My Eyes Seeing Pieces of Nepal

In News by Carla

Just a collection of photos that made up the art expedition to Nepal. God is amazing and we walked in the miraculous while we were there. The pictures never quite do justice, but “they” say they’re worth at least a thousand words, right?


A photo of me. This was on our last night in Nepal. With a group of new and inspiring friends we embarked on a creative endeavor which MAY have involved spray paint…
His intent gaze and partial reflection made me fish my camera out of my bag and begin taking photos. He was sitting in front of me on the bus as we traversed the city. Bump. Bump. Bump. A challenge to remain in your seat at times.


 Julia and our translator share the story God gave us for a people group in Nepal. The story is about a little girl dreaming of Jesus and his strength, a conversation with her father leads to a woodcarver friend telling the truth about Jesus through elaborate woodcut panels. 

These woodcarvers were used as a reference in our art-media video. The woodcarvings are highly detailed and so beautiful.
 Art school to art school: Here is a photo of the Kathmandu Art University having a self-portrait assignment in their introduction to painting class. We had some great conversations about why make art and what they are aspiring to do.

Our five person team striking a pose in Kathmandu Valley and with my friends who are also supported by my awesome home church.  

A professional translator and voice actor– he had a voice role in dubbing the Jesus film! And, he helped us with our project!! Plus, doesn’t he have the most gentle eyes?

Local Cuisine. Deep in the depths of my blog I confess: I’m a vegetarian no longer. That’s right. I’ve started to call myself a, “flexitarian.” When questioned about what that means? I say that I eat whatever I want.  

At a local festival we wait, with thousands of other people, to see the Kumari. A human goddess until the time for her first blood. It was so crowded that I didn’t actually SEE her, but our friends did. 

Such incredible people! I left pieces of my heart in Nepal. Our translator let us meet his friends and we bonded very quickly. 

Crowd and architecture shot. Isn’t this marvelous?

On the streets and me chatting with a stranger. My big-black-back-pack is my office! 

 A metalsmith working on forming Buddhas and other idols from copper and tin and bronze. The noise inside was DEAFENING as they relentlessly hammered those sheets of metals into the shapes they were meant to be.

Isn’t her smile the best!? She was steaming momos. These are little pieces of dough that are stuffed with buffalo, chicken, vegetable or ANYTHING then pinched shut and steamed or friend. They are DELICIOUS!

Is there anything to say about this? I don’t think so either. Stop.

Me and the potter. He let me throw on his wheel. He was SHOCKED that I knew what I was doing! This always makes me chuckle.

Our team after a hot day of hitting the streets, talking to people, listening to our tour guide, taking photos and having a blast. This is a talented, silly, awkward and wonderful group of people!

These boys were playing around. The little guy in the blue shirt is preventing the other from “popping wheelies” with his bike. I remember watching my older boy cousins do this when I was younger. 

This is the Bouda temple. We walked around it joining a group who had committed to doing 100 days of prayer around this building. It was HUGE and impressive.

Here I am with my Tibetan friend shielding ourselves from the sun using umbrellas and praying together. 

 Close up of the prayer flags strung from the base to the tip-top of the Bouda temple. Prayers written on the flags are believed to be embraced/heard when the wind whips through them. This is another way karma is earned.

 Towards the end of our time in Nepal we got to visit a school. This little girl had glasses (obviously) and I just fell in love with her! I mean, LOOK at those cute little glasses!! Aww! 

So these are just a few photos. I have more on Facebook (you can search Carla Jean OR Visual Arts for Missions). Thanks for your prayers.