Happy Holidays 2015!

WELCOME!

Here's hoping all of you, our friends and supporters, enjoyed a happy holiday season!

We certainly counted our many blessings!

The Lord sustained us through a difficult 2015 and is still sustaining us as always!

 

(photo credit:  zazzle.com)

 (photo credit:  happynewyear2016u.com)


 Thank you dear friends and supporters for your friendship during the past year when we faced so many obstacles.  Knowing we could count on the prayers and support
of all of you made each day easier!

As the whole country continues to face severe difficulties due to the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Nepal_blockade, which is causing the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015-2016_Nepal_humanitarian_crisis,
we are able to continue helping those with medical needs with the Lord's help,

(photo credit:  motivationalwordsofwisdom.com)

and yours!

(photo credit:  canyonsechoes.com)

Now, sit back and relax with your favorite hot or cold drink,
depending on your climate.
and enjoy this photo post with pictures from Scheer Memorial Hospital's
College of Nursing's Annual Christmas Drama.  They did an excellent job!

The audience:

The sound/music system team:

The Welcome:

Esa Memorial School Grade 3 students start off the program with  a Nepali Christmas song.
Look how intently they are listening to their instructions!  Don't you love it?

Beautiful!

Part of the Grade 4 students perform a wonderful Christmas dance!  Delightful!

Is the cast ready for the drama?  Yes!


As you will note, they did such an excellent job!  The Christmas Story came to life for us!

The Story:  (This scripture is from Luke 1, The Living Bible)

26 ... God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin, Mary, engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Congratulations, favored lady! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

30 “Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to wonderfully bless you! 31 Very soon now, you will become pregnant and have a baby boy, and you are to name him ‘Jesus.’ 32 He shall be very great and shall be called the Son of God. And the Lord God shall give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he shall reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom shall never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of God shall overshadow you; so the baby born to you will be utterly holy—the Son of God...." 

(This scripture is from Matthew 1, The Living Bible)

18 These are the facts concerning the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph, her fiancé, being a man of stern principle, decided to break the engagement but to do it quietly, as he didn’t want to publicly disgrace her.

20 As he lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “don’t hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus (meaning ‘Savior’), for he will save his people from their sins. 22 This will fulfill God’s message through his prophets—

23 ‘Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and he shall be called “Emmanuel” (meaning “God is with us”).’” (Isaiah 7:14)

24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel commanded and brought Mary home to be his wife, 25 but she remained a virgin until her Son was born; and Joseph named him “Jesus.”

(The following scriptures are all from Luke 2, The Living Bible)
1 About this time Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the nation. 2 (This census was taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3 Everyone was required to return to his ancestral home for this registration.4 And because Joseph was a member of the royal line, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, King David’s ancient home—journeying there from the Galilean village of Nazareth. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

8 That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened,10 but the angel reassured them.

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! 12 How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,” they sang,[d] “and peace on earth for all those pleasing him.”

15 When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on! Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.

(The following scriptures are all from Matthew 2, The Living Bible)

1 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.

At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship him.”

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, and all Jerusalem was filled with rumors.

7 Then Herod sent a private message to the astrologers, asking them to come to see him; at this meeting he found out from them the exact time when they first saw the star. Then he told them, 8 “Go to Bethlehem and search for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him too!”

9 After this interview the astrologers started out again. And look! The star appeared to them again, standing over Bethlehem. 10 Their joy knew no bounds!

11 Entering the house where the baby and Mary, his mother, were, they threw themselves down before him, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But when they returned to their own land, they didn’t go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way.

(The following scriptures are from Luke 2, The Living Bible)

39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the Law of God, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child became a strong, robust lad, and was known for wisdom beyond his years; and God poured out his blessings on him.

52 So Jesus grew both tall and wise, and was loved by God and man.

Pastor Kumar thanked the students for doing such a lovely job with this important message and gave some closing remarks.

(This scripture is from Acts 16, The Living Bible)

30 He brought them out and begged them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and your entire household.”

Pastor Puri thanked the Lord for his blessings during 2015 

and what we know will be His continued blessings during 2016 and beyond.

(This scripture is from John 3, The Living Bible)

16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Thank you again for your care, concern, and support!

We wish you a lovely 2016!

December 2015 Health Calendar

We wish all of our friends and supporters a happy and healthy December
as you look forward to a happy and health 2016!

If you've been neglecting your health, remember that it's never too late to begin a health program!

Click on the below photo credit links for some advice!


(photo credit:  http://protrainerlive.com/basic-health-habits-everyone-should-adopt/)



(photo credit:  http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Catchy-Tips-Teaching-Healthy-Habits-7127264?stream_view=1#opening-slide)



(photo credit:  http://www.reilycenter.com/index.php/form-a-healthy-habit/)




(photo credit:  http://healthrecipesfitness.com/5-healthy-habits-that-fight-the-signs-of-aging/)



Back to our health calendar news.
This December there were two international health awareness days.

December 1 was World Aids Day


(photo credit:  http://livinglifewithpassion.me/2015/12/01/world-aids-day-2015/

People don't want to talk about HIV or AIDS, but it needs to be talked about.
It's not going away.  Young people need to learn about it.

Here are Nepal's statistics from the National Center for AIDS and STD Control as of Ashad 2072:
http://www.ncasc.gov.np//uploaded/publication/hiv-status2015/Final_Cumulative_HIV_and_AIDS_Situation_till_Asar_072_15.pdf

The United Nations has an interesting article, along with links, about the need
to educate our adolescents about this and other similar issues.
http://un.org.np/headlines/upgrading-adolescent-sexual-and-reproductive-health-services-nepal

Make sure your teens are not "in the dark."  Come in for an informational talk with a doctor if you have questions and bring your teens in.  This is too important to dismiss as not needed.



December 3 was the International Day of 
Persons with Disabilities


(photo credit:  http://www.newsinsearch.com/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities/)

Here's an interesting and informative article about disabilities in Nepal:
http://www.sarokar.com.np/?p=1170
Thank you Sarokar.com and also Abhilasha Bhatta Karakheti, author,
from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare of Nepal.

If you want to read the online census report from 2011 of persons with disabilities in Nepal,
click here:  https://rcrdnepa.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/population-of-persons-with-disabilities-in-nepal.pdf

(photo credit:  http://www.wholeheartedleaders.com/?p=987)

Now, as we finish 2015, let's look forward to making 2016 a wonderful year!
You can do it!


(photo credit:  http://dreambigdreamoften.co/2015/12/02/be-on-the-look-out-bolo-for-my-upcoming-series-make-2016-the-year-of-change/)



(photo credit:  http://elitedaily.com/topic/healthy-habits/)



(photo credit:  quotespoemsmessages.com)


Have a happy and healthy week!

Earthquake--Part 16: Preemies, Part 2

Welcome!  We hope you're having a nice day.

Our news:
Yes, we still have earthquake stories.
Yes, we are still having aftershocks.
Yes, the country is still in crisis due to a fuel blockade.
Yes, as always. we appreciate prayers!!!
Yes, we also appreciate the support of our donors who give us the ability to help those in need.
Yes, we are thankful to the Lord for His blessings!

Now, for today, we bring you another earthquake story.

If you were able to read http://scheermemorialhospital.blogspot.com/2015/11/earthquake-part-15-preemies-part-1.html, you will already be aware of the fact that under stressful situations, pregnant women are susceptible to giving birth prematurely.  If you missed it, you may want to check out some of the interesting links in that post on this topic.

Here is story of Munamai, Shakti, and their darling son.

April 25, 2015, had started out as a normal spring Saturday for the young couple.
Shakti had gone to his tailor shop to work.

This is not his tailor shop, but it is similar, like many tailor shops around the country.


Pregnant Munamai stayed at home with the other ladies in the family.
They went about their daily housewifely chores, as housewives do everywhere.
These pictures are not of their house, but it was similar, like many houses in Nepal.

Shakti came home for lunch.  Here is a typical Nepali meal.

(Click this photo credit:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dal_bhat for information.)

Back at his shop, Shakti surveyed his work station and started back on the project he had been working on before lunch.  Suddenly, to his horror, just before noon, a loud boom sounded

(Listen here:  http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/our-world/2012/03/can-you-hear-an-earthquake.aspx)

and the earth started quaking and shaking and the buildings started falling down.  Like everyone in Nepal, his first reaction was, "This can't be happening."  However, it was happening and he ran to his house as fast as he could and with bricks falling on top of him, he rushed inside.  He found Munamai on the ground, bleeding from the mouth, and grasping for something to hang onto.  Without thinking, he threw himself on top of her and covered her body while the roof caved in on his slender back.

Here is their real house:

As you may have heard, it wasn't just one earthquake and that was it.  It keep going and going,
and in fact, as mentioned above, aftershocks are still continuing.

If you want to see the frequency, check out this website:
http://seismonepal.gov.np/index.php?action=earthquakes&show=past&page=5

This link is to Page 5, which is actually the first page.  (Go back to the earlier pages to see the most current aftershocks.)  You can see how often there were aftershocks above 4 on the Richter Scale.  Of course, there were, and still are many, under 4, which are not listed.  Here are some of the times for those of you who don't have time to look:  11:56, 12:23, 12:30, 12:41, 12:53, and so on.

OK, back to Shakti and Munamai's story.

During the first brief lull, Shakti pulled himself off of Munamai.
"How are you Honey?"
"I don't know," Munamai said as she held her hands on her tummy where her precious cargo was.
At that moment, as if to say, "I'm OK Mommy and Daddy," the baby kicked for the first time!

Yes!  The baby was OK!  They hugged as best as they could in their difficult circumstance.

However, they were trapped inside and in grave danger.  Some of Shakti's relatives were also trapped inside with them.  They tried to dig themselves out, but it was impossible.  They would need help.

Shakti shouted, "HELP!  WE'RE TRAPPED AND MY WIFE IS PREGNANT!  HELP!"

During the continued aftershocks, many of them very strong, all able-bodied villagers and policemen, knowing their own lives were in danger, started digging out trapped people from every building, even as the aftershocks continued tearing down their village and life as they knew it.

This is not their village, but it was one of the many that was completely destroyed.

Getty Images photo credit:
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/damaged-houses-are-seen-in-a-village-from-an-indian-news-photo/472320112
Click the photo credit link to see more pictures of this heartbreak and many brave people.

After four hours, Shakti, Munamai, and the others in the house were rescued.
This picture is used with their permission.



One of the relatives, obviously not pictured here, was dead.
When Munamai heard the news, she fainted.

The whole village waited for help to come.  Their food supplies were buried.  They tried to wrap up the injured with cloths the best they could.  Two days later some medical personnel arrived along with food and water.  You can only imagine how relieved they were.  Everyone had been very concerned about Munamai and the baby.  If she became dehydrated, it could be devastating.

After knowing his wife was fed and had water, Shakti made his way to the village where her parents and family were.  Three of them were dead.

He went back to tell the news to his wife and comfort her as best as he could.  Along with the rest of the village, they slept outside and tried to decide what to do.

Then the landslides started.

(photo credit:  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/25/world/asia/nepal-landslide-evacuation.html)

It was time to leave their beloved home and village where everything they knew and loved was gone.
It wasn't any easy decision, but there was no choice.  There was nothing to show where they had started their marriage with all their hopes and dreams except for rubble.

They found a room in Bhaktapur, down the road, and decided upon Scheer Memorial Hospital.
Munamai came for prenatal check-ups.  Now hypertensive, she went into labor one month early
and needed an emergency C-section.  The brave young couple welcomed a precious baby boy into the world, who ended up spending 16 days in our neonatal intensive care unit.

This is one of the many areas of the hospital that relies on generous donations!
THANKS!

After about a month, the baby was declared well enough to go home, and the family went back to their new home in Bhaktapur, to begin a new life from all they had ever known.  They know that we wish them, and all of our patients, all the best.

At this time, we must thank all of our supporters without whom we could not operate.
We could not offer the necessary medical help that is so desperately needed here.
You will never know how much your kindness helps those in need.
Their gratefulness, and ours too, knows no bounds.

THANKS!

If you'd like to donate, please go to our website:  http://scheermemorialhospital.org/
and click "Make a Donation."  You will find the tax deductible instructions there.

THANKS!

Prayers are greatly appreciated too!

Have a nice day.