Nuwakot, Nepali-style

Home from the mountains, back in good ol' Kathmandu.
The sun is shining, the air is humid, and there's dust on my skin and pollution in my lungs. Ahhh.

I had a 5-day venture to the mountains this week. We were going to go to the Tibetan Border, but, in typical Nepali style, the road to get there was striking and therefore closed.
So, we went to a region called Nuwakot where we had people we knew.
It was amazing!
Totally different than the other mountain village experience, but equally as good.
It started out with a 5 hour ride to a village called Trishuli, we cooked dinner there and stayed the night in a heavily Hindu hotel. We went to a main street, and did some ministry there. I met this sweet little girl and her mom, it was really good.

Then the following day, we had to find a car to take us up another mountainside to the village where we were going to stay. Around noon, a huge monster of a truck, decked out with paint and tassels, rocks up to the hotel. It was a cattle truck, a big open iron box. We chucked all our backpacks, food, water, and ourselves back there, and up the road we went.
We had a mini sound system with us, and it was the most enjoyable ride I've ever taken!
To the tunes of U2, Moby, and John Mayer we crossed a flooded field, drove on steep cliff roads, and wound through terraced lush terrain. This "one hour" ride (we were told) grew to be 2 1/2 hours, but I honestly didn't want it to end! I had a very comfortable seat, propped up by sleeping bags and water jugs, and we could stand up at anytime, hold onto the iron bars above us and look out at the ever-changing scenery. We even saw monkeys!
At one point, we had to all jump out of the truck while it drove under some low power lines, and then about 1 minute later the radiator broke and our car ride was finished. We had not yet reached the village, and had to now carry everything we had by foot. The village was only "10 minutes" hike away.... but that 10 minutes came and went 3 times, and half an hour later we staggered upon the church we were staying at, and were greeted with a "Jai-ma-see" and a sprig of flower.
I was so exhausted, I was most likely dehydrated (probably 30 degrees plus humidity), and still recovering my full strength from the parasite. My nice Swiss leader offered to carry my pack for the last half, for which I am extremely grateful.

We slept in the sweet little one-room church on woven grass mats, and we couldn't be happier. The view was once again stunning, and looked quite Canadian. Lots of birch-looking trees.
I also had the best shower of my life.... a drip of a tap embedded into a cement wall, but I was so in need of one that it just hit the spot.

In the days we went to surrounding houses and danced for them and shared about God's love.
One afternoon we hiked the mountain behind us, (which we were told was "20 minutes" hike, but by now we learned to at least double that estimate) and when we were about 2/3 up we had a time of worship and looked on at the beauty around us. It was really a nice time, much needed for me, and I got to talk some things out with God that had been on my heart. Then, a small group of us went to the very top (took another 30 minutes), and boy am I glad I did!
We met up with these two little old mountain ladies, who would holler to each other in their creaky voices across the slopes. Who knew what they were saying, perhaps the village gossip, or maybe their goat stories.
They would find a little rock and just perch there, waiting for the day to pass and their goats to graze among the bushes.

The very top of the mountain was so steep it was scary if you looked down. We got great pictures, the lighting was beautiful and a mist nestled nicely in between the peaks. Behind one of the mountains directly infront of us... was China!

We cooked dinner over an open fire every night, and one night we had a classic downpour.
Just as we finished dinner, it came. Instantly. Within seconds the sound was deafening as huge droplets and hail hurtled down on the tin roof above us! The girls danced in the rain; part fun, part to "wash" their sweaty punjabis they had on.
I love the rain.
It reminds me of home.
Oh Manitoba summers....
I love prairie storms.

And I got to have one in the mountain valleys of Nepal!
That night we fell asleep to thunder rolls and the loud pit-pat of a good summer storm.

The following day was so good, we got all the community together, and at night we watched the Jesus film. 25 people got saved, including a teenage girl I had talked to at her home the day before! It was a very, very good night.

The next day we ventured back, this time we had the opportunity of sitting ON TOP of the cattle truck, and riding down that way. Ana and I jumped at the chance. That 2 1/2 hour ride became my favorite experience thus far.

All in all, an amazing time,
I'm completely healed from the parasite,
feeling well, and thankful to be back in old faithful Kathmandu. In all its craziness.

Much Love,
Fia