at the children's home

Finally, after two weeks, I'm doing what I told everyone I'd be doing in Nepal...living and volunteering at an orphanage. Actually it's called a children's home because these kids aren't orphans any more - and you know it when you walk in the door. They're the loudest, kindest kids, a family of 25 with a heavenly Father. They all eat more than me. And they're so tiny!

Our first day, we played catch and hand-clap games, counted in English and sang the ABCs, worshipped in the evening and ate dahl bat (it's what they eat for every meal). It was fun but exhausting - maybe more exhausting than trekking 13 hours? Just kidding. Not really.

My favorite thing is that they all call us 'aunty' and shout it all the time at us. 'Aunty watch!' 'Aunty here!' And for some of them, aunty is the extent of their English - which makes smiles and laughter so meaningful.

Here are a couple pictures:




(the view from the roof: this area is called Khokana, and it's right outside Kathmandu. Tourist buses come here all the time because it's marketed as a real Nepali village. Compared to the villages we saw, it's not at all...)




(we taught them 'down by the banks' - a group hand clap game. 'Again, aunty, again!')




(Sita and Rajn)





(the children's home)




(the front door)




(praying during worship this morning)

It's so beautiful to see these kids, who all have sad and grim pasts, joyfully praising God, at home, learning, eating enough food. And it's beautiful to see the Nepali house parents who live here (Dinesh, Sita, Nira, Suna, and Nelson) and dedicate themselves to bringing up these kids. They are such patient people.

I've been thinking a lot about Philippians 2:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Sometimes I just want to have internet and gourmet food,a softer bed, all these selfish things, and need to remind myself that this trip is not about me. Or if it is about me in any small way, it's about me being a humble servant, which is hard.

Pray for these adorable kids! I'll post more pictures when I can.