Don't Forget the Villages

This article in National Geographic clearly shows why Hearts and Hands for Nepal's project is so important. There will be a lot of money that will go into Kathmandu, but there are so many small villages (where people have called home for centuries) that will sadly be forgotten. Our project will focus on rebuilding one of the structures that was destroyed in the village. As it explains in the article, the communication to these villages is challenging at best, so details will come over time. Please stay tuned as we continue our efforts in moving this project forward!

Hearts and Hands for Nepal

Not too long ago, I took a trip with a very dear friend, Terah, so that she could show us around her old stomping ground.

We often ask ourselves "if you could live ONE place in the world and just feel HOME...where would it be?" Without hesitation she answered Nepal. When I visited I knew why. I was forever changed from my short time there.

Images still haunt me. 

I close my eyes and I can smell the dead bodies being cremated on the Baghmati River and when it rains on the coat I wear that day, despite being dry cleaned, I still get a slight strand of smell. I see the beautiful flower offerings so delicately arranged. I feel little hands on my body begging for a chocolate or money. I hear the twinkling of bells and ritual chants. I feel the dirt on my feet that is just there because it has no where else to go. I inhale the poverty like it is a different weight of air from what I am accustomed to...and maybe it is because of the altitude. I see children in the streets with no home, no parents, no food, no hope. I see the friendly smiles of the priests and I am instantly happy. I see the gorgeous temples of worship peeking above the crowds and revel in their devotion. I am comforted by prayer flags waving in the wind. I see families doing the best they can to make ends meet. I see people who would graciously give you the shirt off of their back when you have so very much and they have so very little. I see so many trials and tribulations for these people and yet - I cannot help but catch a bit of their triumphant, indelible spirit. This world the Nepalese live in is one of harsh conditions and yet they are kind and gentle and spiritual and generous.

This earthquake is a tragedy and I want to help these beautiful, warm people. Something like this will push them from their poverty to complete despair. I don't know how they can survive this. I know they cannot without our help. I have watched the news unfold. I'm still trying to locate someone there who has not checked in who worked for my family and made chocolate milk for my son every morning despite my pleads not to...because she loved him so much she couldn't help herself. And I find myself loving a group of people and not being able to help myself from wanting to help them. I just. need. to. help. Because my heart is breaking and I can think of little else.

So I started looking at the Charities that I already knew about. I have been trying to keep up on news from the inside - continually asking "have you heard from...?" and leaning on Terah, who used to live there, for information via her connections. Trying to figure out how to get there to help, but realizing that I wouldn't be as much help right now as I wished and going to a plan B...and then plan B morphed into something else...

And so I'm here, helping to create a very specific way to help them. A way to rebuild. Whatever we do will start out small but will be something significant. Right now the plan is to help a specific village outside Kathmandu where we can help rebuild the school. As needs are continually assessed (and we are SO fortunate to know people who can tell us what is really needed) we will proceed. The goal is this fall to build. I have never been more excited to work on a project as I am to work on this because it has real meaning, and real significance. I promise that 100% - every bit of money raised or donated- goes to help these humble people.

It is the deepest desire of my heart to help. I cannot go right now and try to find some of the people I have been fortunate to cross paths with in this life...but I can start here and now planning a way to help the future of this country. 

One person can make a difference.

They can!

You can.

And while I cannot personally soothe the sick at this moment or air drop medical supplies, I can help in this small way. Please use the donate button on this blog if you are interested in helping, every dollar helps. If you have a large sum or if you want to make inquiries or let us know ways in which your talents can be utilized please write to us at heartsandhandsfornepal@gmail.com . Also, know that if our friends there say: we need money for rice or bandages - we will probably send them some so your contribution can have immediate effect as soon as we hear from them. We will keep you posted on each dollar spent so you know that you are directly making a difference. 

How you can help:

-Donate to our little grassroots endeavor - and follow along!

-Donate to a much larger charity who has airdrop/medical supply capabilities such as Red Cross or LDSCharities. (I really like http://iwencanada.com/ as they are established, smaller and changing their initial focus during this time of the tragedy. They have information on their website) 

-Do a fundraiser. Email us for ideas and share yours here for others to see!

-Say a prayer or meditation. The Nepalese would appreciate it.

But please don't think that there is 'nothing you can do', because there is always something you can do!

Amber Lanning

Hearts and Hands

There is no doubt the earthquake of Nepal has deeply saddened the entire world.  We have been stunned by images of people digging through rubble where there once stood homes and temples. The human spirit to survive and help others has been conveyed through all images on social media and has humbled us all as we live our relatively quiet, stress-free lives.

Some of my favorite people in the world

The situation in Nepal has especially hit me as it was once where I called home. It was where my child learned to walk. It was where I learned about real poverty and compassion. It was where my husband learned to carve wood, and we raised chickens and bunnies. It was where I learned to work with soil, and live with rodents. It was where my children would play with their pet goat Randy, and find joy in the simplicities of life. We lived a blissful life, despite living without electricity for 17 hours a day, and the unsettling political environment.

Our ever growing garden

Nepal captured my heart unlike any country I have ever lived. It wasn't necessarily the gorgeous snow-capped mountains, or even the raw natural beauty donning prayer flags, buddhas and shivas. By far the grandest part of Nepal was the people. Collectively, I have never met a more humble, beautiful, hard working and giving people like the Nepalese. Though they had nothing, their desire to give was always so present. So many of them wanted to feed our entire family of 6 a complete dal bhat. My children loved sitting on the floor eating with their hands and our host was always delighted that they would eat every piece on their plate. Many times we could not communicate but their smiles and the sheer happiness on their faces was enough to tell us that they were getting as much joy from the experience as we were.

 We have since left Nepal, but my heart has always been connected. No matter what country I have lived in, I have always felt the need to go back to my beloved Nepal, and I have. My love for Nepal is undeniable, and for this reason I cannot sit back and simply watch the news. When I heard that the long awaited earthquake had finally hit, I felt compelled to do something. My first inclination was to hop on a plane, but for a number of reasons it was not the right thing to do.  I have spent hours contemplating how to help with real intent and purpose. As a result, I have put together an organization called Hearts and Hands for Nepal.

 This cause is dedicated to the building up of Nepal once again. It is a grassroots endeavor that will specifically focus on one project in a village that I have a special connection to. The village is near Kantipur, several miles outside of Kathmandu. At the moment, communication with people in the village is very limited and at this time I only know it has been hit hard by this earthquake. As a result, Hearts and Hands for Nepal will focus on rebuilding one of the structures that has been affected by the earthquake in this village. At this moment, our desire is to rebuild a school in the area, but a thorough look at the damage must be made to fully understand the need. Therefore, this cause will be ever-evolving as more information is given. This fall, Hearts and Hands for Nepal will be going to Nepal and executing this project. We will ensure 100% of donations will go towards this project so that it will benefit those who have suffered from this tragedy.



This blog will be where we will post photos and provide all information about the development of the project. This project will be small, but I will ensure it will be significant. If you would like to be part of this project, please click the donation button on this blog. No donation is too small. If you have special talents you could also contribute to this cause, please contact me at handsandheartsfornepal@gmail.com. Any support or interest in this project will be much appreciated. 

Thank you, and namaste.


If you find the desire to donate for an immediate need, there are several large organizations that could use your donation. I will soon post a list of reputable NGO organizations that have had a long term commitments to Nepal and emergency response teams. We have known several people who have worked for these organizations and it is a good place to send donations for immediate needs.