Crosstown Traffic

I think that one of the most shocking aspects of Nepal was the traffic. Triston picked us up at the airport when we first arrived. As soon as we left the parking lot, we were confronted with the crazy driving conditions.

There is an endless cacophony of horn-blowing. And because horns serve such a vital function, there seems to be an unwritten contest over who can procure the loudest horn. It's almost as if the buses could move some of the small cycles merely using the sound waves generated from their horns.

In addition to the noise, cars and buses constantly cross the seemingly non-existent center line. It's like a mass of drunken teenager drivers playing chicken with each other. Then there's the pedestrians. I guess there is really no safe way to get across the street through this insane traffic, so most people just stroll across at their whim without looking and without (it seems) any regard for their lives. If this wasn't enough, you have animals to deal with as well. Stray dogs often chase after you. Duck and chickens waddle through all the traffic, while cows and buffalo stand defiantly still in the middle of the road.

And when I say "road", please don't envision what you have come to consider a road in the US. Many of the roads in Nepal are not even asphalt, but merely dirt. They are full of potholes, puddles, rocks, ruts along the side and countless other obstacles. Oh yeah, traffic flow and steering wheels are on the opposite side from what an American expects. With a constant cascade of close calls, your reflexes often want to kick in and send you in the "wrong" direction. Because Kathmandu is a valley, the auto pollution is quite bad. We found ourselves nauseous from the fumes and the vigorous riding, so we ended up buying some breathing masks to help.

Put all of this together and it is an overwhelming experience to a foreign visitor. Here is a short clip that I took while riding in the car:

This clip is fairly benign for several reasons:

• it is a main, paved road,
• we were in a car (bikes are much crazier),
• traffic was light at the time I recorded it,
  
• and there were not many animals in the road.

We spent very little time in the car though. Along with the majority of Nepalis, we traveled almost exclusively on motorcycles. It is infinitely easier to navigate through all of the potholes, pedestrians, animals and other vehicles on a bike. On average, we probably drove the bikes about three hours a day.

Despite all of this, I found the driving to be quite fun. It was like an adrenaline-filled video game trying to navigate the bike through all of this. It was taxing though and we couldn't keep it up for too long. After a while, we would need to stop, catch our breathe and rest.

In many ways, I see the Nepali traffic as a metaphor of my life in the US. Having been back for little over a week, I already find myself caught up in all that my life demands. There are numerous obstacles to navigate. Despite my best efforts to traverse through the day, things often seem to fly at me from out of nowhere, requiring immediate attention. But all of this "action" also makes my life enjoyable and exciting.

Don't get me wrong, I know that I am truly blessed and wouldn't change anything about my life. I think the challenge (and the lesson I hope to learn from this analogy) is knowing when to stop and take a break. Just like the Nepali traffic, it is fun and exciting but too much can drain you. It is so easy to get so caught up in all that needs doing, that we forget to take breaks. This in turn depletes the enjoyment we get from it and makes us more susceptible to the dangers involved.

I spent one day at a hotel in Nepal, just chilling out with my sons and my friend. There was no agenda. We just hung out, played badminton and cards, gazed at the Himalayas, laughed and had a good time. Of course the surroundings helped; but this was such a special time for me. It was so peaceful to just hang out with my boys without obligations breathing down my neck. I want that more. I want to learn to take those breaks from all the hustle and bustle. It's hard to do at times but they are so beneficial.

The Longest Hour

We had a crazy exit from Thailand. We stayed at a beach resort about two hours south of the Bangkok airport. Our flight out was not until 7:30 PM, so we checked out of the resort, stored our bags and did a little more site seeing.

We went to a crocodile farm that was a lot of fun. We fed some crocs by dangling some meat on a string and a stick. It was a hoot. Their jaws would slam together with such force and make this large snapping sound. There were elephants, birds, tigers and many other animal attractions there as well. There was also a show with a guy doing all kinds of stupid stuff with the crocodiles. He was kissing them and putting his head in their mouths. Then he would tickle them with a stick and they would snap. I was wondering how often they have to replace this fella.

I had schedule a car to pick us up at the resort and take us to the airport. We got some heavy rain right before he came to get us. Since we had checked out, all of our dry clothes were packed in the luggage. On the way out of the beach town, the main road was flooded with about 16 inches of water. I thought, "Oh No, we are not going to make it to the airport." We managaed to get through it though. (I couldn't believe the cars, and even scooters, were driving through this.) Because of this, traffic was very slow and we made it to the airport just in time.

We went through all the baggage and passport checks, boarded the plane and settled in to the small plane seats with out damp clothes for the longest hour of our lives. We left Bankok at 7:45PM and arrived in Los Angelos an hour later at 8:45PM. Of course, the flight durations was actually sixteen hours long! I'm having trouble just getting my mind around the concept. The rest of my body is even further behind.

We had some issues with our international flight being rescheduled at the last minute. We tried valiantly to transfer in LA and come all the way home but couldn't make it happen. AirTran wanted over 600 dollars to get an earlier flight. So, we stuck with our original (Tuesday morning) flight, got a rental car, drove to San Diego and got a cheap hotel. Boy did that hot shower feel good after that long flight.

Today, we went down to the beaches, rented some bikes and road around. We had a good time and got to see another beautiful area of our country. But, we have been jet-lag challenged and we are all ready to get home. The boys just fell asleep and I am ready to do the same. We wake up tomorrow, drive back to LA airport and fly home. Ah, home sweet home! We have had an amazing trip but we are also very excited to get home.

I hope to blog about the trip at least once more when we get home and settle in. I am so grateful to be able to make this trip with my boys. There was a lot of bonding time with Sam and Dan and we experienced so many things. One of the main thoughts that I have taken from this is a greater appreciation for the blessings in my life. Of course, my family is at the top of that list. I can hardly wait until this time tomorrow when we are all united again. Goodnight.

More Fun Today

Well, we had another fun-filled day here in Thailand. We are certainly getting our adrenaline fix here. Today we went to the Lakeland Cable Ski Park. Have you ever heard of cable skiing? It's pretty neat. It is basically just like water skiing except, instead of being pulled by a boat, you are pulled by a cable and pulley system.

It is all done in a lake. In the center of the lake there is an oval cable circuit. It rotates around the lake at 28 mph. There is a control booth that can hook ropes to it at different intervals. You hold onto one of the ropes on a launching platform. When it engages, it yanks you off the platform and away you go around the lake.

You can use a knee-board, wake-board, saucer or skis. It was so much fun. After cable skiing for two hours, we were all pretty worn out. We got back to the hotel and Sam and I went out on the beach for a Thai massage. It felt incredible after being so sore from holding on the the cable ropes.

The price of a massage here is only 200 Baht (about 6 US Dollars) for one hour. We were on a little patio about 25 feet from the gulf. There was a nice breeze and you could hear the waves crashing. Thai massages are different. They twist and stretch your body in all kinds of ways. Despite my horrible flexibility, I found myself contorted like a pretzel quite often. I don't know how she did it. It kind of reminded me of Superman when he bends a bar of steel. Surprisingly, I felt very relaxed afterward.

We have half the day here tomorrow and then we travel back to the Bangkok airport for a 5:00 pm flight back to the US.

Too Much Fun?

We left Nepal yesterday around noon. Thank you Dyers for an amazing visit. It was so neat to spend time with you, experiencing your country and ministry.

After a short three and a half hour flight we reached Bangkok, Thailand. When I planned the trip months ago, I decided to stay in Thailand a few days. It was a free stop for the airfare and hotel accommodations are very inexpensive. So it was a chance to experience yet another part of the world for next to nothing.

I booked a beach resort about two hours south of Bangkok. We had a Mercedes SUV limo take us from the airport to the hotel. It was a plush, air-conditioned ride and we watched a movie on the trip. The resort is extremely nice as well. However, it is a "second honeymoon" kind of place -- very remote and quite. We checked in pretty late last night, but by 10AM this morning we had grown disenchanted by the serene, tranquil environment.

To help expel some of our "youthful" energy, I found a place that rented ATVs and booked us for a two-hour tour in the early afternoon. What a hoot! My western expectations were completely overturned. In America, you could expect a 30 minute safety course prior to the ride, a 20-page release form full of legalese, a governed vehicle and a closed course. Not here! After a short diversion to find a "special-for-you" helmet to fit my oversize cantaloupe, we got a quick "here's the gas, here's the brake, follow me into the Pattaya jungle hillside." and off we went. These were 250cc ATVs that were geared with a high top-end. They had to do at least 50 mph when we opened them up.

Midway through the trip, we spent some time in a quarry, with a few jumps and puddles. I was trying to match Sam's distance off of one of the jumps (probably about 15-20 feet). I almost ate the handlebars on one of the landings, which awakened me to the shocking and discomforting realization that I was no longer a teenager like Sam and Dan. I backed off a little bit after that.

On the way back, we were fish-tailing down a dirt path doing about 30 mph. The guide was always in the lead and I had taken the back so that I could keep an eye on the boys. We were all going sideways in a cloud of dirt and dust. Suddenly, I saw Sam's bike "hook-up" and nose dive into a gully along the side of the path. The ATV flipped over catapulting Sam into the brush.

Sam jumped up quickly and said that he was alright. (He just has a little scape on his arm.) We all quickly flipped the bike back over and I was expecting the worse. It wasn't too bad though. One of the front tires was blown out and part of the fairing was a little loose. We had to wait about 15 minutes for someone to bring us a replacement tire. They quickly changed it and we were off again for the remainder of our tour. They were completely understanding about the incident and even had some fresh fruit waiting for us when we got back. What a wild time!

We will be here for one more day and then we fly back to LA on Sunday. It's a strange flight, lasting about 17 hours but only moving us ahead about two and a half hours due to the time zones. (I hope my first day back to work next Wednesday doesn't feel like that. :)

A Leap to Faith

During our long ride this morning (see previous post), I had time to think about what it would be like to bungee jump off of a high bridge. I have never struggled from acrophobia (fear of heights). I have always wanted to sky dive, but I have promised my wife that I will not. If I did not have the responsibility of a family, I think I would have taken this opportunity to leap off the bridge today. (Since we did not make it to the site, it is a mute point anyway.)

At any rate, I couldn't help but relate the concept of faith to the act of bungee jumping. A person must have faith to jump off the bridge -- faith in the rope, fasteners, engineers, etc. Similarly, Christians must have faith in the person and work of Christ. Those readers who are Christian know that their eternal salvation depends on faith. Sola Fide (faith alone) is the one of the five foundational "solas" of the Protestant Reformation. For any Christian, one of the most important questions to ponder is: "What is Saving Faith?" Gordon Clark has written a book by that same title. (A preview is here.) I have read this book several times over the past few years. I would highly recommend it. You may not necessary agree with everything in it (I probably do.), but it will at least inspire you to consider one of the most important questions you could ever ask.

I do not intend to do a review of the book here. (A short review may be found here if you are interested.) For many Christians (and non-Christians as well), faith is defined as including some mystical or emotional element. When pressed to define this element, many have difficulty. It becomes even more difficult when one is pressed to defend it Biblically. With this nebulous definition of faith, some end up needing to have faith (as they define it) in their own faith -- a bizarre concept.

Most Christians would be quick to attest that they are saved by faith in Christ. However, defining what that means may prove more challenging. What is saving faith? How would you answer that question? Read this book if you would like some direction.

A Disappointing Turn Around

We had a little bit of a disappointment today. Our agenda was to drive to a bridge near the Chinese border that is used for bungee jumping. I had promised Sandy that we would by no means be jumping ourselves. However, it would be neat to watch others. Merely walking across the see-through grated bridge is an experience in itself. After that we planned to drive the short remaining distance to the border itself, just to say we had.

That was our plan anyway. However, after waking up and leaving the house at 5AM and driving for hours to within a few kilometers of our destination, we encountered a road block. No -- it was not a fallen buffalo; it wasn't even a mudslide covering the road. We were stopped by a villager of the upcoming area. He informed us that someone had been hit by a car in their village recently and they were not allowing anyone to pass. They were in effect holding the traffic hostage until the government made some type of monetary amends for this tragedy. (Side note: Don't assume the driver of the car was at fault. Pedestrians constantly walk right out into traffic here without the slightest concern for their own safety.)

I couldn't believe it. We had woken up early, driven up the mountain for hours, wasted time and fuel just to be stopped a few minutes shy of our goal. Triston just turned the car around and said that is the way things are here. It is not uncommon at all. When I inquired about the probable results if we ignored the warning, Triston informed me that we would undoubtedly have the car bombarded with rocks. We could be injured and have the car set on fire. I was glad he turned around; but I was still disapointed and frustrated.

There is a silver lining, however. We were the first car of the the morning to reach this village. (By the time we left there was a huge line of cars and buses stopped.) Had we made it through the village, we could have enjoyed our sight seeing adventure...but would not have been able to return! Since this is the only road back, this would have been a huge inconvenience. We fly out from Nepal tomorrow. There is a good chance we would not have been able to get back in time for our flight.

So, although disappointed, we were nonetheless releived to have a way back home. We stopped at another suspended bridge that we had passed earlier. Although it was not even 1/10th the size of the bungee site, we were satisfied.

On Top of the World

Last night, we all went out to dinner together. We had a nice time and the food was delicious. Sammy does very well going places. He sat in his car seat at the table and interacted with all of us. Afterward, we got to bed fairly early because we needed to leave the house early this morning for our mountain flight.


Although Nepal is a relatively small country (about the size of Arkansas), it is home to eight of the top ten highest mountains including the highest, which is Everest. My wife and I have always enjoyed reading about and viewing shows about Everest. So, since we were so close to it, I thought we should see it.


There are flights offered that fly along the range of the Himalayas and back. I booked the three of us on one that flew this morning. I felt a little bit too touristy doing it, but it was an amazing flight. After all, how many people can say they have seen the summit of Everest, even by plane. We took a lot of pictures but they are honestly not that impressive through the plane windows. It is one of those things that you just need to experience. The size and range of these mountains is majestic to view. Overall it was a great opportunity. We were also fortunate to have clear weather.

This trip has been a blast! We have gotten to do and see so many amazing things.

High-Trek Accommodations

We got up early Saturday morning to start our trek up one of the nearby mountains. We picked up Jaya's father and he dropped us off in the town at the base of the mountain. It's a twelve kilometer trek going up from about 4000 to 7000 ft. elevation. It was a pretty strenuous hike, but nothing too serious.



The landscapes are just amazing as you walk along the path. We passed through several small villages where we could buy some bottled water, sit down and relax for a few minutes.
There came a point where we passed through the clouds and were then above them. The fog-like clouds gave the surroundings a somewhat mystical feeling.

When we made it to the top (sooner than expected) and stumbled upon this great hotel. The whole place was built into the mountainside with a spectacular view of the Himalayas. It felt so good to relax there after our trek. We had some good meals, played cards and badminton together and just soaked up the amazing scenery. All of this was at a fraction of what it would cost in the US.

We scheduled a sunrise wake-up call. I had the bed next to the window. We just left the curtains open all night, so I was able to roll over in bed and see the sun rising and illuminating the Himalayas. It was one of those moments that you wish you could bottle up so that you could show it to others and re-experience it again and again.






I found myself wishing that the rest of my family (especially my wife!) was there with me. But I was extremely grateful to be there with my two sons and my friend.

We took a two-hour, bumpy taxi ride back home and just got back...back down to earth so to speak.

Two Great Ministries

We had a fulfilling day today. Triston has two classes (Evangelism and Systematic Theology) that he teaches at the Nepal Bible College. Both classes meet once a week for two hours on Friday. So this morning Triston went to teach the Evangelism class. While he was there, Jaya took me and the boys to one of the nearby orphanages that their church supports.

The Hamro Ghar Orphanage has 52 children. Becuase of the holiday there were a lot fewer kids when we were there; but we still got to meet and spend time with many of them. They showed us around and sang a few songs for us. Afterward, Sam and Dan hung out with the kids while Jaya and I chatted with Manahara, the woman who runs the orphanage.

I was very impressed. For many, hearing of an orphanage often conjures up images of poverty and drab, oppressive accomadations. You do see a lot of poverty, oppression and dismal living conditions in Nepal. In fact, a simple drive into town is dominated by these things. The orphanage, however, was very clean and orderly. The children were dressed and groomed neatly. The rooms were well put together and clean. Everything was minimalistic and simple, yet tidy and organized. The kids seem happy and content.

Chatting with Manahara, I got the impression that she pours herself into this ministry. She seems perfectly gifted for it too. She strikes me as a strong woman gifted with great organizational skills. Her husband is currently in the US studying to be a pastor. Some people from the church come and help her at times. This place runs on very little. There are donations of clothes and a little monetary support for food, medicine, etc. But, God provides for their needs and has gifted Manahara with the skills to maximizes what they have.


In the afternoon, I had the honor of substituting for Triston, teaching his Systematic Theology class. It was neat to meet the students and teach them. The entire Nepal Bible College is taught in English so there was not a need for a translator. However, there were often times that I needed to slow down and clarify things. I was pleased to visit the school and have an opportunity to teach there becuase Christian education is so needed here.

Christianity is very new to Nepal. It is believed that there were no Christians here until 1951, when the country first permitted medical missonaries to enter. Since that time, Christianity has grown exponentially. There are now estimated to be about one million Christians here. While this is cause for great praise, this fast growth suggests that Christian concepts have been propegated from one convert to another with little growth in understanding. Because of this, I think there is a vaccum for solid Biblical training. Misunderstanding and false teachings have also arisen due to lack of thorough training. So the Nepal Bible College is fulfilling a great need, providing students with the skills and experience to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

If you have opportunity, please remember Hamro Ghar Orphanage and Nepal Bible College in your prayers. Both are doing great work here in Nepal.

Once for All

This is the best time of year to visit Nepal. The rainy summer season has just ended leaving the terrain plush and green; yet the temperatures are still warm and comfortable. We are also in the middle of the largest Hindu holiday, Dashain, with today and tomorrow being the most important days. Because of this holiday, traffic is minimized and people are in a festive mood. We are able to see the culture in "full-bloom" so to speak. In some ways, it could be compared to someone visiting the United States for the first time during the Christmas/New Year holiday season.

Last night we took the bikes into town. We went to one of the central places for sacrificing and Hindu worship. Everything was heightened because of the holiday. It was an intense experience. As we first pulled up and parked the bikes, we were greeted by this eerie sound of worshipers inside of a massive tent. There was howling, guttural laughs and clanging symbols. A sample (although nowhere near as intense) is below:



Then we walked up to the river that runs next to the temple. This river is believed to be holy. Along the sides of the river are many platforms used to cremate bodies in a ritualistic fashion. The river is literally lined with burning bodies while many more corpses are queued up further back. This produces a repugnant odor that permeates the entire area. However, what is even more shocking is the other activities surrounding this river.
Because it is thought to be holy, people swim, wash and bathe in it. We even saw a woman washing her dishes in it. This river is disgusting -- contaminated by the ashes of countless corpses and many other repulsive contents.

Elsewhere along the river there are mini temples where sacrifices are offered to various gods. There is blood puddled around along with fruit and other various offerings. It is a lot to take in and much of it seems quite bizarre to our "civilized" Western eyes. However, I believe that the idea of sacrifice appears in most religions. Whether it is animals, foods, labors, our will, our minds, or any other offering; the concept of giving to the gods to find favor and appease them shows itself.

As Christians, I think it is easy for us to "sterilize" this idea. We may tend to think of it in a symbolic or metaphoric way. But, our Old Testament history enumerates countless sacrifices very similar to the things we witnessed. And our own faith is rooted in a real sacrifice. Christ had to come to earth as a real man and endure a real, bloody, agonizing sacrifice on our behalf. Because His was the ultimate sacrifice, it brought an end to all other necessary sacrifices.

"And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Heb. 10:11-14)

We must never forget that the very object of our faith is the sacrificial work of Christ. As Americans, most of us are insulated from morbid and bloody sights such as the ones described above. But real blood was shed on our behalf resulting in a real death in our stead. We should thank God that this sacrifice was complete, once for all; but let us not forget that it was a real and true sacrifice, without which we would be lost forever.

To Be a Kid

We had another full day today. In the morning we took the bikes out touring the mountainside. The land is so lush and fertile this time of year. The views are breath-taking. We also met and talked with some local villagers.

Dan brought some lollipops along in his backpack and gave them to some of the kids that we met. It’s amazing what a simple lollipop can do for these children. I’m not sure if it’s the candy or the strange looking Caucasians handing it to them; but their faces just light up with smiles.

During our trip, the boys learned to ride a motorcycle. They picked it up quite quickly and were having a great time riding up and down the dirt road. It reminded me of when I was that age and how thrilling something like that was.

In the afternoon, the local church was having a program for the kids. We attended the service and then spent some time playing with them. There was also a bunch of children from the village that joined in with us. It was fun tossing a frisbee around and just playing with the kids. I again found myself reflecting on the simplicity of being young. The village kids, my boys and even we adults were having such a fun time together.

Sam and Dan are taking this all in and adapting well to a different culture. I had thought that it may be a shock to them. But we have seen some pretty wild stuff (more in a later post) and they have absorbed it without much shock. Perhaps it will strike them more when we return. However, this again had me thinking about how children seem to have this innate ability to relate to others and adapt to surroundings.

Of course, in many ways, being here has made me feel like a kid again too. With all the typical pressures of life on hold on the other side of the world (literally!), I have found myself having so much fun -- just enjoy the time with my boys and my friend. I often hear my own laughter echoing inside of the motorcycle helmet as we ride along taking in the sights and driving through the crazy traffic.

Ironically, Triston and I had an unrelated conversation earlier in the morning about this passage: "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 18:3) Jesus spoke these word in direct response to His disciples questioning Him about who was the greatest in the kingdom. As adults we often get so distracted by the pressures of life and we find ourselves caught up in a rat race, competing with each other in a continuous vain striving. Children, on the other hand, are more inclined to just enjoy life and each other. It's a humbling thing to learn from kids; but even Christ's own disciples needed that lesson. Hopefully, I am learning it as well.

Monkey Business

In preparation for our trip, Sandy made us an appointment to ensure that we had all of the necessary inoculations. After a thorough consultation, the nurse explained all of the shots to us, many of which were optional. After I had a half dozen shots queued up for myself we came to another shot. I asked the nurse what it was for and she said that we would likely never need it. It was an inoculation against a disease that we would only get by touching a monkey for example. Relieved, I told her that we would not be venturing out into the jungle. "No monkey touching on this trip. We can just skip that one.", I said.

Well, on our first full day here we went to visit the Buddhist worship center in Kathmandu. Many worshipers bring fruit sacrifices for the idols. Once the worshiping is over the fruit (including bananas) is just discarded over the side of the hill. Because of this, there is a huge population of monkeys hanging around. As you ascend the steps to the stupa they are everywhere. I found myself thinking, "Man, maybe I should have gotten that shot anyway!"

What's for breakfast?

Wow! I feel like a new man. Sam, Dan and I all crashed around 8PM last night. It felt so good to take a hot shower and sleep in a horizontal position. I think the jet lag is pretty much gone now.
Jaya made us oatmeal and coffee for breakfast. We ate out on the front porch and had the pleasure of watching a buffalo being slaughtered.








Once we finished our oatmeal, we decided to walk across the street and get a close up. The guys working on the buffalo were very friendly and allowed us to take some pictures. Triston warned that they may not want us to touch it because we might taint it as a sacrifice. However, one of the guys said it was fine and even motioned that I could hold the head by the horns. So I went ahead and held the head.









Of course, what buffalo breakfast is complete without a bowl of coagulating blood! And all of this without needing to barely leave the house.

Okay, we're off to the town and maybe some lunch!

The Arrival

Here are a few shots of our arrival. The decent into the Kathmandu airport was beautiful. We saw the Himalayas from the plane window. I was surprised at how green the country was. It was a vivid plush green.

The entire trip here, while long and exhausting, went very smoothly.








Sam and Sammy! It was so great to see Triston and Jaya, to meet Mary and to get to hold Sammy for the first time. He is such a cute happy baby.










We had an out-of-season rain storm shortly after we arrived. As the rain trailed off we saw a double rainbow so I snapped this shot from the front porch. Maybe it's a sign that we wont get any more rain while were here. :)

We're in Nepal!

We made it to Nepal!!! I will post some pictures once we settle in. In the meantime, here are some fun photos we took at Muscle Beach during our LA layover.

(I couldn't resist!)

(Just to clarify, Sam was doing a back flip here.)

True Wealth

When I booked our flights, I knew we would have an extended layover in Los Angeles. Not wanting to sit around the airport all day, I reserved a rental car for us to take a drive around and see some of the sights.

What a great experience! Even though it was short, we were able to tour one of the most famous cities in our nation. Although I had been to the west coast before, this was the first time for all three of us to see this area.

Of course, just hearing the names “Beverly Hills” and “Hollywood” conjure up images of wealth and fame. Reflecting on this provided an interesting backdrop as we prepared for the next (17 hour!) leg of our journey to Nepal. I couldn’t help thinking about the contrast. We just toured one of the wealthiest and most popular places in the world. Now we are boarding a plane to an extremely remote area where poverty plagues many.

This contrast provided the perfect opportunity for me to ponder the things that are of true worth in this life. Many in this area obviously enjoy the easy and comfort that fame and money provide. However, at the same time, we are all aware of the damaged lives this same town has produced. For some strange reason, the media (and by extension, we consumers of it) seem fixated on the failures and tragedies of the rich and famous. How could something so great lead to so much misfortune? And, what is all this wealth and fame worth if it can also lead to misery and death?

King Solomon was one of the richest and wisest men that have ever lived. He wrote an entire book (Ecclesiastes) that surveys this same topic. He explains how his wealth and power afforded him any possession or pleasure that his heart desired, of which he denied himself none. But in many ways, the book is a story of despair. Throughout it, he frequently repeats the conclusion that “all is vanity.” What’s it all worth, if we merely bump through this life for a few decades and then vanish?

Many years later, one wiser than King Solomon summed it up in all up in a single, well-known question: “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”

Undoubtedly, once we arrive in Nepal our friends will introduce us to people who possess very little of monetary value. Yet these same people will also possess the greatest treasure known to mankind. This life passes in the blink of an eye compared to the eternity that follows it. While material possessions in this life are a blessing for us to enjoy, we should guard against their capacity to distract us from the things of true wealth.

At the end of this day, I find myself thankful. I am grateful that God has given me enough wealth to afford a trip like this. I am much more thankful that He has given me my family – that I have my two sons with me on this experience and a wonderful wife at home taking care of our four other children. And, I am infinitely more grateful that I have a sure future regardless of what this life brings.

In case you were wondering where we are going...

Here is a map that details where Nepal is:

Flight Times

With all of the time changes, I was having trouble keeping my head straight regarding our flight times. So, I put together a spreadsheet to help me keep track of it. I figured I would paste it below in case you are interested in knowing where we are and when.

Event	EST	Local Time
Leave for BWI airport	4:00AM	4:00AM
BWI to ATL	6:00AM	6:00AM
ATL layover	7:54AM	7:54AM
ATL to LAX	9:55AM	9:55AM
LAX Arrival /Siteseeing	2:47PM	11:47AM
LAX to BKK	2:10AM Sat	11:10PM Fri
BKK LayOver	7:40PM Sat	6:40AM Sun
BKK to KTM	11:35PM Sat	10:35AM Sun
Nepal Arrival	3:00AM Sun	12:45PM Sun
KTM to BKK	4:05AM Thur 10/16	1:50PM Thur 10/16
Arrive Bankok	7:20AM	6:20PM
BKK to LAX	8:20AM Mon 10/20	7:20PM Mon 10/20
LAX Arrival	2:25AM Tue 10/21	11:25PM Mon 10/20
LAX to ATL	3:40PM Tue 10/21	12:40PM Tue 10/21
ATL layover	7:58PM	7:58PM
ATL to BWI	10:32PM	10:32PM

K-k-k-k-katmandu

We will be leaving for Nepal on Friday, October 3rd. I will try to post entries while we are there. In the meantime, here's something to help you share in our excitement...