It’s been a year since earthquakes devastated Nepal so I asked a good friend of mine to write a little something to go along with the pictures as a message to and from the people of Nepal.
Article by Upashana Gurung
Pictures by Daniel Raghu
Life was never “normal” after that day, and even if we wanted to we could not forget the unimaginable loss we suffered. It has already been a year since the devastating earthquake hit Nepal. One of the most beautiful countries had been turned into pieces of ruins. As we look back upon that day, there is no way we won’t feel the sorrow all over again.Even though words cannot describe the unbearable agony we had to go through; even after everything we lost, we were still smiling with tears in our eyes and with the hope that one day it would all be alright.
As I’m writing this, I really cannot express the pain and grief of someone who lost everything in the remote villages of Nepal. I really cannot. And if for one second I put myself in their shoes, I could not bear the heaviness of my heart.The pain and anguish they must have felt is beyond mine or anyone’s conception.
But YOU, you are a warrior who survived a great catastrophe.You are the brave one.
Don’t ever forget that.
The hope, the strength, the unity that we all have, let’s not let go of that. Because when we look back, these are the only things that kept us going froward. We’re fixing the ruins, we’re reconstructing buildings, we’re helping the ones in need – providing food and shelter and clothes; most of all we’re giving away love and hope to the ones who lost it.
Every country, every organisation, every individual from all over the world that has been helping us in these darkest days, we are profoundly grateful for all that you have and are doing for us.
Because we have each other we have the courage to believe that we can move forward.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.“
– J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
For you are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness. – 2 Samuel 22:29