Week One Recap!

Sorry all for the delay in sending an update! 

Between the early mornings and the astoundingly firm Nepali mattresses that are well designed to prevent a good night’s rest, I think this is the latest I’ve been able to stay awake thus far!  I’m currently working with the team in the Dolakha district, which is where the epicenter of the second large earthquake was located, and much of the significant damage has occurred.  Things have been progressing well amid an ever evolving situation and environment.  I'm blessed to have a great team here to work with and lean on for support.

I’ll quickly write a few thousand words, mostly in the form of some pictures. ;)  These are primarily of the destruction that we’ve seen so far.  But in the face of all this pain, the Nepali people continue to persevere, to support each other, and to rebuild their homes and their lives.   

Case in point, the Chief District Officer for the district we are working in requested a meeting with us at 630am this morning, on a Sunday.  A biweekly meeting between other NGO’s then took place in the CDO’s office again that afternoon which lasted until 6pm.  I think most are familiar with the typical working hours for government workers, but for all of the criticism that has been levelled at the Nepali government, I am encouraged by the example of those like this CDO, who is so determined to help his constituents rebuild their homes and their lives as quickly and orderly as possible.

First collapsed building I saw in Kathmandu.

Near completed new building that I think from the visible cracking and overall lean may now need to be torn down.

  

Despite all the destruction that did occur, it is amazing, and a great surprise, that not more of the many buildings in this town were not more severely damaged.

 One of the reasons I really want to post tonight is because a small team of us will be heading up to some remote regions of the district tomorrow morning.  The plan is to camp out in the local army barracks compound during this time, so I don't expect to have cell phone or internet reception until we return towards the end of the week.   

Between the Nepalese government and various NGO's working on the relief efforts, a national shelter strategy has been developed which is to direct relief assistance towards the most vulnerable (widows, orphaned, elderly, etc) within the most difficult to reach areas of this mountainous country.  So our goal with this initial assessment will be to identify where some of the people are and what they require to protect themselves from the impending monsoon season.    

As you may have noticed in the background of the some of the pictures, Nepal is a beautiful country with the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayan Mountain Range.

I'll end off here for now, but fully intend to share more in a few days time!  Thanks again for your continued support and prayers.