On this Labor Day weekend I remember Maila. Pix and tears.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
ff6e3e6c.jpg.orig.jpg

On this labor day weekend I think of this little 12 year old laborer we met on our way to Manakamana in Feb. His name is Maila and he is an orphan. He works in this restaurant from 5 am to 10 pm everyday for 200 NC per month, about three US dollars.

If you notice his clothes are very dirty and this is because these are the only clothes he owns. He sleeps on the cement floor with a ragged blanket and no pillow. His lot is that of many orphans in Nepal.

Yangdu and I took a boy much like this one into our home as our houseboy when we had an apartment in Swayambu and we were able to get him started in life. Today he is a successful trekking guide in Nepal partly because of the English and the basic hygiene he learned with us.

I watched Pala, good Buddhist that he is, speak quietly with Maila for a short time and then Pala handed him 400 NC and gave him a blessing. Later I did the same.

Pray for the children!

Maila I hope to see you again. If you can learn to swing a hammer we will put you to work at BirGorkha. I will ask Gelbu to stop and check the next time he passes this way.

We can't save them all but we can save a few.

How damned lucky we are!

Happy Labor Day everybody.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
Maybe in the future some of us from this forum could make a trip to Nepal and help some people out. I think it would be a learning expierience for many and a reminder how blessed we are . When I use to travel overseas, I saw and met many who were less fortunate. I had to help some out, but I couldn't help everyone.

A Khukuri Konvention at Bir Gorkha would be interesting.
 
How sad that so many of these young people will grow up without ever having had a real childhood. Many will not live to be adults, and those who do will have nothing to look back on but years of toil and hardship. The next time we watch our own children or grandchildren at play, we should think of Maila and say a prayer for him while also offering a prayer of thanksgiving for our good fortune, because, there but for the grace of God, go we.
 
Some things can only be done effectively face to face. And then only when truly done in the Spirit of Love.

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 09-03-2000).]
 
Dan, a teacher in a remote village will do well to make $400 per year. In a private school in Kathmandu they can make maybe four times that much.

Maila has room and board. He can learn a little at his job by watching and listening. If he learns his job well as busboy, cook's helper, part time waiter he will be able to go to Kathmandu and increase his salary by a considerable amount. In Kathmandu there are English language schools availabe for nominal cost. If Maila learns English and improves his service skills he can qualify for higher pay in larger hotels and restaurants. A good waiter in a 5 star restuarant can make $100 in a night on a busy day. Maila has been dealt a very bad hand but if he plays his cards right and does not give up there is opportunity for him. But the path is so difficult it does bring tears.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top