Notes from Nepal

Dear all,

This morning we awoke to a thousand sounds of the city. Ringing bells, carpenters hammering away, people talking, others chanting. Its really warm and a haze of mist and city grit hangs over Kathmandu, so much so that we could only see the Himalayas early this morning, when the air was crisp and cooler. Yesterday, we took a taxi from the airport to our guest house and got a sneak peek of city life - people driving like maniacs on bicycles, motorcycles, small buses and 3-wheeled cars. We have been told that, in Kathmandu, people don't drive on the left or the right-hand side of the road, but the side that is easiest. This translates into what looks like controlled chaos, a destructive choreography or pedestrian near-misses, kooky automobile horns, and seatbelt-less drivers of all things petrol powered. Its absolutely terrifying to cross the road, but you soon realize that people make allowances for you and slow down, swerve in front of another car or stop altogether (which is less likely).

On our way back from the markets this morning we passed by a gentleman who could only see out of his left eye, as the entire right side of his face was swollen with various tumours that hung like large individual potatoes, the color of flesh from his head. They looked incredibly heavy, and there is no doubt he would be considered cursed and outcast by those living here, yet, he walked with his head lifted high. We just weren't expecting to see this, and I think it especially shocked us. We prayed silently for him, and wished we could speak the language so we could greet him and speak with him. Never in my whole life have I wanted to become a doctor, or surgeon so that I could relieve suffering by removing deforming tumors or mending cleft pallets and lips. We believe that prayers for healing are as good as any doctor's miracles, and sometimes what seems like a small thing, like prayer, actually brings about the most lasting and transformative change.