Hard to believe I have already been here in Nepal 8
weeks! So much has happened and so much still needs to happen before I
can wrap up this project and feel at peace about leaving. But I have 2
weeks left and a God still in the business of doing miracles so will
hang on remembering how often in the past HE has come through for me in
the 11th hour!
Today the "RCC" walls were completed. These are the exterior walls
of the next level and are retaining walls. They are designed to hold
back the mountain should any further slippage occur with the imminent
onset of the monsoon rains upon us. It really can't prevent the tin
shack above us from falling but it should keep it from falling on the
girls and the existing building if it should tumble! We felt it was
imperative we get this done now before the rains as it is a major
structural concern so have diverted the funds intended for electric,
plumbing, plaster and paint ( and associated labor) to this!
The cement roof should be dry on June 6th.
The bamboo posts can then be removed that are currently supporting the
ceiling/ roof and the contractor for the plumbing and electric can swoop
in and lay the appropriate lines. The current contractor can begin
plastering the brick walls with cement. I have asked him to do the doors
and windows first so I can call the window people up from Dhangadi ( 5
hours away) to come measure and get the doors and windows custom made
and on their way. Once the walls are plastered, the cement floors are
poured. It takes 9 days for this to set up.
You do the math... I have a flight out of Dhangadi to K-du on 6/15!
This
means that short of an absolute miracle I will not be the one to move
the girls into their new home and get them settled. But I keep telling
myself "it is not about me". Perhaps someone else needs to be blessed to
do the close and reveal! Alycia has volunteered that if she is here and
I leave her a map of the new layout, she will arrange the furniture
and help Thirtha get the girls moved in. I am so grateful for her
willingness and realize what a huge responsibility she would be
undertaking! Pray for her if she should get stuck with all this work!
While we are waiting for the 6th to arrive our contractor will be
working on 2 projects we forgot to budget for... the septic tank and a
ramp for wheelchair access to the new facility. Please pray for the
extra $3000 needed to cover these additional expenses. A bag of cement
is now $12.50. We need another 142 bags to finish the plaster, floors,
septic and ramp and that is not counting sand, gravel and rock and iron
rods to support it all. What a shame construction costs have doubled
since October when I last got quotes on materials!
So while I would hate to sound like I'm begging... I'm going to ask
each of you please pray and put whatever energy God might lead you to
lend to this important cause, whether it is a" pass the hat" in your
church or small group or setting out a can at work or a bake sale. If
you know any celebrities that would do a charity concert or have
connections to a philanthropist or a foundation that we could appeal to
for a grant... this would be a great time to let us know if we could
contact them! Thanks for your prayerful consideration and support. And
to the many of you who have already generously given we so appreciate
you and we are trying to be the best possible stewards of every dollar
and dime you have donated for His kingdom glory here!
On other fronts:
The 2 hospital staff that were being
held in custody were released last Monday! They were held over 26 days
with no charges and when the supplies were counted that they had
supposedly "stolen" they exactly matched the inventory reports. I don't
understand why these supplies couldn't have been counted earlier... but
Yo Nepal Ho.
All the staff got paid on Tuesday!
They got their 1 month salary due them ( for the month they were told
not to work) and an additional month bonus. However they did not get
their retirement funds yet. Perhaps later? they may have to each make
trips to HDCS hdqtrs in Kathmandu in the future to get what is owed
them.
Megh ( my general contractor) tried refusing 3 times but got sucked
into doing the "handover"on the hospital because the administrative staff refused to come out and
the gov officials are handing over the hospital to. Megh has not
worked at this hospital for over 5 years except in the capacity of
running the local radio station owned by HDCS. This is a huge burden and
undertaking for him to sort out all the chaos and account for all the
equipment, inventory and supplies.
Megh
thinks there should just be a few more days of dealing with the
inventory and then the handover should be complete. However rumors
indicate the gov/ political leaders will be demanding $ they think is
still coming in from donors to HDCS they think is rightfully part of the
handover so I'm guessing Megh will not see a good night of sleep for
several more weeks yet!
Pray for Megh caught in this hornets nest. He is my brother and
friend and is doing an amazing job negotiating with all the Tulla
Manches ( big wigs) and trying to juggle the many other things on his
plate he had going before he was dragged into this hospital mess!
The prison ministry is going great! This week 8 of us went on Thursday
and Doyl and Prakash both brought their guitars and we did a little
program for them. I took cookies for everyone including the 20 staff (
guards) so those were a big hit. There are now 5 who have believed in
there, 2 women and 3 men. Pray for them to have fellowship with each
other and to boldly share their new faith and to grow in wisdom and
faith. A couple inmates asked 2 of our group for their cell #'s and want
to call re: questions they have about what they have read from
materials we have given so that is encouraging too.
Last Sunday was National Outreach Day so 3 teams of 5 from our
church went village to village and through the bazaar passing out tracts
and stopping to talk with any who had questions. Pray for every piece
of literature to touch someone's heart with God's love. Today our church
enjoyed D*****
encouragement to love our neighbors in really practical
ways beyond just handing them a tract. It was my turn to share with the
women's group and I felt led to share about blessings... not just how we
can be blessed by God but how we can be a blessing to others. In that
vein, I felt convicted to make some cookies tomorrow and take them to
the TSF ( tin shack family) whose tin shack balances precariously above
our construction site but the family refuses to move to safety... the
mother yelled at me the first few days I was here and though I try to
say Namaste every time I pass through her walkway, she usually refuses
to return the greeting. I am praying about how I can love her in spite
of her hostility. Please pray for me in this regard!
Things are pretty quiet at the bakey with most of the Bideshi's (
foreigners) gone. The Restless Team from the UK have hung out as it is
their last week here. They invited me to their Sports day, yesterday, in
the village they have worked in the last 2 months. It was a 1 1/2 hour
walk down to the valley and 2 hour up. It was a really fun day and I was
pleased to have been invited. On my way back,a Dr. named Alec, ran up
behind me on the path, walked with me for a few minutes then ran on. I
caught up with him in the bakery, only to find he beat his best running
time and did in 29 minutes what took me over 2 hours to walk! and part
of that was while walking with and chatting with an old lady! Oh to be
young again! I am over twice his age!
Well time to turn in... must go to the bank in the morning to see
if a wire transfer has come through and to inquire what the terms would
be to take out a construction loan if necessary to complete the project.
Looking to the Source of all our resources!
Thanks for joining me in this regard!
Dawn Didi
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