The Gods Have Willed It This Way

Some say you can count your friends on one hand. You know a friend the moment you meet them. Personally I have always been a little cautious with new people in my life.

Not Baba Shretha, she says we were meant to meet, and become friends, the gods have willed it this way.

On our first morning in Kathmandu, the boys and I keenly explored the outskirts of Thamel near where we are staying.

After some small talk Baba and I discussed the issues of importance in her beloved Nepal.

She is a simple shop worker; she works from morning till evening when it is closing time. She has no time off. She's happy to have a job.

It was during our chat that she told me the gods had willed us to meet.

We had toys, she had sick kids.

She began organising for us to meet with her friend Dr. Rupa Shaham, a doctor in a children's' cancer hospital. The children come from poor families in rural areas. They have nothing. Not even their health.

I have had the heart breaking decision, as to where the toys we have, should go. We are leaving to work in an orphanage on Wednesday. It is only small with 16 children ranging in age from 5-14. I chose this orphanage for many reasons. I chose this orphanage, not with my heart, but with my head.

Sadly I have been faced with the decision of who is more deserving of the toys we have with us.

Do we give them to the 40 poor children suffering from cancer or the 16 orphans that are about to become part of our lives for the next 3-4 weeks? I have agonised over this decision for days.

We have come to the embarrassing conclusion that we just don't have enough to give to the sick children and so the orphans will receive our toys. I know it sounds harsh and I feel so ashamed. I have cried many times over this decision.

How do I tell my new friend Baba Shretha, who has placed so much faith in my ability to help make some sick children feel better?  

Why have the gods willed it this way?

x Lisa (inadequate Mum)

Singing Voice

Since our arrival to Kathmandu we have explored the winding labyrinth of pot-holed streets. People call to us to check out their wares. As we make our way down through the maze, we gravitate to that which interests us.

On every corner, there is always a shop with metal singing bowls used in meditation.

As the holder of the bowl runs their wooden stick around the brim of the bowl it should begin to resonate and sing a beautiful 'song' to aid meditation.

Just what every nine year old Gold Coast boy needs. So Cody and Taiga tell me.

However try as he might, the bowls have continued their silence for one of my sons. They have refused to utter a sound.

Everywhere we've been they are there, taunting him with their perfect roundness and resonating singing voices. Yet each time he moved the stick carefully around the bowl it would not sing. There was only silence. Each time he'd leave the shop a little more dismayed at not having yet found his bowl.

Like all parents I have tried to justify the bowls stubbornness to perform for him.

"Of course this bowl won't sing for you. It's clearly not your bowl!"

And, so the search continued to find his bowl. Every chance he got he attempted to find his bowl.

Kathmandu is full of magic and mystery and tonight it wove some of its magic. We found a shop where the bowls had lots of voices; many of them loved the way he played them. They sang loudly, softly, high and low.

Needless to say we went back this morning for their best morning price.

x Lisa (relieved Mum)

 

Minds of the Future

Steve and I believe strongly that it's in the mind of the today's children that the future is imagined.

We think it is essential our children learn the importance of sound environmental education, and that they are citizens of the world and not just limit themselves to their country of birth.

It is with great pride that I listen to my sons agonise over ideas that they think will help the Nepalese people.
A couple of their ideas follow.
x Lisa (proud Mum)

How To Improve Rickshaws

I have noticed how tired the Rickshaw drivers get from riding people around.

They are a type of cycle taxi service.

A Rickshaw is a three wheeled bike. Two wheels in the back and one on the front.

A man pedals to give it the power to move.

I have thought that I would like to invent something to make it easier for them. They get very hot and tired!

I would like to replace the front part of the bike of the ancient bikes they currently use with a mountain bike and a simple gear system.

They need thicker wheels and shock absorbers to survive the big pot holes in the roads.

I would also replace the old wooden cart with light titanium that won't rust and deteriorate.

How am I going to make this work?

1. People could donate their old mountain bikes.
2. Hamish Batty's dad could donate light titanium (or he might know someone that can).  It would be tax deductible.
3. I need some engineers to donate their time to help construct them.
4. I need an airline to donate some space to fly them here.

From Cody

How I Can Help Make Nepal a Cleaner Place?

I have noticed that there is too much rubbish in the streets!

I would like to help make Nepal a cleaner and more hygienic place.

My idea is to mulch all of the organic rubbish, which could then be used to fertilize the crops. And recycle all of the plastics.

To be able to do this I will need rubbish bins, one for recycling and one for organic rubbish.

How will I make this work?

1. The Australian government could donate all of their old bins.

2. Stan could donate a plastics recycling machine. This chips the plastic ready for recycling.

3. A truck company in Australia could donate some old trucks to be used as rubbish collection trucks.

This is all tax deductible. So it won't cost people anything.

From Taiga