Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Last leg of my journey

Hi everyone!
Have had no internet for the last 6 days both in Dadeldhura or in Kathmandu! But no surprise for Nepal... we did have water though... and lots of it... both in the pipes / drum for bathing and washing... and a little too much in the atmosphere!
On Thursday after 3 days of hunting, a dozer miraculously, came right down our street and Megh was able to convince the driver we just needed a" half hour of his time"! He called the boss and got permission and 10 minutes later it was digging out our septic tank. 2 meters deep x 12x 10.  An hour later it was done!

Our mistake was we didn't have a "Tipper" ( dump truck ) to haul the dirt away so the dozer plunked it beside the house and kinda pushed it back and we hoped to find a way to deal with that later, ie next day and allow the workmen to get started building the 18inch walls inside it to support the tank. In theory it works... it reality it doesn't because one must factor monsoon surprize storms into the equation! It POURED rain all night and washed much of the dirt right back down into the hole and even caused the 1 meter margin of safety near the house to cave in, in one place. In the process the neighbors water drums got covered up as well so I spent considerable time assuring the neighbor we would make it right and buying them a new drum to tide them over. Well by now the dirt is no longer dirt, but heavy mud and impossible to move by hand, so we again were trying to track down a dozer, this timewith a tipper to haul it away. Alas paying for the job twice! The day I left ( Saturday) both were due to arrive together! Pray it really happened and that the workmen can finish lining the hole safely!

The doors and windows slated to arrive Thursday, still had not arrived Sunday when I called.

Sabi was asking for my painting supplies Sunday so that is being done. The walls and ceiling are dry enough to paint at least the first coat.

The Phlam Man ( iron man) making the big outside steel door had it made but was tardy in delivery on Thursday so we asked him to please wait till Monday or Tuesday now to install it so he doesn't wreck the new cement floors that just got poured on Friday!

So much still to wrap up but all designated to specific individuals to complete... and it will get done... Nepali style! Eventually!

I put 3 capable women in charge of arranging furniture and supplies, and Thirtha the maintenance man, is doing the electrical and plumbing... has to wait till the cement floors are dry to install the sinks and toilet... he will also manage the disassembly of their iron beds and reassembly of their new water beds complete with their new water heaters!

The good news is I got out of Dadeldhura with minimal rain on Saturday AM though it had rained all night. Tula, the driver I had booked, stood me up and we spent a harried hour trying to find another vehicle to get me to the airport but I got there on time, the flight took off 10 minutes early ( pilot afraid  of the weather?) and we got to K-du on time. However Yeti Airlines succeeded in somehow ripping my suitcase to shreds and it took 45 minutes I didn't have, to file a report to discover I needed to bring the suitcase back empty the next day and they would repair it.

The next day was a bhundh... nothing moved, nothing was open till after 5 pm! It was my only day to accomplish loose ends. SO I met with Yam ( in charge of the Brick women ministry that make our jewelry, at 6 PM in Jhawelakhel and the DDL college kids for dinner at 6:30.

 I was able to sneak in the back door of the cargo company during the day,and get all my excess baggage shipped in spite of the bhundh as they are across the street from my hotel and I had inside connections!

I also got the hotel to send out my torn suitcase for repairs and they  only charged me about 3$ ... much less than trips to the airport and back... in the rain!
Most of my 2 days in Kathmandu it poured rain. A phone call back to Dadeldhura confirmed it had poured rain solid for 2 days there as well so most believe the monsoons are officially here... and in answer to my prayers God allowed me to exit without event and delayed the deluge to allow my passage.
The turbulence and the pathway of our Korean air jet last evening was amazing to observe, as the pilot clearly was trying to avoid massive cloud banks taking our route far south( all the way to Dacca)  of the projected trajectory on the map! The Monsoons really are here.

 Standing on HIS promises in faith... re: believing for things yet unseen... yes but with a tear in my eye! He will complete HIS project and yes, bless others as they minister to these girls too.

 I am in Seoul, Korea... I board the last leg of these flights in about 2 hours! It will be good to get home to my own bed and the next day dig / putter in my own garden.

Thanks for standing with me in faith!
Dawn Didi

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Down but not out...

I am discouraged tonight...I learned this PM  that it is not at all probable that I will get my miracle and get to see the girls properly installed in their new place.
The main contractor had to take a day off for personal reasons 2 days ago and while he sent his crew, they are just not fast and able to push through like the boss. Then this morning it POURED rain and I mean POURED! a virtual torrential deluge... so the crew did not show up till the sun came out at 2 pm. The floors were starting to be poured and cement spread at 5 pm when I last checked in and the boss tells me it will be 5 days before anyone can walk on them and 7 before we can put a heavy iron bed on it and fill it with 500 liters of water!
Also we have not been able to secure a dozer again to dig out the septic... we may have to hand dig it and then it will be 5 days to line it and 2 days of drying time. so realistically we are looking at 10 more days till we can make it habitable!
Window guy can't get here till Friday either... and Yo Nepal Ho... he could also get held up with his schedule...so bottom line... I am the one to plant and water but not the one to harvest... someone else is meant for that.  
Pastor Prem and my landlord, Tara Datt ( also an elder in the chur-ch), have offered to take charge of the transfer and Sabi, the widow who donated the land, is highly motivated to see the project through to completion ASAP. She was ready to paint today and I held her back explaining we would just be in the way of the workman trying to get the floors laid. I have nicknamed her "dozer"!
. Jamani is my house keeper and has offered to get all the bedding and supplies for them. from my house, down to the new house. We will go through everything tomorrow and role play where to put what and how to arrange it all.
Thirtha is the maintenance man from the last hospital and built their beds in the first place and has filled their waterbeds in the past. He is our contracted plumber and electrician and I could not have a better man on the case if I tried! He has a sharp mind and can figure things out better than most and is very handy at all kinds of things. He will disassemble and reassemble their iron waterbeds, install the new waterbed heaters and make sure the new bunks get installed and secured to the existing iron structures! 
As a team they are all capable... things might just not have the designer touch I was planning to put on the event and it won't have the flourish and pomp and celebration I was planning to bring to it. There are no other foreigners here at present... they all leave Thursday and I leave Saturday.
It will be ok... it will all be just fine!
So it is a lesson in trust ... to try to let go of my control once again! I remind myself He is God and I am not! And I'm not giving up on miracles yet... just trying to be realistic. I tell everyone who comes here to check their expectations at the door... it is my turn now. I am determined to enjoy these last 3 days here!
Thanks for your prayers and votes of confidence! They all have meant so very much!
We now have water! first time in the 10 weeks I have been here in Dadeldhura, that I didn't have to take a pour bath with a glass of water- maybe 2 on a good day! Now pray it won't flood out my flight on Saturday! This may be the start of the monsoons!
Must get some shut eye... the storm kept me awake most of last night .It sure cleared the air and the view of the snows was spectacular this evening from my porch!

Toodles!
Dawn Didi
 





 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Keeping Positive

Having trouble sleeping tonight...
 I heard a few hours ago (via email) that I have been fired from my Hospice job back home! Bummer! I am feeling a little shellshocked as I thought I had everything worked out with them. For 3 weeks I have been emailing various managers trying to determine my schedule and trying to communicate the need I had to extend my ticket and have not heard from them except to hear " send your availability to the new manager", 3 emails later I have yet to hear from her but an email tonight informs me ( HR) that I have been terminated!

God must have bigger and better plans for me. Please pray I will be patient as HE reveals these to me and that I will be able to joyfully continue serving Him regardless!

On the positive note... I am virtually weepy with amazement at how God is coming through for us here in the 11th hour. In the last 72 hours he has moved 2 wonderful donors to very generously cover all the remaining expenses on the first floor of the paraplegic facility and some of our radio ministry needs as well. We praise God for his faithful provision and have full confidence the few remaining needs will be cared for as well ie rent for the apartment we keep here(90$/month) and the salary for the radio technician/programmer. ($100/month) 

God also brought 3 people to my door today that have exactly the skills we need to finish up the project! One we have been hunting for for 5 days! Another our door and window man... and he came without being called! And the electrician/ plumber who can start tomorrow!

Last week it seemed impossible to finish. Today the contractor said that with this heat, not only could he remove the bamboo poles holding up the new roof 2 days early, but the cement floors and plaster should dry in 5 days vs 9! Guess I'll stop complaining about the unprecedented heat!

So I choose to keep focused on all he positive evidence of a great big God at work on our behalf and keep looking up.
Thanks for looking in the same direction... HE hears our prayers!


Monday, June 3, 2013

2 Weeks To Go>>>>

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