Update 5, The Immediate Aftermath

First, let me say Thank you for all the love, emails, Facebook messages and phone messages I have received over the past week and since I returned home very late Sunday night. I wish I could answer each and every one and connect with all of you personally. Please understand that I am still in overwhelm with fatigue and with trying to stay connected with our contacts in Nepal, which is not easy, given the lack of Internet services and in many places, phone service. But do know that I love you dearly and cherish all your good wishes.

Thank you, too, for your donations. You have been wonderfully generous and we will use your money wisely now and in the months to come. We are trying to make our immediate responses but also know that there will be much work that unfolds over time. 

Right now we are trying to get more information about the families of our kids who may be from more remote areas affected by the earthquake. We have had some success (and relief) but there are still many families unaccounted for. We are praying this is a matter of communications and not an indication of bad news. Things are chaotic on the ground in Nepal. I'm realizing that everything is going to move more slowly than I'd hoped. It's the reality of such a massive disruption to all infrastructure (which was not very good to begin with). 

One thing we are doing is to source water purification tablets and face masks to distribute to the families in the Kathmandu valley. Clean water has become a big concern. The usual sources are likely contaminated by human waste ( all the people camping out ) and decomposing remains. The sources of purified water for sale are also suspect. People do not trust them. So, we hope to supply reliable purification. Tejendra and I talked early yesterday morning and I expect to hear from him this morning with more information and costs. Shanti Children’s Foundation will be sending funds immediately to cover this, as well as face masks.

There is, as you can imagine, still a lot of dust in the air from the collapsed buildings and from rescue and clean up efforts that are moving that debris around. There are also many air borne germs. Face masks are required for anyone moving around outside in the city. We are encouraging the children to stay put. They are safest at the hostel.

I'm still feeling pretty shaky. It's as if my being’s internal parts have all been shaken up and rearranged and I can't yet tell what that means. I did finally get a good nights sleep last night for the first time which I know is going to make a big difference. I'm sending a big hug to each of you. I feel so grateful that you are in my life and that you have been here for the children. I am counting my blessings.