charity tuesday

Marcel had finally arrived back in Nepal and was on site surprising us during the worst of the afternoon heat. The Nepali team had clearly missed this guy’s larger than life character for the last year bringing the high energy that surrounds and comforts us as we work. Marcel has become a very good friend to us all. He is a really special guy and an exceptional volunteer. The man is full of love and is very compassionate. He met me with the largest hug, packed full of emotion, and a kiss from his brother Kevin (who has helped raise a lot of funds for our school site’s retaining wall last year and also helped us build Monisa’s house after the earthquakes over three years ago now) to set the project alight with a new energy that I hope we can carry forward as a team. We had reached our first milestone on the project and onto the next level of bricks; all of us feeling ultra-comfortable with the highest team spirit I’ve experienced yet; now working with talented Nepali friends and not just builders anymore. Nothing could stop us and no problem would be unsolved. As Marcels motto continues,

“One problem : One solution”.

The building just kept growing. I had also started laying some bricks now. It had been three years since my introduction to block laying in the Philippines on my first rebuild volunteer adventure, this also being a little different, so I stayed close to Milan’s guidance. The beautiful thing about this site is that everyone can and will fight to learn more, everyone seems to want to grow here, especially the young locals, so I try to encourage the volunteers to join in with them and not be too nervous but to get amongst the passion of our beautiful team, as we all are looking out for each other.

Johannes left us for a moment to go to a music festival but gave us a solid promise he would return; his commitment was shown by him leaving most of his belongings with us. Our project is in full flow now, but waiting for no one. The windows and door frames were in and we were approaching the wall’s final height so Marcel decided to go for his first trek in Nepal. He was venturing to the snowy mountain tops of Langtang which are clearly visible on a good day from the site. Langtang is a place I dream of going to eventually due to us looking at its tremendously awesome power daily, as it dwarfs our own location but enhances our view. Langtang is extremely remote and was incredibly destroyed by the earthquakes in 2015, however being a popular and heavy tourist trekking zone, it has had serious investment. From what I hear it’s been a very hard place to help logistically in comparison to us. Even with our issues with the roads we are closer to a city. It’s trekking closed for the first year after the earthquake. I dreamt I could go with Marcel, but for the moment I have to accept that maybe it’s better to keep that dream alive for another time and maybe with other volunteers one day.

I am always happy to see volunteers going to explore Nepal further, as I believe it is very important. Marcel and Johannes hadn’t seen much outside the village before they disappeared and it helps them get a further context as well as gain perspective for what we are actually doing, whatever they ultimately choose to do themselves. I knew both of them would be back before long.

While we were getting the walls up to height the government engineers came twice to check we were fully respecting the design laid out for us. They were very happy with our work and our small meetings were simple. I also started to have concerns for Raju and his mother’s wellbeing in the future. We hadn’t raised money for what I was now thinking by only voicing concern for proper shelter. While working, I realised that we are not doing full justice for them without further basic essential facilities, such as a toilet, washing room and ventilated cooking space. These are things I’m not seeing any other organisation or the government caring about in this area, and in my mind, they are as important as anything we are all already doing. The house is not so efficient without these simple services, and from my experience here I decided we should be raising the bar just a little bit higher. The space was there if we wanted to work the land a little further. Soon we were laying new foundations and expanding the design on each side, but only a little. These facilities require a significantly smaller space and cost less than what we were already doing, especially for a small family of only two rural village people. Besides, Frame and me had one helluva lot of fun digging the gigantic hole for the septic tank!

The new walls went up fast and soon we split into two groups. I joined Sukuman with Bikram (Keshab’s young brother) and Bijay for the toilet and washing room’s concrete slab roof, while the others helped Milan and our new welder Raju on the main house and kitchen roof. Keshab and Bicram’s closest family friend, Bijay (who has been an honour to work with since the retaining wall for the school) got a generator and welding equipment on loan for us from his father. We needed more power than we recently had available for metal cutting from the basic electricity supply in a neighbour’s house. For the welding we needed an onsite generator, being available locally was a blessing. However, from the equipment available and hiring a welder it is a genuinely serious concern I have that there is no proper eye protection equipment available. Although they don’t seem bothered, they should be, so I have promised to bring them a professional, utilisable welding visor on my next visit for them to share. If anyone would like to donate any other basic safety equipment, they are most welcome.

It was not long until the house was essentially built. Now we were just in need of plastering, the completion of the front porch/patio areas, and a lick of paint.  Johannes soon enough was back to join in the fun, as we went from room to room and plastered the outside. The speed which Sukuman, Milan and Pushpa covered the walls was incredible, it was a struggle to keep filtering sand finely and mixing the cement as fast as they were throwing it at the walls. Raju was clearly now getting very excited by the progress and development of his new home. Always eager to help after school and on Saturdays if there were appropriate tasks to give him, but often trying to help using his own initiative, with us just having to keep an eye on him and look out for him.  Raju started laughing more and even dancing often to the music we play on site. Normally by the end of the day as we are washing up or drinking one last Chai (his mother is constantly looking after us, an amazing host), I find myself dancing alongside him too at times, this little six year old has a strong character and an infectious sense of joy.

Marcel soon showed up for the last days of plastering just before we were ready to paint. However, Marcel decided to go straight to the school site where he was joined by the Nepali team for the backfilling of last year’s retaining wall, which was a big job itself. Marcel is much happier with the heavier work and more passionate about the school project, requesting to be in service to the school when possible. As Johannes and I progressed with the painting of the house, I knew I would also join them at the school site in due course. Johannes has been a truly loyal brother staying with the house until full completion. Both Johannes and Marcel are now our longest serving volunteers on building sites and are incredibly special with the amount of work they have both donated in service alongside our Nepali team. It is fully appreciated and it seems they love the experience here whist also getting to know Nepal on a more personal, and deeper, cultural level.

The painting took time. We worked outside first following through into the house that was more protected from the sun and taking time to dry. We were joined by a couple of other volunteers; Ian and Jo; that were in Hostel One96 (thank you Ujwal and Sangeet!) and wanted to come help for a few days. They gave us some much needed fresh energy, helped us create a huge dent in the painting work needed in the few days they could manage to give us and raised our spirits even higher. Soon it was time to say goodbye as Johannes and I battled on to completion, even without truly figuring out how to open a Nepali tub of paint properly (although Johannes did have a good stab at it)!

The house itself took a month to finish including plastering; while the painting took another month while waiting for the plaster to dry, as we worked around the changing conditions. Ultimately now we were trying to help them make a house a home with a heavy heart, knowing it would be years before they could even invest in the paint. Paint is expensive.

I darted between the two projects, the retaining wall backfilling and the house. However it wasn’t so long before we were all back together at the house for it’s opening ceremony of Puja. This ceremony is for the house to be blessed by the Buddhist Lamas. The ceremony is conducted inside through a whole night of chanting and blessings. In the main room stood a few banana trees that would later be replanted, bound together beautifully making a mini gazebo, filled with offerings and décor that served as the focal point we sat around while the Lamas interacted with it in service of the house blessing. The night bled into the morning as the chants continued outside in the low glowing morning sun to raise the prayer flags, bless the house further while decorating the exterior walls with flowers.

It was a very peaceful and beautiful morning, but that was about to change as we geared up the transition from ceremony to after party; switching the chanting for some loud Tamang music coming through a large speaker. The ceremony and opening party were both incredible. A very life enriching experience to be a part of. Soon the building team arrived for some great food and questionable but highly entertaining dancing, as we celebrated the house passing to Phul Maya and Raju, the most incredibly beautiful way of celebrating our hard work and our completed mission. Oh, we were having such a good time! It also served as our final great time together for the moment, until hopefully we will all be back together for the school later in the year.

I dream now of working with this very talented, efficient and hardworking team again in the future, as well as welcoming new volunteers; and with your support financially, together we will build Budland!

Thank you all so much for your previous, continuous and ongoing support. Let’s continue rolling the good work forward and keep the dream alive!

Dhanyabaad.

(Thank you in Nepali)