I will hopefully never forget the lesson I learned this week. I hope I will always take a moment, just one second, to utter thanks each time I look for something that “matches”.I have rolled this experience round and around in my mind. What seems like such a small thing says so much about values and privilege. 

Matching is a concept for those of us with options, choices, resources.It is a luxury not for those existing on necessities. I didn’t 

realize until I shopped for fabric for the playrooms, just never thought about it -Wow… I just never seem to fully wrap my arms around it all. Humbling that I STILL don’t really “get it” even as I try. I WILL be more aware, I WILL do more, I WILL give more because we are so blessed.   
    

Found plastic toy containers the right size & color. This  matching concept is crazy to the shop owners -a realization for me – “matching” is definitely a concept for those that can afford to “choose” items we “want” not dream of having minimum items of need for survival or existing) . We also purchased some cartoons for a few of the schools so the little one can watch and hear English and they may even have a movie time for all! Such simple things! Waiting on approvals now with fingers crossed!  
   

Walking home at dusk and an adorable boy with a big smiles walks up beside me and shyly says “namaste man”. I say namaste and his questions/comments/ pantomimes are as follows: 

What is your name? My name is Otis! Where are you from? Is it beautiful in America? My parents… ( sewing motions) yes tailors. In the square. Are you Christian? Me too! Jesus! He loves me! He loves you too mam!  My parents are waiting for me… Goodbye mam..,Don’t forget me! No Otis, I promise I will definitely not forget you. 

 Started the day with university visit and then on to order flooring for the schools, finalize furniture with the builder, and finally shopping for material for throw pillows for the kid’s resource rooms. Ended the day again around 8:00 crossing Kathmandu on a scooter  ( me, Babi, two backpacks, and two very large bags of fabric) to try and make it back to meet with the group actually sewing the pillows. My daddy will be proud of my measuring and calculating for flooring, lumber, furniture, etc.   

Public transportation during a festival is NOT , I repeat NOT, a good idea. Hopped in one of the small boxes designed to fit 8 with about 12 of my new best friends today and wound up on an hour long detour🚙  worked on flooring, carpentry, plastic containers, and a meeting a Little Moon School. Just making my way home after dark… Again, stinky, dusty, tired and very content. Thinking of renting a scooter..,,

Spent over two hours of taxi rides, a few miles of walking and a motorcycle ride across Kathmandu to find early child development toys today. Proud to report that adorable items were located including puppets, dolls, puzzles, blocks, sensory games, etc.) I hit the jackpot by finding a tiny montesorri storefront that can order and a craft store for puppets!  I am filthy, exhausted, and extremely happy. What a beautiful day!  

These are typical scenes from a morning walk on the main road…  

Many people live in the equivalent of small boxes with a garage type roll door or curtains for the street side wall. They sleep, eat, live and work from this small spot. All worldly possessions must fit in just a few small bags or boxes. 
 

  Dirty dishes, there are only minimum to use and they are put in the bin on the street, same bin to wash clothes… 
Washing dishes… 
  This tailor sets his machine on the sidewalk outside the cube he calls home, a fabric shop ( maybe 20 bolts of colorful fabric) with a mattress in the back corner to sleep on.
  

 So very happy to report that Book orders are now complete for 19 new library resource rooms; 7 pre-k playrooms, and science materials ordered for 7 science labs! What a wonderfully exhausted feeling-making progress! Worked non-stop from 7:30 am until 8:00 pm on a chocolate candy bar and milk tea!   
    
 

So this morning I had hot water which meant shower and hair washed. The electricity was on so I knelt on the floor to dry my hair because I have to hold the plug in the adaptor while I dry. I smelled smoke, glanced up and the outlet has blue flames! Good lord what a way to start. I’M AWAKE!!!!  Gotta LOVE this place!