I rode inmy little taxi soaking in all the sights of early morning Kathmandu-the sleepy women kneeling at shrines, ringing bells in front of Krisna, or Ganesh, or Buddha, or Shiva or...pasting red tikka on their foreheads, maybe taking a kernal of rice from the shrine and putting it on their tongue. A long line of soldiers jogged down the narrow lane and the dogs of Kathmandu, who enjoy the most dog freedom of any dogs I've ever known, were barking at them, some could not resist and joined in, weaving along the feet of the men, who ignored them, as people do with dogs here. Frut and vegetable vendors were getting out their wares and those in charge of the endless task of picking up garbage were shoveling it into wooden hand carts that looked as if they were made a thousand years ago. Paper trash is swept in tidy piles and set on fire. All was well and life hums along here in this creaky, dusty, ancient city set in the mountains at the top of the world. It is an amazing place!
I have been reflecting back on what we have accomplished this trip, for HANDS in Nepal and for ourselves, personally, for doing our "mission" of HANDS is also so much a personal journey. We started in India and tutored English with Tibetan refugees and monks in Dharamsala and did what we could to help a young Tibetan group put on a Tibetan cultural show. In Nepal, we took 24 orphans out of their disheveled orphanage on an all-day field trip to the Royal Palace and museum (their choice!) and then out to eat at the Tibetan "Dream Cafe". We inspected both schools HANDS built, one school financed by the very generous Dworak family of Minnesota, Danny and Bree trekked to the villages of both and spent many days talking, photographing and interviewing the villagers, had ceremonies and made assessments of both schools and future needs. We had Naropa professor Debbie Young from USA visit both schools as well, adding her expertise, and hired a translator -Jamu- for the first time, so we clarified many issues we've been muddling through. We found the Tibetan Reception Center outside Kathmandu where the refugees are brought to recuperate from long treks over the Himals, and we gave donations after donations to provide scholarships to now 9 poor children who otherwise would not be going to school, one a 5 year old at the Arya Tara school for destitute and poor girls in Pharphing. I met an amazing women in her late 60's, Ruth, who is running an afterschool program for poor children all on her own dollar. I had tea with Sherry, another American woman much like myself, who is here to see what good she can bring to an orphanage for girls and for children who work in brick factories outside Kathmandu. We bought a sewing machine for a needy family who are already learning how to use it and starting their family business with it and made donations to many sewing cooperatives, ordering goods made through them as well as helping them design and make useful items for sale back in the USA. We visited a Tibetan refugee camp and discovered the source of yak hair blankets and shawls and bought many of them, also for sale and to help support their many programs at the camp.
My biggest project here was the start of my store: The Compassionate Yak. I will focus on only buying from Tibetan refugees and womens sewing coops that I have visited and ensured they are indeed benefiting the women who are running them (and not a sweat shop overseen by business men). Danny and Bree were instrumental in countless meetings over Nepali tea and "duk" coffee, sitting on rooftop cafes, overlooking amazing scenes below as we dreamed and "schemed" how to help the good and yet so poor, people here. This is one of the poorest countries on Earth, in an extreme location and a precarious one, as Nepal sits between India and China. We leave with Nepal and the people here entrenched in our hearts- and feel such a tight bond, especially with the children who's lives we've been able to touch. They have certainly touched ours and I know as I try to soak in every last sight of Kathmandu that I will always be bond to return and do what little we can. HANDS was born with the wish to build one school, now we have two and possible a third in the works. And a store that helps support education and welfare of poor women and refugees. Mother Teresa was right-if we had not started with the thought that we could at least build one simple school, we would not be here where we are today. But mostly, we would not be here without the loving kindness expressed by friends we also have met and who have joined us on this amazing journey! Today is the birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and I will part with his words: True happiness lies in helping others. If you want to be happy, help others! It's true! I have practiced it and it works. I feel tremendous happiness in my work here and leave with a happy heart and tears in my eyes for the love I feel for the good people I have met on this amazing journey!- Namaste and Tashi Delek-Jan
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