Kathmandu floods

In September 2014 we had a lot of rain and one of the families in our branch Utpadi and Santi Garung's home was flooded very badly two different times. The branch helped them clean up and then the drains near our apartment building were plugged and the water filled up the parking garage and damaged the electricity and water to our building. We did not have power for 2 days. Then they put up substitute power. Like a big extension cord. They still have not  fixed the regular line. We ended up cleaning out our fridge and giving food away and staying the night at the Shambala Hotel. Always a new adventure in Nepal.

Utpadi showing me where the waterline was.

sweeping out the mud and water with a
straw broom. They have no handles.

Elder Valentine and other branch members cleaning up

Inside damage

Storm drains burst. Plastic bags and garbage plug up the drains.

Mike with his broom going to help

Force of water took down fences.

Flood waters next to our apartment building.

Flooded home near our apartment building.

this shows the parking garage under our apartment building.
There are two  levels. The water is almost to the top
of the bottom level.

they couldn't find the owner of this vehicle so it could be
moved so it was totally covered with flood water.

Bardiya Flood Relief Project

There were several floods and landslides in Nepal in August. A lot of homes were washed away and their crops were destroyed and they were without food. We wanted to help in some way. After much planning we were able to take non food items: cooking pots, utensils, plates, cups washing buckets, mugs, sleeping mats, fabric for clothes, blankets to help 650 families. We flew to Nepalgung Sept7, 2014 and with the help of the Red Cross were able to distribute these items to families. It was a very rewarding experience and we met a lot of helpful, kind people. Because we have been given much we too must give. Another opportunity to strengthen our testimonies.

Makeshift housing

part of road washed away

crops washed away

homes destroyed

Red Cross volunteers handing out beaten rice. It does not
need to be cooked.

netting fish

Fish caught

employees at the fabric store bundling up fabric into family kits

Chris V. and Betty watching as the supplies were loaded into
trucks. The red scarves were given to us by the fabric store owner
to wipe our faces from the dripping sweat. It was hot!

missionaries and the red cross volunteers in front of the
red cross storage building in Magaradi.

Sushma(red cross volunteer) fanning Mike. It was hot! She was
such a fun person to be around.

Unloading supplies at the distribution site.

People waiting at the distribution site

pots ready to go into family bag.

Elder Valentine giving wooden toy cars to children. What we
can do to bring a smile to a child's face.

Her bag is full.

Taking their bag of goods back to their place of abode. They
are smiling.

More daily life in Kathmandu

Just some random pictures of Kathmandu. I'll try to explain a little under each photo.

A little girl helping her mom roll out bread dough for
the morning at a local canteen(place to eat on the street)

Supposedly a mailbox. I sure wouldn't put in mail in it. Also
notice the wonderful muddy streets. Thats how it is when it rains.

gentleman washing his feet off in the puddle

One of many shoe repair stations. A policeman brushing
the dust off his shoes. This repairman poked a hole in Mike's
belt and Mike gave him like $1.00. He sits on a corner we
pass by most everyday and always smiles and says "Nameste"

Man carrying baby chicks in his basket for sale. Not sure how
that basket stays on his head. Those chicks have got to be
moving around. Also lots of motorcycles in Kathmandu.
Cheaper mode of transportation.

Little boy in front of a knife sharpening machine. They
pedal it like a bicycle. I need to take a few knives to get
sharpened.

These are like  plates they grind their grains into flour on.
These were for sale.

Dinner at restaurant with our mission president and his
wife (Peter and Kelly Sackley) other missionaries on
left (Jim and Chris Valentine)

Rug we purchased for our apartment

I think he has a load of yarn on his rickshaw.

This is jack fruit.Very seasonal fruit here. I didn't get to taste it, but
Mike did and he said it kind of tasted like bananas.

A cute elderly Nepali woman we see on our street
frequently.

Parbatikunda

July 6 and 7th, 2014  Mike went to check out a water project which we are suppose to start in 2015, but which no one had been to the site yet. It is almost to the Tibet border and he didn't know if he would have to hike or if there would be a place to stay the night, so I did not go. Our water monitor for the project Chandra Adhikari went with him and also the director for the partner NGO Hari Dhungana went and a friend of his. They had quite an adventure. Mike came home with blood on his underwear in two places where he had been bitten by leeches. They had bad roads and had to wait while someone winched a vehicle up out of the canyon. The people welcomed him with banners and even gave him 2 authentic hats they wear to bring home.

Landslide across the road

A river along the way

welcome with cottas(scarf) and flowers
the man on the right is Hari Dhungana

Children came too

They should have welcomed LDS Charities not honor
Mr. Elder Wasuita. Somehow they got the
wrong message. I think they were very appreciative
to have someone help them to get water.

waiting while this jeep was winched back up onto the road

looking down at a river in the bottom of the mountains. Parbatakunda
is very high up in the mountains.

muddy mountain roads. what a mess. Only 4 wheel drive
vehicles can go here.

A big track hoe had to pull buses and big trucks through
a deep muddy spot in the road.

A pretty river along the way

winding road to the top of the mountain

A village woman pouring some drinking alcohol in Mike's
hand. Now what do I do?

The water source for the village

Another village welcomes Mr. Elder Wasuita

shows the native clothing

Village, water will serve

water users committee

Nepali food. masala chicken, rice, vegetables

interesting gentleman Mike met. He carried a
big knife in his belt.