Nepal suffered another set back when, following the April 25th 7.8 earthquake that leveled thousands of homes, a 7.3 earthquake struck on May 12th, further collapsing already weakened homes. People who had begun returning to a sense of normalcy were again forced to sleep outside under tarps, or in the open, for safety. Between the two quakes, over 8,600 lives have been lost and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
LDS Charities works with local non-government organizations (NGO's) in Nepal in our humanitarian efforts. One of these NGO's is with Bishnu Adhikari, famous for his spot in Meet the Mormons. Bishnu heads the NGO called CHOICE-Nepal. Bishnu and his family are absolutely amazing, faithful people who are so exemplary and so well respected throughout Nepal. Bishnu is a member of the Kathmandu Branch, the former Branch President, and a loving and caring family man. We are so blessed to be able to work with him.
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| Bishnu Adhikari chats with Elder Coffey in Kathmandu, Nepal, November 2014 |
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| Elder Coffey, Bishnu Adhikari, and Sister Coffey in Nepal, November 2014 |
Our second amazing NGO partner is with Rakesh Hamal, head of the Nepal Rehabilitation Society for the Disabled (NRSD), which helps disabled people in Nepal become self reliant. He also heads Safa Sanaulo Nepal, which addresses the medical needs of Nepal through clean water and other health issues.
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| Rakesh points out NRSD projects throughout Nepal |
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One of Rakesh's projects, JAWS, helps visually impaired people, such as this man at the computer keyboard, learn computer skills to become employable. Rakesh is on the right.
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This week Rakesh made a visit to Hong Kong to meet with us and the Area Presidency. Elder and Sister Valentine, our Nepal humanitarian couple, are also here in Hong Kong until they are able to get back into Nepal.
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| Elder and Sister Coffey, Elder and Sister Valentine, and Rakesh Hamal |
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Rakesh with the Area humanitarian team and the Area Presidency
Both Bishnu and Rakesh and their NGO's have been hard at work getting relief supplies out to the hardest hit areas from the earthquake. Relief efforts will take decades, but we are grateful we can help in at least a small way.
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| A home in a village where Rakesh has helped distribute emergency supplies. You can see the crumbled rock homes in the background. |
Many people's homes, even in Kathmandu, were damaged or totally destroyed. Many people are sleeping outside under tarps, waiting for the aftershocks to settle down and waiting to rebuild their homes. Rakesh and his wife have two young children. Although their modest stone home was one of the ones not damaged, their children have been traumatized by the earthquakes and are too afraid to sleep inside their homes. So at night, Rakesh and his family sleep outside under tarps, like so many others, just to support their little children. Sometimes when it rains they will sleep in the car. Eventually they will move back inside, but only when their children feel safe to do so.
These are the kinds of partners we have in Nepal. Genuine, compassionate, trustworthy, honest. May they be blessed as they continue to bless the lives of others throughout Nepal.
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Courtesy of Flikr.com/International Organization of Migration - People living under tarps or tents.
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| Courtesy of Flikr.com/ International Labor Organization |
