Nepal #1

Well, I'm here!

After LONG days of travel we made it! I only slept about 3 hours out of about 48 while traveling.

The time here is about 11 hours ahead of Dallas... I am tired now but making myself stay up later so I won't wake up at 4 AM :) I'm really tired, so sorry if this doesn't make sense, I don't feel awake enough to read over it and fix it :)

It has been quite an experience so far!

Some of those here feel quite overwhelmed by the culture... which is understandable, but it's exciting ha!

The streets here in Kathmandu (the capitol) are crazy!

Pedestrians, dogs, cars, bicycles, motor bikes and rickshaws all share the tiny road.

Literally you are in the middle of beeping and exhaust constantly!

Almost had my foot ran over yesterday and I got hit by a side door mirror.

Today, while in a taxi outside of Kathmandu, a cow ran into the side of the car - literally into the open window and the driver just kept going... hahaha ;)

Yesterday after arriving, we visited the organization's offices, went to the Monkey Temple (365 STEEP stairs at a high elevation), and ate at a really cool mediterranean restaurant. Today we went shopping, went to the square where the Kumari (living goddess) lives, had lunch with a lady who works for the Australian government here in Nepal, visited our first children's home and ate at another lovely restaurant where we were joined by a man doing research on Human Trafficking.

We have been hearing a lot about the challenges of trying to help the street children here.

This is a huge issue with no easy answer. Most of the street children are boys who choose life on the streets to get away from their home lives. On the streets the boys form a bond of brotherhood and they gain a power and independence. They also become perpetually addicted to sniffing glue and are first initiated into the street life by being sexually abused by the "ring leader" boys. These boys end up performing sexual acts with other men to gain the money needed to buy glue to feed their addictions. It's a vicious cycle. Many boys who are taken out simply choose to return. The stories are crazy... the people who work in these tough areas where they see little success say they only find their strength to continue in God.

Tiny hands has one home for boys who are rescued off of the streets. The most success is with those who are rescued as young as possible.

We will be here in Kathmandu for several more days before heading out to Pokhara. After which we will visit the border of India/Nepal before returning to Kathmandu.

In other news... I've yet to have the traditional Dal Baht (lentils and rice), but I have learned the traditional greetings of "Namaste" and the Christian greeting of "Jaimasihi". The western tourists here too - gotta love em - lots of Europeans here, met an Englishman with a lovely accent and I think the people next door in our hotel room may be Chinese. :-)

Okay, so super tired, was uploading pics, but they aren't uploading!

Just wanted to send out an update of what's going on! Thank you for your prayers, Doug and Shirley  said that the traveling to Nepal this time was the smoothest they ever remember. That says a lot seeing that they've come over a dozen times!

Thanks for the prayers, keep them coming!

Love ya'll and love the fact that God is just as present here as He is anywhere :)

- Anna