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- Feb 18, 2013
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Changing Lives in Nepal
77 year old MM Trekker Barbara Gessaman shares her experience on the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal and her lasting relationships and life-changing experiences she has had in Nepal as a result of travelling with MM Guide Deana Zabaldo and learning about her social responsibility in Nepal.
“Life changing experiences can happen when and where you least expect them! I have been on two treks with Mountain Madness to Everest Base Camp and on both treks our guide was the fabulous Deana Zabaldo. My first trek was cut short before reaching Base Camp because I developed Bronchitis. The second trek was very successful, and I made it to Base Camp. On both treks, I learned a lot about Nepal from Deana and how dedicated she and Mountain Madness are to helping the people of Nepal.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=9d6f39b1a1603bba860466d0f0b381d4 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=2b3d947c8a12c72d2029cba15112e0be 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=b0f840077a6c1e451fa1e8064facab90 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=0dbd6905aa99d92850e13a56d7b8b78f 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=8489dc5455e0a21c44b6e13a26603ecb 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=a1607b4b6e8552b00f236d15f4d355c6 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=2f8de1a27af65f1b000796221623e44c 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=431a9d1b0f1892853d53e69256c72d90 320w)
The kids are ready for school (Barbara on crutches with a twisted ankle —
but that didn’t slow her down much!) Barbara Gessaman photo
During the second trek I learned about the orphanage that Deana and Mountain Madness help support — Little Angel’s Children’s Home. This home gives abandoned and orphaned children a home, an education, a family, and a future. I really wanted to go there and visit…but I had a plane to catch. As it turned out, I returned to Nepal a third time. This time I went as a volunteer teacher in Chaurikharka, the village home of many of the Mountain Madness staff. Since I was going to be in Nepal for 2 1⁄2 months, I would also have time to visit the orphanage — WOW, I was excited.
THE VISIT Nanga Dorje Sherpa accompanied me on the visit to the Little Angel’s Children’s Home. I met Nanga on the first trek to base camp and stayed with him and his mother while I was teaching. The 3 hour trip to the orphanage in a Land Rover was an adventure in of itself including a flat tire. Our first stop was the construction site of the new orphanage. What a beautiful, peaceful place! The lease for the present house is coming to an end, and the children and house mothers need to feel the warmth of a Nepali home combined with a few modern conveniences. When we arrived at the present home the children had just gotten back from school, they were eating a snack, talking and laughing and getting ready to start on homework. We had time to talk with all of the children and help with their homework. Some of the older children were helping prepare dinner. What a happy place and what happy faces on the children! It’s amazing when you learn what some of these children have lived through.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=99bd787cededdc3c4f5b2bfe284e7004 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=83cf32c96178b1ca1099e2bd9d5aaada 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=d38b6cf23d80f66e81cb5ffa038fb871 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=f8b5553e4eeec984adf538abaa7afb25 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=047e7b030e7f6ee2f1af1fba649ce587 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=2b7c55f86583b24e155de53cbc74a0bd 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=a26c32dfaa1dbd8ed2a5fbc694cd5665 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=a70d2191cbe5c9379c9d9c8af207d2fe 320w)
Reading at a table in the front yard. Barbara Gessaman photo
Before dark we gathered the children for a group picture. After the picture, Nanga started to talk to the children about his growing up without a father, about stopping school way too soon, and how lucky they were to have a safe, loving place to live. I swear the children listened to Nanga talk without moving a muscle for over a half hour. When Nanga finished talking, the children gathered around him and wanted to touch him, or hold his hand and talk some more.
These little ones are truly amazing, and as we said goodbye the next day, they waved to us as they walked down the road to school. We wanted to stay until they came back.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=0b2c26851c8f04d54d48bdc89ad93052 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=82687395768df694b0823e3ee210bd46 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=235c661cad90b0e8856863c5cf599c49 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=3bf593b9d3bf1fd4845fb2d6e78af393 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=ba19e20a1ef17e2f615fa58971055ff9 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=e238fbae6193506626872a0ffdf507ec 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=90bf955383bd69ca8c8f3347a1903cf9 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2Fbarbara_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=d7c685b43c42ae4404af5c647121125f 320w)
Neel, Executive Director of the program (in red), talks to the children
and introduces Nanga Dorje Sherpa. Barbara Gessmana photo
Thank you Deana, thank you Mountain Madness, for opening up this world to me. I hope to visit the Little Angel’s Children’s Home again this winter or summer and to help with funds from the U.S. for the construction of the new orphanage building!