Neither Lost nor Found

Yesterday, my volunteer friend Mitch and I were fortunate enough to visit one of the monastaries in Kathmandu. We met someone who was teaching English to the young monks.

En route to the monastery, you pass the well known Boudhanath Stupa. Considered to be one of the holiest sites in Kathmandu/Nepal and one of the biggest stupas in the world. It is really a breathtaking site. You can see many people circling the stupa (always clockwise) with their beads. Beyond the stupa we wound around small roads inhabited by many Tibetans. Most Tibetans exist here in Nepal in refugee camps having fled from Tibet in exile after the Chinese invasion and occupation. After a 15 minute walk, the monastery appears. It is outrageously beautiful ans such a contrast to the surrounding buildings. The walls are immaculately decorated. Balconies wrap around the monastery. The inset wall is painted with the most intricate of details of the birth, life, and death of Buddha. I can't imagine how long this all must have taken. My jaw hung to my feet. The head monk served us tea and biscuits. It always means so much more when you are made so welcome in a foreign place!

Our host told us stories about the young monks. They are just as you'd imagine all children to be. Unruly and mischievous. Their nicknames included 'America' (for his strut when he walks), 'Toothless' (for having no front teeth), Smiley, Clueless (for not being the sharpest tack!). One thing though, all these kids are apparently happy all the time. Some of these children are orphans. Some are here because their parents wanted their child to be a monk (each boy chooses to commit to this at aged 21. But if they choose not to, where do they go?) and some come because their parents cannot afford to keep them. Children in Nepal always seem to come with a story.

Nepal is an inevitable place to question your place in this life. I have had many a profound moment. Regardless, I'm nowhere closer to figuring out where me and God stand with each other.

But I neither feel lost nor found.