Timuri, Rasuwa Relief Project Posted September 1, 2015 by Kevin Cason

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On August 7th, 2015, a team of monks and volunteers left Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery in Boudhanath, KTM loaded with earthquake relief supplies destined for the Timuri/Sertang villages in the Rasuwa District of Nepal. The families of Timuri/Sertang have lacked adequate shelter since the earthquakes earlier this year, and one of the largest and most important supplies delivered was a huge number of tin sheets. Roughly 500 people received tin sheeting which was graciously donated to the community by Tarthang Tulku. Other newly-purchased tin bundles and other necessary building materials were delivered to protect a government-run public health post, 5 monasteries and retreat facilities, and the local school. The school would also receive notebooks, pens, pencils, and geometry-boxes (compass, protractor, etc.), and the monks made a special gift of more elegant black and red pens to the community’s school teachers to honor the importance of their work. Many families also received sleeping bags, donated by Mr. Saraf of the Hyatt hotel in Boudhanath.

Since the earthquakes, travel in certain districts is frequently met with land, rock, and mudslides. Rasuwa is one of these district, and the supply delivery was hampered by 2 rockslides before even arriving in Timuri! The team had to seek shelter in a military outpost, and needed to wait until early the following morning, for safety’s sake, before they were allowed to leave.

Even as the team surmounted the final landslide, the community was already warmly greeting our Shenpen volunteers. The monks commented on how orderly and kind the villagers were, and how easily organized the unloading and dispensing of relief goods was. The villagers expressed especially great appreciation for the monks’ presence and have maintained a close spiritual connection to Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling ever since Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche lived in Timuri for several years.

After delivering and dispensing relief goods, the team immediately headed for home. Only two hours away, another rock slide was encountered. These rocks were so large that a special tractor was required (with the appropriate treads to navigate the terrain), and locating and then waiting for the equipment consumed another two days of waiting on the blocked road. Once the tractor arrived, the path was cleared within 2 hours.

On August 11th, our volunteers finally arrived back home. Though weary from the road, our monks and volunteers work tirelessly, and were immediately ready for more work. Thank you to all our workers, and to Tarthang Tulku and Mr. Saraf for making this project a reality!

Village supervisors look on Basic necessities for teachers and students Dirty work Frequent Obstacles Group photo Patience always tested Sincerity Tarthang Tulku's Banner The waiting game Unloading 1