Saturday, August 21, 2010
Time to fly
Prayers
Filipe says
When I accepted the challenge of going to Nepal to work with children, I knew that I was going to learn at least as much as I could help. I was right.
When we arrived in Kathmandu, the sun couldn’t shine bright because of the smoke curtain over the city, the poor streets were full of cars, motorbikes, and garbage. Things seemed out of order, the traffic was crazy. This was my first impression.
As we started to make contact with people, I found that this was a country where the heart could communicate to other hearts. It was not about hugs and kisses, it was about Love.
It’s not that I’ve seen people showing too much affection gestures towards each other, it was the warm way that people communicated with.
The name Ghar Sita Mutu makes all the sense: A house with heart. That’s what I would call to Nepal. It was a country where I felt at home.
The work with the children from the different centres and schools was fantastic. To a western person, it’s amazing how discipline and respect are still valued by the children and young people in Nepal. They could teach a lot to the western children.
Even if we were aware of the difficult life situations of many children, I could only see them as special children, rather than heartbroken, by all the love, energy, awareness and great intentions that they shared with me.
If my inner child was wounded, these children have shown me that it’s possible to change our situation and fight for what is really important.
For all of these reasons and for many more, I feel that I’ve got a family in Nepal.
Thank you.
Filipe
Aarti reports
It was in Nepal that I came to really understand that one undertakes two journeys in life - the physical journey of the body through time and space, and the internal journey of the heart and soul which at times can be more challenging. There are moments in one's lives when we are deeply touched, inspired, or enriched - for me one of those moments was at Ghar Sita Mutu - "The House With A Heart" and does it have HEART!!
It was here that Beverly's Children taught me - they have been my greatest teachers and it was here that I was proud to be their student gaining a wealth of knowledge from the wisdom of their tender and sometimes wounded young hearts. Despite what many of them have been through they still knew how to remain open, to share, to forgive, to be compassionate, to radiate joy, to laugh, to play, to dance and to love.They welcomed me with their beautiful smiles and embraced me in their loving hearts and into their big family as if I always belonged with them.
These Children taught me to look deep within my own heart where I found a joy that I never expected but one that I believe every human has the potential to feel if they too looked deep inside. I feel that we will remain connected forever [despite the physical distance between us] and for that I am eternally grateful.
Beverly - you have given so much and you have taught me about unconditional kindness. You show that kindness in not a process in the head, or a though but kindness is lived out in what you do. Thank you for teaching me to be aware and to be awakened.
Lots of love
Aarti
x
Nepal, the true wisdom of the heart
Katarina's reflections on Nepal
Nepal felt like a very special land. A home to special little people but was also a cradle to heart wisdom that so lovingly enveloped us. I deeply felt this joyful wisdom that was shared from heart to heart without limits, differences or discrimination. It was permeating everyone and everything it surrounded. It was feeding and balancing the warm love that was twinkling in little ones eyes.
When children looked at us, we felt their appreciation and love They could sense we were there for them and they embraced us unconditionally. They offered us their acceptance, their love - everything. Their little souls were bejeweled with precious, priceless qualities, that made them richer than most of the people I know. O A lot of the time this was balancing out the extreme poverty or suffering they had to endure in their young lives. Their hearts were smiling, though behind the sparkle of their eyes one could sense some of them may have a heavy burden to carry. It was amazing to see them work so hard and so well, it was rewarding beyond words to see them benefit and brighten up from spending time with us.
For me, I treasure the time they and their teachers shared with us every moment of every day. A part of my heart and soul is still and probably will stay forever in Nepal. When we were leaving they looked into our eyes and asked us to come back with great sincerity and hope in their hearts. Inside mine, I felt the same. I would not want to let them down like they were let down by many in their young lives. It was obvious how much it would mean to them if they saw us again, and it was clear as sky how much all of them and what we shared meant to me. They are a part of me and will stay with me forever. Hopefully we can make it back one day.
Ghar Sita Mutu truly is a home with a huge heart. It is housing little gems that make their home sparkle beyond this world. Their brave hearts carry love, wisdom and warmth that are limitless, extending beyond boundaries of our daily existence. It touched our hearts and now we are linked in eternity forever. So are all of you, who supported this project and helped selflessly, now linked with invisible cords of this unique experience, it could not happen without you.
Aarti, Mark and Fillipe, without you this experience would not have the life and shape that it had.
Finally Beverly, without your enormous heart and generosity of spirit, your home for children and this project would not become the enriching and precious reality we had a privilege to experience.
With gratitude,
Katarina