Photo taken high above Kathmandu where we could clearly see the city below. The broken stones we saw then may foretell what this city may be now — broken in many ways.

Could be that we’ve had Nepal on our minds lately, but the word for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Broken just seems appropriate for that country right now. Not that we have any additional news.  But just looking through our pictures taken in 2011 makes us realize that what we saw then may not even be intact after the April 2015 earthquakes.

What we remember, though, is all positive when it comes to our memories of a Habitat International build in a village about 45 minutes from Kathmandu.  We watched as the homeowner took a pick ax and broke up the rock in the quarry on his property.

Homeowner in Nepal breaks up stone from a quarry on his mountainside property

Broken pieces were “daisy-chained” up the mountain where stone cutters continued to shape stones into building blocks for a stone-and-mud home.

Stone cutter breaks up rock to form building blocks for a new home in Nepal

And then those broken and shaped stones formed walls for a new home for a young couple and their daughter.

Adding doors and windows to a new home in Nepal constructed of stone and mud

May that circle be unbroken as we continue to help others around the world.

For more entries in the WordPress challenge this week — Weekly Photo Challenge: Broken — click here.

Durbar Square, Kathmandu, before the earthquake on April 25, 2015.

It was four years ago that we fell in love with Nepal.  We traveled to the other side of the world with 12 companions all with the same goal: build two Habitat for Humanity houses near Dhulikel (about two hours from Kathmandu) for two deserving families.  But we never knew our lives would be forever changed by the experience.  Nor could we have predicted that an earthquake on April 25, 2015, would tug at our heartstrings as we mourned Nepal’s losses.

Eyes of Boudhanath Stupa

The New York Times brought the devastation to our living room with an article on April 26 by Ellen Barry: “Earthquake Devastates Nepal, Killing More Than 1,900.”  But even as we write this post, the toll mounts as reported by Thomas Fuller and Chris Buckley: “Earthquake Aftershocks Jolt Nepal as Death Toll Rises Above 3,400.” 

Something in Barry’s article truly hit home:  Bert and I had been there with our Habitat for Humanity group and toured three of the four now-demolished UNESCO World Heritage Sites — “Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a temple complex built in the shape of a conch shell; Patan Durbar Square, which dates to the third century; . . . and the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the Himalayas.”

Temple in Bakhtapur — is it standing? (Still searching for pictures on the Internet to find out.)

We remember visiting Bhaktapur on our second day in Nepal when families worked together to sift and lay out grains on huge mats.  Following us around were ladies carrying strands of beads over their arms — until we finally gave in and bought necklaces whether we needed them or not.  People seemed happy that we were there. And we, in turn, felt their pride  — in their community and their buildings which, we learned, bore signature carved wood decorations not seen in many other parts of the world. But now, much is gone.

Ornately carved window, Bakhtapur

In Bakhatapur and in Kathmandu, sites we saw in 2011 are now damaged beyond repair or gone altogether. Like Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple in Kathmandu where centuries-old craftsmanship of the Nepalese people in this once-frequented house of worship have turned to rubble. A loss that may never be regained. (For more before and after photos, click here.)

Demolished: Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple, Kathmandu. Photo: Niranjan Shrestha, Associated Press: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/04/25/world/asia/nepal-landmarks-before-after-earthquake.html

Losing temples, however, is more than just the loss of artistry. Whole communities in Nepal now find themselves without buildings that once were unifying forces.

Like this temple in Kathmandu where we happened upon a group of women lined up to pay homage to the gods they worship.  One by one the women entered the temple, laying down strings of marigolds or setting plates of food in and around the ancient altars. We wonder now if the earthquake’s devastation has created more than a physical loss.  Has it marred, at least temporarily, the spirit of a people known for time-honored traditions? Will the people return to worship?  And where?

Women bringing tributes to a temple in Kathmandu

Even more devastating than the destruction of cultural icons though is the loss of human lives.   And, for us, this loss in Nepal, a country struggling with many issues, has had a profound effect.  It’s the people, you see, that bring us pause: like those who greeted us cordially, placing marigolds around our necks and smearing red paste on our foreheads.

Women of Nepal greeting us on the site of one of our Habitat builds.

It’s the families we met.  And the stone masons who directed our work.  And the children at the job site who trugged up the mountain to get to school each workday, but came back to play with us in the afternoon.

We’re also wondering about the school kids at Bhabishva Ujjwal Primary School in Kavre, about 45 minutes from Kathmandu — children who sang for us and showed us their classrooms and made us feel welcome.  Did the earthquake affect them?  Their families?  Their teachers?

Schoolchildren in Kavre, Nepal watch as we pay a visit to Bhabishva Ujjwal Primary School.

We’re watching, Nepal.  We’re reading whatever we can get our hands on and checking for tweets and Facebook posts.  We’re listening for news of rescue efforts in Nepal and Mount Everest where hikers were caught in a deadly avalanche.  And we’re supporting you with contributions through the Red Cross, UNICEF, Save the Children, and Habitat for Humanity, among others.

We’re thinking about you.  A lot.

The daughter of one of our Habitat homeowners dressed up for the dedication ceremony.

For we mourn Nepal and wonder what more we can do.

Namaste, Nepal.

For more information:

Barry, E. (April 25, 2015). “Earthquake Devastates Nepal, Killing More Than 1,900.” New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/world/asia/nepal-earthquake-katmandu.html

Godlasky, A. (April 27, 2015).  “How to help victims of Nepal quake.” USA Today. Retrieved from: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/04/25/nepal-quake-how-to-help/26361193/

Fuller, T. and Buckley, C. (April 26, 2015). “Earthquake Aftershocks Jolt Nepal as Death Toll Rises Above 3,400.” New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/world/asia/katmandu-nepal-fear-loss-and-devastation.html?ref=todayspaper

“Nepal’s Landmarks Before and After the Earthquake” (updated April 27, 2015). New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/04/25/world/asia/nepal-landmarks-before-after-earthquake.html

The Habitat house in Lesotho is finished! And we’re celebrating halfway around the world!

Many people in Lesotho gave it their all to complete this home, built entirely by hand of concrete block and mud.  The project began with Habitat for Humanity, but was interrupted by an attempted coup to oust the prime minister of Lesotho.

The children who will live here — in their newly finished home in Lesotho.

But now, we’ve come full circle.  The house is finished.  The family has a new home. And three deserving children face blue skies and white clouds as they look to the future from their doorstep! It’s a new day!

For more about our travels in Lesotho and South Africa, check out the Page at the top of this blog.  And thanks for stopping by.

Click here for A dream deferred:  Political unrest delays Habitat build in Lesotho.

Children waiting for a new Habitat house in Lesotho

Don’t ask three children living near Maseru, Lesotho, about an unexpected coup to oust the Prime Minister.  They may not know anything about it.  Or even care.  All they know is that their new house — a sturdy, clean, safe, concrete block and mud house on a pleasant hillside — couldn’t be completed on schedule by a certain 12-member Habitat Global Village team from the U. S. and Canada.  And not only that —  what is a coup anyway?

Waiting for his new house in Lesotho.

It didn’t seem fair, of course.  But then political unrest always seems to hurt those who are innocent and undeserving of upheaval.  On the day our Habitat team arrived in Johannesburg, a military coup was taking shape:  Prime Minister Thomas Thabane fled the country, seeking exile in Ladybrand in Free State, after receiving intelligence that he was the target of a military assassination attempt.  Habitat Global Village coordinators reacted quickly to the news, delaying the border crossing of our team into Lesotho by one day and discussing issues, ramifications, and concerns for the safety of all.  Cautiously, we entered the country, unloaded our packs at Ka Pitseng Guest House, and prepared for the build on the following day.

Ready to build: Hlabathe from Global Village Lesotho assists Kelle Shultz, Knoxville Director of Habitat for Humanity

Gathering onsite, we listened as Mathabo Makuta, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Lesotho, greeted us and welcomed us to her country, praising our commitment and generosity.  Then she spoke of passion, passion for helping her people, the people of Lesotho.

Mathabo Makuta, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Lesotho, addresses the work team from U. S. and Canada.

The task seemed fairly simple to those experienced in global village construction:  Stack concrete blocks, add logs of mud for binding and filler, follow the stone masons’ guidance for alignment and balance, and tap/rake/tap the dirt floor to pack a solid foundation. Secondly, build a pit latrine:  dig, dig, and then dig some more until you can just see over the head of a man standing upright. When both tasks are complete, top the house with corrugated tin and rocks (to form a roof) and line the latrine with block to make it last for years to come.

Working hard was the goal.  After all, most on the team had built with Global Village somewhere in the world before — Guatemala, Nepal, Trinidad, Belfast, Viet Nam.  But no one had ever been to Lesotho, a small land-locked country surrounded on all sides by South Africa.  A country of mountainous terrain with a population of just over two million. And one of the poorest countries in the world (The Citizen, September 1, 2014). Lesotho depends heavily on the income it derives from exporting water and hydroelectric power to South Africa. But even with the benefit of good natural resources, Lesotho has a widespread problem to overcome: over 24% of the population is infected with the HIV/Aids, one of the highest rates in the world.

Current home of family in Lesotho.

And so our thoughts turned to the family, the people we came halfway around the world to serve.  The ones who had high hopes of a completed house the week we were there.

Three children will live there — a girl (16) and two boys (12 and 8) — orphaned since their parents died of Aids years ago.  Caring for them is their faithful grandmother (age 82, blind and unable to walk, thus not pictured) and her brother (age 76) who stayed onsite with us during the build, frequently tearing up as he expressed his gratitude for the work we were doing.

Proud owners of a new Habitat home — soon!

We lined up in front of the family’s current home to meet the grandmother and tell her how grateful we were for the opportunity to build a new home for her family.  Not a one of us could speak afterwards.  Our mouths were dry.  Our hearts were open.  And the resolve was stronger than ever to complete the job.

The children’s uncle — happy to work with us and grateful for a new home.

One day of work, however, was all we had.  The attempted coup prompted the U. S. Embassy to issue a statement mandating the evacuation of all U. S. citizens from the Kingdom of Lesotho.  We were leaving — even though the important work had just begun and lines of communication among the Lesotho workers and our team had strengthened.

Global Village team with community supporters: Lesotho 2014.

We looked back at the house with a sense of pride, knowing we had given it our best even if for only a day.  And also knowing that the work would be completed by community workers, our co-workers. Almost immediately, the Global Village team found refuge for us in nearby Clarens and planned for our safe evacuation.

But we hated to leave. Hated to disappoint the family.

Hopeful that her new Habitat house in Lesotho will be completed soon.

Later in our travels, someone shared the poem “I Am an African” by Wayne Visser, reminding us of our time in Lesotho and a short, very short, build with Habitat for Humanity — a dream deferred.

from I Am an African

When Africa weeps for her children

My cheeks are stained with tears.

When Africa honours her elders

My head is bowed in respect.

When Africa mourns for her victims

My hands are joined in prayer.

When Africa celebrates her triumphs

My feet are alive with dancing.

Wayne Visser

The panoramic view from home to be completed by Habitat for Humanity in Lesotho.

For more information:

Habitat for Humanity Lesotho: http://www.habitat.org/where-we-build/lesotho

Habitat for Humanity Lesotho: Mountain View Newsletter: http://www.hfhl.org.ls/habitat/sites/default/files/HFHL%20JULY%202013.pdf

The Citizen: http://citizen.co.za

Added on October 7, 2014:  This post has a happy ending!  Check out pictures of the finished house in Lesotho.  Click here for Welcome news from Lesotho: Habitat house is complete!

First, as tourists in Bhaktapur, we snapped this early-morning photo of a woman standing on the threshold of her home, broom in hand, preparing for Sunday visitors who might pass through her village.

Second, when we arrived two days later at the site of the Habitat build, two women next to our vacant lot stood upon the threshold of their brother’s house  — watching and waiting — anxious to see what we were all about.

Finally, when our two weeks of work ended, we stood at the threshold of the home we had built — adorned with celebratory strings of marigolds and touches of red on our foreheads thinking of the future for the family who would live here.

For more expressions of Threshold, click here.

My husband and I joined a Habitat for Humanity International build in Nepal along with twelve other people during the summer of 2011.  Most of us were from our hometown of Knoxville, but we didn’t know each other very well before we left.  However, there’s nothing like building a stone and mud house together that’ll help you make connections in ways you never dreamed possible.

Morena Constantinou and Susan West of Knoxville pass rocks up the mountainside in Nepal.

The task was simple yet arduous: move the rocks from the quarry down below up to the house site on the side of a mountain.  And then get going on that build! So, we spent the majority of our time forming daisy chains and heaving heavy chunks of rock day after long day.

It wasn’t all painful, though.  We sang songs, danced a bit, and thoroughly intrigued all the Nepalese who probably thought we were pretty silly.  And we were.

But connecting with the family and new friends in Nepal was just as rewarding as bonding with our team who had traveled halfway around the world to make a difference!

In this last picture, you can see me standing beside the foundation and partial wall of the house I worked on.  A stack of rocks we hoisted from the quarry lies beside the house. But something I never expected happened: I had to connect with a stray goat and get him to wander off so we could continue the work!

Here I am with the red tika that had been placed on my forehead standing amidst a pile of rocks near a mud house talking to a goat! Ah, connections!

Oh, the Places and People and Animals We See!

For more on Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Connections, click here.

Want to know more about how you can build around the globe with Habitat for Humanity International?  Click here for more information.

Just take a look at the pictures and select your favorite by posting a comment below or on Facebook.  We’re in the home stretch and will be making our final selections this weekend.

Here are three photographs for the red category.

Today’s Vote: RED

1. Welcome to Nepal

Upon our arrival in Nepal to build two mud and stone houses for Habitat for Humanity International, we were greeted by ladies dressed in red bearing strings of marigolds to lay around our necks.  Surprisingly, they also brought a red gloppy concoction which they scooped up and smudged onto our foreheads.  Namaste, they said.  And then we knew.  We weren’t family, of course, but we were as welcome as any Americans could be.

2. Simply Elegant Tapestry

It was difficult to find something understated in the Hermitage (St. Petersburg, Russia), but this simple, yet exquisite, red tapestry was as classy a piece as any we saw.  Simply elegant.  Simply divine.

3. Dancers in Breaux Bridge

Standing still next to a guy wearing a red Peace, Love & Cajuns shirt and a lady brushing by in a crimson swingy, swirling skirt was no easy task for a neophyte photographer.  In fact, just about everyone at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival (Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) was movin’ and groovin’  — unless they were busy racing mudbugs and “suckin’ dem heads!”

Please take a minute to vote in the Comments section below.

If you missed any of the previous entries, here are the links to those posts.  There’s still time to help us decide!

Help us decide: Capture the Colour 2013 — GREEN

Help us decide: Capture the Colour 2013 — WHITE

Help us decide: Capture the Colour 2013 — YELLOW

Help us decide: Capture the Colour 2013 — BLUE

Many thanks for your support and ideas!

Rusha and Bert Sams

Each week, in response to the post, bloggers find some of their best representations for the selected word.  Although I’m not a great photographer, I love capturing people and places wherever I travel.

This week, I couldn’t resist joining the posts with pictures of people I saw in Nepal when my husband and I worked through Habitat for Humanity to build two stone and mud homes near Kathmandu.

We visited a school in Tinpiple, and these two girls watched us from the door of their classroom.  Dressed in work clothes and heavy boots, we must have been quite a sight to see!

These two children watched us as we boarded the bus.  One wide-eyed little girl stole my heart with her fascination for who we were and what we were doing, but her companion wasn’t nearly as thrilled at the idea of posing for a picture!

A mother and her four daughters served us lunch each day at their restaurant.  Their faces were always a welcome sight because we got a glimpse into their family and how they worked together to serve us broiled chicken, cooked rice, and hot tea.

This man, the head stonecutter for the house we built, examined many rocks before finding the exact one he needed for the cornerstones.  If he didn’t find the right one, he painstakingly cut a rock to fit.  Although we spoke different languages, our face-to-face contact helped us forge a bond across the cultural divide.

There were so many children that I could have scooped up and taken home.  With huge brown eyes and a winsome smile, this little girl was one we photographed over and over.

At the dedication of the house we built, the homeowners’ daughter came dressed for the occasion.  Her face — full of hope and happiness — made the whole trip worthwhile!