Emotive and captivating. Sherpa Film draws you in from the opening shots and takes you along an emotional journey as you learn more about Chomolungma, the sherpas name for Everest, their mountain home. I learnt a lot about the Sherpa culture when I was there and the film highlights the complexities in the community – earning an income and wanting to protect a sacred site.
The film focuses around the recent tragedy where 16 sherpas lost their lives. It made me question taking on the trek altogether. It’s an internal struggle and a very publlic debate – should we be trekking thousands of people up this beautiful but unpredicatable mountain?
It will make you laugh, cry, fume with anger and think! That is a good film! A film that makes you think. I’m still thinking and talking about it a week later.
Emma at Everest Base Camp in 2015 after trekking with World Vision Australia, raising more than $100,000 with a team of 19 people to support women and children in Nepal.
Here’s a review I read in the Sydney Morning Herald and I really liked it, very accurate!
See the original post here with the Sherpa Film competition on Lovelly Communications.
Thanks to Transmission Films, I was given 5x Double Passes to offer my audience to see this film. So I decided to pose a question on the films theme of challenge, adversity and struggle.
It was just a question I thought I would throw out there, nothing too difficult, and see what came back. Basically the first answers to come in would win! EASY! But I was blown away by the openness and honesty it brought out in people. They opened up and poured their hearts out in the comments. They really dug deep and looked for a time that they’d really pushed themselves mentally, physically or both.
A friend once said to me “Emma, if you’re not literally or metaphorically climbing a mountain, you don’t feel like you’re achieving.” She really hit the nail on the head for me. I do things in extremes. But not everyone lives that way and for some people their challenges are far different to mine.
For some people, thinking of a tough time is hard to pin point. Another interesting result of the competition, having conversation with family and friends who couldn’t identify an obstacle. We all have our own paths and will have different journeys. It was really cool to just see people THINK about it and have some time to reflect.
“The greatest obstacle I have had to overcome was losing my Father to a mental health illness. It really was a tragedy in itself, and similar to the story of the Sherpas our family had to endure much grief and anger before conquering the mountain that was my Father.
Although the biggest “Mountain” to overcome wasn’t actually the Andes themselves. Being away from my family and traveling on my own for the very first time was the biggest challenge.
Thanks to everyone who entered, and do make sure you see this film!
Have you snapped your #headbandforgood photo yet?
We are loving the ANZ #headbandforgood campaign raising funds for World Vision Australia! For every selfie taken and shared with the #tag, ANZ will donate $2 to World Vision to support their work in the Asia Pacific region.
Novak Djokovic is the face of the campaign and he has given some great inspiration with his fun headband photos. It’s going gangbusters on #socialmedia and so many people are sharing their fun photos, and it’s simple, just tag it!!
This such an easy and fun campaign to get behind and we can’t wait to see your #selfies with your #headbandforgood!
Ok! I know Christmas is literally days away now and ya’ll are maxed out on shopping, buying, spending and the mania that comes with this time of year.
I ask you to stop for a moment and look outside of yourself, your immediate community and even our own borders. Look to those who don’t have the blessings that we have. Look to those who short of iphones, cool tshirts and new handbags, won’t even have the gift of education this christmas.
I’m aiming to fundraise $2015 in 2015 ( 8 days to go) to support street kids in Tanzania to get an education with the help of World Vision Australia​!
I was so fortunate to go to good schools, get an education and I know I will always be able to have work and provide because of my upbringing. I only hope for this for other children in the world.
Just $20.15 is all I ask, out of the $100’s you will spend in this festive season!
The situation in Nepal is increasing desperate as the death toll has now risen to 5000 and with bad weather rescue and aid supply efforts are becoming challenging. I’ve been speaking regularly with two friends on the ground and it’s heart breaking to hear what they are going through every hour.
This photo provides hope, as NGO’s such as World Vision Australia arrive with aid and supplies. Help their efforts with donations and spreading this message of hope.
Bishaka Aryal, a dear friend and passionate Nepali woman, is braving the elements in Kathmandu as she uses her emergency training to help others. Bishaka is regularly telling me how she is feeling, what she is selling and what needs to be done. It’s desperate! Today she has sent through images from a reporter friend and here is just a sample of the devastation that this earthquake has ravaged on Nepal.
Matt Darvas, World Vision Australia staff member and INF supporter (International Nepal Fellowships), has been sending me updates via Facebook and Skype. I’ve been managing his social media accounts to alert media, friends, family and other NGO’s of his movements. It’s been intense and really been my big focus this week – but it’s nothing compared to what people are going through there! Matt is a champion and his selfless dedication is inspiring! If this is the small way I can help, I’m happy to be here! This is a photo of a helicopter arriving yesterday with supplies, these small helicopters were coming and going all day, the good weather at the time bringing hope to locals.
Here is the updated he posted last night- he will now go to Pokhara and hand over to World Vision International aid workers as they arrive with supplies. He is running on empty but has dedicated his passionate heart to this cause. I admire him so greatly!
As of now I have finished my duties reporting here in Gorkha for World Vision International and hope to return home to Pokhara tomorrow.
Since the earthquake I’ve had 11 hrs sleep in total until the writing of this post (but that’s nothing compared to the real struggles of people around me, who’ve lost loved ones or who still haven’t been able to reach those cut off from help).
A team from World Vision International Nepal (accompanied by World Vision Canada‘s CEO) is arriving soon with emergency supplies to meet immediate needs, and will stay on for many months to continue efforts to rebuild the lives of the strong humble people here. A new communications officer will relieve me of duties and ensure the stories keep coming.
The support I’ve had from the World Vision International Emergency Communications team has been remarkable. You might be ‘seeing’ and ‘hearing’ me on media throughout the world, but I am merely the product of a TEAM of 20 plus AMAZING WV Comms Staff working with incredible coordination from around the world to keep the news rolling 24/7. They have supported, encouraged and sustained me throughout. They are lead by Kristy Allen-Shirley and Joy Toose.
I must also point out the outstanding efforts of the organization Brittany works for – and who we are living in Nepal to serve – the International Nepal Fellowship (INF) and our friends United Mission to Nepal. Their joint medical team that I rode in with was one of the very first responders, and two of their doctors, Josh Riggsbee and Rebecca McAteer, deployed heroically on helicopters to remote villages here. Thomas and Artur from INF, have helped with photos and stories that I’ve relied on to paint a picture for the world as to what is happening in this remote and devastated area that is home to more than 270 000 people.
Special mentions as well to Emma Lovell from Lovelly Communications, who has selflessly managed my personal social media to engage even more media opportunities during this time, whilst also keeping authorities, NGOs, friends, family and concerned Nepalis throughout the world updated. And Steph Kate Judd for her support of INF, both of whom have done so out of their own time and deep personal connections with Nepal.
… He’s in the countless selfless individuals risking their own lives to serve others, amidst the rubble with those crying out for help, and in the stirring of hearts around the world to give generously.
Mysteriously though often agonisingly, God is most elegantly on display in times like this where many mistakenly think He is absent.
He doesn’t ‘will’ death or destruction but rather, through his Son’s radical example of love and sacrifice for us all, proclaims life, justice and grace. I wonder if you know Him?
Let us continue to keep Nepal in our prayers and not fail to forget the people here in the coming months and years. I never will. And thank you for encouraging, praying and supporting me.
Thank you to Matt Darvas for sharing our Director Emma Lovell’s recent experiences in Uganda with World Vision Australia and #WVAbloggers. Here is an excerpt and the link to Matt’s great blog.