Coming To India:

13 years ago I, Abby, left India for the U.S. to study psychology in order to return and work with at-risk women in my home country. In those years, I married, began a family and started a career. Finally in September of 2014, I was able to finally return, with my husband, Nathan, and our family.

Our decision to move to India came through much prayer, preparation, help from friends and family and a lot of hard work. Both of us really believed that life in India, Abbys dream since she left at the age of 18, would be where we would live and work for the long haul. But in the past 5 months, we began to experience restlessness, disquiet and a sense of drift in our life calling. We began to realize that though we were doing the work we had prepared all our lives for, counseling and teaching, we also were not at peace. Again, through much prayer, conversation and discernment, we had to come to another decision. This April, we will fly back to the U.S., but not for a visit, for a return we are moving home to Grand Rapids.

Home To Grand Rapids:

Since making this decision, our hearts have been filled with peace, but have also been deeply impacted by our time in India. Being here has been important for many reasons. We want to finish well so we are waiting for Nathans teaching duties to finish in March. Though we are leaving, we know our connection to India is not over, but we also know it is time to go home.

Our decision has also brought on some unexpected expenses related to a permanent move. We would like to invite you to join us in raising $3000.00 for the cost of travel home. This includes:

1. Travel from Dehradun to Delhi
2. Air tickets from Delhi to Chicago
3. Travel from Chicago to Grand Rapids
4. Extra luggage fees and misc. travel costs

We have a month to raise the needed funds for purchasing 6 tickets in the best time frame to receive the lowest cost, i.e. mid January

We are so grateful for the many friends and family who generously helped us get to India a year and half ago and now that we are returning, we are asking for your help once again.

If you prefer a tax-deductible giving option, click this link to visit our charitable giving page.

Last September we arrived in India with hearts full of expectation. We knew we would meet some very special people, network and eventually figure out where we were going to land for the long haul.

The Doon Valley!

After almost a year of waiting and listening, we know whats next! Were packing up our belongings and are moving our family to another state, Uttarakhand. Our new home will be in the capital city, Dehradun, nestled at the foot of the Himalayas in the Doon Valley. This is where it all begins for us.

We cant tell you how excited we are to finally launch after years of waiting, praying and preparing. If youd like to find out more about our move, where well be working and how Dehradun became our destination, please send us an email at underthebanyan1@gmail.com or send us a message via our communication page on the right hand of the screen.

In the meantime, we are enjoying mango season in all its glory. If youve never been to India during the mango harvest, its worth a vacation all in itself. More news as we settle in!

The Smiths

More than a week ago, Under The Banyan Tree and our partners here in India were able to secure 170 12X18 foot tarps and initially deliver 122 of them to villages in the Gorkha district of Nepal. This area was hit hardest by the quake and because it is a rural region, many of the effected areas still havent been reached with government aid. A big thank you to those who were able to give in a timely fashion we made it there just as the rainy season had begun.

Paul Ramble, our relief coordinator, is stationed  in this region. He is working with People Helping People, an aid organization from Australia, to distribute our relief supplies. Their primary work has been to come alongside villages the government hasnt been able to reach yet and begin the rebuilding efforts.

Mission #11 Nibot-Pokhari School Rebuild, Full Update, People Helping People Nepal from People Helping People Nepal on Vimeo.

While our tarpaulins have been very helpful for the onset of monsoon because of easy distribution and instant relief from monsoon conditions, we have to begin looking to longer term solutions. So now Paul is researching more sustainable forms of transitional housing and he thinks hes found something.

What he has found out is that he is able to construct these corrugated vault steel transitional homes for about 9,000 Nepali rupees (about $90 USD). Those are the initial estimates and as we look into this option more in-depth, we will be able to provide more exact figures in the coming weeks. All monies donated from this point forward will go to ensuring this project can get off the ground.

Thank you for all the help youve given and prayers offered for the people of Nepal. With the quakes aftermath, funding for relief work has dried up, while others have taken advantage of a nation with its guard down and people around the world are looking to other tragedies plaguing our globe. But the work and the giving must continue if Nepal is to make it out of this trying time. Please continue to keep the Nepalese people on your mind and in your hearts and prayers as well in your plans for giving for this coming year. Thank you again for all youve done! For further donations, please follow this link below to our donation page and select the Nepali Village Relief Fund.

Choose the Nepali Village Relief Fund button.

ANOTHER 7.4 magnitude earthquake has just hit Nepal. Here on the border of India and Nepal, we felt the tremors and all rushed outside immediately. So far, all those we know are safe and the BBC is reporting only 4 casualties with a number of injuries.

The reports coming in state that;

www.dailymail.co.uk

Shortly after the first earthquake hit in April, we organized local efforts here in India with our relief coordinator in Nepal, Paul Ramble. Since then weve been able to deliver one bus full of relief supplies. Paul has been working with a number of other relief agencies and individuals who have poured their efforts into providing the most pertinent needs. Right now, Paul is hiking through the hills of Gorkha and Lamjung (near the epicentre of the Nepal Earthquake) to reach villages with little to no access to the ongoing aid efforts.

TARPS, TARPS, TARPS!

What weve heard from him and many others is that TARPS are the need of the hour. Through the grapevine, weve heard there are very few to none at all available all throughout Nepal. Temporary housing is at a premium and with this recent quake, they are now needed more than ever.

We have just over 1 week to ship relief supplies over the border into Nepal without having to pay duty. So, this week we are going make a large purchase of tarps from the state capital of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, India to have them sent over the border before the restrictions are levied again. Please consider donating to see as many tarps purchased and sent to those in dire need for this week.

Cost breakdown:

1 reinforced tarp = 480 rupees (about $8 USD)

Transport Related costs = about $2 USD per tarp 

In total thats about $10 USD per tarp to purchase and deliver.

Please consider making a donation this week. Every $10 USD is one tarp for a Nepali family. 

We will make our order at the end of the week with whatever we have in donations. Thank you to everyone who has given, shared the news and prayed for the people of Nepal! We will remain committed to the relief efforts long after this week as well. Blessings!

Choose the Nepali Village Relief Fund button.

Nathan Abby Smith

1st Bus Arrived!

The first bus full of relief supplies arrived in the Gorkha district on May 3rd. Since then, Paul Ramble, our distribution coordinator has been working with other international aid workers as well as the Nepali military to get these needed resources out. There have been a few hiccups, like the bus breaking down, unhelpful regulations for distribution, small riots, etc. but all in all, the work is going forward.

The Rainy Season Approaches

With the rainy season on the doorsteps of their broken homes, the Nepali people remain unbroken. Though they have weathered hardships in their past as a small nation, we have the opportunity to unburden them as they prepare for a very difficult season of constant rain. Adequate shelter is at a premium NOW.

During the rainy season, access to mountain villages can become nearly impossible with roads shutdown, washed out or just impassible. In the midst of the tragedies that have befallen this nation, prayers are being offered for the families of those that perished and for the coming days.

Sherpa Relief

While we rush to provide aid relief for the immediate needs, the minds and hearts of the Nepali people look to their future. The coming months of rebuilding efforts is tantamount to climbing Mount Everest. Typically it has been the Nepali people who have helped countless people traverse their beautiful country and ascend the glorious peaks of their Himalayan mountain range.

The rebuilding efforts they face in the coming months and years may feel liking scaling Mount Everest, and while the Nepali people are some of the hardiest in the world, it is now our turn to be their sherpas, to help carry them through this catastrophe, to walk next to them as they scale the mounting tragedies ahead of them. They know the way forward, but have not had to face these kinds of challenges for many generations. Would you join in? Would you come alongside? Would you be a sherpa to our brothers and sisters in Nepal in their hour of need? The rainy season is coming and there is so much still to do!

For enquiries or details, please email us at underthebanyan1@gmail.com.

Choose the Nepali Village Relief Fund option!

GORKHA DISTRICT

Katrina*

If you saw her running across the field each night, wearing her typical smile, you’d never know that before arriving that smile wasn’t as frequent. Before her arrival at Raj Ministries Mahima Niwas (House of Glory) home for at-risk girls, Katrina, had been sent to care for her dying grandfather at the age of 8. He had contracted Tuberculosis and so she was sent by her father to tend to her dying family member. Tuberculosis, a deadly disease here in India, had soon been contracted by Katrina as well. Mahima Niwas was contacted and with the help of doctors and a new home, today she is well again, smiling, running across the field and safe.

Jeffrey*

Riding 40 minutes on his bike each day to make it to school, Jeffrey, recounts how it was with great persuasion that he convinced his hard-working father to let him attend Raj Ministries school, Assembly of God Church School. At home, he was expected to do all his work in the field to support the family. He was told that school is not important and that he must stay home and work. With his eyes set on a good education and a future filled with opportunity, Jeffrey, decided that he would do both, every day. He would go to school 6 days a week and do all the work required of him at home before and after he went to school. Today he is the head boy of the entire school, is set to graduate this year and looks with anticipation to a future filled with possibilities.

Rosa*

Rosa didn’t plan on being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It wasn’t her fault that she was. But it happened, and in a region known for its violence against women, she had become a casualty. Not long after her violent encounter, she received the news – she was pregnant. With dreams of a marriage and family shattered, she sought help wherever she could find it. This eventually led her to Raj Ministries on the border of India and Nepal. There she encountered a loving community, a safe place to carry the child and the support needed as she processed the violence and pain endured just months prior.

Emily*

Emily is only 17. She has two children and with the recent death of her husband, she has begun searching for work. This search has led her to Seema Sanstha, a non-profit business set up by Raj Ministries to provide meaningful and sustainable work for women-at-risk. When asked why she doesn’t just marry again to help her family, she responds that if she does, she fears for the life of her two children. A new husband, a new family and a new village, could mean the starvation of the remaining members of her first family. So today, with hope in her eyes, she fills out an application, one of many that will be filled out this month by women seeking freedom, empowerment and the ability to rise above the well-known uncertainties women like Emily face each day.

Patricia*

Patricia married a man in a region known for its atrocities committed against women, the worst region on record in India. What she didn’t know was how abusive her marriage was going to be. With her son, a few belongings and the endurance of years of abuse to both of them, Patricia came to Raj Ministries out of fear for her and her sons life. With no recourse or justice system to support her, she had to leave her home, her husband and the life she knew. With a room, an education for her boy and days that don’t end with backhands, scrapes or bruises, she is thankful for the work that Seema provides her, but more importantly, for a chance to start a new life, a life lived without fear. Today she is thankful for her new job, a home, and a safe son. And while she still keeps him close, eventually the fear will go on its own way too.

Jyoti

Walking across our ministry campus to print off papers for an evening of Bible teaching, I was called over by my mother-in-law. There in the arms of her father was 1 and 1/2 year old Jyoti (light in Hindi). She was barely alive and hadnt eaten in a long time. Her father had come to give her away as the mother had run off and, as we came to know later, he was a drug addict. She was checked by the nurse and from what could be assessed, she had a small chance of survival in her condition. The father was told to bring her to the doctor and, once assessed, we could take her in to care for her. Seeing her father the next morning, we hurried to hear what had happened. Sadly, Jyoti didnt make it through the night. At 5 a.m. she was lost to the world and since that day, theres been a heaviness in the air.

Tension, Loss the Good Life

While we are able to enjoy a number of happy endings to the stories that arrive at our doorstep, not all stories can end happily. So, we appreciate those who continue to lift us up in prayer and for those who keep us on their minds as we serve alongside Raj Ministries. This week , two babies will be born and tomorrow morning we celebrate a wedding. In the midst of overwhelming needs and loss, real life continues on, good life with real joys to be shared. Raj Ministries stands in the midst of that tension and each day chooses to carry on with the good work theyve been given to do. Please consider standing with them through your prayers and support. For anyone interested in finding out more about their ministry or in making a contribution, contact me at underthebanyan1@gmail.com. Blessings to you and your family!

Nathan Abby Smith

*names changed for security reasons

When I first visited India back in 2007, one of the first things I chose to do was to eat with my hands. Little did I know how important this was going to be.  Typically, most Indians eat with their right hand (not their left for obvious reasons) and when I chose to join them, I immediately noticed cultural barriers being removed. Almost everywhere I traveled, if I was seen gathering my rice and dal together on my plate into a delicious conglomerate, without fail I would notice out of the corner of my eye awkward looks, surprise and then eventually a quiet nod of approval. Im not sure, but it felt like small layers of cultural barriers had been removed.

So when my family and I arrived in India to listen and learn last month, I knew continuing this practice would be important. I began to scan the human landscape for ways to join in and I found them. Wherever you travel or live in India , you will find two things everywhere Gamchas Charpoys.

Gamchas are typically worn by men and consist of a piece of thin fabric with minimal design, worn around the neck, on the head, over one shoulder, around the waist, amongst a number of other options. Their most prevalent use is to wipe away sweat front the brow and face and when place on the head, heat is displaced. They are also used to balance heavy objects carried on the head and are used to dry off after bathing at other times. Upon arrival, especially in rural areas, you will notice almost every man wears one. While their use is very practical in hot climates, they are also becoming fashionable in Western countries. Yet, here in India, they are just part of the human landscape. So, I got one.

Charpoys what is a charpoy? It is estimated that around 1.5 billion people in the world use some sort of charpoy to sleep on. A charpoy, pronounced char-pie, is an inexpensive wooden frame rope bed that is mostly used here in India, though it can be found in parts of Africa and Asia as well. The rope is woven as it is looped around the edges of the frame and can support the weight of at least 2-3 adults. In the morning or afternoon, charpoys are brought out to the front of the home to sit upon while the family eats, works, plays, entertains visitors, etc. By evening time, they find themselves back inside and are employed as couches, dinner tables, recliners and finally, and most importantly, as beds. From simple to ornate, they don the home of almost every rural village in India and are found in most cities as well. While they have received popularity as fashionable European furniture, in India, they remain just part of the human landscape. So, I got one.

I think its important that while in India, if we are going to get whats going on here to truly learn to listen, we must also get whats here Gamchas Charpoys. The cultural divide for me as a U.S. citizen is vast. Ive learned that in a very short time. But small steps to help us get whats going on here require that we also get certain things mundane things like furniture, clothing and the like. I dont necessarily need a gamcha or a charpoy because I could have managed with something I brought from the U.S., but doing so would continue to represent the very cultural divide that my family and I are trying to traverse. We are here and we want to be part of whats here. These small things represent the average life ways of the people we work alongside and the friends we are making. India is good, gamchas are good, charpoys are good and to begin getting it we also need to be begin by just getting some stuff.

In your travels and cross-cultural experiences, we would highly recommend looking for and taking note of the pervasively mundane things that your new friends have…and dont have. In choosing to get or not get some of these things, I think youll find that getting it will be a little bit easier.

Nathan Abby

Two weeks on the ground and we are finally settling in. The kids are getting into a regular sleep pattern, Abby and I have both had our expected “tummy” troubles (an initiate for most people visiting in India) and we’ve begun preparing for the work that is waiting for us. We’ve unpacked all of our bags and are feeling a semblance of home again.

But the journey to get here started with 20 full bags… (+ 2 car seats and a stroller)

20 After counting all of our bags up, we actually traveled with 20 bags in total. That may be a record we won’t want to break in the future – wow! After spending an entire evening weighing them to the exact pound, we got to the airport and still had to adjust numerous items around. Without the help of my Aunt and Uncle, Glenn and Bev Gunderson, and the last minute help from our friend and professor Dr. Park, our on-time departure would not have been possible. Luckily, our flight was delayed…which then made us miss our connecting flight in Delhi…which then meant we had to stay in a hotel in Delhi, postponing our final arrival by 1 day.

The kids at this point were showing stellar signs of being natural travelers, providing mom and dad the sanity required to move our family half way across the world. We finally made it to Lucknow on the 7th after traveling for two days and stepped off the plane into scorching heat. Luckily, mom, dad and uncle Paul were waiting eagerly for us…in the wrong terminal because the flight’s arrival gate changed at the last minute. Ahh – so there we were with 20 bags, 100-degree heat with humidity, 3 children and no sleep. Mom, dad and uncle Paul rushed over to pick us up and off we went to an air-conditioned hotel to sleep for the night. The next morning we woke up to begin our 5-hour car ride to the border and 30 minutes into our journey; the vehicle with our boys and Abby began to give some engine trouble with the final verdict – no AC. So down the windows went down and off we went to traverse the battered road leading to our new home.

We finally pulled into Rupaidiha as the sun was setting to a crowd of eager faces awaiting us. There in the front entrance of mom and dad’s house were about 60 staff and girls from their girl’s home waiting with hand made cards, garlands and huge smiles. We fell out of our vehicles, shattered from the long journey. After many warm greetings, and having our necks donned with garlands (well except Sarkis, he wasn’t having anything put on his neck) we stumbled into our lavishly stocked “son-in-law” suite mom and dad had generously set up for us. After pulling every last bag into the front door we looked at each other with relief and fatigue. It was finally time to begin our year in India, our Year Under the Banyan Tree.

We have so many friends and family to be grateful for over the past months. There have been people who have helped us move, pack, provide a place to stay in our transition, clean, provide financial assistance, make a video, drive, deliver our bags, give us bags, watch our children, etc. The list is endless and as we look back there are so many tangibles to be thankful for. We know that those gifts are representative of real friendships, some more recent, others reaching back for years. For each and every gift, great or small, we are overwhelmed with gratitude.

I told Abby on our 13-hour flight, that I didn’t realize how fragile our ability to do this on our own was, until I began to absorb the impact of the many, many people who have decided to partner, help, pray, and stand with us. Without a community, we truly are helpless, we are truly fragile. So thank you for being our community, our help and for continuing to stand with us in the myriad of ways that we still see the hands of others carrying us forward in the good work that weve been given to do. Blessings!

Yours truly,
Nathan, Abigail, Aria, Sarkis, Ismail the upcoming arrival.

Nathan, Abby, Aria, Sarkis Ismail