Chapter 1. The Start of a Great Effort
A Medical Mission Idea is Hatched
This narrative is from my memory, cryptic notes and photos. It is written in gratitude for the opportunity to serve and experience a part of the world I might not otherwise have visited.
This compilation is also a team effort of conversations, stories and details supplied by five others from the U.S. and eight Nepalis who participated in a 2013 medical mission camp in landlocked Nepal, in south Asia. Special thanks to Kate Ale for her detailed editing.
While those of us on the U.S. team paid our own way, it took additional finances to pull together this endeavor that benefited over 1,500 individuals in two remote villages in Nepal. We especially thank those who donated financial support to this medical mission.
This website is a vehicle to spread the word that more work needs to be done (and more tax-deductible funds needed) to help those less fortunate, both at home and abroard, and to recruit medical and non-medical personnel who wish to have a similar experience.
After Donna returned from Nepal (one of the six-member U.S. team) she had this to say, "As I process the trip over and over in my mind, it seems surreal that we actually accomplished what we did. It is a trip that I will always hold in my heart. So many wonderful people and places, it boggles the mind. People ask me if it changed my life and I have to say no. But, it touched me deeply."
As a cautionary note you may detect some hesitancy, fear or angst in looking back in the writings of my journey. I've been told it sounds as if I, and perhaps others, did not enjoy the experiences. When one travels a great distance to another country and culture there are bound to be some discomforts, but with those come growth. Personally trip held some of my most profound experiences and I wouldn't trade it for anything. If nothing else, those glitches make for great stories once one returns home. So I hope the reader will keep this in mind as I throw in a few grumbles now and then as I tell my story, and the stories of my fellow travelers.
When friends and strangers ask of my travels, "What was it like?" I never know the real question. Are they asking about my overall impression? Inconveniences or hardships? Length of time it takes to get there? Food and friendliness? Health concerns? Clothing and customs?
You might be wondering, "Where did you sleep? Just exactly what did you do? Was this something I might be interested in doing?"
I hope to answer your questions, but first let me begin with how I most remember the friendly people, especially those from the countryside.
"Namaste - I bless the divine in you." This typical hello and goodbye greeting is from Nepal - a country many people cannot locate on a world map. It's located between China and India - two of the most-populated countries. Nepal is primarily Hindu and Buddhist.
To be invited to live in the homes of locals, and face their culture and customs first hand, is a grand lifetime experience. A trip like this might strengthen a sense of gratitude, or spark a spiritual awakening, or tap into that curiosity; "Who am I?" and come to an understanding; "This is what I'm made of."
The zeal for this adventure was entirely unselfish on the part of all participants. We expected nothing in return. The act of giving of ourselves - our time, money and talents - and walking four hours to provide medical aid to less fortunate remote villagers, in two locations, followed by a 10-day Himalayan trek - just might do the trick for others, as well, who might be interested. But first things first.
This Trip Evolved Over Time: The incubation for this medical camp started Spring 2012 when Doctor Del Endres from Taos, New Mexico was trekking to Langtang, Humla and Kailash in Tibet with three friends. She said, “I got to know and trust the leadership of our fantastic guide, Amrit Ale, the founder of Himalayan Quests. He is highly qualified with decades of Himalayan experience, as well as a USA-based NOLS instructor. Go to www.himalayanquests.com/
"We became friends. Amrit was a guest in my home. I was a guest in his."
This compilation is also a team effort of conversations, stories and details supplied by five others from the U.S. and eight Nepalis who participated in a 2013 medical mission camp in landlocked Nepal, in south Asia. Special thanks to Kate Ale for her detailed editing.
While those of us on the U.S. team paid our own way, it took additional finances to pull together this endeavor that benefited over 1,500 individuals in two remote villages in Nepal. We especially thank those who donated financial support to this medical mission.
This website is a vehicle to spread the word that more work needs to be done (and more tax-deductible funds needed) to help those less fortunate, both at home and abroard, and to recruit medical and non-medical personnel who wish to have a similar experience.
After Donna returned from Nepal (one of the six-member U.S. team) she had this to say, "As I process the trip over and over in my mind, it seems surreal that we actually accomplished what we did. It is a trip that I will always hold in my heart. So many wonderful people and places, it boggles the mind. People ask me if it changed my life and I have to say no. But, it touched me deeply."
As a cautionary note you may detect some hesitancy, fear or angst in looking back in the writings of my journey. I've been told it sounds as if I, and perhaps others, did not enjoy the experiences. When one travels a great distance to another country and culture there are bound to be some discomforts, but with those come growth. Personally trip held some of my most profound experiences and I wouldn't trade it for anything. If nothing else, those glitches make for great stories once one returns home. So I hope the reader will keep this in mind as I throw in a few grumbles now and then as I tell my story, and the stories of my fellow travelers.
When friends and strangers ask of my travels, "What was it like?" I never know the real question. Are they asking about my overall impression? Inconveniences or hardships? Length of time it takes to get there? Food and friendliness? Health concerns? Clothing and customs?
You might be wondering, "Where did you sleep? Just exactly what did you do? Was this something I might be interested in doing?"
I hope to answer your questions, but first let me begin with how I most remember the friendly people, especially those from the countryside.
"Namaste - I bless the divine in you." This typical hello and goodbye greeting is from Nepal - a country many people cannot locate on a world map. It's located between China and India - two of the most-populated countries. Nepal is primarily Hindu and Buddhist.
To be invited to live in the homes of locals, and face their culture and customs first hand, is a grand lifetime experience. A trip like this might strengthen a sense of gratitude, or spark a spiritual awakening, or tap into that curiosity; "Who am I?" and come to an understanding; "This is what I'm made of."
The zeal for this adventure was entirely unselfish on the part of all participants. We expected nothing in return. The act of giving of ourselves - our time, money and talents - and walking four hours to provide medical aid to less fortunate remote villagers, in two locations, followed by a 10-day Himalayan trek - just might do the trick for others, as well, who might be interested. But first things first.
This Trip Evolved Over Time: The incubation for this medical camp started Spring 2012 when Doctor Del Endres from Taos, New Mexico was trekking to Langtang, Humla and Kailash in Tibet with three friends. She said, “I got to know and trust the leadership of our fantastic guide, Amrit Ale, the founder of Himalayan Quests. He is highly qualified with decades of Himalayan experience, as well as a USA-based NOLS instructor. Go to www.himalayanquests.com/
"We became friends. Amrit was a guest in my home. I was a guest in his."
A Medical Mission Idea is Hatched: Oftentimes a lifelong dream begins in a roundabout route. After Amrit learned of Dr. Del’s personal history, previous treks, and her passion of helping others by participating in medical mission camps in Haiti, Peru, Belize, Honduras, Ecuador, Mexico and others, he expressed his own interest in the possibility of a medical camp. Amrit is passionate about his country and culture and said he would like to give back to his bypassed, hillside village of Ale Gaun, in the mid-mountains above Waling, where his parents still live.
As the oldest son and in keeping with the Asian custom, Amrit is expected someday to return to the village to live and care for his parents in their aging years. They are of the Magar caste (Mongolian/Tibeto Burmese), which is divided into seven major groups: Pun, Rana, Thapa, Ale, Budhathoki, Roka, and Gharti. Amrit’s surname, Ale, comes from his caste-group name.
Dr. Del stayed in touch with Amrit and his British wife, Kate Ale, ‘hit and miss’ via E-mail, Facebook and Skype during the summer and fall, as all were busy with their professions. Eventually, if this medical mission was going to become a successful reality Amrit and Dr. Del thought it best to get input from villagers rather than just showing up with unwanted or unneeded services - although these villages are in need of basic medical care.
In mid November, 2012 Dr. Del emailed and received an immediate response back from the charming and witty Kate. Luck is in the timing. She told Del that Amrit happened to be visiting his parents in the village of Ale Gaun where he interviewed, for himself the community health representatives, lay midwifes, schools and youth groups to confirm they wanted a health camp and the services needed. Midwifery education and supplies, eye and dental care was requested.
As plans began to gel, a second medical camp was identified. Sirkot is another rural and higher mountain village.
That planning all happened in 2012. Looking back to the final day of the two medical camps in April 2013 we realize the good that is done which comes from a simple thought - an action put into place. The numbers below show how many villagers were served by the efforts that began with a discussion between Dr. Del and Amrit:
Number of treatments and patients seen during the two medical camps:
Males- 494
Females - 1,043
Optometry/Eyes - 529
Reading glasses - 165
Prescription glasses - 82
Cataracts detected - 44 (Each one can be surgically corrected for a $55.00 donation)*
Dental/Teeth - filled or removed - 461
Midwife/General Practice physicians – 840
Total Registrations - 1,537
Total Mixed Consultations - 1,830
* If you wish to make a donation of $55.00 (or more) to pay for one cataract surgery your tax-deductible check may be made out to:
One World One Heart
822 B Paseo Del Pueblo Sur
P O Box 1840
Rancho de Taos, New Mexico
87557
with notation "Nepal cataract surgery"
Phone : 575.758.9511
www.OneWorldOneHeart.org
* Paypal and credit card donations are also accepted. No donation is too small.
As the oldest son and in keeping with the Asian custom, Amrit is expected someday to return to the village to live and care for his parents in their aging years. They are of the Magar caste (Mongolian/Tibeto Burmese), which is divided into seven major groups: Pun, Rana, Thapa, Ale, Budhathoki, Roka, and Gharti. Amrit’s surname, Ale, comes from his caste-group name.
Dr. Del stayed in touch with Amrit and his British wife, Kate Ale, ‘hit and miss’ via E-mail, Facebook and Skype during the summer and fall, as all were busy with their professions. Eventually, if this medical mission was going to become a successful reality Amrit and Dr. Del thought it best to get input from villagers rather than just showing up with unwanted or unneeded services - although these villages are in need of basic medical care.
In mid November, 2012 Dr. Del emailed and received an immediate response back from the charming and witty Kate. Luck is in the timing. She told Del that Amrit happened to be visiting his parents in the village of Ale Gaun where he interviewed, for himself the community health representatives, lay midwifes, schools and youth groups to confirm they wanted a health camp and the services needed. Midwifery education and supplies, eye and dental care was requested.
As plans began to gel, a second medical camp was identified. Sirkot is another rural and higher mountain village.
That planning all happened in 2012. Looking back to the final day of the two medical camps in April 2013 we realize the good that is done which comes from a simple thought - an action put into place. The numbers below show how many villagers were served by the efforts that began with a discussion between Dr. Del and Amrit:
Number of treatments and patients seen during the two medical camps:
Males- 494
Females - 1,043
Optometry/Eyes - 529
Reading glasses - 165
Prescription glasses - 82
Cataracts detected - 44 (Each one can be surgically corrected for a $55.00 donation)*
Dental/Teeth - filled or removed - 461
Midwife/General Practice physicians – 840
Total Registrations - 1,537
Total Mixed Consultations - 1,830
* If you wish to make a donation of $55.00 (or more) to pay for one cataract surgery your tax-deductible check may be made out to:
One World One Heart
822 B Paseo Del Pueblo Sur
P O Box 1840
Rancho de Taos, New Mexico
87557
with notation "Nepal cataract surgery"
Phone : 575.758.9511
www.OneWorldOneHeart.org
* Paypal and credit card donations are also accepted. No donation is too small.