The Unruh Trek

Diving In Again

2010-05-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

High Dive

Oh my goodness! Has it really been 7 months since I last updated you on our "treks" in Indonesia and Malaysia? I feel a bit like this little boy on top of the high diving board...a little bit of fear as I attempt to "dive" back in to the blogging world. Please forgive me; it was quite the adjustment for David and I as we began homeschooling again this year; as well as, helping Stan set up basically a new program here in Banda. Right around the time I had posted our last blog, that was when our staff families began arriving on the program and we had several houses to renovate and get ready for them.

So, where do I begin again? I will just start from our 1st Annual MAF-Aceh Family Conference and then attempt to move on from there.

A Weekend with the Boys

2009-10-31T04:57:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, Ben and Nathan had a "long weekend" break and so we brought them home for 4 days. This picture is after we picked them up at the airport and then took them straight over to our new hangar. David definitely looks pleased to have them home.

We took the boys out to Pulau Weh for 2 days of diving and snorkeling. This island is just a 45 minute ferry ride from Banda Aceh and is so peaceful and absolutely beautiful.
The day we got back to Banda, we got cleaned up and then headed out again to our swim hole that we found at the base of a mountain cliff. We definitely had a great time having them home for this brief time and are looking forward to their coming home for Christmas.

Some Catching Up

2009-10-31T04:04:00.000-07:00

Oh dear! It has been over a month since I've updated all of you on our lives here in Aceh. So many things have been going on and it only got busier for us; however, my main reason for not being able to update our blog is that we've had quite a bit of problems with our Internet service. It has been almost impossible to do anything other than do email and check Facebook. To do any uploading or downloading has been difficult. However, we think we have fixed the problem now and I will be posting like crazy now to get you up to date!

In my previous post you can see we began our hangar renovations and now I have some pictures to show you of the most recent "happenings" with the hangar.

These are the doors that Stan and Chris Uganecz made after tearing out the old, and too narrow of doors. Each door is 5 meters by 9 meters. It took 30 guys to pick up each one and place it into its track. They work "slick"!

About 2/3rds of the way back, we are building offices, part's room, maintenance room, break room, etc. Behind this, we still have plenty of room for storage AND there are still 3 badminton courts back there.

Another look at the office space going up.

The Caravan's first major inspection UNDER a roof! Thank you, Lord!

Keith Parker and Stan working on the engine of the Caravan in our new hangar.

Hangar Happenings!

2009-09-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Since landing here in Banda Aceh, life has been CRAZY!! However, I can honestly say that it has been good. The Lord has truly been doing wonderful things here and it is great to be a part of His plan. Our biggest goal after arriving here was to get a hangar contract signed with the Indonesian Air Force out at the airport. This has now happened and I would like to share those pictures with you; from the signing of the contract, parking the Caravan on the apron for the first time, renovating the door to the hangar and to finally being able to park the Caravan inside our newly acquired hangar. Thank you God!

Stan with the Komandant, his legal attache, our attorney AND a signed contract!

Here is a picture of our hangar and the Caravan pulling in to park on the apron for the first time. We are still unable to put the airplane inside due to the doors being too small. However, that will be "fixed" soon.

The Komandant was there for the plane's arrival. Martyn Den Os flew the plane up from Meulaboh.

This is Amber Desist, another one of our pilots, standing quite proudly with her "girl" in front of the hangar.

Not sure if you can really tell how HUGE this facility is but it has a tennis court, volleyball court, and 3 badmitton courts on the inside. Not sure what God's plan is with this facility but we are sure excited to find out.

We hired a team to come in and take out the doors and knock out the walls on the front so that we can park the airplanes on the inside.

And there she is; on the inside, out of the elements, for the first time since she came to Aceh!

Sitting comfortable now. :-)

Home Sweet Home

2009-09-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have a picture of our house. This was taken from the outside of our gate (before we could move in) looking towards the front door. It is a very nice looking house and has a nice layout inside. That is actually quite unusual for houses here. Most of the homes that we looked in before deciding on this one, had quite the "odd" set-up inside.

Even though we are very happy with our new house and feel completely blessed by God; there are still a few things that need some "tweeking". As you can see above, this is a very typical Indonesian bathroom. Well, actually, this one has been "westernized" a little bit, thanks to the prior US Aid tenant (tsunami days). Normally, there would be a squat pot where the toilet is sitting. What I wanted you to see here is what we call a "bak" (said like - bawk). This is NOT a tub and you do NOT crawl inside. All you do is fill it up with water and then stand on the outside and use that little scoop bucket to throw water on yourself...freezing cold water on yourself!! You will also notice that there is no sink in the bathroom. This is a very common thing here in Aceh. We never noticed that so much in Kalimantan. So, as you can see, we will be making a dry shower area where the bak is sitting and probably adding a sink somewhere. We have 2 other bathrooms that will need the same treatment if we would like to have a hot shower and not have to brush our teeth over the toilet.

And here is our kitchen area. It is in much better shape than most of the other homes we looked at. All the others would have to be torn out immediately and rebuilt before we could even move in. We wanted to find a house that we could move in and renovate when time allowed. This is a perfect kitchen for us...at this time. You can't really see it in this picture but the wooden doors are rotting out under the sink. And if you were to stand next to the countertops, they would come to just below your hips (if you are my height). So washing dishes and preparing food can really be hard on the back. The lower area in the counter is for a countertop, 2 burner, propane stove. That is what most Indonesians cook with. We will eventually tear all of these out and rebuild them so that they are at a height where I won't break my back and can use my stove/oven and still have counter space.

If anyone is wondering what to do this fall, you would be welcome to come and help us with these minor, little "tweeks" to our house. I do want to say though, that the Lord has truly blessed us with this house. We could move in immediately and not have to worry about "fixing" things up right away. There are so many other things that have a much higher priority right now and God knew that we needed this house. We are very grateful to Him and very grateful to all of you who have prayed for us these past few months as we have had to make several transitions.

Visiting the Boys at Dalat Int'l School

2009-09-07T18:05:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Stan, David and I had to do a visa run out of the country. We asked that our visa be sent to Penang, Malaysia rather than to Singapore so that we could visit with Ben and Nathan too. We arrived on Thursday and stayed until Sunday morning. It was a wonderful time with the boys and we were successful in getting our visas.

David, Ben, and Nathan all together again.

Nathan running laps around the school for soccer practice. PS: That is the ocean in the background.

I have no idea what Stan and Ben are doing here!

This is more like reality with all 3 of them together. :-)
The following picture is of the three of them watching one of Nathan's roommates play a computer game in the dorm.

Something New for MAF

2009-08-31T05:59:00.000-07:00

So when you want to fly with MAF in Banda Aceh, you will now be able to check in at our own counter within the airport!! For those of you who have ever flown with us anywhere else in the world, this is something that you will NOT see. We were so shocked and humored by this, I just had to laugh and then I quickly grabbed my camera so that I could share it with you.

This is Max, one of our national staff members, at our check-in counter in Banda Aceh. Next to us are the check-in counters for AirAsia, Firefly, Garuda Airlines and others. MAF has made it to the "big leagues" now. :-)

A picture of the airport here in Banda Aceh.

PK-MAN, MAF's Caravan in Aceh. This is the plane we flew in when we went to visit the Meulaboh base.

Look What I Found Today

2009-08-25T21:18:00.001-07:00

As I was reading through my email this morning, I came across one that I have newly subscribed to and was truly blessed by the author and what she had to share. It has to do with meeting expectations that we put on ourselves. This is something that I struggle with a lot. I wake up in the morning and plan out my day knowing what I love to do and I knowing what I need to do. Trying to find a balance between those two things and not burning myself out is a daily struggle for me. What seems to exacerbate it for me, is looking at my "neighbor" and seeing how he or she seems to have it all together and can accomplish it all and still be able to smile at the end of the day.

I know that many of us face this everyday and so I thought I would share this link with you. Enjoy!

http://www.incourage.me/2009/08/courage-to-be-you.html

A New Look and A New Life

2009-08-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new blog! After much thinking about it, I decided to keep the name "The Unruh Trek" but to change our main photo so that it is appropriate to the area we are serving in. The picture I have chosen (for now) is a photo taken above the coastline of Banda Aceh. This is a beautiful part of Indonesia and I love that the mountains run right into the coastline of the ocean. Just a few kilometers off of the northern coast, there is an island where everyone goes to for vacations and there is world-class diving and snorkeling. We are looking forward to heading out there when the boys come home for Christmas break.

The Aceh province is located on the northern tip of Sumatra. In earlier days, it was a perfectly situated spot in the middle of the Malacca Straights where East met West and vice versa. This area has been heavily influenced by India, the middle east, Malaysia, and Holland. This has also been an area that has a long history of conflict.

Since the tsunami happened (end of 2004), it dramatically changed not only the physical appearance of this province but also brought much healing to this land. It was at a great price but many of the people will tell you that things are much better now. The tsunami opened up this province to the world, something that would never have happened before. So many people and international organizations have invested a lot of money and much time and effort to help rebuild this area and the people's lives here.

MAF arrived here a few days after the tsunami hit. As you may recall, Stan and his chief pilot, Peter Spahr, were the first pilots to come. A base was established down on the coast in Meulaboh and eventually permanent staff were assigned there. Now that the region has been rebuilt and the Acehnese are back on their own feet, most of the foreigners have left and we have seen the need to make a change ourselves.

Our first main job is to move the team and all assets up here to Banda Aceh from Meulaboh. We are also in the process of contracting the use of a large storage facility out at the airport to be used as a hangar/office for us. We are discussing with the governor's office several possibilities of flying to certain villages through out this province that do not have other good transportation options. We have finally found a house for ourselves but cannot move in until the first of September. So as you can see, we have been quite busy since arriving here but we are very happy and can see so much potential for ministry in this area.

Please pray for us as we work with our team members in making this huge transition. Pray that all the different things we are presently working on will come together and that the Lord will bless our efforts. We are excited about being here and pray for the success of this program.

A New Trek For Us

2009-07-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

Well, you've probably heard by now that MAF's Nepal project has not worked out. Due to various reasons, it was decided to close down the Nepal program. This means that our "trek" in Nepal has come to an end; however, God has another one planned for us.

After much prayer and weighing through our options, we have decided to move back to Indonesia but this time to a different island. We spent almost 11 years serving in Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo. We will be moving to a town called Banda Aceh; located on the northern most tip of the island of Sumatra. As you may recall, this is one of the places that the tsunamis hit the worst.

Stan will take the position of Program Manager. Ben and Nathan will return to Dalat International School in Penang, Malaysia; however, this time it is only a 30 minute "hop" over to visit them. David will remain at home with Stan and I and I will homeschool him.

We are all very excited about this new "trek" that the Lord has planned for us. It is disappointing for us to have to leave Nepal; especially when we see that the need here is so great. However, we don't question God; after all, he sees a much bigger picture than we can even imagine. Please pray with us as we begin packing AGAIN and make our way back to Indonesia. We depart Nepal exactly one year from when we arrived; August 1st. We will take a vacation in Thailand and then head over to Penang to drop off the two older boys. We should arrive in Aceh on August 12th.

Please keep checking back in with us here for more updates and pictures as we begin a new "trek".

What Is A "Bandh" (bunda)?

2009-07-01T02:49:00.000-07:00

In the past, I have spoken about "bandhs" here in Nepal; however, as I was thinking about it today, I got to thinking that you may not completely understand what that really means.

Basically, a bandh is a protest. It is when a group of people, who are dissatisfied with something, come together (and many times will hire other people to come and rally with them) to protest. There are many types of bandhs that occur here. I will share 5 types of them with you. By the way, a friend of mine here was reading an article that said in the past 6 months, there have been 500 bandhs in this country!

The first type would be a simple protest on a street. This is when the police will barricade a portion of the road so that these people can "vent" their frustrations. This could be by burning tires, screaming and yelling, and throwing bricks or rocks at anyone on a bike or in a car who dares cross over that barricade. This usually will last anywhere from an hour to half a day. With this type of bandh, you can walk by and not get into trouble...usually.

The second type of closure would be a particular section of town. An announcement will go out that "tomorrow" there will be a bandh for the city of Patan (a suburb of Kathmandu that we live in). That means that all businesses will be shut down and closed up until whoever called it says it is over. This will also stop all traffic throughout that section of town. The people who are responsible for this, and their hired "helpers", will then proceed to walk through this portion of town and holler and yell, brandishing sticks and stones. Woe to anyone who has an open shop door or to the person who tries to sneak by them on a motorbike. There have been shops set on fire, looted, and ransacked during these bandhs. It is the same with cars that are parked on the side of the road.

The third type is a city-wide bandh. We have had 2 of these since we've been here. The whole of Kathmandu is completely shut down. It is actually a great time to go bike riding or to take a walk because there is absolutely no traffic ANYWHERE.

The fourth kind of bandh is when a particular group of people are upset with the government and their policies, etc. So they will go to Parliament and to other government offices and barricade the entrances. They will even padlock the doors so that no political figure can get in (or out).

The fifth kind is a district bandh. This is VERY common down in southern Nepal. A whole district will be shut down and the only way in or out is to fly. However, once you arrive in a striking district, you can almost count on having to walk from the airport to wherever you need to go. Most businesses will be shut down. These have gone on for days and even weeks at a time.

This is a very sad reality that the people of Nepal live with daily. Their faith in the justice system is completely diminished and so resort to this kind of violence. A whole generation has grown up with this, and sadly, it is the only way they know to get their way.

Please continue to pray for the people of Nepal. They are in desperate need of hope and grace!

End of the Year Events

2009-06-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

The school year has finally come to an end for us. All of the boys had a very successful year and we are very proud of them. Of course, there were many "end of the year" events. I have shown just a few here.

David participated in a Reader Theater. He was a narrator for the famous story, "The Emperor's New Clothes". He did a great job!

Look in the very center of this "sea" of children and you will see David's blond head poking out. This was his "end of the year" assembly. They sang for us, quoted scripture, and were given awards.

Does anyone recognize this handsome, young man? This is the first tie that Ben has ever owned. Stan taught him how to tie it and he spent a LOT of time practicing for this special evening. It was the Secondary's End of the Year Celebration and Graduation at the Radisson Hotel. Ben successfully finished 9th grade and he can be very proud at how he finished!

Here is a picture of Ben and Nathan together for the special evening. Nathan really wanted a tie too but I wasn't sure where to find one that would fit him right. It turned out to be just fine because most of the middle school boys didn't wear one anyways.
Congratulations boys!!

What Would You Have Done?

2009-06-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

Life Is Made Of Choices
Ok, so this plaque is really not what my blog is about today, but I will be giving you some choices to look through in regards to a real live incident that Stan just experienced this past week. Here is the "set-up"...

As you know, about 2 weeks ago, there was a bombing in the local Catholic Church here. Since then, security has been pretty tight. Today, there was a city-wide bandh (closure/protest) put on by a majority people group who are demanding certain rights. Everything was shut down; no taxis, buses, cars, and most businesses were closed. Nothing major has come of it; however, it does mean you stick close to home.

Now that you have a better picture of what "life" has been like here lately, you will understand Stan's dilemma a little better. While riding his bike back from language school one day, he turned off of the main road onto a back residential road just in time to be the recipient of a flying butcher knife! This knife came flying over the cement wall and hit his bike, alarming Stan, and causing him to stop suddenly. Now, what would you have done?...

a) Get back on your bike and ride away as fast as possible, pretending that nothing had happened?

b) Throw the knife back over the wall and ride away?

c) Take the knife as evidence and contact the local authorities?

d) Confront whoever it is that is behind that wall?

I probably would've done (a) but I would forever be very wary when passing by that house again. Which one did you choose? Stan chose (d)! He is a very brave man; however, it was a bit humorous because when he went into the gate, he saw a woman cowering in the shadows looking a bit frightened. Stan called on the person to come out and talk to him. A younger man came out and was super apologetic. He said that somehow his mother had managed to fling the knife over the fence and that it was totally an accident. Hmmm, makes you wonder what was going on behind that wall???!!! Anyways, Stan decided to let it go but it did shake him up a little bit especially because this happened only 2 days after the bombing. Yikes!

Nepal News

2009-05-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

Golden Retriever with Newspaper in Its Mouth

This month has been full of “exciting” events here in Nepal. I've had several people ask about some of these happenings and so I will try to update you here.

First of all, on May 4^th, the Maoist Prime Minister suddenly stepped down from office; upset with how negotiations had been going about integrating his former rebel fighters into the Nepali army. This brought a lot of tension and uncertainty as to what this would trigger. As you may know, Nepal has gone through a long period of civil war and political upheavals. They have enjoyed only a year of peace and now it seemed as if that was going to end quickly. We are praising the Lord though that things have remained relatively calm and businesses have resumed as usual.

Just this week a new Prime Minister was elected into office and he is from the Marxist-Lenin Communist party. This sounds pretty extreme but they are actually a more benign group than the former. We are not sure what this means but they are pretty set on getting the new constitution written with a year’s time, which is a very important step for this country.

This past Saturday, at 9:30am, a bomb went off at a local Catholic church while they were having services. A 15 year old school girl from India and a 30 year old Nepali woman were killed and dozens others injured. This church is not too far from where we live and because of that, it was decided that our church would move the congregation to another location for services the next day. We met on the lawn of our pastor’s house and it was quite pleasant. We really didn’t expect too many people to show up, but we still had around 200 people there. It has been said that a Hindu extremist group is responsible for the bombing.

So as you can see, there are quite a number of ways that you can pray for us and for our family.

Pray for Nepal and the political situation. So far things have been peaceful but we live in a constant “just wait and see” mode.
Pray for our safety. We are unsure if this extremist group was just trying to make a point or were angered by this particular church or if they are going to continue with their bombings.
Pray also as we live in and maneuver around in this city. This is a daily prayer that we lift up to the Lord as the roads can be very dangerous here. I’ve been knicked by motorcyclists twice while walking and Ben has been pushed off the road by a car while riding his bike back from the store. Just minor incidents but frequent occurrences that could become serious.
Pray for our licensing process. It has been a long haul for us, but God has been good. We've not come up against any "walls" per say, but it has just been dragged on for a long time. In the meantime, we continue to learn the language and Stan and Tim continue to visit the various offices making relationships.

Brighten Your Day!

2009-05-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

Cupboard Garden
So today I'm faced with a decision...how can I brighten up our days, while living in a temporary and very small apartment (of which I basically own nothing)? What little things can I do to help my family feel more at home here and basically help myself to "relax" a little more?

If you notice on the side bar of my blog, I have a button for the Christian Women magazine. While mulling over this question this afternoon and evening, I decided to read some of the articles and that is when I found "30 Days of Elegance". I am going to try to do some of these things and I challenge each of you to try some also. I'd love to hear about which ones you tried and ...did it work...did it brighten up your day?

Sensibly Chic . . . Thirty Days of Elegance

Surrounding your life with beauty is not just about makeup or the latest trends in style. You can create and discover the essence of elegance in everyday life. The definition of elegance is “tastefully luxurious.” I invite you to create little pockets of pleasure for one month. Whether you are helping a friend out or treating your mom to lunch, it’s the little things in life that make a difference in our attitudes and outlook. Nothing is more “extravagant” than a positive, giving approach to life.

Day 1: Write a note to someone you know in an assisted-living center.
Day 2: Begin a “grateful journal” and write something you are thankful for once a day (keep it at your bedside). When you’re feeling down, be sure to read it.
Day 3: Collect some flowers and place them in your kitchen.
Day 4: Drink your coffee or tea from an antique cup.
Day 5: Learn a French or Italian word for the next thirty days.
Day 6: Read a Jane Austin novel or any classic author.
Day 7: Watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s or GiGi.
Day 8: Use a beaded or silver cup to hold your Q-tips or cotton balls.
Day 9: Donate books or magazines to your local women’s resource center or nursing home.
Day 10: Read some poetry.
Day 11: Write a poem or a song (I used to do this in high school and now have started again).
Day 12: Practice standing up straight; you’ll appear taller and confident.
Day 13: Listen to classical music or an opera. Maybe do a bit of research about the person who wrote the piece.
Day 14: Take out the good china, light some candles, and eat in the dining room tonight.
Day 15: Tame your tongue—no gossiping (we should do this every day, all the time).
Day 16: Book a nail or hair appointment at your local cosmetology school (half the cost if not more than your local salon.
Day 17: Visit your local garden club. Take a book to read while surrounded by the beauty God created. We have Leu Gardens here in Florida; I have a membership and love going there.
Day 18: I love biographies—read about someone that inspires you.
Day 19: Go to a tea room with a friend, mother, sister, or daughter.
Day 20: A museum may be the answer to get away from it all—observe.
Day 21: Frame a scripture or quote that captivates you.
Day 22: Wear your expensive perfume today or make your own.
Day 23: Go to a park and sketch some nature (you don’t have to be a great artist).
Day 24: Book a massage at a salon, or at a massage school for half the price.
Day 25: Wear a cashmere cardigan or scarf. Can’t afford one? Pashmere is wonderful and I bought one for $5.
Day 26: Watch a sunset or sunrise.
Day 27: Name your house. Why should the Biltmore have a name and not yours? Okay, so it has five hundred rooms where some of us have only five. Name it anyway; it is your history. How does the Ballestero Cottage sound?
Day 28: Drink your water from a goblet or enjoy a smoothie in a crystal glass.
Day 29: Draw a bath with essential oils, then soak to the sounds of soothing music and relax by candlelight.
Day 30: Wear your pearls!

True confidence, just like true beauty—comes from knowing that God created you as a uniquely beautiful woman with much more than your face to offer the world!

Excerpted from Beauty by God.

"Losing Control & Liking It"

2009-05-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

I have been reading through a book lately called "Losing Control & Liking It" by Tim Sanford, M.A. It has to do with parenting your teenager and what that should mean. Many of us (including myself) believe that we need to make sure that our children turn out OK because if they don't...well, let's just say, we are very concerned about what other people think of us (or our children) if we can't control them. Never mind the fact that it hurts us to see our children "go astray" or to fall down some path that could possibly lead to disaster. On the back of the book it says, "You can turn your home from a battleground to a birthplace of freedom for you and your teen. You're about to lose control--and we think you'll like it."

I have always been a "control-freak"...I like things done a certain way and done on schedule (you should see the lists that I can create AND they are all over the house). I like to know that my children are doing well in school, making friends, not embarrassing themselves (or me), and being polite and well-mannered. If you are like me and have a teenager yourself, you must know how frustrating this time can be for both yourself and your teen, who is now trying to become more independent of your "control". This is natural and eventually a desirable goal; however, it can be quite painful if you are both vying for "control" of his/her life. This is a great book for you to read.

In keeping with the theme, not only are my sons growing up and seeking independence from my control, but it seems that lately I can't even control things in my own life. There are many people leaving this summer and the whole dynamics of what I have gotten used to are going to change once again. We really thought that we would be in Pokhara by now, with a plane, and building a hangar. And I really thought that I would be able to speak the Nepali language by now. So, this morning, after a few days of feeling "out of control", and after telling God that He really needed to take control of things because it was just too hard for me, I opened my Bible and here is what I read...

Psalms 81:6, 7

He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah." - Selah

A few weeks ago, I shared with you about how I felt like the Israelites who were wandering in the desert. And now, again, God has used another passage about the Israelites to show me that He is in control and all I need to do is to "lose control" and let Him release those burdens from my shoulders; to "set free my hands from the basket"...and you know what?...I just might "like it".

By they way, I would've loved to have posted the front cover of this book here in this post for you, but I don't know how to do that or know if it is even possible. Can anyone help me with this?

Mugu, Northwestern Nepal

2009-05-09T02:55:00.000-07:00

A village in the Mugu District of Nepal

We are now going to "trek" on over to the next district east of Humla where we just learned a little bit about Simikot (see previous blog entry). Ground transportation to the Mugu District of Nepal is relatively simple. From Surkhet ( the nearest, sizable town), head north up the Karnali Highway. If it’s the dry season it should take you about 52 hours to cover the 57 miles to Jumla, which lies just south of the Mugu District and is the end of the road. The trail head to Mugu starts from Jumla. You can then trek 4-5 hours a day and within another three to four days you should arrive in Mugu.

Mugu airstrip, named after the Mugu district, lies within the boundary of Rara National Park, and is located near to the district headquarters of Gamgadi. Mugu district was the site of intense combat during the 10 year civil war. Since the country is no longer at war, the 31,000 residents of this district have other struggles. Education, health care and communications are daily challenges. Mugu often faces a food production deficit which has been compounded in recent years due to drought. Literacy rates in the district are among the lowest in Nepal, particularly among women.

Since the government built an airstrip at Mugu, most travelers opt for the 45 minute flight rather than endure the five days of travel by land. While there is another operator that operates aircraft to Mugu, flights are often irregular and passengers, all too often, are bumped. MAF plans to collaborate with like-minded organizations in the Mugu district to improve the lives of the villagers here, aiding in community development projects, health projects, medical emergency flights, and affordable transportation for the local population.

Please pray with us that as we move through the approval process, we would be sensitive to the Lord’s leading and that we would be faithful to take advantage of every opportunity.

This is a Youtube link for another operator landing at Mugu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhZhfNAgGC8&feature=related

Simikot, Northwest Nepal

2009-04-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Before we departed on our trek, I shared with you, that after I returned, I would begin a series on the different areas of Nepal that we would like to begin serving in with the airplane. Here is the first of that series. I hope that you enjoy this and that it helps you envision the need that is so great here in Nepal. Ok, let's go "trekking" to:

Simikot, Nepal

Simikot, located in the far northwestern region of Nepal, is the district headquarters for the Humla district of Nepal. Simikot is cut off from the rest of Nepal due to the rugged terrain that separates it from the rest of the country.

Within the Humla district there is a population of around 65,000 people, but in the town of Simikot, there is roughly 1500 people.

The people of Simikot are of Tibetan decent and follow the traditions and religious practices of Tibet. Most would consider themselves Buddhist.

Daily existence in Simikot presents many challenges for the villagers. This is an agricultural region, but the land often does not provide enough food to support the population. Food shortages are a common theme in Simikot.

Medical care in Simikot is limited, any major medical issue requires a flight out to the nearest hospital in Surkhet or Nepalgunj, in southern Nepal. Often villagers cannot afford the travel or a flight is not available.

MAF intends to provide a reliable air service that meets the needs of the people in this region of Nepal. We will prioritize humanitarian/development flights of other like-minded NGOs. Here is a link to YouTube that will give you a good picture of life in and around Simikot. It has been posted by a "hospital" that is working out of Simikot. I just want to make a disclaimer here that we do not have any special links to this hospital as of yet and are therefore not promoting it. This is just a video that will give you a good look at this area.

Simikot YouTube link

For those of you who have Google Earth, you can do a search for Simikot, Nepal and it will take you straight there.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, Part 2

2009-04-22T04:54:00.001-07:00

Nepal is one of those countries that continually amazes me. It is such a small country, relatively speaking, and yet, there is so much vastness here. Vast differences in language groups, people groups, weather extremes, the highest mountains in the world and yet such low valleys and jungles, vast amounts of wealth and yet it is hidden in all despair and poverty that is visible everywhere. And this is why our family loves to explore it while we have the opportunity to do so.

On this trek, there were some pretty spectacular and jaw-dropping moments. We hiked through some very rough terrain and had a lot of "ups and downs" (quite literally) every day. Our legs felt like they were going to fall off some days and waking up and taking that first step each morning about killed me. However, it was all worth it! We saw more of that "vastness" that Nepal has to offer. On our way up, we came across a little bit of snow, not much. However, as we reached the top, it began to snow and by the time we started hiking back down, 2 days later, we had to trek through about a foot and a half of the stuff. We heard and even saw several smaller avalanches...it was enough to scare us but it was also very exciting!

I am just going to post pictures here and let you enjoy a bit of what we saw and experienced. Please enjoy!Hiun Chuli Mtn. This lies just about straight west from Machapuchhre Mtn (or better known as Fishtail Mtn.). We trekked through the valley that lies between these two mountains.

This is a good old fashioned water mill that was set up on one of the rivers we crossed. They are grinding corn here.

Jhinu - one of the villages we stayed at on our way up. You can see the valley below where we just climbed up out of.Nathan and friend, Matthew. This was taken during a break after a very steep climb that took quite a bit of time.
Here is Ben showing you how steep the climb was for us. The boys did amazing on this trek!

Fishtail Mtn...we're getting closer!

Stan found a "friend" at one of our rest stops.

This was no joke! On our way up, there was hardly any snow. Two days later, though, it was a very different story.

We made it! We are now at Machapuchhre Base Camp. Not a lot of snow when I took this picture of our group. However, just a mere 2 hours later, we were wondering if it would stop.

Compare this picture with the picture below...

The weather sure changes fast up here!

This is the table everyone was sitting at just a few hours earlier. The boys loved it!!

The next morning, we had plans to hike up this "saddle" to Annapurna Base Camp but the weather wasn't looking too good. I was beginning to feel the feeling that "real" mountain climbers have when they finally realize they may not summit afterall. What looks like the sky in this picture should be full of mountains!

Here is a picture looking back at the valley we climbed through the day before.

Looking down the wall from our lodging...there is a small stone cabin down there. Can you see it?

Later in the morning, the weather seemed to be good enough for us to make an attempt at ABC. This is us hiking up the saddle and beyond...if you look closely, you can see MBC, the place where we were staying.

We made it!!! It took quite a bit of effort on my part, but I did it. Because of the altitude I kept getting dizzy and had to stop frequently to find my eyeballs (it seemed). I also now know how easy it could be to get snow-blindness. We only stayed up there briefly because the weather was turning bad again and we didn't want to get stuck up there.

It snowed the rest of the day (after summiting) and by morning time, this is what we woke up to. A stunning view of Fishtail Mtn. and crystal clear skies! It dropped well below freezing that night!

Now look at the saddle heading towards ABC...I told you there were mountains up there. Some of our group "ran" back up to the saddle to take some pictures while the rest of us packed up camp and began the trip back down.

David and I heading back down the mountains. I really had mixed feelings about that but we really didn't have enough cold-weather gear to stay up there any longer either.

Ben, David, and I

A rest stop on the way down. How'd you like to wake up to that view every morning?

Stan and Ben

We arrived in the village of Chhomrong early in the day and spent the rest of the day doing laundry and sitting outside just staring at this gorgeous view. We trekked through all of that...wow!

Easter morning!!! I woke early and watched the sun rise over the mountains and it was worth it. God sure was rejoicing in the day too.

Another rest stop, much further down now. This is a local farm...you can see how they store their corn and in the forefront, what looks like grass, is all garlic growing.

A very ancient (almost medieval looking) Gurung village, Gandruk. We stayed here one night.

A Gurung child in front of her house.

A field outside of Gandruk.

This newborn goat was very curious!

And here we all are!! I am in the backrow, blue shirt. Stan is next to me. Ben is in the red shirt in the back. Nathan is on the very bottom left-hand side, and David in the yellow shirt. We were a very international group; Swiss, English, Australian, and Americans.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, Part 1

2009-04-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

Phewatal Lake, Annapurna Region, Pokhara, Nepal
This is a picture taken from Pokhara (our future home hopefully), looking northward at the Annapurna Range. The mountain in the center, that is poking straight up, is called "Machapuchre Mountain" or better known as "Fish Tail Mountain" and is considered to be holy. Our trek took us right up to that mountain and then a bit northwest of it. We started our trek about 40 minutes past Pokhara and then hiked the rest of the way into this "Sanctuary"...and here's our story.

This is an "after shot" of our group that we went trekking with. We were a very international group, representing all ages. Our oldest was a Swiss lady (at 64 yrs old) and her English husband (61 yrs old). Our youngest trekker is from an Australian family, Josh, who is 5 years old. It was fun to have friends on this trek for each of our boys to hang out with; Ben had Joel (16 yrs old), Nathan had Matthew (12 yrs old), and David had James (8 yrs old).

These men were our porters and guide. Chandra, the man below in the striped shirt, was our guide and made sure that we had a place to stay each night and helped whoever needed it at the time. He would hike with our group, behind our group to help the stragglers, or leap ahead and secure a place for us and then hike back down to make sure we were still coming. He was amazing. Our porters were equally as amazing. They each carried several packs on their backs and nimbly climbed up and down without any complaining.

This is the other form of transportation in the Himalyans. The mules are not able to make it up to the higher elevations but they are definitely very valuable where they can go. Here they are carrying propane tanks to a village called Chhomrong (2100 meters).

Ok, that is all I have time to share with you today. It is a bit of an introduction and I hope that I can post some more for you tomorrow.

"Please Stay Tuned"...

2009-04-02T03:21:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you know that this Saturday the boy's school lets out for 2 weeks of Spring Break and we are heading out on another trek. This time, we will trek into the Annapurna Sanctuary, which is touted as being the most beautiful trek in Nepal. This time, we will encounter snow and even higher elevation than what we did on our Langtang trek. This is also a 10 to 11 day trek and a bit more difficult. However, I won't bore you will all the details right now, but I will say "please stay tuned" for pictures and more stories about this trek after we return.

I wanted to also share with you a little bit about what else is to come on this blog. As you know, we are hoping to bring an airplane into Nepal within this year...so, I thought it would be nice to start highlighting some of the areas that MAF is looking at flying into. So, once again, "please stay tuned" for a peek into the places we'd like to begin serving with the airplane.

In the meantime, while you are waiting for my return, it would be nice if I could have some feedback in regards to this blog. Any comments or suggestions would be most welcome.

Take care and Happy Easter...may this be a wonderful time of reflecting on the awesome display of love and mercy that Christ portrayed for us. I sometimes sit and wonder about Mary, Jesus' mother, and the pain and agony she endured when witnessing the cruel death of her son. She is such a testimony of faithfulness and strength...I wonder, do I have that in me also? I think that sometime I would love to do a study on her and her attributes. Any suggestions out there?

Until next time...

Some History of Nepal - Pashupatinath

2009-03-22T02:49:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, my sister was able to make a trip here to Nepal this month. She traveled with a group of ladies from her church who came to minister to Nepali women and children and to pray for this country. They went home with many wonderful experiences, photos, new friends, and changed hearts. The picture below is our family at the airport greeting Jennifer as she just arrived.

As I was thinking about some of the things that I could share with you on my blog, I got to thinking about how I have yet to share some of the "rich" history that Nepal has. One of the first places that my sister visited was one of Nepal's most important Hindu temple sights that is located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, here in the Kathmandu Valley. It's name is Pashupatinath...Pashupati, for short. Most of the temples here were built in the mid-1600s.

I have visited many places here in Kathmandu; however, this was one place that I have so far managed, successfully, to stay away from, until my sister came. I told myself that I would not go unless I had a Christian guide with me who could tell me about the place without all the "extra" teachings to go with it. This is one of the most important places for a Hindu to come and worship. Many devotees and sadhus (wandering holy men) come from all over; including from India. It is here that lord Shiva is shown in his peaceful state as Pashupati (the lord of the beasts). It is here where many Hindus will bring their loved ones who have died to be cremated. It is not a pleasant place to "hang around"; it can be pretty oppressive.

Jennifer and I on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, with some of the cremation ghats behind us.Here is someone being cremated. I saw some men down in the river area collecting wood that had been used for cremating and so I asked what they were doing with it. I was told that they would sell it in the shops for charcoal. Hmmm, not sure I will be grilling anytime soon after hearing that.
These men are most likely the sons of whoever that was being cremated above. The sons must shave themselves and bathe in the river to purify themselves for the mourning period. Usually the oldest son must then wear only white clothing; including hats, shoes, etc. for a whole year after one of his parents has passed away. They are also under strict regulations on what they are allowed to eat during that year.
These are some sadhus sitting in front of one of the many temples at Pashupati. They were sitting there just "shooting the breeze" and reading a newspaper. Had I been caught taking their picture, I would've been forced to pay quite a sum of money to them.
And here is another holy man, sitting in Pashupati. There were many different holy men of all different backgrounds here. Some were dressed in orange, this one in white, and some without any clothing except for a loin cloth, and chains around their waists.

These people, and there are millions of them, are all without hope. They are trapped in their idol worship and trapped in a life where they must satisfy ALL the spirits that have a hold on their personal lives. It is a never ending cycle for them. Here is a sample of the complete hopelessness that grips these people. This is an exerpt from my language book (pg. 337), "Nepali in Context" by Daniel P. Watters and Narendra B. Rajbhandary.

"The cycle of the universe is nothing more than the life cycle of Brahma. What Brahma wakes from a nights sleep, creation of life begins. This starts the Satayuga Age--the Golden age where there is no evil. Following this is the Thretayuga Age--here evil appears. Then comes the Dwaparayuga Age, where good and evil struggle for supremacy. In our current universe, Krishna's death ends the Dwaparayuga age. Following this is the age of Kalyuga (heralded in by the death of Krishna). In this age, evil gains the upper hand and Vishnu is forced to destroy the world in the form of Kalki, who rides in on a white horse and destroys the world with his bow. With the destruction of all life (Pralaya), the cycle of Satayuga - Thretayuga - Dwaparayuga - Kaliyuga begins again. We are now said to be in the 5,000th year of Kaliyuga, with 425,000 years before the cycle begins again.

After 1,000 of those cycles, Brahma is ready to go to sleep. 4,320,000,000 million human years have now passed, and Brahma will be asleep for an equal amount of time. During his sleep the universe is thrust into chaos and confusion until Brahma wakes up to begin another day. With this comes another cycle of 4,000 ages.

Brahma is said to have just completed his 50th year (Brahma years!), and he will die after his 100th year. Brahma is not immortal, but like everything else experiences the cycle of life. When he dies, everything ceases to exist--humans, deities, demons...everything. That is to say, everything is reabsorbed into the godhead and loses all identity. This is how Hindus describe the ultimate salvation, the ultimate mukti. Mukti is the ultimate end of everything, good and evil. If mukti can be obtained prematurely, the soul escapes that vicious cycle it would otherwise have to travel through (8.4 million life cycles).

After being dead for 100 years, Brahma is reborn to begin another life of 100 years. Thus, our current universe is simply one in an infinite chain of universes."

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade...In this you greatly rejoice." I Peter 1: 3 and 6a

Happy 15th Birthday, Ben!

2009-03-17T04:05:00.000-07:00

So, here is what happens when you have all your children's birthdays in one month!! I do have to admit, it was fun having Ben home this time for his birthday. He's been away at boarding school the last 3 birthdays and so this was a definite treat for us. We celebrated all the boy's birthdays together this year because my sister (see picture below) was here at the right time. So, Happy Birthday Ben. We love you!

My sister, Jennifer, and Ben on top of our roof here in Kathmandu. Aren't they cute?!

Please Forgive Me

2009-03-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to touch base with everyone and let you know that I am having some "technical" difficulties in posting on my blog using my pictures from Picasa at this time. I really wanted to share some pictures with you from this past week. It's been a week fully loaded with activities; however, for some reason, I cannot post any pictures. So please be patient with me and I will try to figure out what the problem is.

For your information, we celebrated Ben's 15th birthday this past Friday. Two birthdays down and one to go...David, on the 24th is turning 10 years old.

Holi Festival

2009-03-09T01:23:00.000-07:00

People, Faces Smeared with Colors, Celebrate Holi
For the past days, it has been like walking the gauntlet when venturing outside. As you may remember, we do not own a vehicle other than simple bicycles (the boys and Stan). So, when I go to school, go grocery shopping, go to church, etc. I must walk...and for this week, that means I may get wet!

Even though these past days have not been THE Holi day, all the celebrations have begun. Tomorrow will be THE day though! Holi is a festival that is celebrated here in Nepal and in India. This is a celebration of Lord Krishna's triumph over a female demoness named, Holika. The celebration has basically become one big water party and then on the 5th day, the water balloons and buckets are now colored with different colored dyes. Red and pink are the colors of purification so many boys and men will completely cover themselves in red powder and dance throughout the streets. I, on the otherhand, will remain inside. The boys would like to go to a friend's house in the next district and "take 'em on" with water balloons and our super-soakers (school has been cancelled for tomorrow due to the inevitable soaking they will all get on their way to school...just not good).

It actually amazes me that they celebrate this during the driest time of the year. We have all been put on water rations and the water table is quickly diminishing. Oh, did I mention, that even foreigners are targets...no one is exempt! So today, I went and stocked up on fresh veges and fruit and took a taxi home to avoid "stray" water balloons. I am so jumpy now that even when a pigeon or a crow takes flight off of the top of a roof here, my brain translates that as an incoming "bomb" and I react. I'm sure I've given several people a good laugh over the last few days. I wish I could go out and take pictures for you, but I really don't want to destroy our camera. This picture up above that I've found online will have to do for you.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

2009-03-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Happy 13th Birthday Nathan!!

For the past 13 years, we've been blessed with a very smart and good-looking son (there is no way I am prejudiced, is there? :-) ) We had just a quiet, little celebration for him this past Saturday because the BIG party is happening on Wednesday. My sister is here in Nepal and has that day free, so we are going to celebrate all 3 boy's birthdays on the same day.

Nathan has truly been a wonderful kid. He has such an easy going spirit and tends to be more on the gentle side. While his two other brothers seem to fight often, it is like, "water off a ducks back" for Nathan. He loves to be outside and wouldn't care if computers had ever been invented. Nathan is my pancake and biscuit maker too! We love you Nathan!

Playing with the Children

2009-03-03T02:21:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday my sister arrived with a group of women from her church in the Phoenix area. They are here for 10 (or 12) days and are just loving on the people. They have graciously invited me to join them during certain times and I have been totally enjoying myself. I promise that I will post some more pictures as soon as they are available to me. I've been using my sister's camera and at the end of their time here, they will be making a CD of everyone's photos. However, today, I did use my camera a little bit and am able to share these with you ...

Today we went to a "baby" orphanage. There were about 30 toddlers; age 1 to 3 years old and then about 7 or 8 infants. My sister's group had brought clothing for the ladies that work there as gifts and so we passed all of that out first and then we PLAYED! I became a jungle gym, taught "Patty-Cake", sang "Row Row Row Your Boat", tickled, hugged and taught a 2 year old how to play ball. After that I went upstairs and found the little babies... oooh my heart melted! The youngest was a 2 month old girl. I had forgotten how to hold such a little life...but it came back fast and our time ended too quickly.

This was not a Christian orphanage but on our way out, one of the employees stepped out of the room she was in, and quietly gave us the Christian Nepali greeting. It was so sweet and so encouraging to think that there is at least one believer here who could possibly share Christ's love with these precious children. On our way out, we stopped and prayed for the children and for each of the helpers there. We don't know what will happen to these children; adopting children from Nepal is very regulated right now. But God knows and He is watching over each and every one of them.

Nepali Sunday School

2009-02-21T02:35:00.000-08:00

Today I had the joy of visiting a Nepali Church and helping in their children's Sunday School class. One thing that I should explain first is Nepal's holy day is Saturday NOT Sunday. So today is Saturday and yet Sunday School is still called "Sunday School". Anyways, there were about 40 children of all ages. Many of them come from the local Children's Home and have no parents. It was interesting to watch because they lined the children up by age/height and made them stand in completely straight lines on little cushions. The children then had to make sure that they were arm's length away from the person in front of them.

After that, if anyone got out of his or her line, they were quickly put back in order and there was absolutely no messing around. I have to tell you, it was a stark difference than in Indonesia. I was a bit surprised. But the children were all so polite and happy.

When you pray in a Nepali Church, everyone prays outloud, at the same time. It can be a bit confusing at times, but it made my heart happy to think that each one of these people here are FREE! Free from chains that the other religions have bound around their followers. They do not have to live in fear of forgetting a particular god or fear that a particular god will demand more appeasement and sacrifice. My prayer is that many more Nepali's will experience this freedom and have complete joy in being a part of the Family of God.

Gokarna Forest Resort

2009-02-20T04:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Gokarna Forest Resort! This past Thursday started the boy's mid-term break. We decided that it was time to take a day and head out of the smog and city and just get a little rejuvenation. There is a Norwegian family here that we've gotten to know over the past 6 months and they suggested that we try Gokarna Forest Resort. They made the bookings for us and all of us met up there. It's about an hours drive from our house and takes you through all sorts of places I didn't know existed here (good and bad).

This is the last of the great forests in the Kathmandu Valley and used to be the old hunting grounds of the kings of Nepal. There are several temples located here including the second oldest (built in th 1500s). I'm sorry I can't tell you much more about it...temples are really not "my thing".

There are no horns blaring, no dogs barking, relatively clean air, trees that are said to be over 200 years old (see picture below), and peace...it was a marvelous time for us. The boys enjoyed having two friends with them; Mattias and Kaja, Norwegian brother and sister. They swam in the indoor pool, tried their hand at hitting golf balls at the driving range, took a jungle walk, and just ran around in the openess of the grounds.

Here's David...future Tiger Woods!

Not sure if you can see them, but they are all here in the picture. Stan is standing on a cut piece of wood to the left of the tree (gives it a little perspective). Ben is in the middle and Nathan, David, Egil, and Kaja are peaking out here and there.

Now that we know this place is here and so close and so peaceful, we just may have to go back.

Trekking Through the Desert

2009-02-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

Nahal Zin, Negev Desert, Israel
Have you ever been weighed down by "writer's block"? Well, as most of you have noticed, it's been awhile since I last updated this blog and I apologize for that. My biggest reason has been that Stan took the camera to London and Turkey with him for his meetings. During that time, most of my time was spent with the boys or in language study. However, after Stan returned (with the camera) I ran out of excuses and basically had..."writer's block".

If I could describe to you what the last couple of weeks have been like for us, I would say a desert. We came here 6 months ago fully expecting to have most of our permissions in hand and our new airplane on its way by now. However, God has had other plans (What?! My plans are not His plans???). Yes, we've been able to spend more time in language study than we would've had things progressed as we wanted. But other than that, it just seems that we hit one wall after another. Not that we've heard anything negative...we just haven't heard...anything.

It's during these times that all of a sudden life just isn't easy anymore. The pollution becomes thicker, the dust more dustier (I realize that isn't correct grammar but it sure describes how we feel), the traffic more insane, the language harder, our living arrangements confusing, and so on and so forth...

I have been reading through the book of Exodus lately, and have been reading to the boys in the evenings, the first of Francine River's 5 book series "Sons of Encouragement"; "The Priest". It is about Aaron and how God used him mightily as Moses' right-hand man. It's been funny to hear the boy's reactions to the Israelites when they would quickly forget about God's constant and daily provisions, powerful displays of His glory, and perfect means of discipline. I know my reaction is, "OK, guys! God just rolled back the mighty sea for us, allowed us to walk through on dry land, and then killed all the Egyptians who dared follow us into the sea. He did this all right in front of our eyes. How can you forget that?!! It's not like we see this kind of miracle everyday." And then I would never EVER grumble against God. I mean, how could you forget something like that? That's pretty intense.

So tonight, after a few weeks of grumbling and complaining because of nothing happening, I read in Francine River's book (this is about Aaron);

"He was all too aware of the pattern of faith. He would witness a miracle and follow God in abject sorrow and repentance. God would seem to hide for a time and the doubts would begin. The people would start grumbling. Skepticism would spread. It seemed faith was strong when it suited the people's purposes, but waned quickly under the stress of hardship. God's divine presence was overhead in the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, promising to carry them through defeat to victory, but the people grew angry because it wasn't soon enough to suit them."..."It was not the war ahead that threatened to defeat Aaron, but the daily step-by-step journey in the wilderness. Every day had its challenges. Every day had its tedium. We've been this way before, Lord. Will we ever get it right?" (pg. 100)

I guess I'm more like the Israelites than I care to think about. It's actually quite humbling as I think about it more. I am no better than what they were...Please forgive me, Lord. I am weak. Make me strong and help me to remember Your calling on my family and to prepare for when You next reveal Yourself to me.

The Grass is Greener and Where are Your Feet?

2009-02-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

The Bow of a Rowboat Slices Through the Marsh Grass
The last two Sundays have been amazing at church. First of all, I need to explain that for the past 11 years, we have been attending Indonesian churches and so being "fed by the Word" in our own heart language was very hard unless we really made an effort to do something about it. Ok, back to Nepal... In Kathmandu, there are many expatriates that live here and over the years an International church has been formed. The pastor is from Scotland and will even wear a kilt at times (it's very cool!). Each week there are always several guests from all over the world. For awhile there it seemed that the Dutch were migrating here in droves. Then all of a sudden, one week, we had everyone from Northern Ireland come to visit. It has been a treat to be a part of this international group of believers and to see who God is calling to work for Him in Nepal.

Two weeks ago, we had a speaker who got up and spoke about Jesus walking on the water and how Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water also. I've heard this and have read about it many times in the past but this speaker presented it in a fresh new way for me. He compared the boat to a place of safety during the storm. Jesus was walking by (and it seems had no intentions of stopping at the boat) but His disciples were panicing and in the midst of their fear they did not recognize Jesus and so He began to speak to them. In the middle of the storm, the disciples were scared, didn't recognize help when it was upon them, and it was only Peter who dared to step out on faith...until he lost focus again.

The speaker asked us, if you are going through a rough time, where are your feet? Are you straining against the storm in a "safe place", not recognizing that Jesus wants to help you through this time? Are you willing to step out with BOTH feet and trust Jesus to take care of the storm for you? Or are you stradling the boat. Believing that Christ is out there and willing to help but not quite ready to fully trust Him to calm the whole storm...not willing to step away from that seemingly place of safety? Hmmm?

Then this last Sunday night, I finally heard the second part of the phrase, "The grass is greener on the other side". I don't know how many times I have looked back in time and have compared my present situation with "back then" and thought about that phrase. Or now, while we are in a waiting game for what seems to be an eternity, I think to myself, "if only I could be...". Here is what should be the second half of that famous statement. Have you heard this... "The grass is greener where you water it." ? Wow! Think about that one for a little bit. I am!

Trekking Back to Indonesia For a Moment

2009-01-27T07:32:00.000-08:00

For almost a year now, I have been asking you to pray for a very special friend of mine from Indonesia. This past spring and summer while we were in the States I shared with just about everyone about my friend and many of us prayed for her salvation together. In my letters I referred to her as "Mary" because I wanted her to be safe from friends or family members who may find out about her seeking. Shortly after we arrived here in Nepal, "Mary" wrote to me and told me that she had finally made the decision to accept Christ and she was so full of joy. Now, she would like the whole world to know that she is a believer and she would like for her real name to be publicly known now. Let me introduce you to our new sister in Christ, Maylan! The picture above is Christmas 2007 at my house. That is me with my volleyball team. Maylan is the lady sitting on the far left in the maroon colored outfit. Her mother is sitting on the floor, wearing the red jilbab. Please continue to pray for Maylan and include her mother in those prayers too.

After I left Indonesia several of our staff ladies who are still there have taken Maylan under their wings and have been providing wonderful support and encouragement for her. One of the ladies asked that all of her blog followers write a note of encouragement to Maylan. There was a HUGE response to that and when Maylan saw all the letters written to her from all over the world, she was floored. Here is Maylan's letter in response (in her own words):

"Dear Friends,

I weep as I read all the warm welcome from everybody. I can't remember all your names, but for sure I remember some of your faces. My deepest thanks for all of my new sisters and brother in Christ. My special thank you to Ronda (now in Nepal) who had encouraged me and suggested me to keep on asking question to God (I wish you were here the day I made my decision), to Rebecca who had recently gotten closer to me after Ronda left (thanks for the great books and the nice conversation with Brad that afternoon).

I remember when the first day I accepted Christ, I felt like a little girl running along the road and telling the world that I follow Him. I jumped in happiness and everything around me looked so new. In every green leaf, I saw Christ. The most joyous I have ever felt. I guess now I know that it really spread all over the world and everybody gave me a warm welcome, special thank you to Joy who made me feel so special with this.

For all the choices I've made in my life, to be in Christ is my best of all. I haven't felt so right, so in peace, so honour, and as happy as I feel since I follow Christ. Part of it is because everything I read right now, when it tells about how to live in the Christian way, I feel like opening a wonder box containing gifts that I like. I become my real self. When I pray, I treasue the freedom of talking to my God anytime and the feeling that He accepts me the way I am. The main thing of all is that I grew up in an environment where there are many unpleasant news and story about Christianity, they were all discouraging. But God Himself, came and showed me that it is all right. I didn't believe Him, but He was so patient at my stubbornness and my mingled heart, He presented around me all great friends, great examples of families who live in Christ, and showed me how good people they are and how in peace they are become in this life. If Christ also provides room for me, why wouldn't I stay there?

My parents and my other family haven't learned yet. Although, my brother and some friends already found out, I don't keep it a secret anymore, but I also keep it quiet and let Christ to work His hand on it.When someone asks, I say, "I am a follower of Christ."

Sincerely,Maylan

This week...

2009-01-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

Faith, Family, Friends

This week has been an interesting week for me where nothing interesting has really happened but what has been stirring in my mind. We've all been worried about the world economy and how it is affecting our families and friends. I've been a bit stressed about "the waiting game" that we are in right now with the Nepali government. And many of us have been a bit concerned about what our new President will bring to our country. These are big things that are shaping our world today and one of the biggest thoughts I have is, "how will all of this affect my children today and tomorrow?"

Faith is what I have to hold onto. Faith in a God that never changes. Faith in a God that loves me and my children. Faith in a God who has continually paved the way for my family and has rained down blessings upon blessings. Faith in a God who never leaves me nor forsakes me. Faith in a God who has brought many a pharoah and king to their knees.

I have been so blessed having all my children home this year. Ben is maturing and growing so much now and I'm glad we aren't missing it. Nathan is developing into quite a clown and he brings many smiles to our dinner table. David is quite the little character who can give his brothers quite a run around...it's fun to see all this interaction between the boys.

We have also been blessed by so many wonderful friends. Friends who encourage us, pray for us, and support us in so many different ways. This week...I have missed each and every one of you. My prayer for you is that you can also fully and completely trust in God and have faith that in whatever trial you may be facing this week, that God is faithfully working behind the scenes to work through each of the details in your life and that His name will be glorified in the end. We'd love to hear how God is working in your life...this week.

God's Power

2009-01-12T06:12:00.000-08:00

For the past few days a wonderful (and brisk) breeze has blown into the Kathmandu Valley helping to clear out all the smog and dirt that has been covering the city for the past few weeks. It was getting pretty depressing and I was seriously wondering how it was going to affect our lungs and health. Today, I took these pictures from on top of our roof. The first picture is of the Ganesh Himal Mountains to the northwest of the city.

I'm not sure of the name of these mountains but they lie northeast of the city and you can see how the wind is just whipping up there!

These pictures remind me of how awesome and powerful our God is. Just today the electric company had to increase our load-shedding (cutting our electricity) to 16 hours a day. We have 8 hours off, 4 hours on, 8 hours off, and then 4 hours on. So in church today this was the big topic of discussion for everyone. Even during "Children's Church" the topic was "load-shedding". The speaker put up on the screen the load-shedding schedule and talked about the different sections of town and who had electricity when. Then he put up another schedule, "God's load-shedding" schedule. It was completely blank! He then asked the children when God's power was out for the different parts of town and then for the rest of the world. "NEVER!" was the unanimous answer each child answered. God never needs a break! He is always working and all you have to do is just look around and you can see His awesomeness being displayed continuously; just like these mountains that tower over the Kathmandu Valley and the wind that is blowing the snow off of the tops.

A New Year Prayer

2009-01-02T03:08:00.000-08:00

A Street Scene in Kathmandu

Lord, I come to you in this new year, 2009, with much gratitude and thankfulness for all that You've provided for me and my family this past year. You've paved the way and opened up all the right doors for us in order to make this move to Nepal a successful one. You allowed my sons to all be home this year and to attend a wonderful, little Christian International school together here in Kathmandu. You have kept us safe while we maneuver through these often times congested streets and narrow corridors throughout this city. You have provided us with cooking fuel when needed, you've provided for us a back-up power supply system for us during these long days without electricity. You have blessed us with some fun adventures while we wait for our licenses and permissions to begin a flight program here in Nepal. And you've even stepped in when times get frustrating during language learning.

Lord, this year, as we continue to be in a "holding pattern" waiting for all the correct permissions and such, we ask for patience and renewed strength. This is not an easy city to live in now that winter has hit and conditions are deteriorating even more for the people here. I pray for clean air, a reprieve from the thick smog and dirt that is hovering over and throughout this city. I pray for those who are without a backup system and must sit in darkness during these long spells of no electricity. I pray for those without sufficient shelter during these cold days, please provide them with warmth. I also pray for all the people here who are being gripped by spiritual darkness. I pray that Your Name will become great here in Nepal and that Satan's grip will be released.

Father, I pray for my family as we wait. Some days are quite discouraging and we must ask for forgiveness for those times when we doubt Your plan. All things will work together for good as we wait on Your timing. I pray for health for our family during these winter months. You have blessed us so far with good health and now when the air quality and dust/dirt levels are terribly high, I pray that you protect our bodies from harm. I ask You for knowledge, understanding, and patience as we continue to tackle this seemingly difficult language. Please help me to remain steadfast and focused during those days when I just want "to throw in the towel".

Thank You again for calling my family here to Nepal. Thank you for all You've done for us and for everything that You are planning for us this year. I pray that You go before us and secure our footing. In Your Holy Name, Amen.

Kayaking, Part III

2008-12-31T03:32:00.000-08:00

And here are some more...this is me (Ronda) entering a set of rapids...not sure if I made it through or not. I flipped a few times during our whole trip. Amazingly and surprisingly I made it through a hole 2 out of 3 times...both times I made it, I was backwards, unintentional of course, but the one time I thought I had it under control...I flipped! I wonder if I could make that into a spiritual, life lesson?

And here is ...Ben, I think, being rescued by one of our guides. These guys were GOOD! And they were so fun to watch. Once they crawled into their kayaks it was like they "became the kayak". By the way, once you are flipped like this there are several options you have in order to be saved. There is a self-rescue where you pull your cord on the skirt and then swim out from underneath. Or, once you are under (like Ben is below) you can put your hands on either side of the kayak and swipe them back and forth until you feel the nose of your guides kayak and then grab the front hook and right yourself by using a bit of "hip movement", called the T-rescue. Or you can learn how to do an Eskimo roll or a guitar roll. I only figured out the first 2 methods. The later 2 take a bit of coordination and more time to learn than I had.

Everyone having fun on a calm spot.

And this was the mystery... why did we often times flip on relatively calm water? This is me in the forefront and I think Stan under the water.

Kayaking, Part II

2008-12-31T03:18:00.000-08:00

Here are some more pictures from our kayaking trip this week.

This is a portion of the river, in front of our camp/resort. The water level is way down because we haven't had any rain for over 2 months now and the snow obviously isn't melting up in the mountains at this time. However, this made for some interesting maneuvering in some spots.

Here is Ben putting on his wetsuit in the morning. It took a lot of mental willpower to put them on in the mornings. Once you got them on, it wasn't so bad. He does look a litte stunned though. :-)

And here is our group photo. Tim and Karen Chase are in the back; Karen with the helmet on and Tim next to her. Ben is standing with the paddle next to Tim. Then standing below, left to right, are Stan, me, Nathan, and David.

Kayaking the Kote Bosi River

2008-12-31T03:07:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from our latest adventure in Nepal. Two days after Christmas we packed our backpacks and headed 3 hours northeast of Kathmandu...ahhh, clean air again!! This time we decided to try a 4 day kayaking adventure. The days were surprisingly warm but the temps quickly dropped at night. Fortunately, we wore wetsuits and a few other layers so we didn't freeze. I would definitely recommend Equator Expeditions to anyone out there who might be interested in rafting, trekking, mountain climbing, or kayaking here in Nepal.

These are the tents we stayed in. Each of us had a cot and a VERY warm blanket and pillow.

Here we are getting fitted for our kayak and other gear. Karen Chase is taking a coffee break. :-)

And Tim (left) and Stan (right) deciding if the "fit is right".

These four guys; (from L to R) David, Nathan, Tim, and Ben were playing with their kayaking skirts.

Overcoming Fear

2008-12-21T08:58:00.000-08:00

What are some things that you have a "fear" of? For me, it's losing one of my children, or my husband being in an accident, or snakes (thanks to growing up in Arizona and then living in the jungles of Indonesia). All of these things are very valid fears. These are things that I've seen other people have to live through and I don't ever desire to experience myself. However, some of us also fear other things like heights (still a very valid fear)...and that was our youngest son, David. About 3 years ago, while in Arizona on July 4th, the boys wanted to try some simple wall climbing while waiting for the fireworks display to begin. It was cheap and they had never had the chance to do something like that, so we obliged. Both Ben and Nathan shimmied right on up the wall and then came David. Poor kid, he climbed up to about my shoulder height and began to "freak out"! The poor kid began to shake and cry and then he was unconsolable. A few weeks later, we went to visit some friends of ours who owned some horses. She let the boys ride them; however, when David got up on the horse, he froze. Our friend had to ride with him and even then it was very scary for him...to be up on a horse! And then that same furlough, we went to Nebraska, to Stan's uncle's farm and the guys pulled out the repelling gear (this was something that Stan and I used to do in our younger and more insane years). Stan and Elroy just had to go repelling off the silo again and the boys wanted to be right up there with them. Ben and Nathan, once again, shimmied right on up to the top. They felt like conquerors! David, really, REALLY wanted to be up there too but couldn't do it on his own. So I told him I would climb right behind him and help him. He agreed but it was the longest climb of my life (and his, I'm sure!) He cried and shook the whole entire way up, but he was determined and he did it. And then about a year ago, while in Bali, we took the boys rock climbing again and David was able to make it up half way...
And now, three years later, I'd like to share with you that David has completely overcome his fear of heights AND has probably found his "calling" in life...
We found the most awesome rock climbing and bouldering recreation site here in Kathmandu (shouldn 't surprise me seeing that the world's largest mountain is located here in Nepal). We took the 3 boys and one of their friends to check it out and it was non-stop fun for the boys once we got there. David took one look at all the different options and took a deep breathe and said, "well, I hope I can do this." Not only did he make it up...he did it at least 5 times!! And he was probably the most graceful and most relaxed I've ever seen him. He slipped once when on the big climb but he was able to hold onto the hand-holds, swing himself back to the wall and proceed on up. It was amazing and he LOVED it. Here is the proof...

This looks like it is straight up but it's not! There is quite an overhang.

Can you see the smile on David's face?

This is Ben heading to the top...this picture also shows you a bit of the angle when climbing up. All the boys did an awesome job and we are especially proud of David for not giving up and eventually overcoming his fear of heights.

Pictures from Immanuel Crafts

2008-12-17T06:38:00.000-08:00

Here is my friend, Karen Chase, at work with 3 of the ladies from Immanuel Crafts. I learned today that there are 17 ladies who work here making all kinds of beaded jewelry.

Here is the room where the ladies are making the jewelry. Not an ideal situation but they do their best and do not complain.

And here is Karen again in the "stock" room/office. I had fun sifting through all the different beads and things here. You can find all kinds of treasures in here.

Bazaars and Beads

2008-12-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

One of the fun things about being in Nepal during the Christmas season is all the "bazaars" that the various hotels have been hosting. Kathmandu has many expatriates and because of that there are many activities throughout the year that cater to them. There are many organizations here that are helping the hurting and the needy people of Nepal. Many of these needy people are girls and women who have been taken and sold into slavery either by a stranger or by their own family. The organizations help rescue these girls and women and then offer them counseling, education, teach them life skills, and then teach them some kind of a handicraft so that they can make a living for themselves. Many of these ladies (with the help of expats) will then begin a business and hire other hurting women to help make their product(s). They then take these products/handicrafts and sell them at the Christmas Bazaars (and other events) and any money they make goes 100% to helping them survive.

Today I had the opportunity to go to Immanuel Crafts, one of these special businesses. It hires about 10 women who come and make beaded jewelry and special holiday cards. There are several ladies in America and in England who buy their jewelry and then sell them in the States or in Europe and whatever profit they make goes to these women, 100%. I have never really been "into" beads and things of that sort but I found myself totally enjoying being with these women and finding a little creativity within me. I bought a few pieces for my personal outfit and am wondering now how I can help these women out more. My friend, Karen Chase, works with them 4 or 5 days a week for several hours and she absolutely loves it! However, God has blessed her with a creative mind and she comes up with many new creations for these women to learn. Sorry I have no pictures this time, but I promise that the next time I go, I will bring my camera and share the pictures with you.

The North Face socks

2008-12-14T01:58:00.000-08:00

Ok, so some of you may be wondering why I have posted a picture of a pair of North Face socks. I needed some new socks and so I went and bought what I thought were original North Face and after I got home I read the back of the package and realized these are not originals. If you've ever lived in a country where English is not the first language you've probably been humored by the brave attempts of the locals writing English. Here is what was written on the back of this sock packet.

"This product is made by a kind of Hi-Tech, lead the multi-functionalartifical silk of sweat nature high. Combine the socks made with the textile fibre. Have good arranging the sweat, so the characteristic rapidly. Make you feel more soft while wearing, dry and confortable and comfortable.

Thicken dealing with to the toe and heel position, get better protection in the outdoor exercises.

It explains to wash: Don't bleach, warm water is it wash to look through make sure not with apt to fade clothes is it wash to mix."

I kid you not! This is what it really says. :-)

A Little Bumpy Road and an Oak Tree...

2008-12-09T03:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry for not updating our blog recently; however, the past 2 weeks have been a littly "bumpy" to be honest. Language class has not been something that I look forward to and just when I think I finally remember something or begin to understand a concept, another is thrown out there in front of me. At the same time, as the Christmas season is right around the corner now, I think I hit a bit of culture shock (we're not in Indonesia anymore!). And then, just as I was realizing that, I was almost run down by a crazy motorcyclist. For some reason, that one small event pulled me deeper into self-pity. No, I wasn't hurt...only my left hand was clipped by the motorcyclist but even that didn't really hurt. It was more of an emotional bump that took its toll.

I opened up a book called "Principles of Spiritual Growth" by Miles J. Stanford and read a chapter titled, "Time". Here are a few excerpts from his book that I'm no stranger to but seem to forget on various occasions.

"It seems that most believers have difficulty in realizing and facing up to the inexorable fact that God does not hurry in His development of our Christian life. He is working for eternity!... God Himself will modify the pace." "John Darby makes it plain that 'it is God's way to set people aside after their first start, that self-confidence may die down. Thus Moses was forty years. On his first start he had to run away. Paul was three years also, after his first testimony... We must get to know ourselves and that we have no strength. Thus we must learn, and then leaning on the Lord we can with more maturity, and more experientially, deal with souls."
This means that there will be much time involved and "unless we see and acquiesce to this, there is bound to be constant frustration, to say nothing of resistance to our Father's development processes for us... When God wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but when He wants to make a squash, He takes six months... In that the Husbandman's method for true spiritual growth involves pain as well as joy, suffering as well as happiness, failure as well as success, inactivity as well as service, death as well as life, the temptation to shortcut is especially strong unless we see the value of, and submit to, the necessity of the time element. In simple trust we must rest in His hands, 'being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ' (Phil. 1:6)"

As my family "waits" here in Nepal for our licenses and approvals, it can sometimes be overwhelming. As Stan and I struggle with learning this language and wish that there was some easier way, we (mainly me) need to learn to just "submit" to what God is trying to teach us and to what He is molding us into. Ultimately, it is as Miles J. Stanford said, we are dealing with souls and I want to be ready for that task...to be fully prepared when the time comes.

Ok, enough of that. Here are some fun pictures of the kids...

Here is Nathan next to our "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. We have a nice (fake) Christmas tree in our crate so we didn't want to spend money on another tree.

This last Friday was the secondary's, in-school "football" tournament. Here is Ben playing as goalie for his team. He did an awesome job! High schoolers played against eachother (they have been divided into 3 "houses" and all year long have competitions against eachother) and the middle school does the same. The boys had a great time and we enjoyed watching them play.

And here is our youngest, David! He is pretending to be sick and on oxygen! :-) This contraption used to be a pair of glo-light plastic glasses that he took apart and made into "this". I was making dinner and turned around to see him pretending to be sick and breathing hard. Gotta hand it to him...It made me laugh and grossed out his brothers all at the same time. Guaranteed, Ben and Nathan will never try to play with his stuff again.

Blessings From Above

2008-11-29T04:59:00.000-08:00

When you think of Thanksgiving, what are the things that make Thanksgiving...Thanksgiving for you? For me, it has always been a turkey and lots of friends or family (or both). This year, we were unable to justify paying $90 for a 12 lb turkey, so we found a place that makes rottisorie chickens. David was so bummed about not having a turkey that he went to his savings and pulled it all out and offered to help pay for it. Of course, we couldn't take his savings for something that was going to disappear in 10 minutes.

We celebrated with Tim and Karen Chase, our co-workers, and then another person, Paul Seavers. Paul is a single-young man, freshly landed in Nepal and has ties to a second cousin of Stan's. He is living with a Nepali family and eats daal-bhat (lentils and rice) twice a day, so we thought he would appreciate a nice, western dinner. Needless to say, he accepted without hesitation. :-)

Between Karen and I, we were able to make quite a feast, minus the turkey. Karen was bemoaning the fact that we couldn't find any cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving, for Karen, must have cranberries. Above is the flower arrangement I made with the help of Karen's fall decorations.

We didn't grumble or complain...we did miss our friends from Kalimantan and our individual families, but we enjoyed the company that we had and the food was great. Because of that, I think the Lord blessed us amazingly through another American woman here in Kathmandu. This lady works with US Aid, a government agency. A few weeks ago, she had invited us over for dinner and we accepted. So last night, Friday after Thanksgiving, we went to her house and were absolutely spoiled. She had overheard us at church talking about how expensive turkeys were and so had her cook bake up a turkey AND a pork roast with all the trimmings...that included cranberry sauce! We were totally amazed and humbled at how God had, in the end, blessed us with two wonderful Thanksgiving Dinners and wonderful fellowship with friends in Nepal. Oh, if you are wondering where she was able to get cranberry sauce, it was from the American commissary that is here in Kathmandu. There is an American Club here and because she works for the government she can do shopping there without having to pay the high membership fees. Lord, we are so thankful for your many wonderful blessings and how You continually amaze us with your love and care.

2008-11-22T07:53:00.000-08:00

Twins with Cooked Turkey

Crazy to ...bizarre!

2008-11-20T03:21:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up as usual, around 6am or so :-) and everything seemed "normal". We got the boys off to school and then Stan and I proceeded to study Nepali for a few hours before we needed to head off to school ourselves. Our language school is just a 10 minute walk from our house but that usually means having to navigate narrow one-lane neighborhood roads with bikes, cars, and motorcycles barreling through as fast as they possibly can...and did I mention, they always honk right as they come up behind you! I will have no hearing by the time I turn 50.

We arrived at school and our teacher asked if the boys were in school today. We were a bit curious and told him "yes". He then proceeded to tell us that today a "bhand" had been called. A bhand is when a particular group decides to protest something and they go out and block traffic in a certain area in hopes that someone will listen to them and they will get their way. Well, today's bhand was a valley-wide bhand and it closed down all traffic in Kathmandu. The only vehicles on the road were bicycles, a few motorcycles just going short distances, and a few diplomatic vehicles that displayed the correct color of license plate. Any other vehicles were stopped and most shops were closed.

Karen, my co-worker and friend, and I wanted to go out and do some material shopping and it ended up being a time of exercise. I have never seen a city of over a million people come to a complete stop...until today. It was very bizarre! On one of the main roads, some of the stores were "partially" open; meaning, they had their iron doors open just a little bit so that if a group of people came by that were causing the city-wide bhand, they could quickly close shop. We ended up walking most of the back roads and then circled back around so that we could just go home.

It is very sad to see things like this happen. Today many people did not make any money. Most Nepali schools were closed. Tomorrow, our boy's school will most likely be closed because they cannot run the vans/buses to pick up the children. This normally "crazy" paced city became "bizarre" and quite erie. Please pray for the Nepali people. Today's bhand was called because 2 bodies were found that had gone missing over a month ago. They belonged to one political party and that party is accusing the other of murdering them. Normally a bhand will only last for part of a day or so. This one could very well last several days if negotiations go sour or someone else gets hurt when emotions get out of control. If you remember, please pray for the Nepali people and this time of critical transition in the government. They have gone through too many years of unrest and war and it deeply affects the people.

Still in Control

2008-11-12T02:09:00.001-08:00

Isn't it great to know that no matter what happens, our God is still in control? Ever since the election, I have kind of been living in a state of "now what?" Will our country fall even further in its spiral of liberal and "modern" ways of thinking? How many more babies will be sacrificed for the sake of our not wanting to live with the consequences of our actions? We do not have a television in our apartment here in Nepal so we check the news online daily and it has come to a point where I cannot pull up certain stories when related to our President-Elect. If I do, I find myself becoming frustrated and angry to a point where it puts me in a slump that is hard to get out of for the rest of the day. That is not God honoring...and so I step back from the "thing" that causes those emotions to boil over and strive to find ways that would honor God.

A few days after the election, I received an email from a friend who had received the email from her father and it convicted me to the core. All of my questions were "taken care of" when after reading this...

TOP 10 PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and healing.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL?!!!!

2008-11-12T01:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Stan and I were walking to the grocery store and just around the corner from our house, we ran into...an elephant!! It was just walking down the street like it owned the place...like it totally belonged there. It didn't have a load on its back at the time so we were a little mystified as to what was going on. When I finished my shopping and was on my way back home, there was the elephant, in the same spot, but this time with a load of "groceries" on his back too. I just so happened to have the heaviest load of groceries ever in my backpack (38.2 lbs to be exact) and was wishing for a little reprieve when I saw how big his load was. I didn't complain anymore (but it would've been nice if the elephant offered to help me out a little bit). Only in Kathmandu!

2008-11-04T02:36:00.000-08:00

The boy in the front of the elephant is Nathan! His 7th grade class took a trip down to southern Nepal to a place called Royal Chitwan National Park. Here they learned about the specific people group in that area, passed out candy and school pencils to the children, rode elephants, washed elephants, took a jeep safari through the "savannah" and saw wild rhinos, deer, and peacocks. Nathan said it was like being in Africa, Australia, and Indonesia all at once because of the diverse flora and fauna just in this one park area. What a cool class trip!

2008-10-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

Pokhara Valley with the Annapurna Range in the background.

Pokhara

2008-10-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

Nepal is such a vast and amazing country with so many variations in climate and flora and fauna. What is amazing about this is that this country is so small! Where, or should I say "how", does God fit it all in?
Once again, this weekend, I was struck by God's omnipotence and creative power! With the few remaining days left of our "holiday" before school begins again, we bought some bus tickets and took a "survey" trip to Pokhara. Pokhara is where we are hoping to move next year sometime and begin a flight program.
The bus ride normally takes 7 hours; however, there were at least 5 broken down buses and trucks on the way into Kathmandu that were blocking traffic BOTH ways. We inched along for about 2 miles and finally over 2 hours later were able to proceed again. So much for our 7 hour bus ride! On the way, we saw many more buses and trucks that had either flipped over or had been in some kind of "smashing" incident. It wasn't very encouraging to us; however, it was amazing because this road was in so much better shape than the road we took to Langtang.
We found Pokhara to be a nice change from Kathmandu. It was much cleaner and there doesn't seem to be a fuel shortage in Pokhara like there is in Kathmandu. We rented two motorcycles and were able to drive right up and fill the tanks. In Kathmandu, we would've waited at least a half a day IF there was fuel at the pumps. We did figure it out though that it costs $6/gallon to fill your vehicle. I have no idea how the Nepali people can afford that.
We stayed in the touristy, Lakeside part of Pokhara and were so happy to leave that part for our outings. It was beautiful and kept clean for the tourists but that was not why we were there. We visited the little school that David will attend, which happens to be located on the same grounds as the Leprosy Hospital that is run by INF. We were able to take an informal tour of the hospital (for our friends from Indonesia, it really reminded me of Serukam) and met one of the former leprosy patients who is now a believer and is a counselor to the patients who are there now. He has such a neat testimony and it is very visible that he has suffered much but he is filled with peace and joy!
We were able to drive around and look at houses and what some of our options might be plus we found 2 nice "supermarkets". We were able to meet with and talk to some of other expats who live and work there in Pokhara and they had a lot of good information for us.
And on the fun side, we drove part of the way up Sarangkot and then hiked the rest of the way up (this is a large hill overlooking the Pokhara Valley). In the picture below, you can see the awesome view we had up there!

We then drove up to see the Bat Cave. It isn't that big but there are a lot of bats, and then, if you have a guide (which we did), you will climb out in a manner that you will NEVER be able to do if you don't have a guide.

Here I am exiting out of the cave...it was NOT easy but I did it!! David started to get a bit claustrophobic but he did it too. I had no idea it would be like this when I first entered the cave. If I had, I probably wouldn't have followed our guide!

Some of the other things we were able to see was the Mountaineering Museum, an absolute must if you ever come visit us in Pokhara. Very well done and put together! The Seti River Gorge...you don't want to fall in! And of course, the beautiful Fewa Tal lake. There are many other things to do and see but we figured "another time". Now it's back to the "grind" in the morning and I think that we are all actually looking forward to it. Taking these trips has actually renewed my spirit for learning this language. We were able to interact with the Nepali people more on these trips then living here in Kathmandu, amazingly. I look forward to sharing more with you on our "trek" here in Nepal.

Waiting on Him,
Ronda

The Langtang Trek

2008-10-13T06:49:00.000-07:00

Just this past week, we went on a literal trek to the Himalayan Mountains just north of us. Nepal was in the midst of celebrating one of their biggest festivals, Dasain, and so while everything shut down for the week, we took advantage of the time and decided to explore a tiny corner of this magnificent country.
This was a perfect time to step away from our language studies and try to use a little of what we've learned out in "the real world". It was also a time of renewal for us, especially for me. I have been missing old friends and our ministries in Indonesia AND basically had hit a plateau in language learning. God used this trip to remind me that the trail will be hard and you will hurt a bit, but the end results are amazing and you won't be disappointed. Just looking at this picture should give you a "taste" of what I am talking about. If you are interested in seeing more of our trip here is a link to our web album.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stanrondaunruh/LangtangTrekOct2008?authkey=duNsI3eWBDQ

This is my family (5 on the right) and our co-workers, Tim and Karen Chase (on the left).

Ben's farewell at Dalat

2008-10-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

This is Ben's dorm. Some of the kids are new but they really accepted Ben as if he had been there from the beginning of this year. Pray for Ben as he continues to adjust to life in Kathmandu away from his friends in Malaysia. He is making new friends but he still compares many things to Dalat (which is quite normal at this stage).

Ben's farewell at Dalat

2008-10-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

At the end of September, I had the opportunity to take Ben back to Dalat International School so that he could say his good-byes and pick up his belongings that were left behind in anticipation of returning this school year. It was a great time for him and his dorm even gave him a great farewell party. Here are some pictures of Ben at Dalat and with some of his friends. We just praise the Lord for the time that Ben had there at Dalat. Dalat is a wonderful school and we were very blessed being a part of it the past several years.

Patan Durbar Square, Pt. 2

2008-08-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of one of the many public bath areas you can find in Nepal. This man is getting a drink.Are there any electricians out there who can figure this one out?

While walking around Patan Square, we entered into a Newari neighborhood. This group of people are one of the originals in Nepal and they have a unique way of building little communities with the cities here. This is just one little Newari home that caught my eye. I'm not too sure of that porch!

Here we are as a family enjoying the peace and quiet above all the commotion down below. We heard that it is mainly women who come to "worship" Lord Krishna. Because of his story he is a god that is mainly worshiped by women. However, there were plenty of men and children found here also.

Patan Durbar Square

2008-08-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Here is the famous Patan Durbar Square in Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal (last picture below). This is actually just walking distance from our house. Many of the temples here were built in the 1500s and the 1600s. We decided to go and see the sights this past Saturday and found ourselves almost lost in a sea of people.

This particular day, just so happened to be, Lord Krishna's birthday and thousands of followers showed up to give their offerings and to receive their blessing. This particular temple is only opened up once a year and so the people come in droves on that particular day.

Check out this house below. There is a basket shop below and the owners most likely live on top. I'm not sure I'd want to be there during an earthquake!

First days in Nepal

2008-08-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

What a "trek" these last several months have been for us. After 11 years of serving in Indonesia, God called us to move to Nepal. It has been an exciting adventure and a journey we'd like to share with you. We arrived here in Nepal on August 1st. Some of our first impressions were:

- It's a lot like Indonesia, but much poorer.
- The traffic is unbelievably insane here.
- Everyone spits anywhere.
- The food is excellant.
- The colors are so vibrant and beautiful.
- The weather is much more bearable here.

We didn't take too long to begin trekking around Kathmandu and exploring our surroundings. Here are some of our photos from our first few days. Enjoy!

We've moved...

2008-08-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, we've moved now, in more ways than one. In the past, I had attempted to create a blog while we were still in Indonesia. The internet frustrated me, plus, I am not a genius when it comes to computers, and I have only a limited amount of patience when working with the above two topics. Needless to say, I gave up. But now that we are in a new country, have good internet access, and I've become more determined to figure this "blog" thing out; hopefully, I can continue to update you on our "treks" here in Nepal. So bear with me and I hope that you enjoy this journey as much as we are.