Once upon a time, a Tibetan family lived peacefully in their homeland until one night they received news that Chinese officials were planning to raid their neighborhood and arrest Tibetan families. With little time to prepare, they gathered what they could carry and fled under the cover of darkness. The family had six children—five boys and one young daughter who was only ten years old and did not fully understand what was happening. She was simply told to dress warmly and wear strong shoes for a long walk.

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The family journeyed for days across harsh mountain terrain toward the Indian border. It was a painful and uncertain journey unlike anything they had experienced before, but they kept moving forward until they finally reached a place where they could begin again. They eventually settled in the town of Dharamsala, India, which had become a refuge for many Tibetan families who had made similar journeys.

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In Dharamsala, the parents made the difficult decision to place their six children in a school for young Tibetan refugees so the children could continue their education while the parents worked to support them. Life was extremely difficult. The father, overwhelmed by the hardship and loss they had endured, eventually passed away due to a heart condition. Their mother, who had once lived a comfortable life in Tibet, now worked whatever jobs she could find just to provide for herself and her children.

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Despite these challenges, the children continued their education. An English teacher at the school, a missionary, devoted herself to helping Tibetan students learn the language so they could build opportunities for the future. The young daughter was later supported by a family in Kansas who helped fund her education at the prestigious Loreto College in India. After earning her degree, she began her career as a radio host with All India Radio.

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She later had a daughter of her own, who also received educational support and attended Loreto Convent, a private Catholic school. Eventually, the Kansas family that had supported the mother offered her the opportunity to come to the United States to continue her education. Later, she returned to India to bring her daughter—then eighteen years old—to Kansas.

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The daughter went on to attend Newman University in Wichita, where she earned her MBA. Growing up, she developed a deep love for cooking, especially one of Tibet’s most beloved dishes: momos. Together, mother and daughter decided to share their culture and family tradition by preparing these beautiful folded dumplings and sharing them with their community.

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Today, their handmade Tibetan momos are proudly served at MexiKandy, where their story continues through food, culture, and tradition.