Life is a Journey !!! "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,... Matthew 7:13

We are going to a water project and part way there we stopped to rest for a bit and guess what Janet found Kids and Oranges.  This is going to be one of those great trips

This woman decided to show off her wares she had a very funny personality.

 We went into the hills to take some hygiene kits to children in a school.  We also had what is a closing ceremony for a project that was just completed bringing water closer to the people and also into the school we visited.  They now don't have to walk so far to get their water.


We traveled for about two hours on this road before we began our hike into the village of Wamrang.  As you can see this is very special place, far in the background you can see the Himalayan mountains.  The road was very steep and rough.  We traveled about 25 kilometers and abut 1 1/2 hours.  This little bit of scenery is fairly calm because I could hold my camera steady and not be fearful of driving off the side of the road, to an untimely death 100 feet below.

Speaking of which, my untimely death,  I heard a siren and wondered what that could be. at that moment an ambulance came around the corner on the road.  Look closely the white vehicle coming toward us is an ambulance.  The light is flashing and the siren blaring, I'm not sure why, but it was.  We moved tot he left and he splashed by us.

A little further up the road we saw this house, which happened to be both a farm house and a shop, it was a wood shop inside.  We saw a few of these shops they were making furniture, cool.

We look down the hill and saw a farmer plowing his field.  I wanted to go down and see if he would let me help but we were running late and that idea was vetoed.  Maybe next time we go into the hills I can help.  My hope would be to drive the plow not pull it.

We came to a larger village as we drove which looked like one you wold see in the Kathmandu valley.  Amazing so high up and seemingly so far away.,  I guess it just a perspective.  The people sitting on the steps in front of the houses are just trying to get warm.  There are not stoves for heating in the houses, well, I guess there are no stoves at all in the houses, they are in the back or front of the houses.  The stoves are made of adobe and they cook on the top and there is an oven also.  The oven is for making Nan which is a little pita bread.  The oven is called a Nan Chulo, the nan is tasty.

These women are weaving plates from leaves.  The plates are used for eating, These are the precursor to paper plates.  And you thought we invented throw away stuff.  They then are eaten by the animals and become the fertilizer for the rice paddies.  

Along the road we saw this beautiful river, which we had to ford as we climbed higher up the mountain.  Can you imagine washing clothes in this river, it was freezing cold, there she was in the middle washing the clothes and not a shiver.  

These women were also washing their clothes but they had water piped into their village which was somewhat lower and on the main road.  The need for clean water is a very important thing for these villagers.  The amount of time they need to spend walking to get water and bringing it to their homes is incomprehensible by western standards.

We meet some of the most friendly people on our travels.  On the side of the road this little group of girls were out in the sun getting ready for the day.  They had just washed their hair and were grooming each other in preparation for their daily activities.  An important thing to remember is that their day begins when it starts to warm up usually around 9 or 10 am.  It's is cold in the hills.  The men are already in the fields working but the girls are doing the daily household chores.  You can see the girls are young and should be in school but they often don't go because they need to take care of their siblings, 

 did I tell you the mothers are in the field with the men. they spread the manure around in preparation for the plowing.  Do I need to tell you how they spread the manure?  Yup, they walk around the paddies and throw it where it is needed.

This picture was taken when we stopped to look at the mountains. These people thought we were nuts, but the sight was amazing.  When I saw them watching us I walked over to the young women,  as I was walking to her she started to back into the house, I called out to her in Nepali and asked her to come over and let me take her picture.  I think she was a little taken back with me attempting to speak to her and she came forward and let me take her picture. The first one was a typical Nepali picture, kind of stoic and no smile, I told her another one with a smile as you can clearly see, it sort of worked. 

 After that the man in the back came over and wanted his picture taken as well.  He was a very interesting person to meet, you can see his goats in back of him and he was proud of them, I know he really wondered what I was up coming to his house.  Young missionaries could really do a great work here, but first they need a stable government and people not to be afraid.  When the Maoist insurgency took place there was a lot of  bad things that happened to the villagers. He started to talk to me and that was my cue to leave because he was talking too fast for me to understand.  You can see the kind of man he is by the look on his face.

Onward and upward along the bumpy winding road we went and much to our chagrin a major problem lurking around the next bend.

A Broken down Truck.  

Now this is an interesting thought, how do you fix this truck?  The front axle was broken and also the back axle.  

When we 

spoke with those with the truck the front axle had been repaired but they hadn't brought the back axle up yet. This is the interesting part the axle was being brought up from Kathmandu. I'm not sure if it was being driven up or someone was carrying it up the trail.  This is another view as all of these people were trying to figure out what to do next.

Often we don't know why things happen, but this time there was answer around the corner.  Janet and I walked a bit up the road and found this beautiful sight.  Just think if we hadn't encountered the broken truck we would not have had this beautiful photo op.  A picture of the princess of the mountain.  

We back tracked and found this road that we were told would take us to where we could start the walk int the village.  Look closely and you can see the turnoff on the right side of the road.  That was a very interesting turn to say the least.

We finally got to where we thought we would start the walk in and we were lost.  The village we were in was the wrong place we were supposed to turn off the main road down the hill, Oh well.  Janet as usual made the best of it and started making friends.

These kids thought it was cool to have their picture taken with the white face.  Then more came for pictures.  Pretty soon the whole village was around Janet.  These children are taught manners from a  very young age, look at the little boy by Janet he is very respectfully saying Namaste, the formal greeting of Nepal.

I looked behind me and saw a great sight a young boy and his grandfather watching the schannigans and wanted to join but, the little one was very timid and stayed close to his grandfather.

.  I walked to the two of them and asked if I could take a photo of them and they thought that was a great idea so here they are, grandpa and grandson on top of the world. 

If you look closely you will not see shoes on either of them.  I am amazed that they can walk around not because of the uneven ground, but because it is so cold.  He is the cutest little ragamuffin I ever saw.

Off we go back around and down the hill a ways, to the trail.






As we walked we found this well and a woman was washing clothes look how high up on the mountain side.









As you look at this picture you can see how important  the sun is for these people living here.  The clothes on the fence and those that still need to be washed.  Washing is done by wetting the clothes and then scrubbing the clothes with a bar of soap and then scrubbing with a smooth rock.  And they have the cleanest clothes you have ever seen.

Walking down the trail it was time for a break, Janet talking to Bro. Panna and enjoying the view.  We thought that the ride was going to be the worst of it and then the hike began.  It was very steep and we had to cross some small stream along the way, but it was worth it on many levels.  First, I can say that I have hiked in the Himalayan mountains.  Second, I can say Janet and I have walked together near heaven.  Third, I have a greater respect for these hill people and what they do each and every day just to survive.  The little help we (LDSC) give them in bringing water closer to where they live is a tremendous blessing, I believe will be recognized by the people of the villages.

This is the reason we are here.  The man in the middle is the teacher and he is surrounded by the school kids, dirt and all.  We were presented with a special song and then a dance by some of the children telling us (LDSC) thank you, for our efforts.

I saw this little girl in the door way as the ceremony was going on.  She is the epitome of the school children in this village, raggedy clothes and all, she was however in school!

Then the well was blessed and we needed to get going because it was starting to get dark.  On the way out we met some of the school kids and their parents.

This little boy was showing me his bag and his father was telling me thank you for it.  The bag is a Hygiene Kits that member of our branch put together for us to take to them.

We saw these kids on the way out with their kits and had a great picture as they posed for us.

Look at the boy closest  at the bottom of the picture he has his Hygiene Bag with him.  They are on the way home along this trail.

We meet some more of the villagers as we were walking and I took a few pictures.  This is the boy that was dancing for us.  When I stopped and talked to them they just talked a lot, then I asked the sister if I could take their picture and she quickly covered her face.  There is still a lot of paranoia in the hills.

This woman was walking up the hill in front of us, look at her feet, no shoes.  She was just hauling up the hill carrying her bag.  She is a very beautiful woman.

When I saw these two they were working in their field.  I greeted them and walked to them and asked if I could take a picture of them.  When I asked, the woman in the front said yes, and the one in the back got behind her so I couldn't see her.  I got a little closer and told her to come out so I could take her picture also, reluctantly she did, Two of Gods beautiful daughters!

Little sister being carried by big sister, mother in the background carrying the fuel for cooking dinner.

And not to be out done Janet going up the hill!

Still walking and walking and walking!  You have to give her credit she is in front of the old women with no shoes and I'm not!

Now the best part of the journey, looking over the valley from high up on the hillside, look to the horizon and you see what a loving Heavenly Father has built for us.  This is one of the most memorable sights I have ever seen.  As I looked around this little village and the people working, kids running around, the cows mooing, did you see them in the barn, look to the bottom of the picture on the right side, and then the spectacular Himalayan in the background, what a sight!

If any of you want a mission, this is the life.  Every day a journey and every day an adventure.  Surrounded by people that have amazing talents and then there are the stories they can tell.   However, having someone that you love with you sharing those same experiences, possibly the most amazing part of this whole experience.




When we got back to Dolalghat, it was late but we decided to eat anyway.  This is a local dinner on the road side and the menu item for the evening was fish and lots of soda to wash it down.

 The fish are put into a large fry pan with boiling oil and cooked for a couple of minutes.  Eating these little critters was kind of difficult, because you eat the whole thing.  I guess I'm not accustomed to eating fish that way.  Once I tried one I found they were great tasting guts and all.


As I contemplate my life experiences and the season I am very aware of the blessings that I enjoy because of my Savior.  The opportunities that I have because, I can be forgiven and continue to go forward and live my life each day, hopefully better than the day before.  Isn't redemption a wonderful blessing to be aware of?  This time of year as we celebrate the birth of our Savior I am amazed as I meet and visit with brothers and sisters that have not had the opportunities I have, of knowing my Savior, as I have.
The blessing of the gospel are amazing!  Stay on the straight and narrow road and you will find happiness and joy beyond measure, that is my promise to you.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Next Chapter:  Have I done any good in the world today?