Archive for April, 2009

“Being and Belonging”

From all the moments in the last few days….from all the hands
pressed into mine, all the kisses and hugs, all the soft words
whispered to me….my “moment” was this….

The girls english teacher, Meera, comes to give english tuition every day. On Tuesday, she had the girls each stand and do a short speech on a topic of their choosing. Each girl stood and took her turn in front of all of her sisters….many of the speeches were about their sponsor families. When it came to her turn, Alisha stood and with a beaming smile on her face all the while looking straight into my eyes, started to speak:

‘My sponsor family name is Katy Aunty. She is very beautiful. She loves me very much. I love her also. Thank you.”

The moment was so humbling and filled with love – and her face turned towards mine and her certainty of my constancy of affection – reminded me of the importance of belonging to ’someone’….the importance of being in a family…..the importance of safe space….

Belonging and being. Being and belonging. So intrinsically linked – so much a part of who we are – so very foundational….

I saw it in the face of the small street boy that threw his arms
around me last night – his face thick with grime, his feet caked with dirt and his clothes in tatters, his dull drugged from glue eyes staring blankly into my own…all this, and still, I saw something there….something that shines from him….and the potential of that child in another space and time chokes me….

This small moment is only a tiny piece of being in a third world
country….of experiencing both the horror and triumph of humanity. The horror that our girls have been removed from and the triumph that their being and belonging in this space is.

Namaste,

Katy

Give me land lotsa land….
The roads were bad, the going slow, spirits were high and so was the altitude! The second mission to look at potential land was a long long day. We set off, Millie Katy and I in a 4X4 with our friend to look at the proposed site to purchase for our new village school complex yesterday lunch time. The first plot had plenty of potential with fresh spring water, on the high side of the road with good views of the mountains and clean crisp air. Good for growing lungs. There is also a shortcut road being built close by for quick passage to the Kathmandu Valley. – Photos taken, discussions on size and price all noted and video commentary captured and we were off again. This time up higher , higher to what seemed like the top of the world. We looked a 3 sites next all big potential – We took photos of the Dutch built school and meet with the littlest hosts of the mountain and shared biscuits with them. These young children of between 3 and approximately 8 years will be future students here. My heart was full with the potential of these young kids being educated close to their home instead of no schooling at all as it is too far to travel for them. They are such poor people these mountain folk. It was as if I had gone back in time! Again many photos and video entries were taken to describe the surrounding plots available.
The trip down the mountain was like being shaken not stirred. Katy and I talked of the vision and dreams of FMNCH really coming to life. It is so exciting to know the next time we visit one of these plots, would be to view a building or 3. It is an incredible feeling. Together with Money, time and energy of all of us together that this dream is about to become a reality! We are off again tomorrow to see more plots.
Today we spent all day with the little girls and as they are on holidays we are spending lots of time sitting and chatting and playing unstructured games. I sat on Ruma’s bed and together with Sneha, Devaki, Dikshya, Sita, Basundhara, Robina, Katy and Millie we chatted and chatted about school, special memories and funny little things. Slowly many more children joined us giving little fashion parades in their new clothes. They are so proud and happy to receive their gifts. Each child digging through the goodies to search for that special letter and photo written especially for them. I had a moment of overwhelming, Heart pounding emotion when I gave Devaki her gifts and set the time on her watch and fastened her bracelet. With eyes full of big tears she said “Oh Aunty, at last my life is all coming true!” She buried her beautiful face in my shoulder and wept with giggles with shyness. This young lady has found safety and security and trusts me. I feel so much love and gratitude from her for her fortunate situation.
I am a very Proud proud Aunty! Little Junu was far too cute in her swimmers and when they all put on their swim wear and I added goggles to their heads, the laughter was deep and long. Burma was adorned in beautiful beaded bracelets on each arm and a very fashionable scarf around her neck. “I am beautiful Aunty” was her call to me. Again my heart melts. Gyanu was very taken in with her metal clip style lunch box and sunnies! She was off in her own world! The face of Sunita was of focus and deep thought as she lay gifts all out and was whispering to her self over and over. I am not completely sure but I think she was giving thanks and blessing her gifts! She packed them up and tightened her bag and hugged it tight to her chest. Another happy customer! Sangita came to me with her photos and held them close to her heart explaining to me that this is her family and do I see how beautiful they are?
The English teacher joined us this afternoon and each of the children stood and spoke a few sentences of English about their favourite subject. You will be all happy to know that sponsor families are their favourite subjects! Millie has been included in the English lessons and the little skits that have been performed. She loves it here. She is often draped in small girls or secreted away with Robina and Ruma talking about things that 12 year olds talk about.
Well its getting late and my heart aches for home but the strange thing is I feel as if I am already here!
Namaste and Shivratri (Good Night)
Andrea Aunty.

Amanda

Sitting at the end of a great day at Helena’s Roof Top Café – 7
stories up. Spent all day with the girls for another fun filled day.
Did canvas painting ready to dry and put buttons on for their first letters. They all got their gifts today and the room was alive with energy and excitements just like Christmas morning. Spent time with Junu-clingon – drawing with crayons. Fixing flags with glue ready to hang for tomorrow. Opened my heart up for smiles and love. Nice to see and feel the purity of love.

Millie – One day to play

Today was so good because we spent from 10.30am to 5.30pm with the girls! We also gave the sponsors gifts today. It was so cute because all the girls got togs and sunshirts and goggles. The youngest girls were gorgeous. Yesterday I couldn’t go to the home to visit because I went to look at land with Mum and Katy. Sitting in a car for 5 hours while bouncing up and down was worth it! The view of the Himalayan mountains was breathtaking.

We are going to another meeting tomorrow then we are going on a picnic with the girls and also the long awaited swimming pool adventure. I also learnt a board game today, it is sort of like pool but you flick the pieces with a blue or orange disk. I actually won! But now I have a sore middle finger We are going to Chitwan on Monday, I’m looking forward to that.

Ok and namaste,
Millie

Kalpana’s jottings

There is woodsmoke in the air – the acridity gently burns my breathing passages as I sit and type.

So, what to say?

What does one say of a journey so often taken spiritually, but only physically in the sparse moments of freedom from the constrains of everyday life?

For me, Kathmandu certainly feels like home, and my return to this destination is like a visitation to myself. To the depths of who I am. To who I am becoming. To who I want to be.

The airport itself was easily negotiated and we were waved through customs with a smile into the throng of people outside. I watched the faces of the rest of the travelers as they took in the smell, taste and sight of Nepal….I watched their expressions as they saw the chaotic traffic, the poor on the sides of the road, the grime and pollution of everyday living, the ramshackle housing….and I remembered what it was like the first time I arrived here…the feeling of shock that settled in my stomach….

My first sighting of the home brought a wave of excitement at seeing the girls….and as we pulled into the yard, little Kabita came running out. She yelled, “Katy Aunty” and threw herself into my arms and I remembered what is to be home. My next hug was from my Alisha – who has grown so much and did not let me go but held on and on and on…..

After that, all the girls were everywhere. Watching Andrea and Millie meet Ruma (their sponsor child) for the first time is something I will never forget. To hold someone so close in your heart without ever having met them is an amazing thing – but to see the instant bond and connection in the physicality of the moment of meeting was heart wrenchingly beautiful.

We had but a short visit before making our way to the hotel and nearly falling asleep in the restaurant.

On our return the next morning, the music was turned on and the dancing began! We have many beautiful dancers but when Namrata got up to dance, the tears began to fall. Here was a child who three years ago was malnourished with a small pot belly, had a shaved head and terrible skin problems – here she was blossoming – this beautiful child who exuded confidences from the depths of her being. Namrata has grown to a child who comes first in her class at school, who is regarded as the “best fashion dancer” by all of her sisters, and who is stunningly beautiful….the transformation is truly amazing. And as I sat and watched her, I remembered the reason for all of this….the reason I am here in this place….the reason we are here in this place….the reason we are all here together in this world….to help each other – to give – to be compassionate – to feel – to let ourselves be…..

So I am thankful for the sparse moments when I am here physically…but I am also thankful for those 21 souls that sit in my heart constantly. That remind me of the beauty and simplicity of just being. That remind me of who I am – who I can be – and who I want to be.

With love,

Katy xx

Andrea’s 3rd Journal Entry

Good morning to all who share this lovely journey with us!
it is so very good to be here in the Kathmandhu valley on this beautiful morning. The weather is perfect! Cool enough to be clean and warm enough to seek shade. The noise outside this IT Cafe is deafining! ting ting from rikshaws, peddlers playing wooden flutes to sell, taxi toots, snorting, spitting, yelling … but I digress!

Out my window this morning opposite our hotel 3 floors up, are 2 Muslim children. dressed so beautifully smilling and greeting me Good morning pens in hand as They study the Koran. They are charming and glow with innocence. This brings my mind quickly to yesterdays experiences with the lovely Children of FMNCH!

A day of outdoor disco, Bubblegum, and musical statues! Burma was the winner! The portable DC player was a smash hit for the garden and we bought some top 40 style music on Disc and HEY PRESYO! Instant disco Party. Amanda strutted her stuff and I myself busted a few moves. KT videoed and Audrey sat with a various little girls drapped all over her! All clapping, all cheering and all loving the simple experineces of life. Puja, our manager, was the DJ and encouraged little JUNU (4) to shake it Up! Which she can do very well with a heart melting cute factor of about 1000 + !
Millie and Rabina, Namrata and Devki all partner danced with many giggles as they copied Millies classic Jazz “Western Style” — Millie’s Nepali traditional dance moves are comming along nicley.
Sita is pure delight to play with. Her dark, dark features and white, white smile just make my face light up. She is very kind to the other girls and takes care of those around her with lovely manners and gentle hands. Sunita is always at my side as my helper. She slides my shoes over for my feet, she carries the camers and wants nothing more than a lap when you sit. she beams at you when you look at her and then touches your cheek. Little little Gyanu is for me the clown of the little gang of girls. Always popping rabbit ears up in photos and cracking up with laughter when you show her the shot. She is so very fine and pettite! like a little bird with a big smile and just as fragile. I can put my middle finger and thumb around her little chocolate ankles! Jamuina has a face that is never in a frown. She smiles at her watermelon, she smiles at her chowmein, but it is best of all when she smiles at me and wobbles her head with such affection. She talks with a slow measured tempo and is easy to understand. We have connected well little Jamuna and Me! Then Rashila, ahh Rashila, the rascal, high speed with a finger in every pie. We were wondering where she was when the disco party was aboput to start. KT found her in the kitchen with Mylie the cook chopping tomatoes with a cleaverso large I would have trouble!. Such skill, Chop Chop Chop. She explained that It was her turn for kitchen duty and she would join us soon.

This is where I leave you all for today. We head of to the Bal Griha (Children’s home) at 2.00pm today and I can hardly wait to hug My Ruma and hold little hands. To greet my young friends with our secret hand shake ande laugh out loud!
My lesson today is “always make time for play!”
Namaste (I bow to the Light Within)
Andrea x

Andrea – At Last the Day Had Come

Arriving in Nepal filled me with a familiar feeling of the ancient and the sacred. My heart feels at home here in this old dusty land. With Shova waiting for us we loaded our load onto the waiting bus and bounced off down the road for the quick ride to the Girls home. Waiting on the verandah to be the “scout’ was little Kabita. Her face lit up as the guard opened the gate and we drove in., She disappeared inside and in moments there were a line behind an opened door with the biggest smiles I have seen in a long time. My eyes rushed up the line of height ordered children eagerly seeking out the face of My Ruma. Faces I know only from Photos all before me in glorious beautiful living color. Our eyes met and I instantly felt a surge of joy welling up from my boots. I was garlanded and gifted and taken inside the meeting room. Little hands, little faces all asking for my name and asking if I was well. These children are so close to each other and so much a family It is surprising. Through my tired traveling body I now go back to the Annapurna Guest House to rest with dreams of playing all day tomorrow dancing through my mind.

Om Shanti & Namaste to all who share this journey with us through the commitment and love of these young girls.

Andrea Aunty – Yes I cried …. A lot!

Amanda’s Journal

Arrived weary and tired from flying, but more than excited about meeting the girls of which we have worked so hard to support from afar.

“Okay, lets go and get 21 cuddles” were my words as we were just about the leave.

Noises and smells that a foreign to me, no personal space, bikes diving and weaving through traffic and cars beeping their horns constantly, yer, just totally different, but loving it.

Bali is the same in some aspects but totally different in others and trying to get used to it again has taken me a few days to wind down and enjoy the experience for what it is.

Kabita was the first girl waiting on the front step for me and it didn’t take long for waving and smiling faces to emerge from the front doors of the home.

I recognised some of the faces straight away and some took time. I think there is only 4 I haven’t put the names to the faces yet.

I was more than happy to give hugs and I was nervous. All I wanted to do was to sit right in the middle of them and talk and touch their skin and hands.

A great experience and I did not want to leave after the hour or so we had with them.

Yesterday we stayed the whole day and I felt quite out of it for the morning. Katy and Andrea went to look for land, so I asked if I could do some craft stuff with the girls.

That was it, I was swarmed by 21 gorgeous girls all wanting their beautiful faces painted. I really felt the connection come in by later on. We had designs and colours everywhere and they looked good. The older girls helped to paint too, so everyones face was individual. My favourite was Sita’s face as a white black and white minstral.

It was a long day, but finally I feel the connection Nepal and its people that I had been wanting.

Lots of love and smiles for all. It is genuine and pure love and a breath of fresh air to feel my heart come alive and express such an emotion. They have no trouble in being in the now, we as westerners have a lot to learn from the eastern cultures.

Amanda.

Millie – Namaste for my first day!

Today when we were flying over Nepal, I was feeling really nervous, but it could have jut been that I had only slept 4 hours in 2 days, but anyway- I HAD BUTTERFLIES!! When we landed, and got out of the airport, I had MAJOR culture shock. There were 8 story buildings everywhere with people out side them looking really…unhealthy. It took a while to get to the orphanage because of all the traffic. There were, on one side of the road, people on bike, people in cars and others just walking no one paying any attention to the traffic or to anything that was going on. It as terrifying! When we got to the orphanage, all the girls were waiting on the balcony and came running down as soon as they saw us. I met Ruma, she was SO shy, but warmed up pretty quickly. It was amazing seeing them in person. I cant wait to se them tomorrow spend the day getting to know them all and matching names to smiling faces.

So, Namaste and goodbye till next time I write.

Millie Sister