Our Photo Op in the Yeti, RNAC's In-flight Magazine: A "Typical" Family Vacation in Pokhara Followed by Almost Losing Bill

We have another funny story about how we got published in the Yeti Flight Tales, the in-flight magazine that was in the back of every seat on all RNAC's planes. But first let me tell you about our first few days in Pokhara, a beautiful town on a lake where you can see the Annapurna range with Fishtail, or Machapuchari, as it is called in Nepal. Fishtail is on the left in this photo -- sticking straight up in the air. But the whole Annapurna range is spectacular to view.

From my journal:

5 days in Pokhara--not exactly a vacation, but definitely interesting. We played musical hotels. We spent the first night at Crystel--expensive and depressing. Then we moved to Fewa the next night. It was on the lake. Lovely lake, dirty hotel. Finally Bill took us to Shining Hospital, another mission outpost, who graciously took us in for a few nights. We also were able to arrange for more medical supplies for some of the other SIL / Wycliffe teams working in other people groups. 

The next day we took a canoe trip on the lake and had a picnic lunch. We went on the lake the next day too. Then we moved to the Annapurna hotel, the best of the lot, and promply got asked to be the subjects for a magazine article- the RNAC in-flight magazine about a "typical" family vacation in Pokhara. Dozens of photos shot. We never realized it would take the whole day traveling from place to place. Jon and Jenny weren't too excited about this, but they got to ride a donkey, catch a pretend fish, eat a little food from the picnic lunch."

Below are the pictures the RNAC couple took of us and used in the magazine, and then the article. Jon became "John" in the story and the "we" was not written by us! Again, we experienced editorial prerogatives. Hope you enjoy the photos! The cover of the mag is at the end of this blog.

The next day, after the RNAC day photo-op, Jenny got dangerously ill with a high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bad tummy cramps. We took her to Shining hospital and the doctor saw her, took a specimen and said she had amoebic dysentary, so she's back on Flagyl. [Amoebic dysentery was something we all 4 dealt without throughout out stay in Nepal.]

On our trip back to Kathmandu we took 3 doctors and a mechanic from Shining hospital. It was great to get to know some colleagues from other mission posts. What a great time we had--before we came back to the news that our aviation program may end. It was a call  to prayer. *** are you leaving this hanging? what happened next? ***

When in Kathmandu, we continued attending some wonderful meetings and times of prayer, both with our SIL colleagues as well as the ecumenical one we were a part of. We came to love two Jesuit Catholic priests, Fathers Lud Stiller and Jim Dressman. It was a new and good experience for us to find this kind of fellowship across doctrinal lines. It was God's Spirit and His Presence that joined us as we worshiped the One we all loved and served.

We made one other trip in May that was pretty significant because we almost lost Bill in the undercurrent of a river. We were on an outing and arrived at a river for a picnic.

There was a small island in the river and Bill went upstream and swam to the island. As he swam back, he was caught in a whirlpool and began to be sucked under. Meanwhile, the children and I were watching all this from the shore. As he hit the whirlpool, I gathered Jonathan and Jenny and started to pray. Bill doesn't remember much of what happened next, but the next thing we knew, he was on the shore. Perhaps he found something to grab a hold of? Or more likely, an angel pulled him out.

Then on May 21 we made a trip to the hospital for three of us. Jenny had tonsillitis, I was treated for tapeworm and Bill was treated for amoebic dysentery. That doesn't list all the things that God healed when we asked, like Jonathan's boil and Jenny's sty. We are grateful for any healing, direct or through doctors and medicine.

This was followed by another trip to the hospital. This time it was me, with "a little bronchial pneumonia." It was very painful and it meant another round of antibiotics. How good to have friends who bring meals.....and then share them with you.

All this was not long after my ectopic pregnancy. What with that and two C-sections, we needed to make a decision. We wanted a large family, with lots of kids, but our Father had other ways of fulfilling this desire.

Another trip to the hospital.....We had made one of the hardest decisions of our marriage. Bill and I had a necessary and lovely time talking about a vasectomy.  So very hard, but now I feel the Lord will bless this as we've sought His direction. It's been a difficult experience but good for us each. Thank You, Lord. There is peace and rest in His Presence, though accusations come in my thoughts. Having done all, STAND firm. 

June 2, 1976: Monsoon arrived yesterday. I'm still feeling weak and been calling to Him for help, physically and emotionally. Still pains in chest 
from the pneumonia. Yet will I rejoice in the Lord. I've really felt Bill's prayers for me. Thank You, Lord, for a loving and compassionate husband.

But more tears and pain were to come, more than we could imagine. Next to come was the day that changed our lives forever.....

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 The cover from the in-flight magazine that had the article about us.