Houses of worship

Following a recent request to add some more experiences of working with our 'bhaibahini-haru' (brothers and sisters) here in Nepal, today as it happens I took the morning off to recover from just such an experience.  Yesterday a small army of 'estri-haru' (women) from Baneshwor went to help out at the 'nirman' (construction) of the new KH in Thamel.

After a quick coffee, bowl of porridge (did you get that mum!) and ah...load of washing, Ritsu and I joined the girls at Banny* chowk just after 7 (am) as the tempo was rolling up.  The ride to Thamel was a sleepy one (too earlier a Monday morning for my liking), but by the time we arrived I was AWAKE! and ready to get down to business ('that's why they call them business sox'...or just normal anklets - nothing special really).  Sara, your blue polo t-shirt made the scene complete though as I emerged from the changing area in the new version of myself, 'Jo-the-Builder' ('can we fix it?????'...yes, I am known to get into character from time to time).

We started our day on a spiritual theme, examining the day's text: 'Matthew 22:39', which was nicely tied into the bhai's entreaty for us to be peaceable with one another on the site, and to show consideration to not only each other but the neighbouring residents also.

The guest-builders were assigned yellow hard-hats (which I became quite fond of) and the 'nirmit-haru' (regulars), blue hard-hats.

team 'yellow'

The day was spent extracting 'kiila' (nails) from pre-used planks of wood, sanding the planks, sanding the roof frames, priming the roof frames and then painting the roof frames (ahhhh nothing like a spot of painting...and the proof thereof:  lots of paints stains! I even inherited a nice new beauty spot under my right eye - a definite crowd pleaser), cutting and then bending metal for some roof-frame related purpose.

Thus far, they have laid the foundation (very important: no one likes a house built on sand, or to be called a fool - Matthew 7:26), set the columns and are now preparing the frame for the roof - or so it seemed to me.  I'm not really a builder...Thamel Rajya Bawan is to be one storey with the 2nd school and bathroom at the rear.

me and Anishradda

I have been involved with KH construction and renos^ in the past, and have to comment that while the work is enjoyable and a nice diversion, and the company is encouraging and upbuilding, the food is always a memorable aspect to the experience.  Yesterday's 'khana' (food), was no less so.

As is our custom, the food is also provided in a voluntary spirit.  Yesterday's cook was 'Sri'-bhai (yes, as in 'Sri Lanka').  Sri was even willing to impart some of his culinary secrets to his assistant, our lovely upstairs, Misa H.  Misa now knows that scrunching the 'saag' (spinach) when washing makes it cook faster.  We have thus designated her our new saag-chef...anytime we need saag in a hurry, she's a our girl!

scrunching ze saag (insert French accent here)

'kasto chito jaancha ay!'
the day's slogan:  'look how fast it goes!'
NB stolen quote from, Wonders of Creation DVD

12 bajyo (o'clock) and khana was served:

Daal-bhat (24 hr power**), 'achaar' (Nepali pickle), 'massu' (meat), 'tarkari' (veges), and more bhat...

Kenji-ji-lai bhok lagyo?

And then back to work.

sunnies + hard-hat + kurta-surwal + respiratory mask
 = Japanese!
PS somebody lost a shoe?

It was lovely getting to know some of the full-time workers.  One bhai, "Jeet", learnt the truth when he was working in Malacca, Malaysia.  After he returned he started pioneering and is now serving in Bhaktapur^^ congregation.  He is a very zealous and appreciative bhai, with a great sense of humour - always useful when a welder is around...

Ritsu putting her back,
I mean legs, into it

officially this one
was 'bango'-ed
- bent

the site...

The experience made me excited for our 'Rajya Bawan' (KH) construction project, commencing this coming January.  Some sisters in our congregation have donated their beautiful garden so that Baneshwor mandali too can have a house of worship.

Shanta and her beautiful garden/soon to be, Rajya Bawan->

Now there is 'a cheerful giver' (2 Corinthians 9:7)

* 'Banny' - an affectionate name for Baneshwor
^ 'Renos' - Australian for renovations
**  'Dalbhat 24 hr power' - See 'Meet the Parents' post for further information
^^  Bhaktapur is a small city just outside of the ringroad.  Before the Gurkha king came and overthrew what is now Kathmandu, there were formerly three separate Newari kingdoms: Lalitpur (where our bethel office is currently located), Basantapur (CBD of KTM), and Bhaktapur.  In Bhaktapur mandali there are currently c. 20 publishers, however, the population is c. 550,000.  Ke garne????  "beg the master of the harvest to send out more workers..." - Matthew 9:37, 38