My last post was rounded off by saying that at times it felt like life here resembled that of "some kind of mediaeval hell hole". In my experience of recent years it's just when one begins to despair in this manner something happens to redress the balance and restore belief. That's what happened today when I visited "Karuna Bhawan" ("Home of Compassion") in Godawari and stumbled upon a beacon of the faith, hope and love that is referred to in Corinthians.
I learned of the facility's existence through a visit to our Godawari arts centre two days ago by a British man, Geoff Pugh, who had been volunteering there as an English teacher. From the arts centre's balcony he had pointed out to me the buildings where he had been working, these including an HIV/AIDS home that he said had 23 residents. This was the first that I knew of its existence, not surprisingly given the stigma that is associated with HIV (along with so many other things) in Nepal.
This afternoon I paid a visit to this home and was shown around by the nun who seems to be looking after the 10 women and 13 children well nigh single-handedly. She is such a remarkable, inspirational lady, who seems to have the delightful trait of rounding off everything she says, no matter how unhumourous, with a jolly laugh. "Here's the vegetable patch, hohoho" and such like. But she's doing a wonderful job and the children there were tiny and oh so sweet with their innocent smiles, pig tails and ruddy cheeks. The facility is newly built and in pristine condition, its only drawback (to my eye at least) being the over abundance of bare walls. I have now offered to make mosaics for the rooms, mosaics that can be sponsored by supporters overseas. Father Pius, who runs the centre, may not take up my offer but I'd love to have this as a project for later on this year. Whatever his decision I already have agreement to our sending up some of our older refuge children, suitably equipped with guitars and toys, to interact with the children and brighten up their lives.
Wonderful stuff.
