Last Saturday, we took the day and went to the beach with our Nepal friends, Archan, Pusza and their children Pratush and Prawna. It was a lot of fun! They invited another Nepal family that had moved into the area about 10 months ago. Bimal and Samikshya Aryal. Wonderful families! Our other neighbor, Barb Blakely, was out in the parking lot as we started to load everyone into the vehicles and she was telling us about a lesser known beach that would be ideal for the children, then she decided, spur of the moment, to just come with us! So I jumped into her blue volkswagon and the others followed as she showed us how to get to the Beach. We had the best chat as we drove --- there was recently a death in Barb's extended family and she needed the chat. We had a great talk, it was meant to be!
Barb is an elementary teacher and she loved talking to these two young boys who are going into grade two this fall. They met at school and now their families are good friends.
But what really grabbed my attention was the Bimal's story, which he told us as we drove home from the beach. Bimal grew up in a very poor family in Nepal, He described it as "Terrible", often not enough food to eat for the family. He was able to get into a Mission school, worked hard and got scholarships every year so he could keep attending school. A professor from the Dalhousie University here in Halifax went over to Nepal for a 3-4 month stay, several times, and taught in the Mission school. He met Bimal and wanted to help him. Over the years, they stay connected and now this Professor has invited Bimal and his family to come here to Halifax and live with him while he gets his Masters Degree at Dalhousie! I was humbled to hear his story!
Bimal, in the red shirt, said that he so appreciated everywhere we took them that day because it was the first time they were seeing any of these places. He said that they lived a "simple life" here, and could not afford a vehicle until they had gotten him through school.
After he is done his schooling, he wants to send money back home to help others who need help to get an education! I think we take a lot for granted in life! 
He also told us that he met the LDS missionaries when he lived in India in 1995 (a few years after my parents were there on a mission) and he went to church there and back at home in Nepal.
I said to him, "It is such a small world, isn't it!" and He agreed!
We invited him to meet with the missionaries here and to come to church with us, and he said maybe! He is pretty busy with school right now, so who knows where this will lead but we will see.
We had a great time at the Beach, and then went to this second beach where the waves are higher and stronger ---- very windy, but a beautiful view. As I was sitting next to Barb in my t shirt and capri's, applying lots of sunscreen, Barb looked at me and said, "You are Some White!!" Yes that is for sure! We Missionaries do not get to the Beach often and next to our Nepali friends and Barb, who just returned from 4 months in California, we are definetly, "Some White!"
Sister Mangelson crocheted these ties for Elder Stewart and Elder Harding, She taught herself how to make them and now everyone wants one! We figure it makes Elder Harding look more tanned, yes!
Our young family that we hometeach has had what seems on the surface to be a dreadful couple of weeks, but I keep feeling that it is the wind that is blowing them to a better "land". They found a mouse in their apartment and she is so terrified of Mice, she refuses to go back in. Then a week later, he lost his job !! Crazy ! As we were praying and fasting for them, and counselling with them, I clearly felt the spirit tell me that she needed to go home to her family in New Glasgow, so I dropped the idea into her mind, and that is where she is now ----- looking for a new job, a new apartment, and possibly getting into some schooling for the future.
We do not always see and know what is coming in our lives, but we have a Loving, Kind and Wise Heavenly Father who does, and who wants the best for each one of us. I keep learning this over and over.
I know that He lives, I know that He loves us and can help us do difficult things.
It is a Small World, and a Beautiful World that God has created for us.
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