Here is another guest post.  This one from Laura Hughes, an Irish volunteer who helped at the orphanage and the nunnery during the months of February and March 2009.

‘Warriors of compassion’ was the only term I could summon up when trying to describe their presence to a friend…the weight of the world, which they carry on their shoulders and in their hearts everyday, by some miracle of love, serves not to weary them or set down their footsteps with the weary of the world, but rather to issue them a new lesson to learn – how to create love in the way we live every day.

While we all carry a hazy image, realized to a better degree in some rather more so than others, of how our children are our future, how they are the key of education, how we are creating their inheritance…somehow the meaning in all of this has never been so well exemplified than by witnessing the remarkable clarity with which these souls live their lives. No step of theirs is taken with an issue to the calamities they have suffered, or the losses which they are enduring and realizing in such a harsh way. Rather they choose to take exceptional care in learning to live with love, honesty, dignity and respect for one another. What we couldn’t learn from them.

It is impossible to imagine a more pure example of this lesson than the one which these children practice every day. It is, honestly, impossible to describe how moving it is to see such young, tiny people, carrying the oldest imaginable worry of the world on their shoulders with an impeccable amount of grace and dignity, and in each a surefire determination and willingness to help one another, carried out only in terms of equality and respect for one another, as is the only way they see fit.

Assuredly, that these children can grow so healthily in every sense, while given only the bare resources, is an essential sign that we must help these resources to grow, while allowing every chance for the love which they embody to continue it’s journey. And we may be so lucky to witness such miracles as these.

This is a guest post from Kelsey Bourn, who volunteered at the orphanage and the nunnery between February and March 2009.

I was fortunate enough to spend two months in Nepal, yet it did not seem nearly long enough time spent with the fifteen beautiful children living in the orphanage supported by Padma. I started going to the home on Saturdays to help in any way I could, teaching English or playing, but what it came to be was mostly me learning from them. They all come with different backgrounds with some similarities, and looking at them now you would never be able to tell the hardships they have survived to become the extremely loving and beautiful people they are today. The words I taught them that they didn‘t already know were few and far between, their understanding of English was amazing to me and it was easy to believe that they were successful in their school. The loving people that care for the orphanage do an amazing job at keeping them organized and focused on their education, health and ending the cycle of poverty.

The one thing that I hope I left with the children was hope, and the possibility to dream. One project I did asked the children what they wanted to be when they grew up and not surprisingly the children had big goals- doctors, pilots and teachers were common among the list. It amazes me still the way they seem to be such a family, working together, communicating freely, eager to learn and their appreciation for life and their new “family”. Because they knew so much English already, it was easy to concentrate solely on songs and games that they could play after I had returned to the U.S. They particularly enjoyed “Red Rover” and, because they are all so bright, I only had to show them one time before the following weekend, on the arrival to the home, I could see them already outside playing it on their own.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Nepal with these great children.  It was hard to say goodbye to them but it made it easier knowing that there were and still are good people looking out for them, completely supporting them and I only hope I can give back to them as much as they have given to me.

Happy New Year! Tibetan and Hindu New Years have come. The festival Shiva Raktri celebrating the upcoming year and ridding oneself of last years’ negativities brought over 2 million pilgrims to the Khatmandu valley for 2 days of ritual and celebration in the Pashupathi temple compound. In addition to Hindu pilgrims, thousands of Shiva sadhus and yogis attended, many barely dressed and many showed off their yogic abilities in their birthday suits. All Tibetan New Year festivities were cancelled this year in protest of China’s oppressive and brutal actions over the past year.

The kiddos are doing great and we are all adjusting to a current extreme water shortage. Most days we have less than 3 gallons of water to use for washing dishes clothes and ourselves. Anjana found a public well a few kilometers from the home and the kids are bathing there. Anjit found a fresh water supplier who drove a water truck up to our front door and filled the rooftop watertank. Buying water is not in the budget but living without any water for a few days makes you appreciate the modern world. The shortage is caused by electricity shortage. Without electricity 16 hours a day water cannot be pumped through the valley or up to rooftop tanks.

On a brighter note the possibility of moving to a larger house has come. The new government has spent several years rebuilding the public, or government school system. As little as five years ago private schools were the only option for decent education but today most government operated schools are equal and in many cases better. The Nepali school year ends in early April and Anjit suggest we move the kiddos to a nearby government school and save between 5 and 6 thousand rupees, or about $80. Not much in the states but enough to pay the rent difference for a bigger home. Boo yah!

Anjana is working diligently on preparing the perfect grant proposal to send to Save The Children among other large INGO’s. She also continues to visit organizations around Khatmandu looking for the big 5: 1-education support 2-food support 3-medical support 4-clothing support 5-financial support. She is establishing a network to call on in an emergency as well as information sharing.

Other than that, the help and pressence of Giedre Pesenkaite is missed by everyone. She went back to Lithuania after 3 months of volunteering and working in Nepal. As her final act of generosity to Padma and the kids she secured a donation of clothes for the 15 kids and the 7 kids Padma sponsors outside the home. The clothes were donated by Volunteer Services of Nepal.

Besides all this, the kiddos have parents day at school tomorrow. They will show off the songs and dances they’ve studied for the last 4 months. Rama, Anjit, and Anjana will put our proud parent caps on for the festivities. Check padmanepal.org for pics in the next week or two.

As for our current goals: the main goal is to have $1500 in monthly sponsors registered through padmanepal.org. Currently we have just over $300 in monthly sponsorship. Times are hard all around the world these days. We are still counting on you for support. If we can get 75 sponsors giving just $20/month we meet our goal and continue our mission. If you have any questions suggestions or will be in Nepal sometime soon drop us an email at info@padmanepal.org.

Be sure to check out the pictures of the kids and get to know them on their individual pages!

The kids finished their semester exams and had a week holiday.  We took them outside the valley to Pharping, a rural town with several Buddhist pilgrimage sites, clean air and mountain views.  4 boxes of Christmas presents also arrived!  My mom Heidi gathered 20 shoeboxes full of gifts for the kids.  At first the kiddos didn’t know what to do with the boxes but once they realized the cool stuff inside was really for them they were elated!  That night they couldn’t sleep and several snuck out of their beds to check on their new markers, crayons, hairclips etc.  On Saturday they decided to write thank you cards and draw pictures to show their  gratitude.  3 hours later they were still coloring, cutting, writing and designing their Masterpieces of Thanks.        

Across the valley the nuns of Ngoedrub Charbeb Ling nunnery are preparing for a trip to Bodhgaya, India to participate in the Nyingma Monlam, an annual prayer festival where thousands of monks, nuns and Ngakpas pray and meditate 8-12 hours a day together for two weeks straight while seated around a tree marking the place where Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment.  The nuns are excited for their teacher to return in a few weeks and are hoping for more support to start coming for the monastery.