Nepal
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dung and stars
Before moving to Nepal, I did my research. Lonely Planet, the Internet, and an uncle who had lived here. But my information sources obviously did not prepare me enough. As I stepped out of the airplane, the smell hit me, almost knocking me over—the warm, pungent combination of diesel fumes, animal dung, and human sweat. Read more
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what’s in a name?
His first day on the job, Roy’s CEO-eye, with years of experience in the for-profit industry, scanned this modest, not-at-all-for-profit, mission hospital, looking for its “assets.” There were old beds and even older equipment; crowded rooms with paint peeling off the walls; ledgers revealing an average 20% deficit every year. “Every place has something to Read more
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the price of worship
December 2001. Our first Christmas in Nepal was fast approaching. Having done our research, we knew what to expect. Nepal was the only official Hindu country in the world; therefore, Christians must remember: 1) Proselytizing will get you thrown in jail; 2) It is a crime for a Nepali to convert to Christianity. That’s why Read more
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life after death
She was a mother six times over. Six times she experienced the gut-wrenching pains of labor. Six times she hoped; but every time her hopes were shattered and her heart broken. After watching six babies die in her arms within 48 hours of birth, Maiya came to Scheer Memorial Hospital, discouraged and depressed, tired and Read more
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booger flips and snot
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.–Proverbs 22:2, New Living Translation The hospital where I worked (in Nepal) has big, deep trash cans to collect the obvious–trash–and the booger and snot deposits of employees and visitors. In Nepal it is not bad manners to insert your finger or Read more
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my sathi
“Hi Sathi” . . . that’s how Melinda’s emails begin. Sathi–it’s Nepali (and Hindi and Urdu and Sanskrit) for “friend.” As far as friends go, we were quite different to start with: I was older, she younger; I’m short, she’s tall; I had adolescent children; she had a two little boys, one still in diapers. Read more
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not always beyond repair
One of the lessons I learned from living in Nepal is that almost nothing goes to waste. I was constantly amazed at what was accomplished with little or no money; but with plenty of ingenuity, perseverance and positive attitude. Our ambulance is a good example. It needed a new engine, a new paint job, new Read more
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hot shower reminder
It’s been four years, but it happens every time I step into my steamy hot shower. Every time, I am reminded of my six years with a temperamental shower. Our shower system in Nepal was very complicated–an instant hot water heater, a giant geyser, a storage tank right above the bathroom, pipes and rocks propping Read more
SAYS FYL 