Bruce's Latest ShelterBox Mission: NEPAL

Friends & Family, Greetings from sunny Nepal. Assuming you like vegetables, very spicy curry, dirt, people with body odor, don't wish to communicate with anyone, and want to travel two and a half days to get here, this is really the "in" place to be. Cows and monkeys, which are sacred, roam the streets. There are multiple shrines and temples burning incense on every corner. Fortunately, the King stepped down just a year ago so the shooting and riots have stopped. The hotel Internet was out yesterday afternoon and today. When it does work, occasional power outages make the entire communicating thing a very frustrating experience...... and the speed makes the Slowskis look fast. Feel the burn! I opine for even dial up speeds. Phone service in the flood area stopped working at noon today. One can understand how schedules tend to change hourly in this environment. Two SRTs are in the field (one from the UK and one from Australia) only 318 miles away, but it takes 12 hours to get there by car. Bus service is usually good when they don't fall off the cliffs, and I understand the air conditioning from the roof of the bus, where one usually finds the only available seat, to be really great. One is advised to be on the watch for overhanging tree branches and bridges. I am in Kathmandu trying to get the second batch of boxes cleared through customs. Out of 400 boxes sent, Thai Airlines can only find 376 of them. Those that are coming in will be here by the 10th. Waiting is most frustrating when suffering people need the help. Fortunately, a lot of logistical support is being provided from the influential Rotarians both here and in the field, but delays are commonplace. Evidently, conditions in the flooded river district are tough. The Nepalese army chased out 10,000 people who crossed over from a very porous border with India, displaced because of the same flood, having no food or water and no place to go. Evidently about 65,000 Nepalese have been displaced. Imagine losing your home and crops when you only make $ 300 per year. And that is no typo, $300 represents the average annual income in Nepal. Most are farmers. All of the schools in the area are under water and closed. Now that it has been two weeks since the flood, secondary issues have begun to surface. There have been multiple deaths, young and old alike, from dysentery due to unclean water, and poisonous snakes (they like rivers, you know). There is only one other international aide agency working in the region providing food, but the majority live in the deep mud with just one small tarp to shelter the entire family from the rain. Perhaps Charles can give one of his mini sermons on the phrase "there but for the grace of God go I". It is very soul searching, especially given conditions here. Some people need to be constantly humbled, and reminded of all of the blessings taken for granted at home. I am one such person, and thankful for this wonderful opportunity to serve my fellow man. Thank YOU sincerely for your support. The need for the ShelterBox solution is great, as you can imagine. The first group of SRTs had their picture taken with the Prime Minister last week. The local Rotarians are very thankful that their AU, US and UK neighbors care enough to send aide. Imagine how you would feel if you were the recipient................... Bruce