Across the river

This morning I got a text from my good friend Patrick informing me that his grandfather, Jack Littell, had passed away. Please remember Patrick and his family during this time.
Today we have been traveling throughout Kathmandu trying to learn our way around (Mrs. Bev and I, that is). There are so many things that happened today so it may take a couple of blogs to get it all out. We visited Durbar Square, Bouddhanath Stupa (an ancient temple), Kathmandu Valley, and a place where we witnessed cremation. To say the least, it was an experience to watch families prepare the body and conduct specific rituals before burning. It was so eye opening to watch a widow as she grieved the loss of her husband. She literally had to be held up by many people in order to stand. Her grieving was deep. And as we sat there across the river, we could not help by sympathize with her. We watched the entire process of cremation; from preparation of the body to the burning of it. Ladies who lost a loved one would light candles and place food and all sorts of things in a bowl that would float down the river. Not a foot away, there was a pack of boys scravaging through the dirty river to retrieve the bowl. There were monkeys all around the temple. Also, there were 'holy men' who sit around and pretty much smoke marijuana the entire day. Then we watched the body moved to the burning site. Then was the lamenting time over the lost one. We then watched as they laid cloths on the dead body and put a wreath on it. They would circle around the burning place three times with the body before placing it on the firewood. They then start the fire in the mouth after circiling it three time with the fire. We met a guy named 'Progress.' I think he liked me haha. It was funny. But, he told us that my name means 'Peace' in Nepali and oh my god, oh my god' in Hindi. His name was representative to him. Progress was on a progress himself...to knowing Jesus Christ as the ONLY way. Sadly, he does not believe Jesus is the only way to God..its just one of the ways. He worships many gods. MANY. Bro Rick was doing most of the talking with him. It was good for me to see how Bro Rick interacted with him. He did not 'preach' at him. But he did clarify that if you read Jesus' words carefully that he is very clear that He is the only way. Bro Rick challenged him to read The Gospels and invited him to check out the church they helped to plant.
I have seen things today I will never forget and will be sure to upload pictures when I get the chance. My heart was moved today as I saw many children on the streets begging. They stayed in a group, almost like a family. I figure they are all each other had. I was really moved to know they probably were abandoned by their parents, due to lack of means to keep them or just to simple apathy of their existance......
Lord, when I am satisfied, help me to always remember the poor and needy.