor gave $600 for two church buildings, but the village of Khalladahe needed a lot of help, so all of the funds and more were spent to construct a brick building on a stone foundation. The Khalladahe church building is high enough to protect many people during floods. A Living Water Treatment System has been installed next to it, with a water tower that provides a gravity feed to the system. An electric pump raises water from a shallow well to the water tank on the tower.

June 2009
Our team of ten joined Gopal for the installation and dedication of a church building and flood shelter at Khalladahe. The building was full as we dedicated it, prayed for the sick (including a boy who had been gored by a bull, literally spilling his guts), then cut lots of ribbons to inaugurate the water system. The people reveled in the filtered and treated water. Over the next few and months, it took some effort to regulate the chlorine in the system. Sometimes, it was excessive, and people reacted to excess chlorine in the water.

Dedicating the new building

Church, Flood Shelter and Water System

Ashley Miller, service team member May 2009, cuts the ribbon on the LWTS

Tasting clean water

October 2009
It was a joy to be back in October, with Emilie Clark and Steve and Zach Robinson. Large areas of the southwest of Nepal had been badly flooded. Khalladahe (which means “lowland”), just a few feet above the river, would again be a candidate for disaster. But that did not happen. When the rain fell for a week, the people of Khalladahe were in the church building, fasting and praying and asking God to spare their village. And, praise God, there were no floods in Khalladahe in 2009! When we visited, we again prayed for the sick. Where was the boy who had been gored by a bull? Happy and healthy, with a large scar on his stomach.

Testimonies from Nepal Service Team Members May 2009

2009-09-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Thoughts from Jasmine Yap...
My experience in Nepal was truly memorable. To see people drink fresh, clean water for the very first time was just amazing. It was a privilege to serve these people through training the teachers and teaching the children. Two things struck me. First, the strong faith of these people is astounding. Hinduism is the main religion there, and Christians in Nepal risk persecution and abandonment by their families. They are willing to “risk it all” for their faith and belief in Jesus. It is amazing to see God working in this mostly Hindu nation and growing his kingdom there. Second, these people have such a strong reliance on God, even for the most basic needs like food and water. In our American society, it is so easy to become fully self-reliant and feel like you don’t need God. Being with these Nepali people reminded me that all provision comes from God.

Memories from Lauren Meisel...

Waking up to the sound of the bleating goats and then a cup of tea. Wishing and hoping for steady electricity through the night so that the fan would keep running. The children, so amazingly patient with our feeble attempts to teach them English. They listened so intently to our songs. Or maybe they were just humoring us, I’m not sure. The village women, curious about what we were doing but shy at the same time, as we installed the water filter. Wanting to connect with them, but not knowing how. The bright colors of the women’s clothing. Praising God through song in the car with Parsu. The incredible hospitality. The faith of so many. Willing to give up their families for Jesus. The desperate cries for healing from the Lord. The little one who held my hand.
The joy over seeing themselves in the camera display. Walking with Vasanti and hearing her tell the children about Jesus.
Being able to give people clean water. Eating vegetables fresh from the garden and drinking fresh buffalo milk. The heat. The stares. The joy and fervor as they praised God. The many flowers the children gave us at each school. The patience of the teachers as we tried to explain English grammar and correct their pronunciation. The joy the teachers had as the used the computers. The amazing food the sisters cooked for us.

The way my view of God has been forever expanded.

Financial Needs for the Work in Nepal

2009-09-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Many people have asked about ways they can financially support the work in Nepal. Here are a few suggestions

For $35 a month you can support one of the orphans who live with Parsu and attend Grace School. This will provide food, housing, clothes, medical care, school and books. There are currently 7 students who are in need of sponsorship. For $60 a month you can support a teacher at Grace School or PremNagar. This will cover salary and training expenses. There are currently 10 teachers in need of sponsorship.
For $300 you can purchase a "Moo" (aka water buffalo) A water buffalo can provide a family with a survival income of $1 a day as well as nutrition for the family. The gift of a water buffalo will bring hope and prosperity to a Nepali family. One time donations are always welcome and will go towards other programs and projects like water systems, water towers, water pipelines, micro loans, and zipline completion.

You can donate through our secure online system or contact us at truestoriesfrommarian@gmail.com

Microloans

2009-09-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

A microloan is a small amount of money, given to someone to start or expand their own business. This provides an opportunity for the poor to earn income for themselves and it brings support and joy into their families. Microloans work best when a group of people join in a covenant to jointly take responsibility for the loans.

Recipients of microloans meet together on a regular basis to repay their loans and receive instruction and guidance. They pay back their loans with a small amount of interest to help build up the loan fund, so more loans can be made to other families and the fund can be protected against any losses.

In Nepal, we are working to financially build up the ex-slave families by giving them opportunities to earn sustainable income for themselves. This will help with supporting several of the projects we are currently working on, like the schools, by making them self sufficient. Right now, many families can only afford to pay about $0.50 a month for school. By increasing their earnings through things like microloans, they will be able to pay more for school and help us to reach the goal of making projects like Grace School self sufficient within 10 years.

\
In May 2009, a microloan of Rs. 17,000 (about $250) was given to Rajesh and his wife (left) for the purchase of a water buffalo. (see 12/11/08 post How a Water Buffalo Can Make a Difference). This was the first microloan we made for a water buffalo in Nepal. The buffalo recently had a calf and is now producing 4 liters of milk a day. Milk currently sells for about $0.30 a liter providing a survival level income the family. The calf will be given to another family in need. Rajesh is now the president of the Microloan committee. His group of 12 people meets once a month and collect 10 Rs.to build up the loan fund so others may be helped. Rajesh has agreed to pay back his loan in 2-3 years with affordable installments. As the capital is repaid, it will make money available to help other families. The group is getting ready to make their second microloan for the purchase of a water buffalo soon.

To read more about microloans and how they are helping people in other parts of the world like India, go to www.spantrust.org/sdmt.php.

From One Child to Another: Ben York Gets Involved

2009-09-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

Benjamin York (7) decided he could help a child in Nepal. Naveen (7) is a poor child at AshaNagar, and goes to Grace School (don’t be fooled by the Dallas Cowboys t-shirt). Benjamin is now friends with Naveen, and is collecting money to help Naveen go to school. There are so many children like Naveen who need help. If you would like to sponsor a child in Nepal, contact truestoriesfrommarian@gmail.com for more information.

Jeeta – From Orphanage to Nursing School

2009-09-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

Jeeta (second from the left in above picture) grew up in the orphanage run by Parsu and Bhawani, attached to their home in Tikapur. Supported by donations from Christian organizations, Parsu and Bhawani looked after as many as 30 children, who grew vegetables in a small plot, looked after animals, helped in the home, and went to school.

Jeeta now teaches at the Grace School. In the picture below, the students are proudly showing off letters they wrote to their new penpals at Little Harbor School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Although she loves teaching the kids, Jeeta would like to go to Nursing school for three years. She took the entrance exam and placed 41st, but there were only 40 seats available. Perhaps she will try again next year to attend the school at MahendraNagar, near the western end of Nepal.

Floods in PremNagar and Simrahine: August 2009

2009-09-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

PremNagar
PremNagar is not far from the Karnali river. In 2007 and 2008, the annual floods were called “one in a hundred year” events. Water entered PremNagar, but it did not enter the old school, so the school was a shelter for many who got flooded out of their homes.

2009 was a dry year, with the monsoon very much below normal. On August 17, the Karnali rose, and this time even the old school had a foot of water in it. The rest of PremNagar did not do well, with all food and many clothes and provisions lost. A layer of mud covered everything. A water buffalo drifted away, but was found 500 meters away.

Food is often stored in houses in large clay urns. This protects the food from insects and vermin. But water damaged these containers and destroyed the food supplies.

The inside of homes damaged from the flood

Buildings were damaged on the outside as well

Water covers the floors inside the classroom at PremNagar

Food containers were damaged and the food spoiled
The Tikapur church started relief efforts. We were able to use school funds already in Nepal to buy food and get PremNagar families some immediate help in addition to the one kilogram of food given by the government.

Distribution of food by the church at Tikapur

Smiles in the midst of hardship

Simrahine
Simrahine is a village 10 kilometers from Tikapur. The river destroyed much of the village of 24 families, most of whom are Christians. One 60 year old man died. The village also lost a goat and water buffaloes, and the people had to live under trees for shelter.

The Good News Church in Goa, India has raised and sent funds for immediate relief in Simrahine.

The village of Simrahine ravaged by flooding

Collapsed homes in Simrahine

This goat was lost in the flood

The villagers of Simrahine

Villagers work to salvage their food, drying it in the sun

UPDATE Kichahi Water Project: October 2009

2009-09-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

At the end of August 2008, there was massive flooding in many parts of Nepal. In Kichahi in West Nepal, it resulted in a change in the course of the groundwater that fed a spring that brought a small amount of water to the village. Water piped from the spring fed a few distribution points in the village of some 400 families, who until 2000 had been held in rural slavery.

There was no other water available to the village. Attempts to dig a well were futile. After reaching 95 feet deep in a 6 foot by 6 foot area, the well digger was hit by a stone that fell from the surface, and it took heroic efforts to extricate him from the dry hole. The women and girls walked for miles to get water, and were resented when they visited wells at neighboring villages.

When we visited the small church in Kichahi in October 2008, we found out about this desperate need for water. After asking God to show us a solution, we found abundant water near the road 1.7 km away. While negotiating to buy land at this place, we encountered some feigned friendship, but the land price tripled before we could close a deal to buy half an acre. After drilling a well down to 15 meters, outright hostility developed with the sellers demanding the land back.

The half-acre site at the crossroads now has a water tower next to the well, and two houses for families who will look after the pumping station. Water will be pumped to a tank on the tower so that it can flow down the 1.7 km to a sump at Kichahi. Dozens of volunteers participated to dig a trench for a buried pipe from the crossroads to Kichahi.

The water tower at the source well in Kichahi, one mile from the village

In May 2009, a Living Water Treatment System (LWTS) was installed at the Kichahi church. Water from the sump will be pumped into the LWTS to deliver a steady supply of chlorinated and filtered drinking water. Water from the sump will also be available for domestic purposes, and for farming for the families of Kichahi.

Service team members Mark, Lauren, Susanna and Ashley with the LWTS at Kichahi

The people of Kichahi with their new LWTS

An amazing story about ex-slave Lautan Chaudhary Dangora

2009-09-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

Lautan Chaudhary Dangora had been a slave since his childhood. His mother and father born and died in slavery and all his brothers were slaves. In 1998, Marian released him from slavery by paying Rs.35, 000 ($450) He was one of the Kamaiyas with the largest amount of debt. After he was freed from his debt, he gave his life to Jesus. He got married and now has 2 children. Lautan is now a regular member of the church in Tikapur and faithfully tithes He is a huge blessing and encouragement to the church there.

Lautan is a hard working and industrious man. He works as a rickshaw driver, tractor driver, cement mixer and among other things. He recently bought land in Tikapur and is earning nearly Rs.5000 ($64)a month.

Nepali teachers travel to Goa for training

2009-09-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Four leaders and four teachers from PremNagar and Grace schools were invited to Good News Church in Goa, India for training and to help get to know one another. They spent eight days being taught by Melvin & Ligia Pereira at the King’s School. Specific training was given in the areas of classroom teaching techniques, class management, English and school administration. They returned to Nepal very excited and ready to teach the kids

While in Goa, they had a chance to visit with the Nepali boys who are currently doing vocation training at Don Bosco vocational training center. (see post dated 4/7/09 Trade School for 5 Young Men) They received a good repost on the progress the boys are making from the head master of the school. Ramjanam and Bashu, are doing well in the area of furniture making, and Jeet & Rajkumar are doing well in the areas of welding & electricity.

The teachers were hosted by members of Good News Church in Goa. They had good fellowship with the church members and enjoyed discussing ways they can work together. Good News Church wants to start an outreach to the many Nepali people who work in Goa and the staff from Tikapur is looking forward to helping them with this area of ministry.

Teachers from Grace School and PremNagar School and members of Good News Church in Goa, India

Trade School for Five Young Men

2009-04-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

Five boys from the three villages are now in Goa, India for a year of training at the Don Bosco Technical Institute. Here they are with Madan before beginning their new adventure (above)They are learning carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring, and welding.

Would you like to go to Nepal and serve at Grace School this summer?

2009-03-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

These are the teachers at Grace School who will partner with the service team this summer

When: May 25 - June 5, 2009

Where: Tikapur, Nepal

What: Teaching conversational English to former slave children at Grace School in rural Nepal, as well as helping with service projects in basic community development. Although you will surely have an incredible experience with the people you’ll meet and the places you’ll go on this trip, it is important to remember that this is primarily a service trip, not a vacation! Prepare accordingly!

Why: Until very recently, slavery was still legal in Nepal. Our involvement began in 1999 when Marian first helped free 42 families from their slave owners. Now, there are thousands of former slave families that we are working with to bless them by doing basic community development in areas like education, water sanitation and agribusiness. The chance to be taught by native English speakers is a rare luxury for these students, and we trust you will find them irresistibly drawn to you and the Faith, Hope, and Love that you represent.

Who: This trip will be led by Marian and Gopal

Cost: The total trip cost is $2500, which includes all expenses (airfare, visas, insurance, room & board, and a donation to the projects you will be working on while you are there)

Contact: Your contact person for this trip is Carla Rogers carlarogers@comcast.net

Grace School

2009-01-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

In 2007 we purchased land, and in 2008, built a new school called Grace Primary School (above, below). Grace School was built to serve the families in the villages of AshaNagar and ViswasNagar who did not have a school. In Nepali, the name for the school is Anugraha Paatshala.

Grace School is in Peeperkoti, about an hour from Tikapur by bicycle. Crossing the Pattriya (Stony) river is part of the ordeal of getting there.

Peeperkoti is a beautiful alluvial plain, where the soil is rich with frequent flood deposition. It is just a few miles from the Indian border. AshaNagar and Viswas Nagar were started here, each with 20 families, who received acre-sized plots of farmland. AshaNagar (Hope Town) lacked a right-of-way, and eventually the people here built their huts on other pieces of land they traded with a bank, and farm the plots. There is no longer a cohesive AshaNagar community.

ViswasNagar (Faith Town) could have also disintegrated, but there are seven families that have held together. The other 13 families still visit to till their land.

Grace School is fully private, and is located in the vicinity of AshaNagar and ViswasNagar. The families from these communities are excitedly participating in the school, have helped with the construction, and are increasingly uniting in changing the face of the area. About 70% of the children are from ex-slave families, and most of the rest are rural poor from the area.

I am thrilled to see the progress every time I visit. The school has PreK, kindergarten, and Grades 1, 2, and 3. By the end of 2008, enrollment reached 100. It is expected to rise to 150 when the next academic year begins in April. School fees are around $0.50 a month, which is all that most can afford. It is my hope that in five years, we can operate the school without subsidies which now are $300 a month. To that end, we are investing in more land for banana plantations, microloans for livestock, and sending some of the older children to Goa (India) for vocational training.

PremNagar School

2009-01-29T13:29:00.000-08:00

In 2002, a small school was started in PremNagar (above), which has 52 families. The Tikapur church funded the school for a while. Then the community turned to the government for financial help, and the government paid for the salary of one teacher/principal (now $70 a month). In so doing, the school lost its independence, and is now considered a “public school”.

By 2006, the school was serving 150 children, but conditions were poor. (above, right) In addition to the overcrowding, there were few school materials and books. This is when we took over the school funding.

By the end of 2007, the school was plastered and painted, and new blackboards were installed (below). Books were introduced, and the teachers were equipped with a computer and projector, and training to use them.

Living Water Treatment Systems

2009-01-29T08:38:00.000-08:00

The shallow well water at Grace School, AshaNagar and ViswasNagar, is not safe for consumption. Samples taken in April 2008 from several wells showed high levels of arsenic and e. coli bacteria (above) After the September 2008 floods, when large areas of Nepal were covered with water, the problems worsened. At ViswasNagar, Rajkumari (12) was hospitalized after vomiting blood. She was back home in a few days, but will not stay healthy without clean water.

In October 2008, we obtained five Living Water Treatment Systems from Water Missions International (WMI) in Charleston, SC. Responding to the emergency needs caused by the floods, FedEx shipped the systems to Delhi, India at no charge to us. It took over $10,000 of customs duties to clear the machines, and then another two months of paper chasing before four of the machines were cleared into Nepal in mid-January 2009.

They will be installed at Grace School, ViswasNagar, Kichahi, and Khalladahe.

Mark M trained with WMI in Sri Lanka, and James N trained in Charleston, SC. Together they were able to install two machines at Grace School and ViswasNagar, with Prem from Kichahi watching intently, so that he can do the remaining units. (below)

How a Water Buffalo Can Make a Difference

2008-12-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

Growing up in India, I went to a Catholic boarding school, where the only Hindu teacher was the one who taught us Hindi. He was determined to put some appreciation of India into us, and sprinkle in some Hindu values. Every year, the first essay of the year was “Gaay”, meaning “Cow”. While most of turned the essays into silly stories about cows, I learned a little about them.

Cows are critical to the village economy. Besides the milk that can be sold or consumed, the dung is used as fuel, or as a building material. Mixed with water, it is used to plaster floors and walls. The bulls are used to draw ploughs and carts. At PremNagar, most of the families were given cows by Berlin Fellowship. This contribution helped to establish the community in 2001 and, by 2006, they looked like a fairly prosperous community compared to other nearby villages.

A healthy buffalo will cost about $250-$300, and produce 4-5 liters of milk a day. Milk sells at Rs 20 per liter (about .25 US$) so if a family can sell 3 liters a day, it will be able to survive on the income, and the kids will get nutrition as well.

Khushi Ram’s (right) wife got sick and so they sold the “bhaisi” (female buffalo) to pay for medicine. He says, “It was either (my wife) or the bhaisi, so I sold the bhaisi.” Without the buffalo, Khushi Ram is now one of the poorest at PremNagar. He does have a few goats that love to nibble on anything around, including my clothes. Bukhi Ram Choudhary from Kichahi (left) was recently given a water buffalo purchased for him by Prem for 18,000 Nepali Rupees (about $225) This will bring hope and prosperity to his family.

October 2008

2008-12-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

This is my sixth trip to Nepal, and this time my son Daniel (25) is with me. We flew to Lucknow, the state capital in Uttar Pradesh, and Indian state bordering Nepal, then took a eight-hour ride over roads beaten up by the monsoons and crowded with myriad two-tone honking trucks to Nepalgunj, on the Nepali border.

October 17
Nepalgunj

We met up with Gopal, and stayed the night in a warm and simple place, a favourite with UN and NGO folks. On the menu is Nepali, Indian and Western fare. The beds are comfortable, and the bathrooms work and are clean. That night, we woke up to choking smoke, which came from a voltage regulator meltdown. We switched to another room and went back to sleep. No lawsuits here. Just life with a smile and great customer service

Gopal serves village fellowships in many parts of Nepal. In 1998, around the time I found out about slavery in Nepal, Gopal was writing articles about them, and looking for help for them. We have now been working together for nearly ten years.

October 18
Tikapur and PremNagar

We are staying at the house of Parsu and Bhawani Mahatho, and Madan and Sophie, their son-in-law and daughter (left). Sophie and her mother, Bhawani, are still in Kathmandu, after just delivering her firstborn, Jesurun.

Madan and Sophie are our main partners in running the schools for the ex-slaves here. They live with Sophie’s parents in a nice house, in a two-acre compound that includes the church building, and a home for 30 children. These children are sponsored at $10 a month, with the understanding that they contribute by tending a vegetable garden and go to school. Many of the children have grown up with Parsu and Bhawani; some now live in the house and a few teach at PremNagar school.

I found out at dinner that I was speaking the next morning at Tikapur. We drove into Tikapur well after the meeting started, and were welcomed with garlands, then it was straight to front. The brothers and sisters in Tikapur has grown to over 2000, and grown into many small congregations. There were barely 100 that day, and while speaking that day I made sure to go close to an hour, as anything less would be an insult to those rapt listeners. Then there were at least 20 waiting to be prayed for at the end of the meeting. Oh – we need God to step in, the sicknesses were so dire that no amount of feel-good would work.

That evening, we visited PremNagar, home to 51 ex-slave families. Many of the families live in brick homes built by Habitat for Humanity (left) for $1000 each, and make payments of $6 a month. They are relatively well off among other ex-slaves. We have been funding the school, but it is not a “private” school, and the government pays Maya, the principal. In April, we brought school supplies, a computer, and books, but since then a number of families have taken their kids out of the school. The school is overcrowded, and needs bars on the windows ($700) before Madan feels safe introducing the books and supplies.

This school was started by YWAM in 2004, and we took over funding a year ago. We have a committee that meets one every two months (right), but there is a lack of unity. Gopal, Madan, Daniel, and I met with Maya, and a few other parents and young men on benches and charpais (literally “fourlegs”, a bed frame woven with jute rope, which doubles as a bed and sofa). A baby goat insisted on butting my leg with his bony head, and children milled around until the parents shooed them away. I explained that the unity of the community is critical, and that others will try to use money to gain influence to control the community. (See the section below on the economy). When we had taught and encouraged, there was a warm settling of old issues as the light faded and lanterns were brought in, and the group was ready to go forward, get electricity connected to the school, and stop the bickering.

Most of the PremNagar residents are in two churches that separated from the Tikapur church, and now meet in a small house a few steps away from the school. Fourteen lots in the village are in a low-lying part of PremNagar, and prone to flooding during the monsoons. This year, the water was four feet deep in many of the houses, and for two days the residents took shelter in the school. There is a piece of higher land that is adjacent to these houses, and the owner is willing to sell for $10,000, as PremNagar separates his land from the main road. We are considering buying this, and building a new school as well while we are at it.

October 19
Grace School
I was here in April, with Suzie, Tim (23), Michael (17) and Gubby(15) to inaugurate the new Grace School (left). It was not ready then, but we went ahead and had our launch anyway. School actually started in June. About 75 are enrolled, and around 100 actually attend. There are blackboards, and desks, and the school looks great in its new colors.

This year we have nursery, and grades 1, 2, and 3. The little ones are reciting A, B, C …. with one guy belting it out in front of the classroom, and the others howling in unison. (click on the video clip at the bottom of this post to hear for yourself!)The blackboards are cleaned with a brush. Black powder falls from the board. We need to get some real green boards, but nobody thinks they have a bad deal. They so love their school. Looking out of the windows, the lines of reapers are leaning up sheaves of paddy to dry in the sun. I was trying to make a point about the importance of being in school when I asked the kids if they would rather be out in the fields. The looks I got said, “what planet are YOU from?” and “I have a pencil – I don’t do farming”. Finishing touches are still being applied. One of these days, we will get electricity. Then we will build the toilet block on the field next door, when the water table drops. Surrounding the school yard are rice paddies, and the crop grows in water a foot deep just on the other side of the wall. By buying the field next door, it will make it more possible for the septic system to handle the 150 kids. Grace School is in Peeperkoti, between AshaNagar (Hope Town) and ViswasNagar (Faith Town), each of which were supposed to house 20 families. Because the land is very fertile, the residents of AshaNagar moved out to a nearby area, so they can use their land for cultivation. Only 7 families live in ViswasNagar. Still, the school seems to have the excitement and support of the community. It is the largest building for miles and, with its brick red color and shiny metal roof, it stands out from among the mud shacks and rice paddies.

AshaNagar and ViswasNagar are separated from the Tikapur area by a river which is just a fordable trickle in the dry season, but grows to 20-30 feet in depth during the monsoons. Now, in October, the only way across is on a small, rickety, flat bottomed boat (left). It costs 5 rupees, 40 rupees for the motorbikes. Later in the year, the locals erect bamboo bridges so they can walk across. Even the motor bikers zoom across these little bridges. We are planning to build a zip line for this crossing. We need to buy land on both sides of the river. The floods this year wiped out land on the river banks, so a farmer is willing to sell us his land on one side, and the local government council will sell us a small piece on the other side. We visited the sites and Madan will follow up to buy the land in a few weeks. We will settle a few families on the land, and give them the job of operating the zip line and collecting fares.

October 20

Today was a long day of travels, from Tikapur to the Dhangarhi area, and then back to Nepalgunj.
First, a visit to Kichahi Siwir, where I visited in April. The team from Goa accompanied us to this very poor settlement of former slaves, many of whom were now followers of Jesus, prayed to encourage them, and dropped off a bale of old clothes. At the start of 2007, we had bought 17 buffaloes, and many in this village had received one.

This time, the village looked green and beautiful, the crops were just in, and there were about 35 waiting to meet us. Gopal had visited a week ago, and brought more clothes from Kathmandu. The fields and roads had been flooded then, and now all was dry again.

Our next trip was to Khalladahe. There are 400 families here on a fertile river plain. Two weeks ago, the river surged, and within minutes the village was waist deep in water. Many buffaloes, sheep and goats were swept away. Many homes have traces of mud on their walls, three to four feet high. Outside one home, the stuffing of a mattress was drying in the sun (right).

We met with the church in a small hut with a cross on the wall, but there were about 35 in that small space, with mothers nursing babies, and a few men in the front. Many were sick; a doctor could spend a week here and just be getting started. Prem leads this church too. More than ten raised their hands (right)to say they had received buffaloes the year before. One who had a buffalo now has a small store, selling potatoes, soap, shampoo, matches, and other basics, testament to how a buffalo changes a livelihood very quickly.

A donor has already given $600 for two buildings to be built, but the need here is for a bigger building, raised four feet off the ground, so it can double as a nursery school and a flood shelter. There is no shortage of water here, but a Living Water system will also be needed here to help the folks get away from all of the water borne diseases that they live with.

I preached a short message, then prayed for dozens of women and children. Later, Daniel bought vitamins and sent them back with Prem, along with some of the first-aid meds he had brought with him. Like the bottles of water we dropped off at Kichahi Siwir, there is so much need, and so little that we can do.

I slept all the way back to Nepalgunj, and woke up at the Travelers Village. Tomorrow, October 21, it will be back to Lucknow, where I booked at a hotel for $120 a night. My cell phone and iPhone will be back online and I can read about the Wall Street woes and our panicked populace.

The Economy

The Maoists made promises before the elections in April, and now are delivering on some of them.

Khushi Ram (left) lives in PremNagar. We redeemed him in 2000. He and his family are featured in our 2001 film, “Setting the Captives Free”. Khushi now makes a living breaking rock by hand. Rocks are brought by truck from the bottoms of rivers, and a crew of people with two-pound hammers break the rocks into one inch cubes for mixing into concrete. Unlike the women who are now blinded by the little stone chips, most rock breakers now wear dark glasses. The price of a standard measure has been 1200 rupees. But now the Maoists have told them to sell for 1600 rupees, and they will fine anyone who sells for less.

Maya, the principal at the PremNagar school, will also get a raise soon. She is already paid NR 5,000, and the government will raise her salary to NR 10,000. Since the rest of the teachers are not paid by the government, their salaries will now be just a quarter of Maya's.

Gopal paid Ramesh, our driver, 3000 Nepali rupees. The exchange rate has “always” been 1.6 Nepali to 1.0 Indian. But now Nepali banks have no Indian rupees, and nobody in India will take the Nepali rupees. The exchange rate will have to give. But Maya and Khushi can enjoy their government-mandated wage increases.