Nepal Earthquake Hits Close to Home

Nepal Earthquake Hits Close to Home.  It may be odd to hear me say that being that I am thousands of miles away from Nepal.  But the earthquake truly has hit close to home...because Ma and Daddy-dog were (are?) scheduled to go to Nepal in late October-early November with Habitat for Humanity.

Throwback Thursday:  Me, 10 years ago, visiting the Habitat for Humanity construction site

Many of you know that Ma and Daddy-dog volunteer with our local Habitat affiliate on a regular basis.  And you know they also participate annually with Habitat for Humanity International during the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project (CWP).   They are Skilled Leaders here at home and internationally - they teach other volunteers the tasks to build the homes.  This year's CWP was going to be in Pokhara, Nepal.

As with most natural disasters when they initially happen, people and organizations are stepping in to help with short-term needs.  Ma has read numerous news stories, blog posts and articles about the relief efforts, what and where to donate your money, what countries have pledged money and how much to Nepal, etc.  We hope it will be enough to help the people of Nepal get their feet back under them after this tragedy.

But what then?  In the long-term recovery, there will be a lot of rebuilding that will need to be done.  I don't know how the people of Nepal could ever rebuild some of their most ancient and sacred places that have been ruined by the earthquake.  Some of those places were on Ma and Daddy-dog's Nepal itinerary of Must-See places.  So sad.

Many in Nepal will have to rebuild their homes as well and we know that Habitat for Humanity International and their affiliate in Nepal will be there to help build safe, sustainable, decent and affordable homes for those in need.  And hopefully, so will my Ma and Daddy-dog!

Building with HFH Thailand after the tsunami

Ma and Daddy-dog are no strangers to building after a disaster.  They have built with Habitat for Humanity in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, in Thailand after the tsunami, and went to Haiti two years in a row after the devastating earthquake of 2010.  They are hoping that the CWP will not be canceled this year so they can go help Habitat for Humanity Nepal build safe, sustainable and affordable homes to help strengthen the Nepal community.

In Haiti after the earthquake - 2011

Ma, Daddy-dog and I are keeping the people of Nepal in our thoughts and prayers.  We hope you are too.   

Building in Haiti after the earthquake - 2012

Ma doesn't want to really let this out of the bag but...This CWP was very special for Ma and Daddy-dog.  It falls the week after their 10th wedding anniversary so they were planning on celebrating this milestone in Nepal with the many friends (who are more like family) they have met through Habitat (including President & Mrs. Carter...yeah, right...though they have both met the Carters). 

Ma has a Habitat for Humanity CWP fundraising page that she started but never advertised because she didn't want to bother anyone.  As a professional fundraiser, she knows everyone has their causes they give to and she didn't want to ask for additional green papers.  However, in light of this disaster, I am sharing Ma's Habitat for Humanity Carter Work Project 2015 Nepal fundraising page HERE. 

Also, if you are interested, we are sharing a little information about Habitat for Humanity below just in case you would like to support their Disaster Response efforts in Nepal and/or the rebuilding efforts that will be lead by the Nepal affiliate. 

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity's vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live.  Their mission is to put God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.  With more than 1,400 local affiliates in the United States and more than 70 national organizations around the world, together Habitat affiliates have helped more than 1 million families - representing 5 million people - improve their living conditions since its founding in 1976.

Habitat for Humanity homes, wherever they are built, are simple, decent and affordable to qualifying low-income families.  Families must have a need for safe, decent housing; be willing to partner with Habitat and invest hours of "sweat equity" into the construction of homes; and be able to pay back a zero-interest mortgage based on their individual income.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity, click here.

Habitat for Humanity Nepal

Habitat started working in Nepal in 1997 with various community level organizations in 35 districts.  The result is a cost-effective and environmental-friendly housing program delivered through partnerships with non-government organizations, microfinance institutions, and village lending and savings groups.  Together with its partners, HFH Nepal builds 2.3 houses per hour.

To donate to Habitat for Humanity's Disaster Response in Nepal, click here.

To donate to Habitat for Humanity Nepal's rebuilding efforts, click here.  (Be sure to "designate" your funds to Nepal by clicking the small box on the lower left sidebar and following the instructions to select "Nepal".)