When the Peace Corps invited me to serve as a volunteer in Nepal four years ago, the anticipation of spending two years in the heart of the Himalayas provided a palpable thrill. The classic image of Shangri-la naturally captured my imagination—but the country I came to...

It was a sunny afternoon in the hillside of Chautara, Nepal, with a crispness reserved only for the cusp of winter. The fresh air kissed our faces as we set up our program for the neighborhood children: kite decorating followed by a hand-washing demonstration. Each fal...