The Mountains

Priya Parivar,

Getting worlds removed was rather exciting and at times a challenge: 
 
Riding over the rugged trek,  
rocks wobble must give throttle –  
back tire bouncing regaining grip -  
we wrestle steaming steeds wet from the rain.  
Riding into the night sharing pools of light,  
laughing, changing leads, yet careful of the ledge.  
We hedge the safety of the upward slope  
as to not drift too near the cliff when we slip,  
sloshing up into the mountains. 
 
Sometimes we were soaked to the skin while riding as it rained each day, and we had some mechanical difficulties, but despite the tribulations it was an unbelievable experience, one in which I was blessed to participate. Both riding and being in the places where we arrived ushered in a wealth of experiences.

 
Some of the most powerful encounters took place in Nandasain. We taught the children there some new games and teased out lessons I felt the games illustrated. Seeing understanding dawn upon the children's faces as Vikrant translated, nearly rivaled my joy at being caught up in the playful giggling as we held hands and pursued the game's goal.  
Afterwards we went and saw Mr. Prakashlal's home. The dwelling consisted of three rooms where he, his wife and five children all live. The cow dung and mud which held the scattered stones together was flaking away. For some reason the reality of their situation struck me more deeply when I learned a lad I'd identified with, one who I'd encouraged after his group had won a contest, was one of Mr. Prakashlal's five children.

 
His few feet of land had enough tomatoes and corn for perhaps a couple good meals... this was a family facing the reality of hunger. Vikrant is seeking to raise money to feed 50 such families for the two most difficult months they face as monsoons have flooded vast portions of the plains and spiked the cost of food grains still higher, above the already internationally inflated price.

 
I was glad to hear about this effort to provide for immediate needs but wanted to better understand the root of the problem, so that we might began to focus on the long term. Mr. Prakashlal works odd jobs as a laborer but even this opportunity which earns merely a few quarters a day is limited to around ten shifts a month; he has no real job because at the present time there are no opportunities available. The social roots of the problem became apparent as my questions about sustainability and what could be done shifted our gaze.

 
Some hours later we were warming ourselves around an open fire while a pot of chai warmed over the little blaze. We had taken cover during a peculiarly heavy downpour and had the good fortune of happening upon some friendly folks who had a bit of a side business making chai. While the rain poured off the roof into buckets -- rain harvesting -- our brainstorm begin to produce some results.

 
Vikrant explained that Himalayan culture created a steady demand for three or so quality wood products. Selling these staples in the district of Chamoli (state of Uttarakhand) ought to be relatively easy. Coupled with the fact there are master carpenters in touch with the Agape network, the hope for a workshop -- Jesus' Carpenters -- was born.

 
We hope to put the idle manpower lying latent in Prakashlal and his compatriots to use, generating a product with a culturally entrenched demand. Agape still looks to move forward with the plans deliver 50 kg of wheat and 50 kg of rice for the 50 families, yet now delivering over 11,000 pounds of food ($2,600 US plus $400 transport cost) has an air of an introduction and beginning rather than merely a handout. 
 
His Blessings, 
-Jonathan