Welcome 2012!

Let us close 2011 with a blessing:
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you this year! It was not like any year in the past although most any year will have its highs and lows but this year we had the highest high and the lowest low. We had a wonderful visit to Nepal in the 1st Qtr and had so much fun with the children in DNC, Pruwanchal, Naxal and Banepa Deaf School. Taking the Pruwanchal deaf students to Charles point in Dharan was memorable and happy! having a party at the Naxal hostel was awesome!Receiving news that all 8 students at DNC passed their SLC exams in 1st division and Vishnu taking distinction was so over the top! Congratulations to all of you!Special mention to Subodh, from Sanjuwani School who passed the SLC and has been an outstanding student considering his sight challenge! A pseudo parent cannot be prouder!!

Here's a toast to all your hard work, all those early morning studies, late night papers by solar lanterns and endless commutes to take your tuition exercises to get ready for your future were all worth it! I cannot tell you how proud Rob and I are of your dedication to your own education! big hug and kisses to all of you - you serve as an exemplar model for all the younger children at DNC!

Juxtapose that wonderful elation with the deep deep sorrow we had felt when we heard that Lovely had ran away from Pruwanchal and could not be found. Renukha, the school principal, had organized a massive search involving all social organizations, policeman, hospitals, schools and universities, Rotarians and neighborhood citizens. The search spanned the entire Dharan town and extended to the jungles and the Indian border, but to no avail! we were just beside ourselves and were at a desperate loss for our Lovely! You see Lovely not only had deafness but mental challenges as well. At age 16, after this school year we were going to transfer him to a home for mentally challenged children with a handicap like deafness so his needs would be better diagnosed and met. Now it is too late. Oh Lovely, I hope against hope that someone kind has taken you in. We even offered a reward for his return but no one came forward. After 4 weeks, we had to call off the search, Renukha was weary and for fear her health would take a turn - we had to hope that out there - Lovely is fine.

I can't tell you how awful the feeling of helplessness can be! Its heartbreaking and just downright empty! We walked around in a daze thinking, "where would he go , where could he be? What did he eat for food? How is he doing?"

Until as each passing day brings opportunity to focus on other challenges, other pressing issues for the children who are constantly struggling to keep up with school, prepare for the Nepali festivals and other student events they participate in at school or at home - we are pulled toward the tasks at hand. The decisions that need to be made, the fund raising that needs to be successful, the people to meet for grant modification and the many other need-to-dos that fill our lives.

No, we haven't forgotten our lost loved ones, we haven't forgotten at all! We just needed to keep going. {:'<

And so that was 2011 - just a taste of world community service for children TRIFC style! Your heart belongs to around 100 children we see every year - make notes on, write to, check up on and encourage, look for sales for through out the year for and finally hug when we get there in April 2012!

Which brings us to 2012 and all the possibilities it brings, happy or sad, its all part of life. We muddle through, we weep, we laugh, we love! Thanks for all your support! I'd like to think we make a difference, our drop in the bucket is just a drop but I believe its a very big one! Namaste and Jaihos!!! 2012!!!