Pray Them In!

Last week, I started praying for our need of four middle school teachers, three primary teachers, one middle school principal, and one curriculum director  for our school. I cut out little paper people and wrote the positions needed, then hung them on my wall, so that I could remind myself to pray for these positions specifically. 

Recruiting staff is hard in an international school because most of it is done remotely, it takes a while for them to be able to get here, and getting people to commit to being long term staff is rare.  But I know it can be done! I mean it is only nine teachers,right?! A breeze in the hands of the Almighty!

So please join me in prayer for those who God is calling to be a part of the work here, that they will answer the call and be able to get here in His timing. 

Major Bandha

Today there is a nationwide strike. This is the fourth day of strikes this week.. but this one is a major event. So please pray.  It is reported that tomorrow we are to have another one.

Journey

Yesterday, I headed to the British Embassy for some British dinner, only to find that they are closed on Mondays. We  had been on a mid-term break and through that a jaunt into town would be fun change of pace.
So with no ideas of what to do, we started walking. Then I remembered a little Israeli place in the tourist part of town. I had not been there, but I heard the humus was excellent. So we decided to head there and make it a progress dining...humus at the Israeli cafe, then chicken and salad in another place and finally dessert/ coffee at the Java. However upon arriving at the cafe and perviewing the menu, we decided just to eat there! It was delicious!  I had the chicken schwarma, I think that is what it was called, and mint tea! Heavenly!
We decided it was our new best eatery in our fair city!
After that we did go to Java and have coffee.
It was a lovely day..
But now we are back to work at a staff development day.

Spending time with the Didis

The house that I am staying in as two didis. A didi is actually the word for 'older sister', but is also used from the ladies who come and clean, cook, and wash clothes for you. I happen to have  two didis and a gardener to look after. I actually do my own washing and I really don't like to leave dirty dishes in the sink, but I am loving the idea of having meals prepared for me. And both of these ladies love to cook.  I have to keep inviting others over to help me eat it all. I really don't decide on the menu... they just arrive and say, " How about this tonight?" I say, "Sure" and end up eating that meal for three days in a row.  A lot of times, I pack it up for lunches, which is a huge blessing.
 Well anyways... having these two ladies around has allowed me to improve my Nepali quite a bit. Speaking and listening!  So that has been a bonus.
Today I sat down for a cup of tea with the lady who came and we had a talk about families with her.  I was surprised want I remember from language class. I have a whiteboard hanging in my dining room (go figure) and so when I can't think of a word, I draw a picture ( I know, I know, I am such a teacher). But it has been good to connect with these ladies. On Thursday, I got to see the other lady for about 20 minuted. ( I rarely see her, but since I am on holidays , I was home).
I still have not seen the gardener...talked to him on the phone.. he wanted to make sure I left money to pay the bills. The most I know about him, is that I always have to have milk for him, as he must have milk with his tea.
So that is news from my estate.
Boy does that sound strange.

Walking into Church Today

So as I rounded the corner and approached the main intersection between home and school, I saw a group of men sitting in front of a huge pile of freshly dug dirt and a silent bulldozer parked next to a large hole that stretched across the whole road. I thought, 'Oh no! Will I have to jump?" ( which I was not keen on doing as yesterday while walking out of a store, I misstepped and twisted my ankle...same one as last time... the store owners and workers all rushed out to assist me... which was kind of them!)
Back to my today story....so as I approached this mess, I could feel the angst rising. I really did not want to tackle this obstacle as I was carrying three very heavy bags and a purse.
Fortunately upon arriving at the bulldozer and the group of concerned citizens ( who always gather to watch construction work)  I was able to get around the back end of the bulldozer...it had not dug a hole there yet!... and safely weave my way around all the irritated taxi drivers and motorcyclists who would have to find another way around the construction.
 I love this country! There is an adventure everyday.

What is That?

The other day, just as mom and dad were getting ready to leave, one of my Nepali friends stopped by to give us a treat. She had made some of these delicacies for her husband's birthday and had promised me a couple to try.
I was able to share them with my mom and dad as a farewell treat. I am not sure what they are called.. but this is a photo of them after dad nuked them because we were told they tasted better warm. However in the nuking most of the insides ran out. But we all had a taste.

Funny Sight

On Wednesday, while riding in a car through the streets of KTM, on the way to a champion basketball game that our boys' team won the first place trophy at, I saw the most interesting of sights. There was a 22- passenger bus pulled off on the side of the road and about eight guys were trying to lift a mo-ped up onto the roof of the bus. They had it about half way up the back of the bus...but there was no one on the roof of the bus to help in hauling the bike up the rest of the way. The front tire was turned sideways and not cooperating.
Of the eight guys working on this project, only about three of them were actually doing any of the grunt work. The rest of them were pointing and calling out suggestions.  It was my humorous sight for the day!