Once again the BIA Relief Team heads to the hills, in aid of those who have yet to receive any help at all, those who have been dismissed as unreachable, un-helpable, maybe even a lost or unsubstantiated cause - but not for us. In the aftermath of all the shaking, broken homes, wreckage and catastrophe, the real dangers and problems for the people of the KTM valley have only just begun.
Disease, malnutrition, hunger, lack of shelter and the growing problem for the next crops of food, as the rainy season approaches there is a clear and present danger of them being lost completely. As if this wasn’t enough, there is a growing shortage of aid supplies, particularly tents and shelter making materials, and as the lost have been found and the search called off, the danger for many is a lack of a place to call home, a place to simply protect them from the elements. No matter how much food is given, metric ton after metric ton is being handed out by world aid organizations every day, if these supplies aren’t protected they will simply be washed away in the rain. These tents that are being put up hold another problem - they are temporary. For every tent that is given, another shelter will be needed in the coming months or even weeks, and this is exactly the thinking of Chogyal Rinpoche and BIA Bodhisattvas In Action. We are trying to break the mold, trying something new, and bring what is needed to those who need it, while striving to not only put a band-aid on a horrible situation, but to bring lasting help and a more permanent solution.
Heading to the hills with a giant truck full of over 500 sheets of tin roofing material we set out with the simple idea that we would actually help an entire village set up brand new homes, homes that will not only shelter the families and their children, but that will last through the rainy season as well. Two monks, a nurse, 5 boys from the SOH Orphanage and our BIA Volunteers made up the team, bringing not only the roofing materials with us but medicine, sanitary and hygienic supplies as well. Once again striking out to the mountain side requires patience, motivation, determination mixed with a bit of crazy, and a strong stomach. These roads are quite simply inaccessible without a jeep or truck, providing no shortage of opportunities to ride on the roof, getting out to push, feeling the breeze caress our sun burnt faces as we careen around corners with nothing but the edge of a cliff on the other side. These areas though deeply affected by the earthquake are strikingly beautiful. The rolling green hills across the horizon also bring sadness in the pit of my stomach as they are dotted with villages that even from a distance can be seen to be shaken to the ground. Where once were houses and homes lay nothing but piles of rock and ash, a lone window frame standing amongst a pile of boulders and brick that not long ago was home to a family by the roadside. A bus lies by the side of the road literally decimated by what appears to have been a boulder crushing it flat, like a coke can crushed in your palm, the damage staying behind for all who pass by as a reminder of the possibilities and dangers. The village itself lies at the very top of the mountain, another several hours drive and an adventure all in itself to reach. Arriving in the afternoon after hours of rocky terrain we were joyfully greeted with waves and smiles, flowers and bindhis for each of us, hugs and Namastes abound in all directions. I was caught completely off guard, jumping out of the truck ready to work as a wonderfully sun wrinkled older woman grabs me by the arm, smiles deeply into my eyes and places a finger on my forehead and flowers around my neck. She made such a point to show me how happy they were to see us, that we had made the trip for them, that we had reassured them that they were indeed not forgotten. These people have warm glowing faces, smiles on the children and old alike, but there is also something buried underneath these welcoming looks - a sense of desperation. They have been without shelter for almost two weeks now, and as the days pass by and no help has come a growing fear and panic has begun to take hold here. As the day wears on, the sun beats down, as the tin is handed out and divided amongst the villagers and for the school that is now completely destroyed, tempers and panic set in, chaos naturally ensues, and we were treated to an up close and personal view of much more emotion than they would show on the news. These people have nothing, they thought they had been ignored and forgotten, and now that help is finally here they are struggling to keep their emotions under control.
Nonetheless the mission is a huge success - handing out many boxes of sanitary pads and medicine, as well as helping 88 families and the local school rebuild their homes. I would like to point out that the readers of this page and their hugely generous donations were a large piece of this project - the money I collected through donations was given to this project, and it is directly thanks to you that these people now have homes. Homes that will weather the storm, literally keeping the rain off their backs and instilling long lost hope in their hearts. 88 families now have homes - 88 families can rest under the protection and comfort of their new roofs, knowing that they were not forgotten, knowing that we were here for them. Though the air was filled with cries of desperation and hopelessness, the faces I saw when we headed out at the end of the day were those full of hope and so much gratitude. We had to wait to pull the truck out while they lined up to thank us each, crowding around, shaking our hands and smiling, saying thank you with misty eyes and huge smiles - the children especially. Throughout the day I was hit with wave after wave of energy and then falling, a roller coaster of emotions and eye of the storm calming grace, this work has instilled in me a new sense of being. I am ever grateful for the opportunity to do this. One never knows exactly what we will be met with during our day, each adventure full of different challenges and trials. I might be crazy in saying this, but I found myself thinking that I could do this every day for the rest of my life. How could one spend their day doing anything better, more worthwhile, more of benefit? The possibilities are endless, and for someone willing to give their time and their heart to this kind of project, to put my trust in what Rinpoche has in store and planned for us, it is simply not possible for me to do anything else but continue with everything I have. Jump on the truck, let’s get moving, there is so much work to do! This BIA project is a whole new way of looking at how to help, that we can provide a long lasting and hopeful situation to these people who desperately need it. And a secret between us? We are just getting started. Chogyal Rinpoche has big ideas for the coming days and we have only begun to strike the surface of what is possible here. Giving new meaning to Bodhisattvas In Action, giving new meaning to support and aid, giving new meaning to a life worth living for this photographer, and for all of us on this team. We have become a family, and with this bond and support we have what is needed to continue, to endure, to stay on task and complete this mission. Please help support this team and this activity by helping to share this mission of ours. Share these images in hopes that we can involve as many as we can, to help spread the word that there is much work to be done, and we still really need your support, and we really need your help.
With simple roofs of tin we have started to think outside the box, we have started to try and see things differently, to try and bring more than we thought we could. With these simple roofs of tin we have come together as a team and as a family. With these simple roofs of tin we have brought hope.
Disease, malnutrition, hunger, lack of shelter and the growing problem for the next crops of food, as the rainy season approaches there is a clear and present danger of them being lost completely. As if this wasn’t enough, there is a growing shortage of aid supplies, particularly tents and shelter making materials, and as the lost have been found and the search called off, the danger for many is a lack of a place to call home, a place to simply protect them from the elements. No matter how much food is given, metric ton after metric ton is being handed out by world aid organizations every day, if these supplies aren’t protected they will simply be washed away in the rain. These tents that are being put up hold another problem - they are temporary. For every tent that is given, another shelter will be needed in the coming months or even weeks, and this is exactly the thinking of Chogyal Rinpoche and BIA Bodhisattvas In Action. We are trying to break the mold, trying something new, and bring what is needed to those who need it, while striving to not only put a band-aid on a horrible situation, but to bring lasting help and a more permanent solution.
Heading to the hills with a giant truck full of over 500 sheets of tin roofing material we set out with the simple idea that we would actually help an entire village set up brand new homes, homes that will not only shelter the families and their children, but that will last through the rainy season as well. Two monks, a nurse, 5 boys from the SOH Orphanage and our BIA Volunteers made up the team, bringing not only the roofing materials with us but medicine, sanitary and hygienic supplies as well. Once again striking out to the mountain side requires patience, motivation, determination mixed with a bit of crazy, and a strong stomach. These roads are quite simply inaccessible without a jeep or truck, providing no shortage of opportunities to ride on the roof, getting out to push, feeling the breeze caress our sun burnt faces as we careen around corners with nothing but the edge of a cliff on the other side. These areas though deeply affected by the earthquake are strikingly beautiful. The rolling green hills across the horizon also bring sadness in the pit of my stomach as they are dotted with villages that even from a distance can be seen to be shaken to the ground. Where once were houses and homes lay nothing but piles of rock and ash, a lone window frame standing amongst a pile of boulders and brick that not long ago was home to a family by the roadside. A bus lies by the side of the road literally decimated by what appears to have been a boulder crushing it flat, like a coke can crushed in your palm, the damage staying behind for all who pass by as a reminder of the possibilities and dangers. The village itself lies at the very top of the mountain, another several hours drive and an adventure all in itself to reach. Arriving in the afternoon after hours of rocky terrain we were joyfully greeted with waves and smiles, flowers and bindhis for each of us, hugs and Namastes abound in all directions. I was caught completely off guard, jumping out of the truck ready to work as a wonderfully sun wrinkled older woman grabs me by the arm, smiles deeply into my eyes and places a finger on my forehead and flowers around my neck. She made such a point to show me how happy they were to see us, that we had made the trip for them, that we had reassured them that they were indeed not forgotten. These people have warm glowing faces, smiles on the children and old alike, but there is also something buried underneath these welcoming looks - a sense of desperation. They have been without shelter for almost two weeks now, and as the days pass by and no help has come a growing fear and panic has begun to take hold here. As the day wears on, the sun beats down, as the tin is handed out and divided amongst the villagers and for the school that is now completely destroyed, tempers and panic set in, chaos naturally ensues, and we were treated to an up close and personal view of much more emotion than they would show on the news. These people have nothing, they thought they had been ignored and forgotten, and now that help is finally here they are struggling to keep their emotions under control.
Nonetheless the mission is a huge success - handing out many boxes of sanitary pads and medicine, as well as helping 88 families and the local school rebuild their homes. I would like to point out that the readers of this page and their hugely generous donations were a large piece of this project - the money I collected through donations was given to this project, and it is directly thanks to you that these people now have homes. Homes that will weather the storm, literally keeping the rain off their backs and instilling long lost hope in their hearts. 88 families now have homes - 88 families can rest under the protection and comfort of their new roofs, knowing that they were not forgotten, knowing that we were here for them. Though the air was filled with cries of desperation and hopelessness, the faces I saw when we headed out at the end of the day were those full of hope and so much gratitude. We had to wait to pull the truck out while they lined up to thank us each, crowding around, shaking our hands and smiling, saying thank you with misty eyes and huge smiles - the children especially. Throughout the day I was hit with wave after wave of energy and then falling, a roller coaster of emotions and eye of the storm calming grace, this work has instilled in me a new sense of being. I am ever grateful for the opportunity to do this. One never knows exactly what we will be met with during our day, each adventure full of different challenges and trials. I might be crazy in saying this, but I found myself thinking that I could do this every day for the rest of my life. How could one spend their day doing anything better, more worthwhile, more of benefit? The possibilities are endless, and for someone willing to give their time and their heart to this kind of project, to put my trust in what Rinpoche has in store and planned for us, it is simply not possible for me to do anything else but continue with everything I have. Jump on the truck, let’s get moving, there is so much work to do! This BIA project is a whole new way of looking at how to help, that we can provide a long lasting and hopeful situation to these people who desperately need it. And a secret between us? We are just getting started. Chogyal Rinpoche has big ideas for the coming days and we have only begun to strike the surface of what is possible here. Giving new meaning to Bodhisattvas In Action, giving new meaning to support and aid, giving new meaning to a life worth living for this photographer, and for all of us on this team. We have become a family, and with this bond and support we have what is needed to continue, to endure, to stay on task and complete this mission. Please help support this team and this activity by helping to share this mission of ours. Share these images in hopes that we can involve as many as we can, to help spread the word that there is much work to be done, and we still really need your support, and we really need your help.
With simple roofs of tin we have started to think outside the box, we have started to try and see things differently, to try and bring more than we thought we could. With these simple roofs of tin we have come together as a team and as a family. With these simple roofs of tin we have brought hope.
