Nepali helps Nepali

Sunday afternoon we went to the Soup Kitchen that has been started out on the back roads of Banepa and if you look carefully at the pictures you see how the impact of this establishment has come about concerning the lives of the people who come and eat here once a day.
So having a bunch of Westerners turn up was a bit of an occasion for these people. We watched as the children and families were fed, had fun with them using a camera and taking photo's and before we left we handed out blankets because all of them except the little boy in the blue spiderman outfit had no where to live. Most of them reside in the bushes close to where we were and for safety reasons (a child from another area close to SMH was dragged away and killed by a tiger) they stay close to each other.
This was a very humbling experience and if you look at the photo of the SWAP guys you can see that it was a little hard to take in at one go.
The lady running the centre is a very busy SDA woman and she is involved in many projects including an orpanage in Bhaktapur, it is great to see that so many people really do want to get involved and help each other.

Without You.

There have been many things that have not made the blogs yet, and everyone from Stefanie, Monique and Shayne has gone above and beyond to work this event, but I just wanted to take this time to thank You.
There are many people sending their love and respect, admiration and support to us and each and everyone of us have hit that miss our friends and loved ones barrier. But because of the support we have worked through this together so I just wanted to take this time to let you all know that we are still doing well, we are heading of to a Soup kitchen this afternoon, it's Sunday 1pm, the Kitchen consists of mainly children living on the street and when you see the next lot of pictures, I am sure you will understand that your support has been well needed. I myself have done soup kitchens before, but nothing like this. Seeing 1 and 2 year old children eating the food provided and then heading of into the bush without pants was just to much for me. Adults I can handle, but children....
Anyway, we have been remarkably blessed with this section of the trip and even though it is a one of thing that we are about to do, giving clothes and blankets is just an unbelievable and unreal experience that has rocked a harden soul like me, I will show you the pictures soon and when I do, all I ask for is continual support to your loved ones and prayers and words of encouragement, because i have seen my team mates crumble some times, and this is why we still need your love.
I know you all understand,
Thank you.

SWAP goes to Chitwan

Well what can we say. Chitwan was absolutely beautiful. Things that I never thought Id ever do again, sit in a canoe, do a 9 kilometer walk, ride another elephant, enjoy myself without my wife (to be honest I missed her an Bubba terribly). Chitwan was everything it was meant to be, the last two and a half weeks have been pretty hectic but in a good way. We managed to cover a fair bit of time and events with people and smooth out the way for the Aussie invasion coming next year, so taking some time out was refreshing for everyone. We had time to reflect on the previous weeks as well as take in a cultural event that was absolutely spectacular, think of Nepali Stomp for anyone who is into the whole bash things and make good rythm sounds.
We did not get to see the elusive Rhino and tiger in the jungle but we tried really hard to find them, our jeep got 2, not one, but 2 flat tyres and the thing that cracked me up was having mobile phone reception in the jungle, but it did prove for a long day, but that was ok, everyone was in high spirits.
Groups that went out the day before and the day after came across the rhinos, and I did not let up on our guide fo the three days about the fact, he took the ribbing very well.
The bus trip there was a sight to behold, seeing trucks tipped over on their sides was very comforting, we have great video footage of that, I would have been ok with a tipped over truck if we had not seen 3 of them on our journey, and coming home on the other side of the road closest to the roads edge was just great, there were many prayers said that day.
but all in all the trip was great, we were all happy to get to a shower, and after a relaxing weekend and time to catch up with family it was time to get blogging again, hence what you are reading now.
So Monday, it action stations again, we are going in to finalise the land and the plans, there will probably be no more bloggs now until wednesday and after the following Sunday coming, Shayne Ryan will take on the pleasure of keeping you all updated until the end of February.

A Post for Cam, one for the techiques

Here are the pictures from HRDC, I've have tried to get them into order but then when I post it changes, so I will give a description but chances are it will change, however, you are all intelligent people I'm sure you will figure out which is which, so here goes.
Nurses station, In-patient white board - notice how many members are there supporting the family member - only 4 children their on their own, school classroom, hospital ward, water tanks and water heaters, ramps - concrete, roofing system, physio-therapy room and dining hall.

Monday Week 3

Monday Week 3 was a great day for everyone because it began by getting Anupa to go to (Handicapped and Rehabilitation for Disabled children) HRDC. What we did not know was that Anupa and her mother had been to this hospital a few times, however this time it was a lot more productive. When the SWAP group got there we were overwhelmed with the set up of this hospital and actually thought the building of our own Respite centre would not benefit this area until we were given the royal treatment from the Executive Director of this place.
Everywhere we went we saw disabled children, and out of respect for them all we did not take any photos except for the one you see here that was a photo on a wall.
After talking with the executive director we were very encouraged to learn that not only is building our Respite center a good idea, but that between the two centers, (theirs and ours) we can actually cover more ground as far as the children are concerned in the whole of Nepal, not just the Karve district.
As for Anupa, she was well looked after and they were fed when they were returned home. so what turned out to be just a routine visit for the SWAP team, ended up being a great blessing.
Following this blog will be a post for Cam and the technical crew, these are the photos that were were allowed to take from HRDC>

A Pictorial summary of the last 2 weeks

Women against violence protest march. Stef and Monique light up for world peace. Rajesh, Nirvin and Ranm 3 men helping with construction, engineering and land for the project. Bus surfing #1. Stef with Shree Krishna. Stef at Bhaktapur. Santo's and Yvonnes child Jasmine. Schree Memorial hospital. Narbin have some blankets, bus surfing #2. Nepali Church.