“WEL-COME” TO HEAVEN ON EARTH

Sunday, November 20^th, 2011

In Pokhara, staying at Kapil's house, at 9:35 PM

I am in Pokhara, a city in Nepal known for its beauty, tourism, and cleanliness. I came here with Bibek yesterday. We are staying for just a few days, on a brief vacation away from Kathmandu.

Arriving here yesterday, phrases like “Heaven on earth,” and “Shangri-La” came to mind. This place is the opposite of Kathmandu in so many ways. The roads are paved, the sky is clear, and there isn't any dust or much noise pollution. The weather reminded me so much of springtime in Pennsylvania that I became inspired. I went to the roof, did some push-ups, and then I came back down and finally shaved off my Everest Beard. Then I got to take a nice, warm overdue shower.

Continued Monday morning, at 7:20 AM

That first night in Pokhara, Bibek and I went to a restaurant and I finally got to try the Everest beer with a rather large hot meal. The taste reminded me of a Heineken. We were the only customers for a while so we got to talk to our waiter. He said he works at least 15 hours a day, and seven days a week. I was startled by the amount of hours he works, but he said it's what he wants to do – to get into the restaurant business. He is Hindi, but he said he likes Christians and believes the Bible and that when he moved to Pokhara a few months ago, he couldn't find any Christian churches to attend. I was pleasantly surprised at his candidness, and before we left we gave him Pastor Kapil's number and prayed with him.

We will be here with Kapil at his house – which is both his school and living quarters – for two nights before leaving early tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. Kapil is a minister and a theology professor here at his school. We are staying in the only classroom, where beds were set up for us. Last night Bibek, me, Kapil and his wife Lily all sat around and drank chia and talked about relationships, theology, culture, and the histories of Nepal and America.

Continued, Monday evening at 6:49 PM

Today we toured Pokhara some more. We ended the day by going out on Phewa Lake in a rowboat. The taxi driver and the “tour guide” (he didn't speak much English) both got on with us, making the boat extra weighty. They didn't seem to know how to row correctly so I helped out. A lot. I got a pretty good work out pulling (yes, I was in the front of the boat) all four of us. Raju, the tour guide definitely helped by rowing in the back, but we kept on getting off course. It was great though, to be on the large lake in a boat, with the white peaks looking down on us.

Then yesterday, we were in Sarangkot (I think it's called that) – a large hill outside of Pokhara – where the paragliders were launching from, and I saw this girl. She was wearing a tee-shirt with a logo. Of all the things this logo could have been, I was startled to see “Phillies”! I immediately talked with her, and found out that she lived in Philly for several years before moving to Rhode Island. She is volunteering in Pokhara for a few weeks at a children's home. It's always great when you run into foreigners who aren't so foreign to your world.

My time in Pokhara has been relief from the dirty, loud, and somewhat stressful life in Kathmandu. It's the perfect getaway, and it ends tomorrow morning. It has been good to take a break from parts of Brian's somewhat forced theology. He spoke to the community the other night, and I felt a little uneasy. He was teaching on some kind of “end times” theology that's hard to explain, much less understand. I was a little irritated as he seemed to be shoving it in peoples' faces (even the kids) trying to have them memorize it. I know, however, that he has a good heart and of course he wasn't trying to do any damage. And he didn't do damage, as everyone was open and gracious, and willing to learn. Maybe I will speak to him about this. Not about his theology; that's the interpretation he chooses to believe. I might speak to him but about the way he teaches. Maybe I can encourage him (he did seem a little flustered that night).

Tonight, Bibek and I had a time of fellowship with Kapil, Lily, and some of their friends. I really appreciate their kindness to us. They have reinforced the child-like faith I see in the Nepali people. If I ever return to Xanadu...I mean, Pokhara, I have a good connection and new friends, in Kapil and Lily.

Phewa Lake at dusk in Pokhara

The view of the Annapurna Range from Sarangkot, just outside Pokhara.  The prominent triangular mountain, "Macchapuchre" or "Fish Tail" mountain, has never been summited because of its sacredness

Kapil and his wife Lily preparing an amazing meal

CHILD-LIKE FAITH

Tuesday, November 15^th, 2011

At the House, at 6:57 PM

Religion is a big part of Nepalese life. One is usually either a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Muslim, or a Christian. Most people are Hindu, or an interesting hybrid of Hinduism and Buddhism. I have been living in community with Christian Nepalese people. From what I have seen, their religion seems largely of the Pentecostal kind, a bit charismatic. But it's not as “crazy” as some of the other more charismatic church “brands” I have attended at occasional points in my life. It's sort of a tempered charisma. I wouldn't say it's tempered by a skepticism often seen in the States. I might say their charisma is tempered by their faith. It's very child-like. It's very genuine. After spending time in the States, where everything is questioned to death, it's refreshing to see faith through the eyes of these people. I'm not saying that the Nepalese Christians are without flaws. Sometimes, a good dose of questioning is needed. Sometimes the jumps they make in their spiritual reasoning seem a little too extreme for me. Overall however, seeing their faith has been encouraging to me.

Let me give an example of what I mean. Today, I attended a prayer meeting at a house in the city. There was a good mix of foreigners and Nepalese. Most of the people there were Christian. The point of this weekly prayer meeting is to pray as a community for those girls and children who are trafficked. Most of the people there are involved in some kind of work that helps to either rescue, rehabilitate, or prevent trafficking. Most were females too, which, as a man is sometimes a little awkward. Not that I don't feel welcomed (it's actually the opposite, the women there want more men to attend), it's just that being male there are different concerns and struggles sometimes. Of course I will never be able to understand the woman. She moves in mysterious ways to me. What I liked about the meeting is how open it is, how both sexes are necessary for a more complete story.

Anyway, when the people in the room started praying and singing there was a genuineness to it that was moving. Then some of them brought up prayer requests. One was about a 15 year old girl who had been forced to “marry” an 18 year old man, who promised her a better life. When he took her from her home and out of her village, he locked her in a room with a small window and would not let her out, despite her pleas to get out. She wanted to leave the man, who clearly was denying her basic rights. He was staying in a village in Nepal for a few days and told her he would soon take her to India for a better life. Apparently this man thought that being forced into prostitution was a “better life.” Why didn't he just force himself into prostitution then? Word somehow got out, and the courageous woman telling the story said she was able to go to the village, work with the police and the villagers, and they eventually rescued the girl and caught the perpetrator. He is now in jail awaiting some kind of judgment. He may get 22 years in prison, as long as the system is followed appropriately. Some of the other people there were talking about following up with the case. The jailed man promised the girl that if he got the chance he would kill both her and her family. Though she is now free and getting help, she still has moments of fear. We prayed for the girl. We actually prayed for her perpetrator too. There was another prayer request about 100 women who had been rescued from trafficking and prostitution, but had somehow been forced back into the work. This is no game. It's a faith I see that's alive in real and serious situations like these that makes the prayers of the Nepali Christian church bona fide.

I have to go now, I have to attend what has become a nightly ritual. Don't worry, I'm not going to go bow down to a statue. I'm just going to go have some chia with the guys.

But I might then consider praying to a Living God.

HALFWAY POINT

Wednesday, November 9^th, 2011

At the House, at 9:25 PM

So I went out for a drink (as in tea) with a fellow American tonight. I was hoping to be back at the house by dinner, but the conversation was good, and I arrived a little late. They saved me a plate of – you guessed it – daal bhat (soup and rice). This is what we eat for breakfast (or “brunch” as they say), lunch and dinner. It was cold. As I began eating the soup I thought to myself, this has a seafood taste to it...interesting. Then I looked down to take another spoonful and saw miniature eyes looking at me – mini fish – anchovies of some kind, with their tiny heads still attached.

I have gotten quite used to the way things are by now, even the grimier details, and I am okay with it. A shower once, maybe twice a week that happens as quickly as possible before the water pools on the floor and begins to seep over my flip flops (the Everest trip prepped me for that), the fact that pollution is a daily vitamin here, and the dirt that becomes both an insulator and a layer of protection against...well...dirt. When I think about such things I get frustrated. I have come up with a solution. Just don't think about it.

My fellow student in Nepali language arts is my small 2 year old friend named Unika, the one who calls me “Jake Uncle.” We are in the same situation because she is just learning to talk the Nepali language. I think she will be moving to the next grade sooner than I will though. She is something of an honors student while I am falling behind!

The past several days I have been busy putting together rough ideas for the streamlined document, and teaching English to the students at the Women's Center. I have also been spending a lot of time at the cafe because I had a huge test this week for school that I had to complete. It was a comprehensive test covering every subject studied for my degree. I completed it today – FINALLY – but I still have other projects and readings to do. It just never ends, does it?

Yesterday we went out into the streets again to look for some “street kids” to “minister” to. I had been out on these trips two other times and to my dismay we had not found any street children, and the afternoons had been spent taking long walks. We were preparing to turn around and walk a few miles back home again when we spied a few small dirty faces in the busy market place. Bibek, the street children minister leader, told me he had talked to them before and that they knew him. They came up to us and talked. We took some pictures and bought them some circle bread (basically a donut) and chia (milk tea). Then a stray dog appeared and I was surprised to see the children – who probably hadn't eaten anything all day – share some of their circle bread with the dog. I asked if the dog was their pet, and they said yes and that his name was Lucky. I'd say so, with the bits of the sweet bread lying at his feet.

THE SWING OF THINGS

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

At the House, at 7:00 PM

This week I have been trying hard to catch up on school work I missed while on Everest. I found a cafe with WiFi about 15 minutes walking distance from here and that will definitely help with getting school work sent.

I miss the old house with its cleaner bathrooms, better views, bigger rooms and more privacy. This new house is definitely better in it's proximity to everything though. The main office, the Women's Center, the grocery store, and the cafe are all closer now, as is every other necessary business. The Balku House (the Prayer House) is still about a half hour by bus but luckily I have the cafe now (although I will have to buy something every time I'm there, and the internet isn't 100 percent reliable even there!).

I have also been spending a few hours each day this week helping to teach English to some of the students at the Women's Center. This is where the women at risk come to learn and acquire new skills that will help them get better jobs. I have been using Roshan as an aid and translator help, and as usual he is very helpful. I have enjoyed these days teaching English. My two students have been older women, one who is Sherpa. I was surprised that some of the students here would be older than 35. One is 46 and the other is 50. Apparently they are now taking advantage of educational opportunities now that they weren't allowed to when they were younger. I applaud them for this. They are good students and are eager to learn. My teaching days back home have helped me adjust quickly here. Over the next few days I will begin to talk to them a little about my work in putting together forms for Agape. Brian wants a basic rough draft by early next week.

Last night I went to Roshan's pastor's house for dinner. This house (which is a meager lower level apartment with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a meeting room that serves as the sanctuary) is the same place I preached at a few weeks back. The pastor's wife prepared some daal bhat that was extra tasty and there was some good chicken meat too, which I think is hard to come by. One of his teenage daughters (Roshan's “sister”) played guitar and sang a worship song. I played a little too, while the talented pastor played along on his Nepali flute. The whole evening was charming and I quickly found that family to be filled with exceptionally friendly and genuine people. The whole place seemed to be drenched in God's love, and I'm not trying to be sappy here. There was clearly something unique about that family.

Of course not every experience is as pleasing as last night's dinner. Something I have struggled with here is the lack of organization. I've found that sometimes (or...most of the time?) this is how things are run in the developing world. Usually I would see myself as thriving in moments like these, but the lack of structure and organization has me grasping for straws. At home all I would do is attach myself to a particular way of structuring things that was already set up. Here I find myself having to organize organization! For as discombobulated as things can be back in the States, an American voice is whispering in my ear that it is grateful for the organization we have back in the US. I suppose this is a big part of development – just getting things put together on the ground.

I definitely wish things were more put together for me, and that my purpose was more solidified. It's like I am having to find new reasons every day to bring purpose. Sometimes it doesn't seem like much at all. Sometimes it has more to do with community than it does with any particular assignment I have to complete. Today, for instance, I spent the better part of an hour talking with the pregnant mother and helped to watch her 6 year old child and another little 2 ½ year old. The 2 ½ year old is living here with her mother. Her father left just after she was born. This particular baby – I'll call her Sanisha – has an innate sense that draws her to the males in the community. Today, she wouldn't let any of the female adults feed her spoonfuls of rice. She called out “Jake Uncle!” and I was the only one who she would allow to feed her. She of course is adorable, and I am finding myself in a questionable spot. I don't want to get too close to her because I will be leaving in a little over a month, another male figure come and gone from her life. I don't mind the kids though, or the community here, except when I realize that I am falling behind in my dreaded school work and that I'd better go do something more important, like finish an assignment.

Truth is I'd rather not write one more paper. I'd rather spend the next month allowing myself to be absorbed into the community as much as possible without having to worry about another reading assignment or test. I'd rather spend my time just teaching adults English, and hanging with Roshan and the guys, listening to their stories, and playing with the children and helping to feed Sanisha. That's not how things work though. I need to stay stuck in my room on my computer instead. Please forgive my venting, but it's a little hard to balance living in community, while completing a degree, while doing a development project, while missing home all at once.

EVEREST REFLECTIONS BACK IN KATHMANDU

Sunday, October 30^th, 2011

At the New House, at 10:05 AM

Things are back in full swing here at the community, after the trip to Everest. This morning after breakfast I helped pull water out of the well and helped with the dishes too. It reminded me of the “development” days of America, like a scene from Little House on the Prairie or something. Except this is a subtropical sort of prairie.

There is a baby crying outside. There always seems to be a baby crying somewhere, or a dog barking, or a bus honking a horn, or a motorcycle revving its engine, or music blaring. Sometimes all I want is a quiet place where I can sit and read and contemplate but that is hard to come by, especially during the day. I guess that's to be expected in a place like Kathmandu.

I have been thinking about my trip to Everest Base Camp. It was such an incredible experience. A curious thing happened to me as I got higher in altitude. My appetite went away. For those who know me well, this never happens. It probably had something to do with my altitude sickness. I couldn't really hold much food down, but I didn't feel like eating anyway. When we were finished with our Everest Expedition and were coming back down, at each village my appetite grew significantly. By the time we reached Kathmandu yesterday I felt downright ravenous!

Towards the end of the trek, in the villages at lower altitude, Roshan and I got the chance to be a part of another Nepali/Hindu festival called Tharai. I don't know if that is spelled right. As I write I cannot look it up because I don't have internet! Anyway, for this holiday kids and young adults go around to various houses singing what appears to be a type of carol. They may put on some music and dance too, either a traditional Nepali dance or a more modern style young people enjoy. The people in the houses they sing or dance in front of are expected to give some sort of small monetary donation. It seems to me like a combination of Christmas caroling and trick-or-treating at Halloween, except the reward is money! In the village of Monjo the likeable Roshan made friends with some of the local Sherpa people and both he and I went “caroling” with 4 or 5 other young people. I felt a little out of place because I was the oldest, but nobody cared. I was a foreigner anyway, and most people laughed at my participation appreciatively. To be singing for money in a small Sherpa village in the mountains at night, with the stars shining above and the cold mountain air below felt wonderful. We made about 1500 rupees, about 20 US dollars. Not bad for a couple hours having fun singing. The young people split it amongst themselves.

I loved those Sherpa people. I have tremendous respect for them. Their strength is insane! They carry gas canisters, huge baskets of food, people's gear, doors, rice, cement blocks, you name it – all on their backs. And they do it for miles and miles everyday, like literally 20 miles or more for some of them. I don't know about you, but if I walked marathons up and down a mountainside every day for a living, I probably wouldn't be living. I remember Roshan and I were on the trail and we were passed by a Sherpa girl, probably no more than 16 or 17. She had a backpack on that was probably filled with heavy things, and her pace was so quick. We played a game called “Keep Pace with the Sherpa Girl,” but she blew by us and was out of sight within a couple minutes.

Trekking in the Himalayas was a great time. Be that as it may, for some moments I couldn't help thinking of home, of backpacking on the various trails, one of my favorite past times. I was thinking of how beautiful it must be there now, with the leaves changing and falling. Sure we don't have huge mountains in Pennsylvania, but we do have some beautiful forested hills (that we call “mountains”). I just found out that it just snowed at least half a foot there! On Halloween weekend in October, before the leaves have even gone - that never happens! I am feeling nostalgic for home today, and I wish I was there to experience the October snow.

THE LONG TREK DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN

Wednesday, October 26^th, 2011

At The Moon Light Lodge in Namche Bazar at approximately 7:50 PM

Last night we were in Pheriche. Today, Roshan and I trekked from Pheriche all the way here to Namche. It took about 7 ½ hours. My guess is it was probably 16 or 17 miles at least. There was a lot of downhills and uphills, but we made it. We needed to get here because there's an ATM in Namche, and we ran all out this morning to pay for our stay in Pheriche. The woman owner at the Pheriche Resort who we call Didi (“older sister” respectfully) gave us a discount again and she was helpful to Roshan, gave him some noodle soup that he shared with me because all I could afford for both of us this morning was milk tea.

Right now it sounds like I'm missing out on a Sherpa birthday party or something upstairs. There's a lot of singing and stomping. They might just fall through the roof!

Back to Didi...she told Roshan he is like a son to her (remember she knows his Dad), and she gave him some biscuits for the road. Roshan told her he'd like to meet up with her in Kathmandu (where she has a house) in a couple months, after trekking season is finished and winter sets in for real. I suggested to Roshan that if I'm still around, I could “repay” her and take her to dinner in Kathmandu before I leave in December. This may happen. I wrote a note thanking her for her hospitality.

What struck me as fascinating was that she said Roshan was like her son...while Roshan's Dad denounced him as his own son. On the way out of Pheriche today Roshan told me that though he's never known the love of a mother (his own mother left the family shortly after he was born), he “takes love from everybody – sisters, brothers, leaders, friends, and Didi.” I again had visions of Roshan reconciling things with his Dad.

It was rough trekking today but we made it.

 Some of the Sherpa children we met in Pangboche on the way down 

(This little guy may summit Everest one day)

A Buddhist monk walks down the stairs at the Tengboche Monastery

After over 7 hours of hiking, we arrived at Namche, where there was an ATM!
 

THE EXPEDITION TO EVEREST

Tuesday, October 25^th, 2011

At Pheriche Resort (again) in Pheriche at 7:00 PM

Well, we did it. The last couple days have been a blur. Not a whole lot of time to think, just to trek to higher elevation and then get down as quickly as possible. Yesterday – the big day – was definitely rough. I woke up early gasping for air, and I felt my body adjusting to the altitude. I'd take several small gasps, until it was enough and my body would relax...until it started gasping again. This all happened around 3 or 4 in the morning – probably 3:30ish – and I wasn't able to get back to a decent sleep again until about 5. I woke up at approximately 6:15, already 15 minutes later than planned, but I thought it was good that my body was finally able to rest again (for an hour). Then it was up and trekking to Gorak Shep without even brushing my teeth or rinsing off my face. I wanted to get the hell out of Loboche quickly. It was a dirty mess. Plus we had a mountain to conquer!

We made it to Gorak Shep – the last Sherpa hamlet and piece of civilization before the crazy high peaks – but we couldn't find a room in any of the lodges even though we got there before 10:30 AM. We had to opt for the dining room at the Yeti Lodge. That was fine by me because at least we had a place to lay our heads. I was feeling a little light-headed and sick, and tired, but I knew this was our moment. I probably had “summit fever” as well, but I took two Diamox (altitude sickness pills – I had taken one earlier in the day), we left our bags at the lodge, and we were off for Everest Base Camp (a trek to EBC and back to Gorak Shep is about 5 hours). I felt pretty sick the whole time, with my head pounding. Maybe I should have turned back, but I couldn't. We kept going, following in the shadows of another fairly large group. We made it at approximately 1:30 PM. The weather couldn't have been more perfect – not a cloud in the sky. We took some pics and a quick video or two, then we began the trek back. We were pretty exhausted and I still felt sick. The whole EBC experience was rather anticlimactic, considering my altitude sickness, but I'm definitely glad I did it.

Altitude sickness reminds me of a bad hangover. I wish there was a nicer way to put it. On the way back to Gorak Shep I had a pounding headache. I got sick twice, throwing up the Snickers Bar that was our reward for making it to Base Camp. I felt significantly better after that. Roshan was very helpful and cheerful too. He gave me his trekking pole so I had two instead of one. That helped tremendously. When we made it back to the lodge, we sat for dinner and talked with some of the other climbers and hikers. I still didn't feel all that well and I couldn't eat much. We were going to have to wait until everyone went to bed, to sleep in the dining room.

I was exhausted. All I needed was a room with a bed and I had to wait. Eventually I laid down on the bench there, but sleep was hard to find because everyone was talking and having a good time. I had met and talked with several people – this Everest Base Camp is definitely an international event. I've met a Hungarian, a Czech Republican, some Swiss and German folk, some Japanese women, a Singaporean, some people from the UK, a few Israelis, and some French guys. That verse – Micah 4:1-2 seems to hold meaning, although not all of these people were here to “worship” God. They got a great glimpse of his creation though, that's for sure. We all did.

If I'd do it again I would take at least one day for acclimatizing below 4500 meters, as is suggested. Between 4500 and 5000 things started going south for me, but we were on a time limit and I figured the times sleeping at the various villages were enough. I mean, I was okay, nothing terrible happened, I just got a little sick. I tell you though, when all was said and done I was glad to come down a little ways from the rocky heights.

Roshan and I ended up sleeping in a tent outside the Yeti Lodge. This was the last thing I wanted to do, but it actually wasn't so bad. We were given mats and blankets and pillows inside a double walled tent, plus we could go to bed right away, and not have to wait for the others. I was camping out on top of the world. I think it was fitting because I love camping out back home, and here I was in a tent at the foot of Everest. I woke up from my 12 hour slumber at 3:15AM to go to the bathroom. I didn't want to do it but I was glad and grateful when I stepped outside and saw all the stars and walls of mountains on every side. Absolutely spectacular.

This morning, October 25^th, we got up, had a cup of milk tea and headed to Kala Patthar, a steep high group of rocks, several hundred feet and meters above Base Camp, with great views of Everest. I was feeling much better after about 12 hours of rest, and I knew I'd regret it if I didn't go up, especially now that I was feeling well. Roshan, who had been excited about seeing the views from Kala Patthar the day before wasn't so into it this morning on the way up. He told me he was having a hard time breathing. I made sure to take care of him, and when he got to talk to his new “girlfriend” on my cell on the way up, I think his spirits lightened and he was strengthened. The views were incredible. I made sure to take several pics and a video or two on my camera. The whole thing took about 4 hours. We then left Gorak Shep at approximately 1 pm for Pheriche, where we are now. It was a rather long trek back here, but it was made easier because we were mostly going downhill. We came to the same place we stayed at two nights ago, because strangely enough, the owner knows Roshan's Dad, and we got a discount both times. This place is much nicer and cleaner than the higher villages. We are having to count our rupees because we won't get to another ATM until we reach Namche again, which will hopefully be tomorrow but that's going to be a long 7 hour trek. We should be okay I think.

It occurred to me, while trekking down today that it would be great to see Roshan and his Dad “reconciled” in a sense. We were talking about it, and about how God had other plans for Roshan when he was kicked out of his father's house 6 months ago for being a Christian and not a Hindu. Roshan said if that hadn't happened, he wouldn't be seeing Everest with me on this awesome trekking trip. I agreed and then thought about how God is about making stale relationships between people right again, and I suggested this to Roshan. He thought this was a good idea. He said he'd take me to meet his father in Kathmandu one day. If any kind of reconciliation between Roshan and his dad is possible (which it is of course) I would like to be of any help possible. If I can be of help, great! If not, then I won't interfere. I ask God for insight into this situation. For now, I need sleep; we have a long journey ahead! 

 One of the first views of Everest (it's actually the tiny one in the middle, in the distance)

 

There is a famous picture of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on Everest.  This is not it.

(Though it is a lame attempt at recreating it - maybe the tourists in the background give it away)

 Something I saw.

Our tent

Something else I saw (a view of Mount Everest from Kala Patthar)

Me and the mountains.  Everest is on the left. Nuptse is on the right.