Traveling Around India and Nepal

We have been traveling for the last 5 weeks. We spent 10 days in Sikkim. Jared was teaching and training and Caleb and I hung out with a national family. We had a wonderful time of fellowship. We discussed lots of plans for this coming year and are looking forward to what God is going to do. Here are just a few pics of our sweet little traveling boy!

What to do when you are in a hotel room with a 1 year old for three days straight? Play with mommy's wallet of course!

Who wants to sit in the chair when you can use it as a perch for a well delivered speech?!

I'm not sure what to point out in this picture...the fact that he is pantsless (which he wasn't when he went to sleep) or the fact that he is sleeping in a bathroom?

We had an amazing Thanksgiving with old and new friends in Nepal. Caleb loved the smoked turkey and we had a great time of fellowship. There were other kids to play with and plenty of grass to run around in.

Kathmandu was wonderful but oh so cold! Jared continually dressed Caleb up like a snowman. I bought Caleb this vest as a compromise to stop the madness! He's pretty cute in it as well!

Caleb liked to sit on this couch (for about 30 seconds at a time). This morning he was "reading" with his dad. It is hard to see, but he has his own book in his hand while Jared is writing a speech in Nepali.

On our way back from Nepal, we got to stop in and see our friends Nathan and Kari. We hadn't met their little boy yet. He is soooo sweet.

Just a preview of the Christmas post to come.....Caleb definitely doesn't like the "feel" of the Christmas tree. I wrapped some garland around his neck and I thought he was going to start seizing right there! He let out a blood curtailing scream and started to shake. Then when he accidentally brushed up against the tree...well you can see what happened!

Bhutan

Here are a few pictures from Jared's time in Bhutan. There are just brief captions with these photos. If you would like to know more, please e-mail us at jmhouk@gmail.com.

A wonderful doctor from TN joined Jared on this trip! He was a great companion, offered incredible insight and we can't wait to see what God is going to do through him in Bhutan!






This was our travel agent and tour guide with his family. We couldn't have asked for a better guide!





This is a Bhutanese Dzong (monastery, main political offices and a fort in old days). These are all throughout Bhutan. When Tibet would raid the country, people would flee to these forts.





A giant prayer wheel inside the monastery at the Dzong pictured above. Buddhists spin these wheels and believe their prayers are sent out.





107 Stupas (concrete formations to which they bow down, sacrifice to and walk around in a circle) built by the new King as a blessing to the country.





Monks worshiping at the 107 Stupas.





Watching a bow and arrow shooting competition in the capitol.





A woman selling vegetables in the market.





As often as the sun sets, remember those that are trapped in darkness.

Majestic

We've lived in some really beautiful places. However, Kalimpong is by far the most beautiful - somewhat civilized - place we have lived so far. This morning as I was laying Caleb down for his nap, this is what I saw! We get to wake up every morning, open our curtains and gaze at the 3rd tallest mountain in the world! Anyone want to come visit?!

The view from our roof.

We had to get a family pic (thank you self-timer). Caleb is pointing at the flashing red light on the camera. We wanted him to stand with us, but we had to hold him because he kept running over to the camera.

After a fresh dusting of snow - how majestic is His creation!

We were on our way out for a walk to take some pictures of the mountains and Caleb was getting a ride from Dad. I had to capture the camouflage sweats from Grandad with the pink and white shoes from our Nepali friends! Can you believe how big he is getting?! Caleb that is... :)

Bath Tubs and Snuggles

Jared has had the camera with him in Bhutan, so I haven't been able to take any new pictures this week, but here are a few from last month that I didn't put up.

Try and ignore how crazy I look and focus on how sweet my little boy is when he finally slows down enough to cuddle (for all of 60 seconds).

He loves the water. One day while Jared was gone, we went out and played in his pool/bath tub in the front yard. He had a great time and the neighbors enjoyed the show!

He loves bath time. He will sit and play in the water until it is ice cold and then we have to drag him out. There's only one small problem. I recently taught him out to drink out of a cup and now he is drinking his bath water (which isn't clean)!

Lots of new pictures to enjoy. Keep scrolling down!

A Glimpse at the Work

We originally created this blog so that our family and friends could see a glimpse of our life and work in South Asia. However, for some odd reason, since October 1, 2008, it has only contained photos of this adorably cute little babe. Well, this is my attempt to integrate a little of our work into this blog! These days, I can't seem to ever remember to photograph anything (other than a kid that is too cute for words!). So, we have been making a conscious effort to take more photos.

Today, Jared and a local pastor friend trekked into a village for a baptism program. On the way, Jared texted me to tell me that it was steeper than the trek to Gyaru (one of the highest villages in Manang where we used to work).

They gathered at a spring for the baptism.

Six men and women took baptism today - Praise God!

Afterwards, Jared encouraged them from the Word of God.

This weekend has been full of events! I cooked for 10 American volunteers on Friday, we had a funeral on Saturday, teammates in for a meeting (and a meal - two single guys living in India equals few home cooked meals!) Saturday evening, baptism program Sunday afternoon and a birthday party and dinner Sunday night for a Nepali friend. We are a bit weary but we enjoyed it all. Caleb is sooooo tired. He's been a trooper though. He loves sitting with the "big" kids on his own.

Chak Chak Lagyo

Roughly translated - that means a boy being a boy!

"I am so sneaky! I managed to get into the bathroom, grab my empty soap bottle and escape before they noticed I was in the bathroom (where I am NOT allowed to play!)."

"I know I went outside, unsupervised without your permission, but now I am in a bit of a pickle! Could you PLEASE help me up!"