Tuk tuks, mountains and mosquitoes

I can't believe that this is already my 4th week in Nepal! I feel as if I've been here forever in some ways, and no time at all in others. I'm currently sitting with my laptop on the roof of the house, looking at the stunning view and drinking Lychee juice! Life is good!

School started last Tuesday, so first week down! It's such a lovely place to work. The staff and parents are super supportive and the kids are really eager to learn. My class is mostly South Korean, Nepali and American with a few other nationalities thrown in! Many of the kids have lived in Nepal for as long as they can remember, even if they are originally from other places. I have the most gorgeous teaching assistant who is full-time with me and there are tons of other teachers who are in and out of the classroom all the time doing student support, English language support etc.

Still having a ball with my housemates - there are currently 8 of us, the 9th will be back later this week. It is so much fun spending time with them - I feel like I'm permanently living on episodes of "Friends"! (We watch a lot of Friends too!) It's so fun to get to know so many different personalities from so many cultures.

I'm feeling much more confident travelling around the city now. Tuk tuks are super cheap and great fun (about 12p per ride!) They all go to the same major station in the day time, and then I can get another tuk tuk from there to wherever I want to be. I made it to church on my own this morning, which was very pleasing, had lunch out with friends, then wandered around town, did some shopping, had some coffee and made it back on my own in one piece with no taxis involved! It's good because it gives me more confidence to be independent. I would not go around at night on my own - mostly because of all of the unlit areas and scary dogs (!) , but in the day time I feel very safe. And people are very helpful, they'll always point to the right bus or tuk tuk to get on when I say where I'm heading to. The blue dot on Google maps is saving my life too! Quite how anyone ever knew where they were before technology astounds me!

I'm getting a lot of mosquito bites still.. they're huge and pretty fierce - they're biting me through my clothes!! But thankfully, my body isn't reacting to them in the way that it was when I first got here. Killing mosquitoes and furry caterpillars (which can get into your clothes and cause rashes) has become my new pastime!

Early in the mornings this week, the clouds have lifted enough for me to catch my first sight of the mountains! They are AMAZING. From the roof of the house you get a spectacular view - the photos don't really do it justice. The heat, dust, mosquitoes, caterpillars and lack of water/power are all worth it to catch a glimpse of a view like this!

I'm also enjoying exploring different local cafes, restaurants and coffee shops. If you go to the right places you can get food and drink extremely cheaply and it's really good. Today I had chicken curry with roti and potato for 150 rupees which is about £1.20.

I'm loving meeting different people and hearing their stories. This is one of my favourite things in life generally! Yesterday, Nohemi and I were invited to this couple's house for lunch. They have been in Nepal for decades (he's Nepali and she's American) and have been doing incredible work out in the villages.

Things to pray for:

- My class, my teaching assistant, my colleagues.

- My housemates

- Health - my stomach has been slightly dodgy this weekend and the bites are annoying. Please pray continued protection.

- Good fellowship and relationship building generally as I put down roots here.

- Sticking close to Jesus! Sometimes I can feel Him so closely and other times I get so distracted by so much going on around me.

Thank you for continuing to follow me, pray for me and encourage me. You are wonderful!