My son, Keola sent this email to me recently and I felt I needed to share this.
It's funny how Nepal seems so far away and so removed as I look out my window at the blue skies of Hawaii and take for granted our comfortable situation. It can change in a minute as it did for the people of Nepal. Now, I'm seeing it all through Keola's heavyhearted eyes and it's brought it much closer.
Yes, we've sent in our donation. I hope the world will help.
POSTSCRIPT: According to Keola, All Hands is rated highly by Charity Navigator. You can click on the link.
"Whenever people ask me what is the best place I have traveled to, I always say Nepal. I went there in 2003 when I was returning from the Peace Corps and I went back twice while I was in Bangladesh. I loved trekking in the Himalayas and exploring the truly magnificent temples of the Kathmandu valley.
It is absolutely heartbreaking to see the destruction of these temples now. Temples I climbed less than a year ago are simply not there anymore. The Durbar squares (there is a huge one in Kathmandu and others in nearby towns) -- entire plazas full of Hindu temples are now full of rubble. It makes me so sad to know these places are gone and that the people who live there are suffering immeasurably.Through All Hands (non-profit disaster relief) Keola did volunteer work in the Philippines to help rebuild homes destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan as well as doing more building work in New York. He says he really respects the work All Hands does around the world and that it is a wonderful organization to send your donations to. He sent me the link to All Hands here.
I'm sure All Hands will send teams to help respond and eventually rebuild once it is appropriate. I look forward to the opportunity to help out whenever I can."
It's funny how Nepal seems so far away and so removed as I look out my window at the blue skies of Hawaii and take for granted our comfortable situation. It can change in a minute as it did for the people of Nepal. Now, I'm seeing it all through Keola's heavyhearted eyes and it's brought it much closer.
Yes, we've sent in our donation. I hope the world will help.
POSTSCRIPT: According to Keola, All Hands is rated highly by Charity Navigator. You can click on the link.
I looked at the link for All Hands. Is there some way I can make sure my donation goes to help in Nepal? Thank you for this timely post, Kay. I will give through All Hands for sure. I've been wondering if any of my donations to other places ever gets to the victims.
ReplyDeleteKeola says he doesn't think you can designate where the money goes exactly because they are a smaller organization. He says that he believes that because they are a smaller organization, they try to really make their dollars stretch.
DeleteI will share the all hands link with friends...I did my donation through the Canadian Red Cross, I heard they are good too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine. Keola will be thrilled.
DeleteYou sent in your donation all right, Kay. Your donation of an altruistic and hard-working son.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dina! We've also already sent in donations to Tzu Chi which is another smaller organization that does amazing work. Now we'll also support All Hands.
DeleteI've donate too, it little to do but something!
ReplyDeleteIt all counts! Thanks, Lin!
DeleteWe did too.
ReplyDeleteFantastic, Mage!
DeleteWonderful son. Important post, Kay!
ReplyDelete( '>
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ALOHA from Honolulu,
ComfortSpiral
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Thank you, Cloudia! He's always been a doer... which does add to my gray hairs at times.
DeleteYou must be so proud of your wonderful son, Kay! My children and I have sent in our donations, but my heart is so sad for Nepal and all the suffering there!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you, Kristi. That's wonderful. Keola feels every bit helps.
DeleteThanks for the link. Looks like an awesome organization!
ReplyDeleteHe really believes in it.
DeleteMahalo for getting the word out - it is a place of great significance with a heart breaking history. I associate it with the Dalai Lama - I saw him when he did an event a few years ago at the Stan Sheriff center at the UH. Such a sweet man, full of aloha, even though the Chinese took away his country from him. Would be great if they gave it back one of these days.
ReplyDeleteI would love to listen to the Dalai Lama someday. He really sounds awesome.
DeleteI must admit my misunderstanding of Nepal/Tibet. The Dalai Lama is from Tibet, Nepal is its neighboring country. One is Buddhist, the other Hindu. Both have long and troubled histories, so many wars and upheavals. Lucky we live where and how we do.
Deletegreat idea
ReplyDeleteI know.
DeleteThanks for the link. Like Djan, I am never certain anyone in need get my money and it is nice to have one with a reference.
ReplyDeleteBe proud of that fine boy you raised.
I know what you mean. We especially support organizations now that have been recommended by friends or relatives who can vouch for them.
DeleteA friend's wife was caught in the first earthquake. She was not injured but terrified. She got home a week later.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness she was all right. That is so scary. Nepal was on our bucket list of places to visit.
Deletedisaster can strike at any time, I feel so sorry for the people of Nepal. I heard the earthquake killed some people trying to climb Mt. Everest too.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe an avalanche which was caused by the earthquake killed quite a few climbers.
DeleteThanks for the link, Kay. This is such a sad event, and you are so right--we need reminders of the needs of others when we are happily looking out at a peaceful blue sky and apple blossoms blooming.
ReplyDeleteI just feel very sad that there is so much suffering there and that all those historical buildings are lost forever.
DeleteJon's post really does make it more personal. I have a Facebook friend, a former student actually, who recently climbed to Everest Base Camp. as a result, she has connections to mountaineers working there and has posted about the disaster on the mountain. Two local girls were trekking in the area and are missing and presumed dead. And of course, all the Nepalese people that are suffering loss of life, injury, and loss of homes and comfort, not to mention loss of all those beautiful cultural monuments.
ReplyDeleteI checked out All Hands, and it does look good. I will donate too.
Oh no... That's so awful! There's so much tragedy. Thank you for your contribution to this worthy cause.
DeleteYes, Nepal is the issue of every day here in my country too. Every Sunday we have extra collections and on TV we have special programs about donating. Dutch helpers are in Nepal together with people from all over the world. It is such a pity that all those ancient buildings are in ruins now, but even worse is the loss of so many lives. Thank you Kay for this post of your son's.
ReplyDeleteWil
The Dutch are wonderful! Thank you for your kind comment, Wil.
DeleteHere's a test comment. See:
ReplyDeletehttps://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/wBizJs9EWd0
Wow! I can't believe how quickly you were able to help me. Now here's a topic definitely bloggable about the Blogger Helpline. I already see that a blogger on Wordpress was able to comment. Thank you so much, Chuck!
DeleteWe will also donate. Terribly sad situation. A friend of mine was there when the quake hit. Although she posts on Facebook I don't know whether she is there or not.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Hattie. I just hope the quakes are over completely. I also feel sad that we weren't able to visit before this quake. Keola had mentioned to us before what an amazing place it was. I sure hope your friend was able to make it out safely.
DeleteVery Nice piece Kay. I have a special place in my heart for Nepal, a wondrous place. How fortunate your son was able to travel there while he was young and strong enough o get around. My good friend Frank served with the Peace Corps in Nepal, and I loved being entertained by stories of his time here. Dianne
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that your friend, Frank could spend time there. Keola was actually in Mali and is sad to hear that conditions there have deteriorated. Thank you for your kind words, Dianne. I'm so glad you were able to post a comment. I was surprised how quickly Blogger Helpline was able to help me. I just wrote to them last night.
DeleteA terrible tragedy. Gregg met a very nice man recently who was from Nepal. When Gregg asked he said that his family survived but everyone on their street had not. Thank you for this post Kay. We will be donating.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad, isn't it? How awful to know that everyone on your street perished. It's incomprehensible. I'm so glad so many countries are mobilizing to help.
DeleteForgot to mention that our county have sent rescue workers. I am so proud of these people for the work they do. They always go wherever they are needed.
ReplyDeleteIt is terribly sad, isn't it? Bless you and your wonderful son!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer. Oh yes, it truly is tragic to see their suffering.
Deleteso tragic for so many!!! we've had too many serious tragedies in recent years!!! it is wonderful to see so many people extending their hand to help and sending donations. i hope the money has the impact it is meant to have!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure donations will greatly benefit people in need around the world. We just have to make sure it goes to organizations who use the money on aid more than overhead or advertising or CEOs or what not.
DeleteWhat has happened over and over in Nepal is just horrible... My prayers and thoughts go out to the people there... I hope that EVERYONE will give/give/give to help the people in Nepal... Very very sad.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
It really is tragic. I just hope the quakes stop so they can start rebuilding.
DeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteI was touched. And so sad at the same time. Thank you for the link. Great post!
ReplyDelete