5/4/15 Relief for Nepal Update: Aparna News

On April 15, 2015 a 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal and its effects are devastating. Current estimates show over 7000 perished, thousands more are injured and most everyone is in day-to-day desperate living conditions.

Healing Touch's own Aparna Bhatta, HTCP/I lives and teaches in Kathmandu, Nepal. Aparna came into our lives several years ago with a passion for Healing Touch. She currently teaches Levels 1-3 and has instructed over 300 students. In the middle of this crisis, she is helping people and performing Healing Touch wherever she can.  On April 30th, she wrote:

"We all are safe from all of your blessing and love. Lot of damage and loss of life in front of us, making me so weak and could not grounded. I am planning to go to one of the highest death from the earthquake with some supplies and medicines. Lot of needs, no safe drinking water no food no medicines. so much to do.   love and light,  Aparna"

Since 2010, HTWF has contributed over $13,000 toward Aparna's Healing Touch Instructor Certification and the expansion of Healing Touch in Nepal. You may recognize the names of our Healing Touch family that have been instrumental in teaching and nurturing Aparna and bringing HT to Nepal.  We are grateful for the time, energy, and commitment of those directly involved: Tim and Pam McConville, Ingrida Kancans-McLaughlin, Bonnie and Norman Morrow, Mary Sinclair, Barbara Starke as well as others. You will be reading their stories over the next few weeks. The initial story you will read includes teaching introduction classes and a Level 4 in Nepal just days before the quake. Stay tuned for these reports.

HTWF is offering a path for our community to directly help Aparna. Contributions made through this fundraising effort will go directly to Aparna for her immediate needs, as well as helping her provide Healing Touch to the people of Nepal. Aparna and the families of Nepal need our love, prayers and compassion.  Thank you for any amount of contribution you feel led to give.

Update from Aparna 5/3/2015

The earthquake of April 25, 2015 in Nepal has left hundreds of thousands of individuals homeless. Most of the homes of older construction have been devastated. The districts of Sindupalchoak, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Gorkha, Lamjung, Newarkot, and Kabre have been affected with significant loss of life and property. Many people in the remote areas lack regular access to modern medical care. Now that resources have been stretched the situation is compounded. People are doing the best they can to get on with life but there is a need to provide food, medical attention, and support to the people that are living outside their homes. Trucks carry food to distribution centers and the people go to pick up the bags of rice, non-perishable snacks, water, and medicine. But people in the remote areas may not be able to make the trip to a distribution center. Sick or infirm individuals may not be able to make the trip.

There were more than 2500 casualties in Sindupachoak district. I visited Bhotechaur and the clinic I helped build 15 years ago is completely demolished. Fortunately, no one was hurt or killed when the building collapsed, but the property is a total loss. The village is also destroyed. Nagarkot village and Sankhu were nearly completely destroyed. Fortunately, my property in Nagarkot is mostly unaffected and I provide housing to several people who cannot return to their homes.

Aparna plans to provide resources, medical care, and Healing Touch to remote areas that are underserved by current relief efforts. Healing Touch will be the centerpiece of the effort as everyone will benefit from it. Other resources including medical care and cooking supplies will be provided according to need. The team will include members of Nepal Healing Touch community, volunteers, and medical team.

Healing Touch at Kathmandu camp by Aparna Bhatta

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Nepal Destruction

Nagarkot

Sankhu