My Trip to Nepal

With all the craziness of our move and settling in Wisconsin, I have really fallen behind in my blogging. So - before another week gets by - I wanted to stop and chronicle an incredible opportunity I had to go to Nepal this spring through my former job at Southeast. The picture above is of most of our team (the trekking group with our Nepali guides and translators and our MountainChild team leader, Scott on the far left).

The trip was life-changing, and I'm glad I went. While it was physically exhausting and challenging, it was definitely worth it. Now that the dust has settled a bit - but before distance clouds my memory any further - I wanted to chronicle it for you, dear family and friends.

Our first full day on the ground as a team was challenging for me. We went to see two holy sites in Kathmandu. The first was Boudhanath Stupa, the holiest Tibetan Buddhist stupa outside of Tibet. Everywhere I saw idols, prayer wheels and flags, pigeons, and Tibetan Buddhists walking around the stupa in a clock-wise fashion with family and friends like it was an evening stroll. This was my first time seeing in person the primary demographic that MountainChild is working with, since the majority of people who live in the remote mountain areas are ethnically Tibetan Buddhists who were pushed out of Tibet into Nepal. They are easy to spot because of their clothing as well as having a very different physical appearance compared to Hindu Nepalis.

Afterwards, we visited Pashupatinath, a Hindu temple on the banks of the Bagmati River. There we observed several bodies being cremated on cement slabs right next to the river and another body being brought to the river, carried by relatives. I confess it was shocking to see so much death close-up, but what was also strange was seeing so many people - total strangers and tourists just like me - standing around watching what felt like it should be a private and personal experience. And while I did not understand what they were doing, there was much ceremony about it. I left the place overwhelmed by the oppressive sense of darkness and death there. I cannot even put it into words. It was difficult to breathe... and not just because of the smoke and pollution of Kathmandu. 

With that in our minds and hearts, our team divided into two groups: an small anti-trafficking group, and the larger trekking group of which I was part. The anti-trafficking group stayed in and around Kathmandu and focused on learning what MountainChild and its affiliate organizations are doing to address the issue of trafficking in Nepal with the hopes of gaining a vision for what Southeast could do long-term to partner with them. Our larger group took a bus out to the more remote areas and hiked/trekked to Khorlabesi, which is a small village on the Manaslu Trekking Circuit and the location of MountainChild's first Gateway Project. Our team checked on the progress of the construction of the Gateway Project, did WASH (Water and Sanitation Hygiene) surveys, took water samples at any village we came across, and so many other things.

A few things stood out to me.

The Nepali people (ethnically Tibetan or not) are so beautiful. I saw pictures beforehand, but it was confirmed when I was there. They are precious people who have very hard lives. The more remotely we went, the more I began to think about how challenging it really is for them to stay alive. Getting clean water, having access to nutritious food, using the restroom - everything is substantially more difficult in the mountains - and yet here they are.

If I did it all over again... I would need to train a lot more aggressively to really be equipped to get into the more remote areas. When MountainChild says that you need to be in great shape to go into the remote areas, they're really not joking. If I'm really honest with myself, I was semi-prepared when I went. But not nearly enough. I confess I was a bit disappointed with my physical limitations. When I go again, I will train much, much harder beforehand. I will take my pack to the gym and stay on the Stairmaster until the gym kicks me out. Seriously. And I will take Cipro and Immodium with me. Oh, and probiotic pills to take every stinkin' day. I got the stomach bug while out in the semi-remote areas... and it's not fun.

The need IS great. Almost every week another news article is released sharing such horrific things occurring in Nepal that it is difficult not to despair. About Nepal's war widows. About organ trafficking, specifically kidneys. About nightmares in the orphanages of Kathmandu - including the one the ladies in our group visited during our trip. And here are a few heart-stopping statistics:

• In Nepal's rural areas, 3 in 4 lack adequate sanitation. 84% don't have access to improved water.
• 24,000 children under the age of 5 died from water-related diseases within Nepal in 2012.
• In Nepal, 16,000 boys and girls are trafficked into the sex and slave trade in India every year.

I could go on and on. The need is great. Hope is definitely needed in Nepal.

The need is great, but MountainChild is doing things correctly. I cannot fully express how awesome it was to see that MountainChild is going about finding solutions the right way. There are right ways to go about helping people, and then there are wrong ways that actually hurt the people more than help them. MountainChild is going about it the right way. While our team didn't *do* much (i.e. "Look, we built 4 houses!"), I saw MountainChild equipping Nepalis to help their own people. It was nice as a Caucasian North American to not feed into the "rich white man savior" complex that unfortunately plagues us. As I'm reading When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, I cannot help but applaud MountainChild. They're doing it correctly. This picture is of team member Tiffany working with a graduate of MountainChild's program to test water quality. We met Nepalis who are recognizing that it is more effective and best when they are equipped, empowered and released to reach their own people. And below are pictures of the surveys we did with various people in the villages. What fascinating information. And incredible conversations that resulted of our *boring* questions about water, sanitation and hygiene. 

I also loved being able to see the work that was (and still is) in the process of being built at the Gateway Project in Khorlabesi. At the time, this is what it looked like.

When it's completed, it will be a guesthouse to house thru-trekkers and those wishing to reach the even-more-remote areas of Himalayas. I'm not positive, but it may also serve as a health/medical post, and perhaps even a school will be built there. Nepalis will be staffing and maintaining the whole facility.

Kathmandu was a dirtier, more chaotic version of Korea. Apparently, Kathmandu is one of the most polluted places ever. As in 177 out of 178. That's second to last. Check out this article that the Guardian wrote on March 21, 2014 about this very topic. After living just south of Seoul, South Korea, I was prepared for poor air quality, but this is something that pictures and even video don't quite capture. Here's Carter on the 11 hour bus ride (aka the bus ride that never ended) from Kathmandu out to Arughat.

Also, I found it hilarious the way they would string electrical wires in the city. I saw it a bit in Panama (and I even took a similar picture there, as well), but Nepal took it to a whole new level. It was a common question in our group, "What happens when your power goes out? How do you know which wires to check?" I'm guessing they just string new ones on top of the old ones. Ahhh, Western logic applied in the East. East and West: ne'er the twain shall meet, I think.

I loved dal bhat - the default food in Nepal. It is a combo of Indian and Asian foods, and I thought it was delicious. It was also fun to compare differences in the way dal bhat was prepared, depending on where we were in the country and what foods were available (i.e. could grow) to the people there. And having lived overseas, liking the food is actually a big deal. I did, however, have to be a little picky to avoid eating gluten as much as possible. No noodles for me. Just rice. So in some ways Korea would probably be far easier than Nepal to stick to a gluten-free diet.

Nepal is truly beautiful. Once you get out of the chaos of Kathmandu and start making your way to the more remote areas, Nepal is a beautiful country. Here are some pictures that our team leader Josh captured. In fact, any of the awesome pictures you see... just assume that Josh took them. :)

So many other amazing things happened on the trip, and there is just no way I can share about it all. But if you'd like to hear more, please let me know! Give me a call or shoot me an email, and I'll fill you in on lots more! You can email me at ruth@mountainchild.org.

To those who haves supported me along the way, thank you. When an individual goes on a trip, people at home want to know what has changed as a result of going. I am grateful that the change in my life is dramatic. While I went as a representative of Southeast and a support leader for Josh, on a personal level, I would say that I went because I knew God had called me to go. And so I went, not being able to offer any particular skill set or gift, but simply being obedient to His voice. While I was there, my friends at MountainChild offered me a job to work remotely as part of the administrative arm of MountainChild USA. Since I knew at that time that Jody had accepted a job in Wisconsin, and I would therefore have to leave my awesome job at Southeast in Denver, I decided to accept it. As of today, I've been working for MountainChild for three weeks! Craziness! 

There is so much buzz about finding a job that is an intersection of gifting and passion, and I am truly humbled and grateful that God has blessed me in that arena beyond what I could have ever dreamed. From teaching English to Korean kiddos in Korea, to encouraging people to step out in faith in the Missions Department at Southeast, and now to MountainChild. It's not hard for me to work for something I am passionate about! 

A perk of going on a trip, too, is the new friendships you form, especially with your team members, and those who are serving long-term in the country. Miss y'all!

P.S. There were lots of chickens there. Looking at all the chicken pictures from the trip (Ha - yes, there were several!) makes me miss my chickens all the more. *Sigh*

Nepal Preparation

In just a few weeks our team heads to Nepal. Yikes!

I am so excited, and I'm truly humbled by the Lord's guidance and provision as time passes and everything gets taken care of. I have reached my trip goal for fundraising, and I am slowly gathering all the gear that I will need. Most of it I already have, but there have been a few pieces here and there that I've gotten to make the trip a bit easier. Plus, we finally invested in a Katadyn water filter. We've had several that have bummed out. We decided that it's time to stop getting filters that don't work. Katadyn all the way, apparently. In any case, it feels good to be on the home stretch, and I wanted to update ya'll.

A big thank you to everyone who played a part in helping me to reach my goal!

Team airfare and ground expenses are locked down, and now everyone is focusing on two things: 1) last-minute fundraising, and 2) trip gear and physical, mental, emotional and spiritual preparation. Our team meets one more time before we head out.

Since the next few weeks promise to be busy, I wanted to take the time to ask you to pray for us. Pray that God would do some awesome things in and through our team. Pray that God would speak to each individual. Pray for divine appointments, for miracles, and for a dramatic shift in our paradigms of how life should be lived. Most of all, pray that the name of Jesus would be lifted high in the remote villages of Nepal.

Also, if you'd like to know more about MountainChild, check out their website here. If you want to find out a bit more about the trip and the team, you can on Southeast's NEW WEBSITE!!

Thank you for your love and support!

Nepal, here I come!

Hey everybody!

I am so excited to write and tell you about an awesome opportunity that has presented itself. In just a few months - from March 22 - April 5, 2014 - I will be joining a team of people from Southeast Christian Church in Parker, CO that is heading to Nepal with the express purpose of partnering with an organization called MountainChild at work in the remote villages of the Himalayas. 

Yes, this is the same organization that Jody went with in November... and he came back and told me I had to go, too! So here I am, writing to tell you about this awesome organization and the opportunity I have to join them! :)

MountainChild’s vision is bold, and God is blessing their efforts to bring the Gospel to people who have truly never heard the name of Jesus. Their strategy is to focus on 5 CORE ISSUES: health, education, trafficking, child labor and the environment. The need is great, and the statistics are staggering. Concerning the trafficking issue alone, every year 16,000 boys and girls are taken from the remote villages of Nepal and sold into the slave and sex trade. Most never return to their villages. In one village MountainChild is at work, there are no more girls of marriageable age. I cannot even imagine the factors that contribute to making such a situation a reality.

On this upcoming trip, the program will be two-fold. Part of the team will remain behind in Kathmandu to focus on learning how Southeast can best come alongside MountainChild and aid them in their long-term anti-trafficking goals. The other part of the team will be trekking in the remote areas, doing community assessment for future development projects (clean water projects, sanitation, etc.). I will be going with the trekking group, so in preparation I’m hitting the stair master and will be hiking, hiking, hiking!

I am writing because I need your help! First of all, I truly do need your prayers. While I am helping to organize the trip and build the team stateside I need to prepare myself to take part in the adventure, as well. It will be a challenging trip and will be physically, mentally and spiritually taxing. For a short-term trip, this will be extreme in every sense of the word. I especially covet your prayers for me to be physically able to handle the trekking component. I love mountains, and I love backpacking, but I want to be prepared so I’m not sent back to Kathamandu! (Oh the shame!) Please also pray for the Holy Spirit to open up doors for us to share Jesus, and for wisdom in assessing the needs for future community development projects. 

And dear ones, I also need your financial support. My portion of the trip costs is $3,425, which will cover all airfare and ground expenses, and I am trusting God for this need. I am relying on His promises and faithfulness. If you wish to help, you can contribute online at my secure fundraising webpage:  http://store.sechristian.org/Ruth-Been-P1194C38.aspx. The donation deadline is March 8, 2014.  I look forward to celebrating God’s provision in this regard, and I am truly grateful for your support!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this trip or about MountainChild. Thank you again for partnering with me as we carry hope!

Much love,

Ruth

Jody in Nepal

Jody's off to Nepal!

I just got back from the airport, having dropped Jody off with a team of 11 from Southeast. He is heading on a mission trip from Nov 3-16 to serve alongside an organization called MountainChild at work in the remote areas of the Himalayas. We learned about the organization from our time spent in Korea, as our pastor who started LifeChurch in Korea, Jack Reid, also founded the organization.

Since Jody and I returned to the States and I have been working at Southeast, I was able to introduce MountainChild to the SE Missions/Outreach department. It has been a divine connection, and I'm thrilled to see how God has strengthened the growing partnership. I am sure it has everything to do with a mutual love of the mountains and the deep desire to see God's Kingdom expand to the most unreached of peoples.

In fact, these villages MountainChild is trying to reach really do bring a whole new meaning to the word 'remote.' For some of these peoples, it takes a long bus ride from Kathmandu to a stopping point, and then several days trekking just to get to some of these villages. Incredible. I love MountainChild, and I'm so glad my husband is up for the adventure!

We started marketing the trip at Southeast back in May/June, and I knew from the very beginning that Jody had to go. I mean, it includes all his favorites:

Jesus.
Our friends from Korea who are living in Nepal.
Friends here in Colorado.
Hiking/Trekking.
Mountains.
Did I mention mountains?

Mid-July he made the commitment, and we began the process of preparing him for this trip. God was incredibly faithful, and Jody was able to raise all the support he needed, including covering the cost of the equipment he needed for trekking (though he had a lot of what he needed already from our various adventures over the years). We are humbled and grateful for everyone who has stepped up to support us. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!

I am very excited about this trip from a professional and a personal standpoint (in ministry it's really hard to separate the professional from the personal, because isn't it ALL personal?!), as the team will be doing several things. First, they will be constructing a bio-sand water filtration system at MountainChild's newly acquired School of Frontier Missions right outside Kathmandu (seen in picture below).

Then, the team will be trekking into the remote village of Gatlang to assess the needs of a clean water facility there, as well as do an assessment of any other long-term needs there. Thirdly, there will be a soccer camp for the children in the slums of Kathmandu, using awesomely indestructible soccer balls that we purchased from One World Futbol Project.

As always, our heart and MountainChild's mission is that through such tasks as providing clean water, hygiene and sanitation training, and ultimately through all of MountainChild's 5 CORE ISSUES (Health, Education, Trafficking, Child Labor, and the Environment), that the Gospel might be preached and the name of Jesus would be heard and proclaimed to people that have never heard of Him!

Here's a few glimpses of the awesomely precious faces they'll see when they trek in to Gatlang.

Please be praying for Jody and for the team. And for me and the dogs and chickens... that we don't get too lonely around here. ;)

Panama: Another Adventure!

I have the wonderful privilege of working in the Missions department of a church that values true transformation. In the past almost four years (!) that I have been at Southeast Christian Church, I have grown in my knowledge and understanding of the work that it takes to "pull off" a short-term mission trip, as well as to build healthy relationships with missions partners all over the world. 

Another aspect of my job has been to learn what a healthy, solid missions partner looks like. I have seen how many non-profit organizations there are "out there" and most of them are not solid enough that I would support them financially, nor is their program strong enough that I'd want to send teams to come alongside them to help fulfill their long-term goals. In one word, I've developed more discernment. I have learned that well-meaning and well-intended organizations can often cause more harm than good by creating dependency. And I've learned that truly healthy missions partners work to give the native peoples all the tools they need to succeed, in short, to work the 'foreign missionary' out of a job. With that lens, I have become more critical (in a good way, I think) of potential mission partners, and I've become even more appreciative of those partners that have a healthy program.

One of those missions partners that we do love and fully support at Southeast is David's Well (La Fuente de David), at work in the country of Panama. The past few years I've helped get so many teams ready to head south to help this organization - healthcare teams with doctors, RNs, dentists and non-medical assistants, construction teams full of people who come alongside Panamanian construction workers to assist them in building homes, schools, churches, etc, and even our first youth team last year that was such a smashing success. It's been so good and so rewarding. Of all the missions partners we've had as long as I've been on staff, David's Well has been one of the most stable and consistent in being a good investment - always. They are about the business of equipping, empowering, and releasing the people they are reaching, the Ngöbe Indians, to their full God-given potential. They are unabashed about their ultimate goal: to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Along the way, they provide healthcare, build schools & churches, and ultimately show the people of Panama the love of Jesus in tangible ways.

But now... I get to go! I'm so excited. My boss, Steve, has asked that I go with the healthcare team that will be heading out next month, and I'm truly looking forward to it. I will be a lowly gopher (yay!), helping in the 'pharmacy' as we hand out the medicines that the docs prescribe. I can't wait to be part of this trip. I hear the insects and rodents are huge (lovely.), it's incredibly hot and humid, that it's remarkably similar to the backpacking/camping Jo and I already do, and that it changes you from the inside out. I'm so ready!

The trip is January 17-25, 2013, and I'm just getting ready to go. Please be praying for me, for the team, and for the Ngöbe Indians in Panama whom we are going to serve. Pray for our health, for all the traveling that we will be doing, for God to move mightily in their midst. If you want to help me get a few things I need for the trip, feel free to support me here.

For an overview of the ministry of David's Well, check out this video!