Day 7 & 8: Nepal, Kathmandu Earthquake 2015: South African Rescue Mission

It was now Wednesday and the base camp was quiet as half the team had left for South Africa yesterday. The rest of us would be leaving late afternoon, but not before we finished up in the hospitals, handed out food parcels and performed much needed primary health care. Many of the people were sick with colds and other ailments and needed antibiotics and medication.

we awoke to a smoggie sunrise and a bit overcast. But it soon heated up and once again another hot day was before us.

I managed to get some photos done of Kate Ahrends, Mike Sherman, Eliza and Tess Arnold who stayed with us after they were rescued after surviving the massive earthquake. What an amazing bunch of youth, it was such a blessing and privilege to have met them. They had not been able to get a group pic of all of them together so this was it, super special to have been afforded the opportunity to do this for them.

the boyz having some fun while we get ready to leave on our last mission

this was my shadow over the past 10 days. "grumpy" was really old and I was never sure if his smile was in fact a silent growl. but he loved the attention. I think!! was really sad to leave him behind and really wished I could have brought him back with me.

we then arrived at our destination on the outskirts of Kathmandu the crowds were already waiting. The police were there too to keep order as well as many volunteers.

interesting tree. there were many areas where a single tree stood surround by a concrete island such as this one. Felt really blessed that we have huge parks with many trees and green grass!

these two little boys had me in stitches!!

registration - each person would get a ticket with a number on and hand it in to receive a food parcel as well as to see the doctors and receive medication.

some of our supplies in a maggi 2 minute noodles box!!!

just loved this little girl she stole the hearts of the doctors later!!

Boyz in da hood!!!

nappy changing time in an upright position!!

This little girl was 12 years old. She was watching her 2 brothers while her mother was getting medical care and collecting food parcels. She spoke beautiful English and told me what happened to them during the earthquake. She lost her 36 year old Aunt in the earthquake when she was buried in the family home. Her mother managed to pull her and her brothers from the rubble and her mother will now be looking after her 2 cousins as their father had died some time back. She told us that she was really grateful for all that we were doing and that the food parcels and medicine would go a long way to helping her family. Wow!

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love the sequence of photos of this little girl interacting with the doctors

so grown up already!!!

again the interaction between the doctors and this little girl is just too heartwarming

some of the people that came were really sick and need of medicine. A lot of chronic illness that go untreated and so many sick kiddies.

Justin keeping a little boy's spirits up. just love this photo!!

handing out the food parcels

love these as the boyz and girls are handing the food parcels down the line

These are amongst my favorite pics that I took of big Marcus aka "Bain" whose whole scary persona melted when he saw this little girl even removing his mask for her. This tough Rescue Tech shows just what we are all about......

would love to know what the big guy was saying to the little tot.. she made him smile...too cute!!

love these photos of sleeping innocence!!

this little girl had such beautiful big eyes!

myself and fellow climbing buddy Saray Khumalo

some of the awesome media guys

and then it was time to hand out some sweets to the little ones

some of the damaged buildings as we made our way back to camp and to pack up our things

while we were out in the field the surgeons where performing their last operations and handing over their patients to the doctors in the various hospitals