Waterfalls abounding...

So awesome story here.

On our way to Pokhara from Kathmandu, we were passing some mini streams that were waterfalls. I thought they were so pretty and I was wishing I could see a bigger one. Well amazingly enough, God granted that wish to me.

We got to stop at a huge waterfall!!

It was gorgeous and exhilarating!

Adrenaline was rushing through me (yes a waterfall can do that to me, so you could imagine how white water rafting affected me if I got uber excited just by this).

This was such a great moment. I got to walk barefoot on a waterfall river bed on stones that were so smooth...oh... haha it was truly wonderful. Not to mention the fact that if you let the water carry you, you would die. The little river bed dropped off about 20-30 feet away down to a rock steep death. Good thing it was only like 3 inches deep.

God made me smile this day :)

Serious and Funny moments in a temple

Before ministry in the Tibetan refuge camp (I am almost positive that this temple was at the camp) we had the chance to check this temple/ monastery out.

Then afterwards we got to go back while the monks were doing recitations and chants inside.

Hearing the chants and 'music' was pretty eerie.While sitting on a pew (yes I was able to sit on a pew just like this pic but on the other side of the room) I was in a deep thought about spiritual things when I looked down and what do I see on the floor? A nasty cockroach. I quickly pulled my feet up and so did my friend who was sitting next to me. I thought I was safe but that diminished. The cockroach decided to crawl up next to my feet on the pew! Trying not to make a scene during the ceremony thing, I got up (more like jumped up) and walked behind the pews and was going to sit on the floor but just as I was about to sit, what decides to get on the floor and come over to me? The stupid cockroach! So I ran back to my seat and the cockroach finally left me alone. I am glad I didn't make a scene. How embarrassing would that have been? haha

A squattie...

Yes,

Here it is folks.

A squattie pottie...

They actually are not that hard to use. I consider myself pro at it from the beginning.

Never had to use that change of clothes in my backpack :)

This particular one was located at the Leper colony so it isn't very nice. I have used nicer ones than this. This is a poor mans squattie I guess you could say.

A defining moment...

This is true love right here in this picture.

When a teenager holds the hands of a leper with no fear or shame.

Only love.

I cannot tell you how proud I am of my friend for this act of love she showed this old, lonely woman. Although they couldn't understand each other,

my friend showed God's love by holding this lepers hand.

I love you, my Canadian friend :)

You are so special and I know you will be greatly rewarded for this act of love.

A funny moment at the Leper Colony...

So when we visited the Leper Colony I was able to play with this adorable little girl.

I thought she was the cutest thing (still do). She was very fascinated with our water bottles and especially our cameras!!

Well as we were playing with her and our cameras and water bottles we noticed a wet spot on the ground. At first I thought a water bottle leaked but the mother of the child immediately picked the girl up and I knew that the kid just peed.

Well that wasn't the worst part.

The mother, right in front of us, took the kids pants off!

And that was our dawning moment when we saw with our own eyes are mistake. This little girl was no little girl...

She was a boy.

haha as soon as the mother walked away, we all looked at eachother and laughed. We all had thought that he was a she.

We were wrong.

Funny times.

Shanta

This woman is a powerful woman of God. You can tell by listening to her and her story that she is deeply in love with Christ and she wants everyone to know it.

Here is her story that I have taken from her website that I will share at the end.

"Peace Rehabilitation Center was founded by Shanta Sapkota. She was born in the town ofGorkha, Nepal. Her father brokered an arranged marriage for her at the age of twelve, in order to get her out of the house. She was neglected in her new household and suffered from much physical and mental affliction. Constantly in search of peace and love, she felt like an orphan. When in her Bible she read, “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you” (John 14:18), she became aware of God’s promise for her and committed her life to serving Him.

At age twenty-five Shanta left home and family in Gorkha and made her way to Kathmandu, where she found work and began a new life.

She also joined classes at a mission where she learned much aboutlove, care, and the need for service to victims of sex trafficking.Shanta felt compelled to join in these efforts and immediately decided to commit herself to the care of a former sex worker who was dying of AIDS. She shared her decision with friends, who agreed to support her efforts. Overwhelmed by the task before her, she was encouraged by Jesus’ words in John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” PRC’s foundational work and continuing ministry give evidence to the truth of this verse.Shanta chose the name Peace

Rehabilitation Center because in her time of abandonment and sorrow as a young woman, God’s peace gave her hope and new life. From her own experience, she knows the importance of love and peace in the lives of the many girls who call her mother. Shanta says with confidence, “Although I will not always be here, the work and mission of PRC will never die because it is not my work, but the Lord’s.”

Her story was even better in person and hearing her conviction and passion was remarkable. I will never forget Shanta and the girls at this home.

Here is the link to Shanta's site about the home and even a way to donate to this cause.

http://peacerehab.org/index.html

Pushing myself to new heights..

Literally! This is one of Nepal's tallest/longest suspension bridges and I crossed it! Twice!

Now, if you don't know already, I am deeply scared, more like terrified of heights. The first thing I had to push myself to do was to fly on an airplane, by myself and wander the airport of Chicago to baggage claim, by myself. I also didn't like doing big things like that by myself. But now I can do it.

Anyway, back to the bridge. So it was very scary. A beautiful view but very scary. It took every ounce of me to not freak out or something. But with the help of some friends, I was able to go over it and back again.

I conquered it!

Nepal was...

amazing!!!

I had so much fun playing with the kids (as seen in the picture), meeting new people, trying new food, and doing new things. It was the time of my life and I wouldn't trade any second of it away. I know God used me in might ways, although I was not able to see the fruit of my planting, I know there will be a harvest because of me. My strongest point and I pray I did it well, was playing with the children and showing them love. It wasn't everyday that white people would stop and love on these kids or play with them. In fact, I am sure it almost never happens. My team made an impact on many lives just by playing with the kids and showing the people that we were different. That we were not just some group of tourists that will go and make a ruckus and cause problems. We were responsible teenagers sharing the love of Christ. I could not have asked for a better team of people. Each and everyone of them are near and dear to my heart and I will miss them greatly but thank God for facebook and other ways of keeping in touch.

This is just one post, I will post more in the time to come.