Nepal Disaster

This past week I have felt so bad hearing about all the trekkers and Nepalese people who were killed in a horrific snow storm in Nepal around the Annapurna Circuit. Thus far they have recovered 43 people, 21 foreigners and 22 Nepalese. This is the exact time we were there last year, but did a different route (we were going to do that one). After spending over six weeks there the past two years we really feel for all those involved! Our first concern was for the guides and porters we had had, but after emailing them have learned they are fine. This is such a devastating event for the people of this country. They are such a poor country and events like this really effect their economy. We learned first hand how humble and how hard working they are, especially along the trails in the Himalayas. I wanted to include a few pictures of some of these people and how they have touched our lives.

The Nepalese are very religious people with Hinduism being about 90%. However, members of the Buddhist faith are often so closely linked to those of the Hindu faith that it can be difficult to tell them apart. Here is a young girl praying close to one of the large Stupas (temples).

Around the Stupas you see many youth that are Monks. These two below are girls.

All of them shave their heads.

This person is throwing paint onto the Stupa in remembrance of a beloved ancestor.

There are lots of open markets in Kathmandu. It amazes me how they can squat like that for hours!

These are our faithful porters and guide.

Amrit, Ram (guide), Kumar & Min

Behind them is Dhaulagiri 26,795 Ft. 

We would trek right through these small villages and stop and eat at one of the local tea houses.

Makes you appreciate your stove!

Dal Bhat is pretty much what all the locals eat. It is basically rice and lentils with some kind of sauce. They mix it all together and eat it with their hands. They will eat 2 or 3 plates of this.

We were surprised when we arrived here to spend the night and they were cutting up a yak they had killed that day. Guess what we had for dinner? Yak momo's.

These were carried by porters who would be delivering food or other things to the locals in various villages, not for trekkers.

They were fluffing up the cotton for bedding here.

Ram was our guide and normally didn't carry a pack, but sometimes he would relieve one of the other porters to keep in shape.

Amrit and Min washing their clothes.

We saw soooo many women harvesting crops in the fields.

I could never make it to places like this without those faithful guides and porters.

Annapurna Base Camp

I just want to say God bless all those humble, happy Nepalese who lost their lives the past week.

We have grown to love Nepal, the people and the mountains.  That's what keeps calling us back and why Russ and I keep talking about going again! We love you!!

This and That

   The last couple of weeks has been just a bunch of "this and that." Russ had 5 days off over General Conference weekend so we decided to drive down to Salt Lake. I really wasn't thrilled about sitting in the car that long, but who better to visit with for 28 hours than my sweetie. We drove across Washington and then down through Montana into Idaho so we could stop and see Jacob at school and see Lindsey and her family. Even though it was just a couple of hours I got some smooching time in with two of my grandsons!!

    Friday was a fun day. We met up with the Weavers who just moved back to Salt Lake after serving here for three years as mission President. They are dear friends and we miss them a lot.

 After lunch Russ and I went and did some shopping since we had the truck and didn't have to worry about fitting everything into our suitcase. We arrived at John and Jan's house late that night and had a nice visit with them. Its so nice to have them back from their mission and feel of their love.
   Saturday we watched conference with Jared, Jacob, Jan and John. Russ was able to go to the Conference Center with the boys to the Priesthood session so I got some one on one time with Jan.
   Sunday we had tickets to the morning session at the Conference Center so Jared, Christina, Jacob, Russ and I went. Its always pretty crazy down there with over 25,000 people trying to park and get in their seats. Its always worth it though to be there and feel the spirit of the brethren. On our way home on I-15 we witnessed a car accident. Two people tried to go into the same lane and when one lady realized it she over corrected to get back in her lane and did a 360 in the middle of I-15. Next she flew over and smashed into the cement wall at the side of the freeway. From there she bounced off and car parts were flying in the air. It was a miracle no one else was hit or anyone hurt. Some of the car parts barely missed us. We pulled right over to make sure the lady was O.K. and she was, but was pretty shook up. I'm grateful for someone watching over us!

We went and watched the afternoon session with Grandma Larsen and then took her to Jan's house for dinner. While we were there Sherrie and Dave showed up. They look great and are so excited about their mission.

 

We had a special treat of Jan playing us a couple songs she performed while in Israel. She has really excelled in her talent and was amazing!!!

On our way home we stopped at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center outside of Baker City, Oregon. We've never been there before and it was our half way point of driving home so decided to stop. It is a really nice center and a great place to take kids too. 

Saturday we were excited to go to the new movie, "Meet the Mormons" so we got a group of us together and carpooled to Olympia. All of us LOVED it!! We came back to our house and had soup, rolls and chocolate cake. It was a fun "mini" ward outing.

Today Russ was off work so we did a bunch of yard work. I love all the Fall leaves and wanted to take this picture of our lane before Russ blew them all off.  I love them all over the lane, but he likes them blown off. It starting raining now and is suppose to for the next ten days:(

I can't believe all the flowers I still have in bloom in the middle of October.