More posts coming soon…

It has been a busy week here in Nepal.  A group of 4 of us went trekking for 5 days, while Abba House prepared a space to cook meals over fire when/if cooking gas runs out.  The last few days will be filled with crafts and final errands, but I hope to write some new articles while on the plane home Tuesday.  Please pray for smooth travels from Tues morning to We’d evening central time. –Julie

Bonus week in Nepal

The gang is certainly missed here in Nepal by everyone…especially the Abba house kids.  The pace during this extra time in has been a bit slower, with a more uncertain schedule than while the whole team was here.  Nonetheless, opportunities to serve have arisen every day.

I have been glad to spend some time at Higher Ground, since the team missed Bimala because she was in New York accepting an award during our trip.  I attended a training seminar on Monday, which was co-hosted by Higher Ground and Mukti, which is an anti-trafficking network organization.  Also, I spent a morning at the craft workshop making new jewelry color palettes, visited the NGO offices, and today interviewed Oliin Rai then wrote an article for the HG blog.

It has been good to spend a little extra time with the older boys in the transition home.  They are good cooks…dal baht (rice and lentils) and curry are their specialties, imagine that!  I am impressed by their teamwork both cooking and quickly cleaning after dinner.  We have played cards, watched movies, and the like to show me their favorite downloaded music videos.  Tonight we’ll have a house meeting so that I can talk to them about personal finance and budgeting.

Also, I managed to squeeze in the mandatory birdwatching expedition, which turned out to be quite an adventure pushing bikes uphill for about 2 hours, and some downhill mountain-biking.  We were rewarded with some new bird sitings and a beautiful view of the Kathmandu Valley.

An amazing team!

   Sincere thanks and gratitude to an amazing mission team.  I truly believe that the four of us complemented each other well and we were able to provide an incomparable service to our partners in Nepal.  How great it is to do God’s work and have fun doing so.

Pictured here from left to right are Barbara, Julie, Cherrie, David (the mission team), along with Arbin Pokharel of Crossway Church in Nepal.  The photo was taken outside the Higher Ground Bakery.

Cherrie

Safe travels…

The Nepal team is enroute back to Houston.  After sad farewells, Barbara, Cherrie and David headed to the airport yesterday evening.  By now they should be boarding the second flight (14 hours in the air).  Julie is staying 2 more weeks.

Please pray for safe travels and enough sleep on the plane to avoid jet lag.  Also please pray for energy and focus as they go back to  work on Monday and have lots of catching up to do.