It's PAW!

This week, we are celebrating (for lack of a better term) PAW - Primary Activity Week.  The secondary school is out doing other activities around the country and the primary school is going to school in the morning, and then doing the SKY VBS from Group in the afternoons.  The kids seem to be enjoying it and since it is a science-based VBS, we have a lot of kids thinking its cool (The young ones loved the hovering experiment).
I am leading the large group times and so far my voice is holding out.  I love the chance to act goofy and fly around, singing, and telling stories.

For the mission story session, I wrote a CEF-like story with pictures that talks about bible translation in PNG (I know, right...surprise!), but I am not reading it.  Which is even more scary as I have others tell a story I know. But it is good for me.  

When not teaching, I am taking photos. (okay, I am full of surprises.) Just want to make sure that we have documentation! And for the record.. I am not coordinating this one... someone else is... I am just her assistant. So imagine how busy she is!


I think at the end of the week.... I will collapse...oH no I can't... I have a meeting... drat!

Bandha News

Quite frequently an email appears in my inbox, explaining the upcoming strikes around the valley and the country.  A couple days ago, I got a new email. There had not been one out for a while because we are in a major festival season, and no one would dare interupt a holiday by calling a bandha!  So I was a bit surprised to receive an update.

(We have one more major festival coming up the beginning of November and then national elections are on the 20th.)

Anyways.... this email mentioned a couple small bandhas (strikes) over the next week and then there was a line that read.

                                  November 11 - 20 Nepal wide strike. Vehicular disruptions.

I was like....WHAT!? I had to read it about four times to make sure I was reading it right.  A two week bandha!  No way!

Guess I will be heading to the store to stock up on supplies and picking up some books at the library just in case school is shut down.  Should be a fun month!

Painting Party

This was my entry

Artist and her art

MAGS Art Gallery

One of my friends had a birthday coming up this week, so a group of us decided to get away from the dust of the city and head up the valley wall to a favorite get away.
There was a jazz festival going on that evening  at the hotel and since the birthday girl is a jazz fan, we humored her. Talk about a different circle of people than I am usually around! The music was good though.
The next day we had a late breakfast before starting with the real party. I had brought along a bunch of small canvases, a set of paint,and brushes. We spent a couple hours painting (and dodging monkeys) before eating lunch.  Then we packed up and headed
down into the valley again to start the week. It was a good get away and I have some more art for my house. .

One More Wacky Conversation

During the Wacky Week, I had a number of funny conversations, but I think this one takes the cake. The new librarian and I decided that we need more plants than the measly five cactus plants to crazy-up the library one day. So we went back to one of the gardeners to get some more plants.
I asked to have some more. The answer was, "It is not good to put more plants in the library because then there will not be enough oxygen."  I  thought about doing a quick science lesson, but voted against it  as I didn't have the time. So I asked again. This time the response was. " Well, we can put them in there during the day, but they have to come back out at night because they need light to grow."  Again I thought of doing a quick science lesson, but I decided not to. Instead I said that it was only for one night and I think the plants would be fine for one night without sunlight. There was a grudgingly nod and we had our plants.

Sometimes I am just humored at what comes out of people's mouths.

The Paved Road

There was been some excitement around the hood lately. The road that runs in front of the school has been paved. Finally!  Crowds came out to watch and applaud as the paving crew paved first one side, then the other. As soon as the bitumen was laid, motor-cycles were trying it out and people were walking across it. The crew took it all in stride.
 The next morning it was still there , surprise surprise, and covered in sand.  I asked why and was told that the sun was so hot during the day, that  the paving would dry out unevenly, so they put sand on it to help reduce the heat build up?!?! Really? Oh well.
By the following afternoon,  it looked well used. But hopefully it will cut down on the dust and dirt.

Wacky Week at the Library

This week at school, we had a wacky week celebration and contest to welcome the new librarian,who is crazy-wild about books. Well I am not sure that he actually is, but it worked out well having him start with this crazy week in the library!

This photo has three wacky things
in it. 

Each day in the library we put two things up  or did something unusual  around the library. We then asked the students to come in and find  the wackiness!  On Monday we put empty food boxes and juice cartons  among the books in the stacks and turned the world map upside down. On another day we hung up a clothes line and pegged lost and found clothes to the line. (We actually got rid of some of the clothes, when people realized we had hung up their clothes - Bonus!)
Another day we cut out mustaches and put them on all our wall mural characters.  It was been fun to see students come in eager to find out what crazy thing is happening in the library each day and be introduced the new librarian.
 The number of entries has grow through out the week, so on  Monday we will figure out which of the students had the most points and hand out prizes!   (Which are books of course about being wacky!)

All in a week's work!

Conference Update

Had a great conference and got to meet a number of folks from schools in the middle east. It was a nice change and feel good about the session I was in. I am actually headed back tomorrow to take a training course for MSA, so that I can be on a team.   

To Learn What I Can Learn

I am off to an educator pre conference today to find out more about MSA and what they really are about. The school is getting geared up for a visit but I figured if I really wanted to know the organization that will be visiting then I should go to their training and see how different it is from the previous group I worked with.

So I will report back later.

New B-Ball Court and Site

Singing

 Today we celebrated  the opening of the new basketball court and soccer pitch.  This is new land for us and we are very thankful to God for his provision.  Here are a couple photos for the ceremony.

The new court

Praying

Ribbon Cutting

Cake

Quiet Day

The sun is out and the sky is a brillant blue, filled with white fluffy clouds. What a spirit lifter! After all the clouds and the rain, I needed it.
 During this time in Nepal, you see a lot of kites in the air. It is the only time during the year that kids and adults can fly them. It is part of the major holiday that is being celebrated right now. The festival is called Dashain and is  a 15-day festival that commerates the power of good over bad. The kites are flown to wish away the monsoon rains and I was thinking last week that we would all going to have to get out there and fly a kite. But today dawned bright and glorious. Thanks be to the one true God who set up weather patterns and controls the light with His voice! 

It's the Weekend

I know, I know. It has only been three days of school and I am rejoicing about it being the weekend. But this is a much needed weekend. I have a lot of work to do for our Activity Week and I hope to get some of it done this weekend.

So yeah for two days of hiberating!

Photo of the Week

This is my photo of the week!  I just love all the different textures and then the cow nose poking out! 

Holiday Season

Having been on school break for two and half weeks has been great! I needed the rest and it was great to spend time with my parents. But the last couple days have been surreal in a way. Nepal is celebrating one of their major Hindu festivities - Daishan.  It is a ten day festival and the past couple days the streets have been deserted and many shops closed. There were a few mom-n-pop places open yesterday, so I did some necessity shopping but it felt like a ghost town.  I think this is how a Jewish person must feel at Christmas. Not part of the celebration but still trying to function.

Today, we are back to school, but a lot of students are still gone. So the ranks were a bit sparse in line up this morning. Kids seem to be glad to be back, but the teachers are saying, " It just wasn't long enough." The question everyone is asking is, "Where did you go?" and I love answering, "Nowhere. Why would I go away when the rest of the town disappears?"  There are about 7 more days of this holiday and then we move into another one in November.  The school is open for the whole time, except the high festival day on Nov. 5, but there is a lot going on around town and if it keeps the lights on longer each day and the traffic low, hurrah for the holidays! 

Cyclone Phailan

So the super cyclone, Phailan, that hit the east coast of India has moved up to the Himalayans and gotten caught on the high peaks. All that means is that we have had about 36 hours of constant rain and dreariness. However,it looks like the rain has finally stopped and maybe the clouds will lift a bit. I mean with them having wrung out all that rain water, they should be lighter, making it easier to float, right?! You can see why I am not a science teacher.  The forecast is for light rain throughout the week, but I am hoping all these clouds can get up high enough to get over the mountain barrier and move on across the Tibetan plateau. We will see.
In the meantime, time to slosh through the puddles and bundle up to keep dry and warm.  I do feel a bit sorry for all the trekkers who came to Nepal in October to see and hike the mountains. They did not get their money's worth this year.  

Following After the Father

It has been such a blessing to have my parents here and to be able to talk with them and share in all that is happening. They are very godly people and have the sound biblicial perspective that is desperately needed here. My dad has been doing some teaching and mom and I have been tagging along. It is so encouraging to see how God is reminding me of His plans and His Word during these teachings. I will miss them greatly!

Fortunately God the Father is way ahead of me on this and has prepared for me a road to travel down. I am claiming that verse in 2 Tim 3:16 and looking forward to how God is going to keep that passage alive in my  heart.

In the meantime, pray for me and my parents. It has been a great visit and I am so glad to have them come and see my part of the world. They are headed to PNG for the next step of their travels. They are walking into some unknowns. They will need wisdom and discernment.

May we all follow earnestly after our Heavenly Father until we see Him face to face.

Proverbs 31 Woman!

Since the folks have been here, Mom has been sewing, cooking, and knitting up a storm. She is trying to complete 9 crochet hats for a nursery school here. Dad and I spent hours trying to untangle a skein of yard that was yak hair. It kept breaking and we would have to hunt for an end. Mom would just sit and roll up all the little pieces until she finally had enough to start crocheting.

She has sowed me curtains for my living room and ones for my bedroom. We went to a fabric place and she helped with choosing the material. Then had to sew a lot of them by hand. We begged some straight pins off a tailor one day and to measure the material, we used a rope, since I have no tools.




 She taught me how to make a dried potato necklace, (it took a couple days as we had to dry the potatoes and then paint them before stringing them).

And recently she has been  coming up with games for VBS, which the school will be having in a couple weeks.

On top of all that we all trying new recipes and making some old favorites (with substitutions as needed). We have had some good laughs over the stove and miracle oven.

So I am keeping her busy. She is a Proverbs 31 woman for sure! I am  truly blessed.

Whale Flippers or Buffalo Wings?

Today, after a trip downtown, in which we encountered some amazingly humorous traffic jams, we decided to stop at The International Club for a well-deserved cuppa and a snack.  On the menu it stated that there were buffalo wings, so I asked if they had buffalo wings available. He shook his head no and replied that they only had chicken wings. So we said that we would order the chicken wings instead of the buffalo wings. He took the rest of the order and we sat back for a long wait.  However a minute later, Mom said, "Oh no, he is coming our way. I wonder what they don't have available?" (She has only been in the country a week, how did she get that savvy?)  The waiter approached our table and said, " I am sorry. We don't have chicken wings either." (Surprise, surprise!) So we changed our item and as the waiter was leaving with the new order, Dad said, " We should have asked for whale flippers instead."

It's a Miracle....Oven

first batch getting pressed

So a friend loaned me her Miracle Oven and mom and I have been trying it out. We actually make cookies in it the other day. By the time we got to the last bunch we had perfected it.  Here are some photos of the process.

second figure out which way the tray
goes

third - bake on the stove

 fourth -check to see if done

finally - enjoy

Speaking of...

mom sharing about wisdom

One day during break, mom, dad, and I got an invite to speak at  a local Christian school. Mom shared with the staff and I did the assembly. Dad tagged along as we were headed out on an excursion later.
It was a good time and I pray that we were a blessing to all who attended.

Students

In front of the school

Magenta and Verde

So I was walking through Thamel the other day and mom said, " I want to stop at a felt shop." So we did. As we were looking around, Dad saw this puppet and handed it to me. I just about jumped for joy, but I thought I would first clarify with the shop keeper about the puppet.  So I asked in Nepali. " What is this?" He replied that it was a puppet. I bite my tongue and asked, " What animal?" He was not sure, so had to go and ask the man sitting in the inner office. He came back and said, "It's a donkey." I just looked at him and said, "Really?"

These two puppets, named Verde and Magenta are NOT donkeys! They are aardvarks!  Duh!!!!

Giving It a Chop!

A couple weeks ago, we had a group of TaeKwonDo artists come and perform at school. They were very impressive and the kids just sat in awe of all their kicks, jumps, and chops. At the end of the performance they called a couple staff up on stage to break a board.

Yes,that is your's truly!
They gave me an option of doing it with my head. 

KTM with PnG

Walking in Thamel

So the first couple days of the parents' visit has gone well in spite of the rough start for dad on crutches.  But we are getting around.

Mom not watching the traffic out her
taxi window

On Saturday, I had them help me with a Math training for Nepali teachers. It was great and we had a fun-filled five hours interacting with other educators and swapping ideas.  It was nice to be teaching with the folks again.

On Sunday we headed to church and then off to get groceries for the week.

On Monday after a stint at school for a couple hours, we head to the tourist                                                part of town in Thamel. They both did okay and we did a little shopping.

Eating Israeli food

Dinner at home - all veggies!

On Tuesday we stuck around the local hood and watched the traffic. A maoist motorcylce group roared by yelling and waving flags, but that was theextent of excitment for the whole trip. We  did stopped at a Christian book store and mom for a Nepali praise cd.  Listening to it right now.

watching traffic untangle.

I have put up some photos of our eventful excursions.