As I sit here tapping away at my laptop keys, sipping coffee, I wonder if Danny is doing the same at a funky internet cafe, sipping chai, in India. Since the Maoist invasion of Kathmandu and the following unsettling of the government there, he has been across the border in a more "secure' country politically, for now. It is difficult to know the right thing to do in this unexpected turn of events. Because the Nepal Communist party, known in Nepal as "Maoists" is flexing muscle and demanding radical changes in the Nepal government, Don and I have asked Danny to leave the country and stay in India a few weeks. Last summer he and I traveled in Northern India to Dharamsala, among other places, and enjoyed tutoring and working with Tibetan refugees there. They literally walk out of Tibet, fleeing Chinese persecution, to join the Tibetan Government in Exhile in Mcleod Ganj, a small hamlet in the steep hills above the larger city of Dharamsala. It's a cool and refreshing change of the usual hot and steamy Indian scenery, with Tibetan prayer flags strung from tree tops and rooftops, red-clad monks walking up and down steep roads to temple and who knows where, and good Tibetan women making and selling their mo-mo's-a type of dumpling-at the entrance to the Dalai Lama's residence. Cows amble peacefully up the middle of the road and children fill schools there run by the Dalai Lama's sister, filling the air with their singing. It's an delightful atmosphere and Danny had no problem agreeing to head up to Dharamsala and Mcleod Ganj to see what he could do while we all wait and watch the Nepali news.

Lately there has been in the US papers a story about a young Colorado girl, who is Danny's age, and has gone missing in the Himalayas after leaving Kathmandu to trek alone. Alone? Anyone who has been in this area knows how extremely rough and isolated it is. It was one of my fears in Danny building a school in so remote a village. No electricity, no internet cafes to email home, no cell phone service-how would we know if he needed help or was in danger of any type? Our hearts go out to the parents, who of course are beyond worry. I want to volunteer to go help search for this adventurous young lady, and honestly feel she is being taken care of by one of the many kind-hearted Tibetan people who run tea houses along the trekking trails.

Of course, as the Dalai Lama says many times, if a problem has a solution, no worries, if a problem has no solution, no worries. Easier said then put into practice, especially when it involves our children. We had a solution, take Danny out of Nepal for now. The school is still being built by the villagers and we are in touch with our good friend Rajan. He grew up there and can make contact with people who know the progress and in fact had good news in a recent email-the school is nearly complete and roofing material being brought in! A celebration to bless the school and officially open will follow, but hopefully not without Danny and I. We so much want to be part of that celebration!