Taking More than Luggage

Its the day I fly out to Kathmandu with Eric and Donna (6 other trip participants fly through other routes). I do this every year for the past 8 years and its always been the highlight of my year. I leave my work, my triathlon training, my kids and extended family and friends to embark on a journey albeit short by adventure standards yet fulfilling and inspiring every time.

The children we support through our 501(c)(3) have been waiting all year and our reunion is always sweet! They gather round, hugs are never enough it seems! I've gone around all the sales and bargain outlets to get each and every one of them a present. we have goody bags filled with little toys and crafts (thanks to Oriental Trading), candy, toothbrush and toothpaste courtesy of several dentists in the Mill Creek Rotary Club who put the 125 bags together. They don't really care that they get anything they're happy just for us to be there. These visits spell the true meaning of friendship! We use the time we have together to enjoy the activities they usually do and we take them out to a special field trip- this year we are going camping in the mountains where its cooler now that the hot weather has set in.

Please follow, as we journey together touring the country, experiencing their culture and accepting whatever comes out way.

This year I am taking more than luggage, I am taking the well wishes and support of my team mates and co-workers from T-Mobile. Working with you has been quite a fun and inspiring time! Thanks for holding down the work as I visit my 'retreat' of sorts!

Take care and see you all real soon!

The Resilience of the Human Spirit

TRIFC Volunteer Projects: Disabled New Life Center: A very sad story. This child's parents are alcoholic and used this child as a beggar to earn money. To increase earnings they burned ha...

TRIFC Volunteer Projects: We've reached our fundraising goal!

TRIFC Volunteer Projects: We've reached our fundraising goal!: Namaste Friends! I am happy to report that we have reached our fundraising goal of $5400 to help fund school tuition and expenses for ...

TREK TO ABC for TRIFC

TREK to Annapurna Base Camp - 13000 ft above sea level to witness the majestic Himalayan Mountain peaks on a guided tour complete with tea-house accommodations, meals and park fees, flight arrangements, land travel. Plus a chance to see how your donation of $1000 or more can help children with disabilities thrive a a country whose government and society hinder their equal participation to nation building.

Here are details of the TREK:

 Day 1- Arrive at Kathmandu and stay over-night at Hotel Himalaya
 Day 2- Sightsee in the Kathmandu Valley and stay overnight at Hotel Himalaya
 Day 3- Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, trek to Hille (4840 ft. elevation, 3 hr walk), and stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 4- Trek to Ghorepani (9360ft, 6 hr walk), and stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 5- Trek to Tadapani (8330ft, 6-7 hr walk), and stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 6- Trek to Chomrong (7120ft, 5 hr walk), and stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 7- Trek to Dhovan (8330ft, 6 hr walk), and stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 8- Trek to Deurali (10,301ft, 4 hr walk), and stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 9- Trek to Annapurna base cam (13,550ft, 5-6 hr walk), and stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 10- Explore Hidden Valley and trek back to Dhovan (5 hr walk), stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 11- Trek to Jhinu Danda (5-6 hr walk), and stay overnight at a lodge.
 Day 12- Trek back to Naya Pool (5- 6 hr walk), drive back to Pokhara (1.5 hr drive), and stay overnight at Hotel Tulsi.
 Day 13- Sightsee for half a day at Pokhara Valley, fly back to Kathmandu, and stay overnight at Hotel Himalaya.
 Day 14- Visit project sites in Kathmandu and stay overnight at Hotel Himalaya.
 Day 15- Depart for home country

More on my next POST!
Its a breakthrough experience!
Join me!

NAMASTE!
Gina Rose

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!!!

Basanta

March 11, 2011

Today was the day we were going to visit Basanta. He has been our sponsored student since he was in Class 1 back in 2004. Tina, my sister pays $50 a month for his school fees, uniform, hostel and schoolbooks. Every year Tina puts a care package together, picking out a few clothes, shoes, chocolates and little toys to send with wishes of Happiness and love!

We came to know about Basanta from Rotaractor Sanjeev Dahal who had a friend who taught at Suryodaya Secondary School. She mentioned there was an orphan boy who did not have much but was a good student and needed a sponsor to continue his studies. He would hide under his table because he was so ashamed about not having the requisite school uniform or materials everyone else had. The teacher would provide second hand clothes and materials but she would not be able to provide these on an on-going basis. He lost his Mother after his little brother was born and his father was so upset, he left the family and now Basanta has 2 aunts to care for him during festivals and school breaks. He still has his grandparents whom he loves very much.

“No problem”, Rob had immediately said, I am sure we can find a sponsor for him and that was that!

That was 7 years ago and yesterday we enjoyed a bright and enthusiastic 13 year old, now in 7th grade who is Vice President of the school’s Eco Club! He loves plants, shows us the club’s herbal garden which they had tended which boasts of mint, timor, basil, and all other herbal /medicinal native plants.

He is shy but opened up after an hour and was excited to tell us where his Eco Club activities has sent him; Godavari and other neighboring towns to look at plants and trees. He said he was so excited about our meeting, he could not sleep that night before and neither could he concentrate at class the day we were supposed to arrive. He’s a bright and confident boy now and on the verge of adolescence and despite the heartache of missing parents, he seemed content with the knowledge that somewhere halfway around the world, Tina, his adopted parent cares for him and loves him.

He wants to meet Tina! I hope that next year she can visit and finally meet the recipient of her love and care! Gotta make it happen! He’s smile is oh so worth it!

Sanjiwani School Art Project

February 24, 2011

There are 14 visually challenged students who live in a hostel in the grounds of the Sanjiwani Model Higher Secondary School in Dhulikhel, Kavre District, Nepal. 4 of these students have sponsors who pay for their hostel and tuition fees. We always plan a special activity here to benefit all the visually challenged students. They range in age from 6 to 18 and attend the school with all the other 1000+ students from class 1 – 10.

Bobbie has suggested a “treasure Box” art project wherein the students would decorate wooden boxes with objects of many shapes and sizes and then the volunteers would help varnish these boxes so they would have their personal treasure boxes to keep as a memory of our volunteer activity. RR had the boxes made by a local woodworker and we brought the plastic jewels of all shapes with adhesive backings to make the process a little easier for our students. Each volunteer partnered with a student to assist and interact with them while they decorated their boxes. Each box was labeled with their name and the name of their volunteer. We had boxed lunches brought in and gave out goodie bags we brought for each student too! We also got to buy each one a shirt, underwear and socks from the local market.

A good time was had by all! The students had fun being out of the classroom for a few hours and created their treasure boxes and just chatted with us about their families and favorite things! I just felt really warm inside as I saw their smiles light up their faces as we joked around. They don’t care what we looked like or how we dressed or why we were there. They just enjoyed our company, received our presence and felt good that all eyes were on them that day!