Enakshi Sings

By Celia Jon

In August 2009, Sheela Jon came to Nepal and met a 3 year old blind girl in the main government orphanage. Her niece picked the little girl up, and the workers told her not to pick her up as she has 'bad karma' as she is blind. She came back in 2010 and met the little girl again, and had a strong calling to adopt her and bring her back to the UK. In September 2011, she embarked upong the long and ardous process of adoption under Nepalese law, battling with officials who considered her to be a women with no standing and the little girl to be completely invisible. She discovered corruption and abuse, and finally her daughter's visa to the UK was refused, and she is still in Kathmandu waiting for the appeal to be heard.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: May 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481780087

Celia Jon

Sheila Jon is 54 years old, and lives in London. She has one son who is 21 years old, and now has one daughter who is 5 years old. This is her first book. She first went to Nepal 22 years ago, and her son is half Nepalese, and she started studying Nepali at SOAS in 2001. She is a teacher, and has taught primary school, and special needs children, and also retrained as a social worker and when her mother got dementia, she worked as a social worker with elderly dementia service users, and then went back to teaching Health and Social Care to adults. Now she lives in London and devotes her time to being a good enough mother to Sanjay and Grace, and writing books.

Book preview

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

1 Bad Karma

2 Going To Nepal

3 Home For Christmas

4 Back Again

5 Hatti Gauda

6 Bal Puja—The Children’s Temple

7 The Kings School

8 The Evidence

9 The Adoption Order

10 Visa

About The Author

DEDICATION

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER ENAKSHI (GRACE) LAMA, WHO IS BLIND. BORN ON 22ND JANUARY 2007 AT PATAN HOSPITAL, KATHMANDU. SHE HAS CAPTURED OUR HEARTS AND CHANGED OUR LIVES.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I acknowledge my sister—Helen for her belief and her support and constant emails and encouraging bible quotes. To my son, Samuel—I will try and make this up to you somehow. To all my supporters and those who followed my diary, and replied to my emails, thank you immensely. I couldn’t have got through this without you.

1 BAD KARMA

In August 2009, I came to Nepal with my son, Samuel, and my sister Helen’s daughter Isa. Samuel’s half sister Jeti, was doing a placement in Bal Puja orphanage in Kathmandu, and we went to visit for the day. At that time, we just walked around picking up the children and hugging them. We went into one room and there was a little 2 year old blind girl called Enakshi, and Isa picked her up and hugged her. All the Nepalese workers ran over and said: ‘No, Don’t pick her up, she has bad karma!’ So Isa continued to play with her, and she looked at me and said: ‘Aunty Celia, Tell them I don’t agree with that!’ We have a great photo of Isa throwing Enakshi up into the air and catching her in her arms. She was so happy. When we left, Enakshi had Isa in a vice-like grip around her neck, and would not let her go.

I went back to the orphanage in November 2010 with my friend’s daughter, and this time it was more controlled. All the children were quiet, and behind barriers so that we couldn’t pick them up. We sat in the office drinking tea, and then I remembered Enakshi and asked if she was still there. We went upstairs and all the 3 year olds were coming down the stairs, and two of them were leading Enakshi by the hand. The children lay on the floor under a blanket and went to sleep. Enakshi was on her own. We had given her biscuits, and another boy tried to take her biscuits, but she screamed and held onto them tightly. I took photos of her.

On the plane, my friend gave me a book to read about Eric Weihenmeier, a blind man who climbed Mt McKinley, Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Everest and Anaconda twice. In America as a child he reluctantly learnt to use a white cane, read Braille and as an adult to use a guide dog. He became a primary school teacher, and his 9 year old pupils helped him by writing on the board for him, and not putting their hands up to answer questions, but devised their own system for turn taking. They developed a close bond with him and the guide dog and learnt more from him about trust and care than from any other teacher they ever had. Eric Weihenmeier did more in his life than most sighted people ever do. He is married with one daughter now, and says he was inspired by the story of Helen Keller.

Spurred on by my sister Helen, I wanted to adopt Enakshi and bring her to England. This little girl has captured our hearts and changed our lives. If she stays in Nepal she will suffer the stigma of her disability, but if she comes to England she will reach her full potential. She has an amazing fighting spirit, and is a normal little girl who wants to live life to the full.

Back in England I will have to go through a series of assessments, police checks, medicals, home studies and interviews. I went to the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare in Kathmandu and was told that a new law is being published at the moment regarding the adoption of children with special needs in Nepal, and the process should be very easy from the Nepalese side, but the difficulties will be in the UK, as there is currently a suspension of adoptions from Nepal under the Hague Convention. After the paperwork has been completed in the UK, I can continue the process in Nepal. If necessary I can sign up as a student of Nepali at Bishwa Bhasa university, and that will give me a student visa of one year. The following is my adoption diary:

15th November 2010

Went to the orphanage, and attached photos to Isa, Helen, Anna, Kate, and Samuel.

20th November 2010

Reading ‘TOUCH THE TOP OF THE WORLD’ by Eric Weihenmeier. I have this all-consuming feeling that I should adopt Enakshi and bring her back to England. Erik states that blind people should reach their potential not their limitations. Enakshi is blind, and stigmatized because of it. She could reach her full potential in England.

21st November 2010

‘Our Light Affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory’ 2 Cor 4 v.17

I saw a blind westerner walking around Thamel in Kathmandu. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! Seek the Lord! I have a compulsion to adopt her. Maybe that’s why I am here. I came here to work with Wycliffe, but couldn’t face going out to a small village on my own, and I knew something big was gonna happen to do with children. I thought I was going to go out to this small village and lead a group of kids Gladys Aylward style over the mountains singing ‘With a nick nak paddy wack’ Or whateva it was!

22nd November 2010

I HAVE CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME. YOU ARE MINE!

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden.

The one who comes to me, I will by no means cast out.

If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink!

Email from Helen today:

Hope you are doing OK. Just want to share with you the scripture I had for Enakshi this morning. It’s from Isaiah 62 v.4

YOU SHALL NO MORE BE TERMED FORSAKEN, NOR SHALL YOUR LAND BE CALLED DESOLATE ANY MORE. BUT YOU SHALL BE CALLED HEPHZIBAH (MY DELIGHT IN HER), AND YOUR LAND BE CALLED BEULAH (MARRIED); FOR THE LORD DELIGHTS IN YOU, AND YOUR LAND SHALL BE MARRIED (OWNED AND PROTECTED BY THE LORD).

I GOOGLED THE NAME Enakshi and apparently it means ‘three-eyed’ which initially doesn’t sound too good but I am believing that even though she cannot see with her physical eyes, she has a third eye of the mind/spirit by which she can see the deeper things of the spirit. Jesus spoke about the eye of the mind. He said: ‘Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye (your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness’ Luke 11 v.34

I still keep crying for this precious little girl, but I did feel this morning that the Lord is hearing me and will put in place for her someone who is committed to her and has a long term care strategy for her. This anyway is my prayer.

Dare I ask what her orphanage’s policy on adoption is? Or what the name of the orphanage is? I know so little about the country or culture or anything that I feel even bold asking but I have been so touched by this little one that I just would like to know a little more. I realize that you have a lot of things going on while you are there and I don’t want to distract you so there is no pressure at all. You just keep ‘in the flow’. Love you loads, Helen xxxxxxx

23rd November 2010

Email from Helen:

Hi Celia,

Hope you are OK. Briefly—I have been praying and crying for Enakshi again, and another comforting scripture came to me from Isaiah 42 v. 16:

And I will bring the blind by a way they know not, I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness into light before them, and make uneven places into a plain. These things I have determined to do (for them). I will NOT LEAVE THEM FORSAKEN.

Thinking of You.

Much Love Helen

24th November 2010

Email from Helen:

I am still crying and crying—I can hardly believe myself and how this has affected me—so many scriptures from Isaiah have been coming to me—I will write them below—they are for you too! I was on the net last night and it seems that adoptions from Nepal have been suspended by UK and US for the moment because adoption standards in Nepal do not meet Hague Convention rules and UK and US want to give Nepal time to improve their adoption standards. It is because they don’t feel there is enough background information on children and that children are being sold for adoption without family knowing etc. Anyway, thank you so much for all the info. I will a have a good search into it all and await your email. I believe there will be a way for this special child.

I have been very comforted this morning as the Lord showed me that He is looking after her. Although I grieve that she is not picked up He showed me that at least she has a place in an orphanage and was not abandoned on the streets, and that she has food and clothing and that even tho she is not handled much, the Lord can make sure that when she is handled it is done with love and He can multiply blessings to her. I believe He can break off from her despair and give her an overcoming victorious spirit.

This is the scripture I had for today. It is for you and Enakshi:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of Good Tidings to the meek, the poor and afflicted. He has sent me to bind up and heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the (physical and spiritual) captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (the year of His favour) and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.

TO GRANT (CONSOLATION AND JOY) TO THOSE WHO MOURN IN ZION—TO GIVE THEM AN ORNAMENT (A GARLAND OR DIADEM) OF BEAUTY INSTEAD OF ASHES, THE OIL OF JOY INSTEAD OF MOURNING, THE GARMENT (EXPRESSIVE OF PRAISE) INSTEAD OF A HEAVY BURDENED, AND FAILING SPIRIT-THAT THEY MAY BE CALLED OAKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (LOFTY, STRONG AND MAGNIFICENT, DISTINGUISED FOR UPRIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE AND RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD). THE PLANTING OF THE LORD, THAT HE MAY BE GLORIFIED. Isaiah 61 v. 1-3

This I believe you have been called to do. You are doing a great thing. I am so glad you have pursued this. Bless you for your focus, and your tenacity. I am sorry that I did not realize it as much before. Anyway you keep on keeping on. Bless you Bless you and look forward to hearing from you.

Love Helen.

When in Nepal I stay with my son’s father’s (Ramesh) Nepalese wife—Rena, and her three children—Jeti, Maili and Kancha. They live in the North of the city, in a tiny village called Changhal, near Hatti Gauda.

Last night we were all in the front room in Hatti Gauda, (Rena and her sister Mona, Jeti, Maili and Kancha) and Rena started recounting this story about Ramesh. It was when Kancha was about 3, and they all went to Dhankuta, and Ramesh struck up a relationship with her older sister’s daughter, a young girl called Nita who was only 17 at the time. Rena said this was the last straw for her, and she asked Ramesh for a divorce and she took all the children back to her village in Janakpur. Ramesh followed her, and said he would not give her a divorce, and he loved her, and begged her to come back. Nita then put a rope around her neck and hung herself in the barn. After this, they came back to Kathmandu, and Ramesh bought the house in Hatti Gauda, and then went to America. Kancha curled up on the bed and went to sleep and Jeti and Maili started crying, and I said I thank God and Ramesh that they have blessed me with Samuel, and we both have our children, and we know that Ramesh is a bad person, and we are better off without him.

Email from Helen about Enakshi, and I pray that we can between us adopt her in some way and bring her to England. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! I am here for a purpose. My Nepali is at the best it will ever be and it is for this moment when Rena has been waiting to tell me all this when she felt I could understand.

25th November 2010

Helen has made an appointment to see her MP. She said: ‘My Life has changed this week, and I am learning a lot quickly. Me too!

26th November 2010

Email from Helen:

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents

I will lift up my eyes to the hills (around Jerusalam, to sacred Mt Zion, and Mt Masiah) from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade on your right hand (the side not carrying a shield). The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil. He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and for evermore.

Bless You Celia—Thinking of You. I have an appointment with Peter L, my MP at 4.30pm.

Love You Helen.

3rd December 2010

Got an email from Samuel saying he was telling people at Swansea about me, and they think I am amazing, and he thinks I’m amazing too. He was shocked about his dad. That I seemed unhappy in England, and he thought being in Nepal would make me happy, and that I shouldn’t come home early and regret it, but he doesn’t want to do Christmas without me. That set me off! Another email from Helen about Enakshi, and I really feel my purposes for being here are:

1. To understand the language enough for Rena to tell me that story and

2. To take Enakshi to the UK

THE LORD WILL FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FOR ME.

YOUR LOVE O LORD ENDURES FOREVER. Psalm 138 v.8

5th December 2010

Went to the International church in Jawalakel. The sermon this morning: Sometimes God calls us to do things that ‘don’t make sense at all’, and we should have the courage to do it, and we can be used in these situations. Thought constantly of Enakshi.

6th December 2010

Sent email about Enakshi to all my prayer supporters and friends. My priority is Enakshi now.

7th December 2010

Loads of very supportive emails back.

8th December 2010

Met Margaret and Sue, and we went to the Summit Hotel, and sat in the garden for a while. I told Margaret about Enakshi and when we got out of the car she told me that Sue’s brother is blind. She knows a couple in Kathmandu who adopted and she’s gonna put me in touch with people who may be able to help.

10th December 2010

Went to Bal Puja with Margaret. Met Bridget from Ireland who was showing 3 Norwegians round. We tagged along with them. The older Norwegian woman took my phone number because she has a friend who is researching blindness in Nepal and said she was moved to tears when she was told that most of the children who are blind in Nepal could have had their sight restored if treatment were available to them. Margaret looked at me and said: ‘The signs are all there, girl!’ The manager suggested sponsoring Enakshi but Bridget said she had sponsored 40 children over 5 years and 30 of them disappeared having been adopted without her knowledge.

14th December 2010

The secretary at the International school gave me the phone number of their lawyer—Birendra N, and told me to phone him tonight. He was very helpful, saying it would be easy, and the whole thing could be fast-tracked because the child has special needs.

15th December 2010

Went to Bal Ppuja again. Biraj gave me Enakshi’s file. DOB 28/1/07. Born at 27 weeks with detached retinas. The mother abandoned her in Patan hospital at 7 days old, and she went to Bal Puja at 2 months old. I sat in the office reading the whole file and crying my eyes out.

Went to the British Embassy. There is a suspension on adoptions to the UK from Nepal under the Hague Convention. The process will be very difficult.

I emailed Helen with Enakshi’s details:

Birth Certificate: 5585/063

Father: Ram Lama

Mother: Shoba Lama

Weight 1.3kg

Patan Hospital

30/3/07

This is to certify that infant of Shoba Lama, a 68 day old baby girl born premature at 27 weeks in this hospital on 2063-10-08. In the immediate neonatal period she was admitted to nursery and treated for sepsis. At 7th day of her life, the mother abandoned her and she has been in nursery since then. During the course of her treatment she received blood transfusions as well. She is immunized as per EPI schedule. BCG, DPI 1st, OPV 1st and Hepatitis 1st. She also has some cardiac problem, but at present is stable and not on any medication except vitamins.

Dr Sirjana S

Also a report on her eye condition which I asked Helen to research on the net:

Medical Research Foundation

DOB 28/1/07

ENAKSHI LAMA

Date: 7/11/08

Baby Enakshi Lama (no. 1685942 a 16 month old female child reported to us on 28/10/08 with complaint of white pupillary reflex in both the eyes since the last one year.

On examination the baby does not follow light. Anterian segment examination revealed mild corneal haze with very shallow auterior chamber and posterior synechiae. Lens was clear. Fundus examination revealed total retinal detachment. Ultrasonography revealed close funnel retinal detachment in both eyes. The poor prognosis for both eyes was clearly explained. No active treatment advised.

Reply from Helen:

Aw Thanks Celia—sweet sweet child she has come thru such a lot already—she must be a fighter! You are doing so well getting to see everyone. I think you are great and am crying as I type this. You keep going girl! I will look up all these things soon—Love you lots Helen xxxxxxxxxx

16th December 2010

Went to the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare and saw the top man—Suraj K! The Minister himself! He had an INF diary on his desk. He explained that there is a new law coming out re: adoption of children with special needs with new criteria and the suspension may be lifted. I should submit my papers as soon as the law is passed. It will be out on Monday. Submit papers on Tuesday

22nd December 2010

Went to Bal Puja for the last time before I go home on Boxing Day. Phoned the Ministry. New law out yesterday, but will take 2 months to enforce. Saw Enakshi. She wrapped her legs around me and I couldn’t even put her down to change her clothes. When I did finally lie her on the floor, she screamed. Go back to the UK, sort out the British side of things, then come back and submit papers.

1st January 2011

This time last year I stood at the front of the church and read a word given to me from Helen for the start of the New Year. ‘Move forward… Keep moving forward. Do not look back!’

This year her word is ‘Repent and BELIEVE the good news. Have FAITH!

When the paralysed man was lowered through the roof to be healed, and when Jesus SAW THEIR FAITH he said ‘Son your sins are forgiven’ The scribes said ‘How can he do that, Only God can forgive sins’ But to prove he had authority on earth to forgive sins, Jesus said ‘RISE UP AND WALK’

It is our sins and the sin of unbelief that causes us to be paralysed and when we repent of our lack of faith we can RISE UP AND WALK. She continued:

A voice of one who cries ‘Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord, make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God. And she challenged me:

What is your wilderness, What is your desert?

Believe there is a way through. Prepare a way, Make a highway there. Because:

EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE LIFTED AND FILLED UP AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE MADE LOW AND THE CROOKED AND UNEVEN SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AND THE ROUGH PLACES A PLAIN, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN IT.

And returning from Nepal and all that’s happened for the Lords purposes, has renewed my faith, for:

If you have faith, you can truly move mountains.

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

And I have faith that a miracle will happen this year, and Enakshi will be in England by the end of the year.

27th January 2011

I discovered yesterday that it will be impossible to adopt Enakshi and bring her to England. I don’t have a stable job here, and I may go through a long and traumatic series of assessments here only to not get her into the country at entry clearance, because of the suspension on adoptions from Nepal. Norwood have suggested a ‘de facto’ adoption where I must go to Nepal and live with Enakshi for 18 months, by which time the suspension may have been lifted. This may be better for her, as she will not be plunged into a different culture and language, but will have time to get to know me and learn a bit of English. I can sign up as a student at Bishwa Bhasa university, and get a visa for one year, followed by a tourist visa for 6 months.

A VOICE OF ONE CALLING IN THE DESERT, PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD. MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE WILDERNESS A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD. EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE LIFTED AND FILLED UP AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE MADE LOW AND THE CROOKED AND UNEVEN SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AND THE ROUGH PLACES A PLAIN AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN IT. AMEN!

12TH February 2011

Applied to the Department of Education for an exception to the suspension of adoptions from Nepal under the Hague Convention:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference: 2011/0006647—Adoption from Nepal

I am writing to request an exception to adopt an identified child with special needs from Nepal, which is currently under suspension from adoptions to the UK, under the Hague Convention.

The reasons why I consider my case to be exceptional are as follows:

• I am a 52 year old woman with one son, who is now 19 and is half Nepalese. I first visited Nepal in April 1990, and have been visiting Nepal regularly since then with my son as part of his cultural heritage. I speak fluent Nepali, and can read and write in Devanagari. My son’s father now lives in New York, USA and he has a Nepalese wife with 2 daughters aged 21 and 17, and one son aged 14. When we visit Nepal we stay with them in their house in Kathmandu.

• The oldest daughter Jeti, is doing a Social Work degree in Kathmandu, and in 2009 she had a placement at Bal Puja orphanage in Kathmandu. Myself, my son, and my niece Isa travelled to Nepal in August 2009, and visited the orphanage. Isa picked up a 2 year old blind girl called Enakshi and the Nepalese workers rushed over and told her not to pick her up, because she has ‘bad karma’. Isa was shocked and she said to me: ‘Tell them, Aunty Celia, I don’t agree with that!’

• I returned to Nepal on my own in November 2010, and visited the orphanage again, and Enakshi was still there, and I took photos of her and emailed them to my sister Helen and her daughter Isa. Encouraged by Helen, I enquired about adopting Enakshi, and the manager of the orphanage Mr Biraj Shrestha took me to the Ministry for Women Children and Social Welfare in Kathmandu where I met Mr Suraj K, and then to the British Embassy to make enquiries. He also gave me Enakshi’s file at Bal Puja to read, and I continued to visit Enakshi every week until I returned home on 1st January 2011.

• Enakshi Lama was born on 28th January 2007 at Patan Hospital Kathmandu. She was born prematurely at 27 weeks, weighing 1.3kgs, with detached retinas in both eyes, and a cardiac problem which at one year had gone. Her mother Shoba Lama and father Ram Lama, abandoned her in the hospital at 7 days old, and from there she was transferred to Bal Puja at 2 months old.

• Since returning home I have been in touch with Barbara Edwards from Norwood Adoption Services, and I have emailed the DSCF twice. Barbara suggests applying for an exception, and when this is granted she will be able to start the assessment process.

• I have brought my son up single handedly since his birth on 5th October 1991. He is now studying an English Literature degree at Swansea university. I am currently working 2 days a week teaching on the Social Work degree course at South Essex university. When we first met Enakshi, it was clear to me that she was stigmatised because of her disability. Things are slowly changing in Nepal, but I believe that Enakshi will reach her full potential in England. She is a bright little 4 year old girl, with a fighting spirit, and she wants to live life to the full. She has captured our hearts and changed our lives. For a long time, I have worked in London with children with special needs, first at ‘Open Door’ a drop-in centre for children with special needs and their parents, and then meeting up again with the same children when I worked for IPOP (Inclusive Play Opportunities Project) at a youth club supporting a 15 year old boy with cerebral palsy, and teaching music at their music school on Saturdays. I therefore, have access to support services for children with disabilities, and a very supportive family and neighbourhood, belonging to the local church—Christchurch North Finchley, for the past 19 years. As I speak Nepali the transition from Nepal to England would be made easier for Enakshi, and I intend to spend three months in Nepal visiting the orphanage and then living with Enakshi at my family’s house in Kathmandu where Jeti who knows Enakshi well will be a link person for her. If possible, Jeti will travel to London with us, and stay for the settling in period in London (about 3 months). If not, I have a Nepalese girl living at my house who is a student in London. I have contact with the RNIB where I can get resources for blind children. I intend to teach myself Braille, so that I can teach Enakshi English and then reading in Braille. She is learning English in Nepal now, as all schools in Kathmandu are English medium. I have already put Enakshi’s name down for reception class at 3 local schools. Summers School would be the best school for her, as it is very near my house and has a deaf unit and is particularly good with special needs children, which I know from working with IPOP. The last time I visited Enakshi, the Nepalese workers said to her: ‘This is your Mummy!’ My sister Helen and I sent presents for her on her 4th birthday, and on 9th February, I received the following e mail from Biraj S, the manager at Bal Puja: ‘Today—9th Feb I just received ure gift for Enakshi. From some of my office staff. She is very happy.’

• The suspension of adoptions from Nepal to the UK is because Nepal has insufficient procedures in place to establish whether a child is adoptable. There was evidence of a lack of support for birth parents about the legal effects of relinquishing their child for adoption and no procedures in place for the finding of a permanent family in Nepal for the child.

• The Hague Bureau also found a failure to adhere to the key principles of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, such as the complete absence of the principle of the best interests of the child.

• There was an inadequate legal framework in Nepal, and the Hague Bureau recommended a temporary suspension while Nepal puts new legislation and improved procedures in place.

• Falsification of documents was found.

• There was a lack of transparency and accountability for the money brought into Nepal from intercountry adoptions.

• My prospective adoption of Enakshi falls outside the above points, which resulted in the suspension of adoptions from Nepal. The child was abandoned by her birth parents, and family’s in Nepal would be reluctant to take on a blind child due to the stigma of disability in the caste system in Nepal. Adoptive parents have to give a donation of approx £3000 to the orphanage and there is no accounting for where this money is going. In 2005, some female orphans were sold into prostitution and slavery to India. The Nepalese government is making strides to improve their situation, but there is no current prime minister in Nepal, and the political situation there is in turmoil with the Maoists’ having won the last election. Nepal will be revisited by the Hague Convention soon, with a view to lifting the suspension.

Please urgently consider my case for an exception as I have now built up a strong bond between myself and Enakshi, and I believe it would be damaging for her to be institutionalised long term. I have had many indications and support that adoption and coming to England is the right thing to do and is definitely in the child’s best interests.

Yours faithfully

Celia Jon

3rd March 2011

Reply from the Department of Education, asking me to supply the following examples of evidence:

• An official letter from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare confirming approval or registration of the Bal Puja orphanage in Kathmandu.

• A letter from the children’s home with information about the child; eg. When the child arrived, the condition of the child, where the child came from, who brought the child.

• Evidence that the parents are Shoba Lama and Ram lama and written confirmation that the parents are happy for Enakshi to be adopted and that they understand the implications.

• Evidence that attempts have been made to find an adoptive family for Enakshi in Nepal.

5th April 2011

My reply:

Adoption from Nepal—Application for an exception to the suspension rule (Enakshi Lama)

Further to your letter of 3rd March 2011, I have now received from Nepal some further corroborative evidence, which I now enclose.

I am also enclosing the following further information which I consider relevant to the request:

Two photographs:

1. Our first meeting with Enakshi in August 2009, when my niece Isa picked her up,

2. A picture of me holding Enakshi in the courtyard at Bal Puja.

Myself and my sister sent presents to Enakshi for her 4th birthday on 28/1/11, and I received some photos from Biraj S, the manager at Bal Puja of Enakshi wearing her new clothes, and sitting on her new blanket surrounded by her two birthday cards from myself and my sister.

I heard yesterday that Enakshi has been offered a place at Summers Primary School to start in the reception class in September 2011. This school is very near to my house, and provides very good provision for children with special needs.

I would appreciate your early reply, as I would like to start the assessment process, with Norwood, whilst my son is at home from university for the Easter vacation.

Yours sincerely

Celia Jon

10th June 2011

I was granted the exception to the suspensions from the Department of Education

Dear Celia

Suspension of Adoptions from Nepal

Thank you for your letter dated 12th February 2011 and subsequent correspondence requesting an exception to the suspension of adoptions from Nepal. I am now able to inform you that the Minister, Tom L MP, has decided to allow an exception to the suspension in your case. You will now be able to proceed to the next stage which will be an assessment of your suitability to adopt Enakshi Lama, born on 28 January 2007. You will need to keep this letter so that your adoption panel and Entry Clearance Officers will be able to see that this exception has been agreed.

In making this determination the Minister gave consideration to the evidence that you provided to show that Enakshi was abandoned and subsequently unclaimed including copies of the claim notices, letters from the police and the Ministry of Home Affairs and a copy of the birth certificate. The Minister also took into account your close links with Nepal, your intention to spend time in Nepal to ease the transition, your previous experience of working with children who have special needs and the support you will be able to offer to Enakshi.

Yours sincerely

Jane Marsh

Intercountry Adoption Team.

14th June 2011

In order to raise funds I am jumping out of an aircraft from 13,000 ft, strapped to an instructor by tandem parachute on 3rd September 2011. Please sponsor me as I will be terrified. Anything you can give, will be very much appreciated. If I am not successful with the adoption here, the money will go to Enakshi in the orphanage, and I will go to Nepal to adopt her there. I’m JUMPING OUT OF AN AIRPLANE AT 13,000 FT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whose crazy idea was this??

22nd July 2011

I got the exception to the suspension from the Department of Education on 6th June 2011, which was great news, and I thought I could then forge ahead with the assessment process and be in Nepal by the end of the year. I got a place for Enakshi at the local school in the reception class, and they said they would keep her place open til January 2012. However, Norwood would not even start the assessment process because of my lack of a regular income, and I would need to take one year’s adoption leave off work, and prove that I have enough money to support us during that year, without relying on public funds. Also, the whole assessment process would cost £6000 which I haven’t got. As I mainly work for teaching agencies, my work is not permanent, and it is only by doing this that I can spend time in Nepal. So, I have booked my flight to Kathmandu on 13th September, one week after the parachute jump, and I will stay there for as long as it takes to complete an interim adoption in Nepal, and then bring Enakshi back here and complete the adoption in the UK. I have a return ticket on 6th December, but if I need to stay longer, I will sign up with Bishwa Bhasa university to study Nepali for one year on a student visa. The course starts in Feb 2012.

3rd September 2011

The whole day still seems like a dream, and we waited for 3 hours to go up, but I was not aware of what went on whilst there, or of the picnic and the people there, and it seemed like 5 minutes. We arrived late at 1.30pm, and everyone else had checked in already, and we were not all able to go up in the same plane. So my niece Michelle, and her husband Jason, and his sister Amanda, went up in plane no. 11, my sister Kate, and her son Jack whose 21st birthday it was, went up in plane no. 13, and me and Samuel went up in the last plane of the day no. 14. We didn’t actually get kitted up and off to the plane until twenty to five.

On our plane there were 3 tandem jumpers, me, Sam and Imran who was being videoed, and then another 7 or 8 men all jumping solo. I was the only woman on the plane. As the plane climbed higher, the pilot sent Chinese whispered messages down the plane, saying the flaps were not working and so it would be fast, and then that the plane was tilting, so we weren’t going up so high, all inspiring great confidence in us!

We were sitting on benches with our legs either side of the bench and our instructors strapped behind us. The door opened and as the solo jumpers dived out, the plane rocked from side to side. After the briefing I had asked a legitimate question: ‘What happens if I have a heart attack, as I leave the plane’? All the instructors were very jokey jokey, and the reply I got was: ‘Have you made a will?’ (I won’t share with you, the other comment made) So, Imran slid down the bench and out, and then I slid down the bench, sat on the side of the plane, arms crossed on my chest, head back, legs underneath the plane, and then toppled out: ‘No heart attack!!’ Two taps on the shoulder, and as briefed I spread eagled my arms and legs, so that we were lying horizontal into the wind. At that point, I thought: ‘right, the heart attack is happening right now!’ I couldn’t breathe, the sky was white, and everything seemed to be spinning around like Dorothy’s dream of the storm at the beginning of the Wizard of Oz! ‘PLEASE open the parachute, and let this end!’ I prayed to God! Afterall I’m nearer to God now, or have I died already? Two taps on the shoulder, cross my arms again, and everything slows down considerably, and I’m standing upright. That feels better! Yes, I’m still alive! Mike, my instructor starts chatting to me—like you do in these situations!! He tells me to take off my goggles—What? I don’t want to take off my goggles! Looking down, all I can see are clouds, and I remember going through the clouds in a small aircraft in Nepal and the plane was rocking around, and I couldn’t see how we were going to float gracefully through these clouds, but it was like drifting through cotton wool, and the mist and water pin-pricked against my face. Under the clouds, the scenery was amazing, looking down on the fields, and tiny lego houses, and cars and planes, and Mike pointed out his house, and his neighbours jet parked in his garden.

Me and Sam have actually walked higher than the plane we just jumped out of, and Mike was telling me how he cycled to Everest Base Camp from the Tibetan side. Just actually beginning to enjoy this, when Mike gave me the ropes and made me pull down hard to the left, and the parachute swung wildly to the right, and I felt sick and nauseus, and my fear of heights suddenly kicks in. He then made us swerve around a bit and just one dizzy spiral for good measure, and I could see Sarah, Jo, my three sisters, and two nieces and nephew waving wildly at me. Phew, we are about to land! Couldn’t help but notice that Mike walks with a limp, and he had to stretch out his leg in the plane, and I wondered how he was going to take the force of the landing on his limping leg. We had been told not to reach out for the ground with our legs, because if we hit the ground with straight legs we would break them, so I concentrated hard on bending my knees, and upon landing I fell backwards on top of poor Mike, and could hear everyone laughing!

Loads of photos later, we walked back to the hanger, feeling like we’d just been blasted out of a rocket, snot plastered all over our faces, and very dazed. As it was the last flight of the day, the bar was opened and Anna bought everyone a bottle of lager. Nice cup of tea with sugar in for the shock would have been more appropriate! Mike turned up on the very bike that he had cycled up to Everest base camp on, still splattered with Nepalese mud. As the days go by, it’s slowly turning into a happy memory. But never again, for defo!!!

Thank you so much for your sponsorship money and support. I have raised £1500, and this will go towards the cost of the donation to the orphanage of $5000. I want to share with you an email I received from an Irish friend of mine who lived in Nepal for 10 years:

When we left Nepal 4 years ago all adoptions were stopped, so not too sure what the process is now. Basically the Government don’t want westerners giving ‘low caste/girls/handicapped kids the opportunity of a better life. The caste system is terrible. I sat for many hours and days over months with a friend who lived there and their family continued to extend their time/visa to complete the adoption (Nepal side) the final thing was completed in UK. Their case was different as they’d been legal guardians of the girl for 18 months but it was a long stressful process. I’m not trying to sound negative but want to make you aware of how hard it was some years ago. I know you need to show a healthy bank balance for the adoption, however prayer changes so much and can break down many barriers, so don’t be discouraged. I just want to let you know what I’ve seen happen and I do know many folk become extremely stressed with ‘the Nepali system’ or lack of it. I know with marriage visas too the rules change from hour to hour, so do be prepared. I often pretended not to understand Nepali when sitting with my friend as she fought to adopt her daughter and I heard the officials discuss why a low caste girl should have a better life etc. It’s very sad, but don’t give up because God can do the impossible!

So please keep on praying for me, as I go to Nepal next week on 13th September. Your prayers and support are vital to my success with this.

God can move mountains, and in my case he is moving the biggest mountain—the almighty Everest itself, and I am praying and believing in a miracle for this little girl, and she will be here by the end of the year as promised. Before she was born God planned her destiny!!

2 GOING TO NEPAL

Thursday 15th September 2011

When I got to Bal Puja there was obviously something big going on, as children were playing football outside and dressed up girls were going in and out. A boy was break dancing on his head surrounded by a group of onlookers, and I walked through them and up the grand staircase. A man was standing by the doorway to the reception and I asked him if Biraj S was there. He said ‘What’s it about?’ and I said I was adopting a little girl. He took me to the phone at the reception and phoned Biraj, but he explained that it is Children’s Day and he’s very busy. I said: ‘I’m adopting Enakshi. He knows me.’ ‘Oh’ he said: ‘You’re Celia from the UK’. Then he explained about the new law for adopting special needs children and all my papers are at the Ministry, waiting to be sent to the British Embassy. ‘WOW’ GOD is so great! I asked if I could see Enakshi, but he said to come back on Sunday when it’s less busy, and meet Biraj and himself, see Enakshi, and then Biraj will take me to the ministry. I asked what time is best. He said 11am. I thanked him profusely. He gave me his card: ‘Rajman M-Section chief Adoptions.’ He’s the person to know. Right place at the right time. I walked to Mikes Breakfast (in tears yet again) and I ordered chia ra onion soup.

Sunday 18th September

Arrived at the orphanage at 10.15am. Went straight to Biraj’s office. Rajman was there also. I showed him my file, and gave him the medical form, and he put it in the filing cupboard. He said the doctor comes twice a week, and he gave me the doctor’s phone number, but said he would phone him and make an appointment for the medical for Enakshi. So, he said we will go to the Ministry with my papers at 11.30am, and they gave me tea. I also asked about getting her a passport and Biraj said I should do that once I have taken Enakshi from the orphanage. The ladies in the office were amazed that I could speak Nepali. I asked if I could see Enakshi and in 5 minutes a lady brought her into the office. I picked her up and kissed her. Then sat her on my knee and gave her the little abacus and she counted out the beads 1 to 10, with the help of the lady who had brought her in. Again they said: ‘This is your mumou’, and she asked my name and said: ‘Celia mumou—Jeti didiko mumou! I told her in Nepali that I had to go to lots of offices, and after 1 month I’ll take her to Jeti didi’s house and after one month we will go to England. She said: ‘Where is England?’—‘It’s far away!’ the lady said. Then she asked: ‘Where is Jeti didi’s house?’

‘Hatti Gauda—It’ s far away!’

‘Far away—like England?’

‘No England is very far away. You have to get a plane’

‘A PLANE—IN THE SKY?’

She sang the ABC song all the way through. Then they took her off for snack time, and she said: ‘Bye bye’

I went on the back of Biraj’s motorbike to the ministry, but they wouldn’t let me in without a pass, so Biraj went in on his own and spoke with Suraj K, who said there is a meeting on Tuesday about special needs children and to come back on Tues after 2pm. He picked me up and explained what Suraj K had said in NEPALI ON THE BACK OF A MOTORBIKE. Didn’t understand a word of it. He asked me where I wanted to go now, and I asked if Thamel was nearby, and he dropped me at Suman’s office JUST AS Suman WAS DRIVING INTO THE OFFICE CAR PORT. So I got off the bike and Suman spoke to him, and translated for me. He said Biraj will phone the doctor and will phone me on Tuesday. Would be great if the doctor can do the medical on Tuesday as well. I took the opportunity of sorting out the file at Suman’s office and went to get photocopies and plastic folders.

I was so happy to see Enakshi so chatty and confident, and all the office staff watching on saying how smart she is. I love her to bits, and all my anxieties have been lifted in the short time I was with her.

Tuesday 20th Sep

Phoned Biraj at 11am, and he said to come to Bal Puja at 1pm. So I got the bus at midday, and went to the photocopy shop near the orphanage to copy the last of the file papers so now I have duplicates of everything. I was at the orphanage by 12.30pm and Biraj said he would phone the ministry at 1.40pm and we would go then and to be there by 2pm. I didn’t dare to ask to see Enakshi again, and I want to have something sorted before I see her again. I asked about the doctor, and he said the doctor is here Monday and Thursday this week, so I tried to phone him, but I have the wrong number. He asked the receptionist to phone the doctor and make an appointment for Thursday to do the medical for Enakshi. I was in the office alone with Biraj and Rajman and they were playing a game on the computer. I felt a bit awkward, so I said I would go to Mike’s breakfast for lunch and come back at 1.40pm. On the way there I found an ATM machine and took out 40 pounds (4000 rupies) successfully. Thank you Lloyds TSB!!! When I got back to Bal Puja it was 2pm, and Biraj phoned Suraj K at the ministry. He has a very important meeting, so suggests we phone back tomorrow at 10am and come tomorrow. I asked about the doctor again, and he said an appointment has been made and I must be here at 8.30am on Thursday. Thank God, for small mercies—something has been arranged at last. I got the bus back and tried to phone the British Embassy but their line is always busy. I need to tell them I am here, because the Department of Education sent a copy of the letter of exception to them in June, and they will be expecting me. OH Yeah!! I think I will phone the lawyer tonight, because I really feel as a woman on my own I am not going to get anywhere with this. I thought Suman would be more helpful! A blind girl is just not important at all, and I too am pretty low on the pecking order. But they don’t know that I HAVE GOD ON MY SIDE. IF GOD IS FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST. FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILL SET US FREE. That is me and Enakshi.

Wednesday 21st September

So I phoned Biraj at 10.30am, and he said he was just about to phone the Ministry and he would call me back. Just as I got out of the shower he called back, and said that Suraj K has another important meeting today and he was very busy, and to call back tomorrow at 10am. I reminded him that I am there tomorrow to meet the doctor at 8.30am. Suman was just going out, and I asked him if I should phone the lawyer. He said to wait until I have at least seen Suraj K first. I said I would go to the British Embassy and he drove me there quickly as it closes at 12.30pm. I spoke to a very nice Nepalese lady there who said the same as Suman—not to employ the lawyer until I’ve seen the Minister, and she said what a very kind thing I am doing. She gave me a form to register my location online and I walked to Suman’s office in Thamel and completed the registration there online, so at least they know that I am here now. Suman says he will drive me to the orphanage tomorrow at 8am. Hope I can get to the ministry tomorrow or Friday. Looking forward to seeing Enakshi again tomorrow. Been here a whole week now, and nothing has got done There is a big festival—Dasain from 2nd to 8th October when everything will be closed up for 8 days, so I must get something sorted out before then.

Thursday 22nd September.

DO NOT BE DOWNHEARTED! STAY FOCUSED!

Miracle of miracles! Feel like I’m getting somewhere today. Suman dropped me at the orphanage at 8.15am and the front door was locked up, so a man took me round the back door, and all the children were lining up at the gate waiting for their bus to take them to school. There were 2 Nepalese ladies there, and I told them I had an appointment to see the doctor at 8.30am for the medical with Enakshi. The kids all started pulling at my bag, and it was very noisy and chaotic. One of the ladies said: ‘I will get Melissa!’ And five minutes later, like an angel out of heaven an Australian woman in Nepalese dress walks towards me and I explained the whole thing in English. She said: ‘Would you like to take Enakshi before Dasain?’ And I said ‘Wow! That would be fantastic!! I could take her to Hatti Gauda for Dasain,’ and I explained my family situation to her. Whilst we were sitting there, the doctor waltzes by mobile phone glued to his ear, and I said ‘I should go with him’ and I ran after him. When he finished his chat we were inside the building and up one flight of stairs, and I said: ‘I was Celia and I had an appointment with him at 8.30am to do the medical for Enakshi. The receptionist had phoned you.’ No, he said, he didn’t know anything about it. I asked for his phone number, since I knew he had a mobile phone, and he gave me his card, and I said I would phone him and make an appointment for Monday morning to see Enakshi. I went back to find Melissa, and she gave me her card. She is the founder and director of Mitra foundation, and has run the orphanage now since May for the next 5 years. Biraj and Rajman and the office building is the Adoptions section. She said she has known Enakshi since she came to Bal Puja at one month old, and that she and her husband wanted to adopt her, but they also run a café in Sydney and it would be too difficult. But she said that she had got Enakshi a 1-1 worker who was doing mobility training with her, and wanted to send her to ‘the Kings School’ a school for the blind. But she had only just heard that she was being adopted. Mel had only just got back from Australia yesterday. I said I would contact her as soon as I’ve been to the Ministry. I told her I was SO GLAD I met her, because this far I have been dealing with officious MEN in NEPALI, and it’s been very hard for me.

I went to Mike’s breakfast for banana pancake and syrup, and came back to the orphanage at 10.15am, and Biraj was there. He phoned the ministry and guess what? The Minister is very busy today, BUT he is FREE tomorrow. So Biraj said if we don’t see him tomorrow, we will contact him after office hours. After 5pm. YEAH!!! You bet ya!! I was vomiting last night, so I got the bus back home and was here by 11am. Think it’s just stress and nervous tension. Post traumatic stress disorder more like!!!.

Friday 23rd September

I phoned Dr Jaya on his mobile at 9am, but it was switched off. Tried again every half hour and then phoned the clinic number. They said he would be back at 6pm. I phoned Biraj at 10.30am—no answer. Then again at 11am. He said he was just about to phone the ministry, and would call me back. Tried Dr Jaya again on his mobile and he answered, and I made an appointment for 1.30pm on Monday. Success at last!! Phoned Biraj at 12.20pm, and he said the Ministry closes today at 3pm. He has phoned 5 or 6 times but no reply. He will try again one more time. I took the bull by the horns and phoned Suraj K (the Minister himself) on his mobile, which I have on my phone from last year, and he said he has not been at the Ministry all week, but he will be back there on Sunday, and he can meet me at 11am, so phoned Biraj back and told him I will be at the orphanage at 10am on Sunday, so we can get to the Ministry for 11am. OMG!! Should have just phoned him myself in the first place. I then phoned Mel, the Australian girl and updated her and said I would come and find her after the medical on Monday. Hopefully I can discuss with her the possibility of taking Enakshi to Hatti Gauda before Dasain, which would be next Friday. Keep on praying for that!!!!

Sunday 25th September

I have never been so humiliated in my life. Got to Bal Puja at 10am, and Biraj didn’t even turn up, because his mother’s been taken ill, and he had to get her to the hospital. Nice of him to let ME know!! So I phoned Suraj K on his mobile and asked if I could come alone. He said to get here at 12 o clock and phone him and he will issue a pass to let me in. Went to Mike’s breakfast and got a taxi from there to Singha Durba. A lady got me into the que, and then I spoke to the policemen who ignored me completely, and eventually got a police woman to speak to me. I rang Suraj K and he said a pass has been sent, but none of the guards would speak to him on the phone. Waited there for half an hour. No pass came. Kept asking. Eventually I got the same policewoman to speak to Suraj K, and was surprised at how rude she was to him. She gave my phone back and said come back after 2pm. It seems visitors can only get in after 2pm. I phoned him back. He said after 2pm he’s in a meeting.

So what about 3pm?

Meeting will go on until 5pm.

He said come back Tuesday after 2pm. Got taxi back to Maharjgang. Suman was here. I said to him: ‘I am not going to get anywhere with this, because I am a woman on my own. No-one will listen to me!’

NOW, I don’t want God to send his angels before me. I want him to send his authority and power to overcome the evilness of the caste system in this place. He knows that right now Enakshi is the most IMPORTANT person in the whole world. AND I WILL MAKE THEM SEE THAT!!

Who the hell do I think I am? How did I possibly think I could do this on my own?? Some kind of righteous do-gooder, goody two shoes, trying to save the bloody world?? Who do I think I am?? The lowest of the low, the bottom of the pile!! My spirit has been broken by the MEN of Nepal.

FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO TAKES HOLD OF YOUR RIGHT HAND, AND SAYS TO YOU: