5/6 (Monday): Arrive at Grand Rapids airport between 3 and 3:15 PM.
5/7 (Tuesday): Arrive in Doha at 5:10 PM.
5/8 (Wednesday): Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal
We will be staying at Goshen House. Laundry service is available between 5/8 and 5/10.
Contact info: Goshen House (has Wi-Fi for students to connect via their cell phones)
Bhanimandal, Dhobighat, Near Assumption Church, Lalitpur
www.goshehousenepal.com
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Kumar Sinniah
Blog Update: Kumar Sinniah
5/9 (Thursday): Higher Ground – Learn about Bimala Pokharel’s work in Kathmandu, her organization, and her work with mental health organizations.
Higher Ground Contact Info:
Bimala Shrestha Pokharel (Calvin Alumni) – She can be reached via Messenger App
Higher Ground Nepal, Founder/CEO http://higherground.com.np/hg/
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Theo Beels
Blog Update: Sarah Zylstra
5/10 (Friday): Calvin student, Reeja, will join us to spend the day. Visit cultural sites, Swayambhu and Patan Darbar Square.
Meet with a Dutch educationist in early childhood education to learn about Nepali student education.
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Beth Beels
Blog Update: Tyler VerMerris
5/11 (Saturday): Leave for Tansen. Will need to be ready with our luggage by 5:30 AM. Leave exactly at 6 AM.
Laundry service available between 5/11 and 5/19.
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Ellie Bouws
Blog Update: Sarah Brinks
5/12 (Sunday): Familiarization with the United Mission Hospital and tour of Tansen.
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Amelia Huston
Blog Update: Jon LaRue
5/13, 5/14, 5/16, 5/17: Students rotate in pairs of 1-2 through medicine, pediatrics, surgery, orthopedics, maternity, and nursing school. This will consist of observation of ex-pat and Nepali doctors with an extensive debriefing in the evening hours to process the joys and challenges of working in a limited resource setting and appreciation of all that can be accomplished. A typical rotation day is ~8 AM – 4 PM with morning tea (~10 AM) and lunch breaks.
Nursing students will be at the wards from 6:45 AM-2 PM on Monday-Friday. Nursing students will compare and contrast patient care in a Nepal hospital versus a US hospital. What can we learn from nursing in Nepal and what can they learn from us?
Nursing students will meet from 3 – 3:45 PM with Beth Beels and Professor Sinniah for a brief discussion on Nursing care in cross-cultural environments.
Work on one shadowing/participation activity to report in written format (submit report between 5/18-5/20)
5/13 (Monday): AM and PM Rotations
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Anneke Lieuwen
Blog Update: Kelly Fritzsch
5/14 (Tuesday): AM and PM Rotations
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Renee Broekhuizen
Blog Update: Kumar Sinniah
5/15 (Wednesday): Medicine and Healing
AM: Session 1. Exploring healing passages from the NT. Religion, Faith, and Healing – What do reform theology and Christian faith teach us about healing? How does spirituality impact healing? We will examine healing practices in the church. Read the Spirituality and Healing in Medicine section under Trip Preparation and Essential Reading and articles in the Healing section on Moodle.
Session 2: What does prayer healing look like? What are the signs of healing? Are all who pray for healing receive a positive outcome?
PM: Cultural event with nursing students from Nepal.
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Ella Lubberts
Blog Update: Katelyn Hoekema
5/16 (Thursday): AM and PM Rotations
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Katelyn Hoekema
Blog Update: Ella Lubberts
5/17 (Friday): AM and PM Rotations
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Tyler VerMerris
Blog Update: Renee Broekhuizen
Start working on the reflections report and submitting them via a blog reflection between 5/18 and 5/29 (20% of grade)
5/18 (Saturday) AM: Reflection writing
PM: Preparing for English service at the Hospital (Calvin students will be leading the service)
Blog Update: Anneke Lieuwen
5/19 (Sunday): Tour of Lumbini Medical College
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Kelly Fritzsch
Blog Update Elle Bouws
5/20 (Monday): Depart for Sri Jana Farms in the morning and settle in. After lunch - quiet time for reflection (this is your time alone for prayer and reflection), reflection writing, and a group tour of the farm (we will have to arrange this once we get to the farm).
Devotions in the evening: Jon LaRue
Blog Update: Amelia Huston
5/21 (Tuesday): AM - Group discussion on a) What is your experience of the Nepali culture as a foreigner, b) Coming to Nepal, what was your expectation vs reality?, c) Cultural competency and cultural humility are cultural aspects emphasized in the US healthcare system. How has this experience increased your cultural awareness?
PM: Time spent on writing reflections and exploring the farm surroundings.
Devotions in the evening: Sarah Brinks
Blog Update: Sarah Zylstra
5/22 (Wednesday): Travel to Pokhara and stay at Hotel Asia.
Devotions in the evening: Sarah Zylstra
Blog Update: Tyler VerMerris
5/23 (Thursday): Tour of Green Pastures rehab hospital and observations at Green Pastures (GP).
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Ellie Bouws
Blog Update: Sarah Brinks
5/24 (Friday): Observations at GP hospital
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Katelyn Hoekema
Blog Update: Jon LaRue
5/25 (Saturday): Trek to Panchase to see the Annapurna mountains (on a clear day you can see the entire Annapurna Mountain range, while on a cloudy day, the mountains aren’t visible).
Devotions in the evening: Ella Lubberts
Blog Update: Kumar Sinniah
5/26 (Sunday): Trek back from Panchase. Paragliding (students need permission from parents or caretaker) and/or boating in Lake Fewa. Depending on the time, we could also visit the suspension bridge over Rupa Lake.
Devotions in the evening: Renee Broekhuizen
Blog Update: Kelly Fritzsch
5/27 (Monday): Travel to Kathmandu.
Laundry service available between 5/27 and 5/30.
Devotions in the evening: Anneke Lieuwen
Blog Update: Katelyn Hoekema
5/28 (Tuesday): AM: Calvin student, Reeja will join us for the day. Cultural event with a Calvin student’s family (tentative plans)
Visit with Dale Nefzinger (an engineer) to learn about his coffee business – the challenges and joys
PM: Students in charge of making plans for farewell to Nepal.
Debrief and Discussion
Devotions in the evening: Theo Beels – Jesus washes his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). Foot washing as a sign of humility (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maundy_(foot_washing))
Blog Update: Ellie Bouws
5/29 (Wednesday): Visit with the most famous nutritionist in Nepal, Miriam Krantz (who grew up in Pennsylvania)
Last-minute shopping and packing
Leave from Goshen House at 11:15 PM to Kathmandu airport
Blog Update: Anneke Lieuwen
5/30 (Thursday): Depart from Nepal. Arrive in Grand Rapids at 10:44 PM. Students should be picked up by family or a friend at GR airport.