Down from the mountain . . .

I wanted to post something today while memories are still fresh.  But, I am on a lousy key board, and running out of time.  So, this will be brief!!!

I am back safely in Kolkata!  I even caught an AC bus from the airport, and then because I am now a seasoned Metro rider, I knew just how to get a rickshaw home!!!  I felt very proud of myself as I banged on the gate at Calcutta Emmanuel School/Pauline Bhavan so that the watchman would let me in.  As I rounded the building, I was welcomed home eagerly by several of the dwellers of PB, and two of them whisked my heavy suitcase up the two sets of stairs to my apartment!  I had a wonderful time on the mountain, but I am also very glad to be home!  One of the things that I always look forward to in Richmond when I come home is my bed which I find so comfortable . . . a firm mattress and soft pillows!  Somehow I have managed to replicate that here, and I slept REALLY well last night, after not sleeping very well in Ooty . . . cold nights, and not such a comfortable bed!  Another thing that I like to do when I come home is take care of the laundry.  That takes on a whole new meaning here as I do laundry in a bucket with cold water!!!  My mom used to say of things, "Just give it a lick and a promise."  Somehow I think of that whenever I do my wash!  I just let things soak, and make sure things don't get too dirty.  Lilly, who also makes chappatis for me everyday does my sheets and towels for me.  Indians are just more experienced with the 'no washing machine' techniques which involves "beating" clothes . . . they do it all over India, so there must be something to it!!!

The time in Ooty was an enormous blessing.  Hopefully I can catch you up some on it in the coming days!

Now is the time! And, hanging out with my brothers in Ooty!!!

Yesterday about half of our group walked over to Union Church here in Ooty for Sunday worship.  C. T. Studd pastored this church, which is over 150 years old, at one point in its history.  


I walked along with Satendra, the man whose name I couldn't remember in my last post.  He is from the tribal areas of N. Bengal and is working in Bhutan.  I have an interest in this part of S. Asia mainly because of the many students that we had at Woodstock School from this beautiful landlocked, closed kingdom.  As we walked Satendra shared about the working of the Lord in Bhutan.  When I was last in India and visiting N. Bengal, I met a husband and wife who are Bhutanese believers.  Indians and Bhutanese move easily across each other's borders!  It was so encouraging, and we were so lost in conversation that we got separated from the group and were actually heading away from the church!  One of our number realized that we had done that and came running after us.


After church Mala and Greg along with two of their four children joined us for lunch at the Montauban Guest House!  Mala is Dave and Cathy's daughter.  She and Greg have been involved for a number of years here in India rescuing under aged girls from prostitution.  I visited them two years ago briefly, but it was so good to hear them both share about God's leading in their lives to be here, and more about the work.  We will be visiting the office and see their jewelry production work tomorrow.  I am looking forward to that!  Currently they have three girls in their Aftercare facility.  


Mala was born in Kolkata, and when many of us who are gathered this week worked together out of the base on Camac Street, we played with her and loved her!  She doesn't remember much about that, but we all remember her with a lot of love.  We took a picture with her yesterday!  Another great memory! 


Montauban is feeding us breakfast and the evening meal.  Yesterday, we had our main meal there in the middle of the day.  Our schedule is relaxed, and we are enjoying a lot of fellowship.  Each person is giving an update on their current ministry, and we are enjoying spending time together in prayer for all that God is doing in this land!!!  After our time together yesterday evening, we were on our own for supper.  I am one of only four women here, and the only one without a spouse.  Many of my brothers, and I do feel that close to them from our relationship that is being renewed after 35 plus years, are here without their wives, so they were happy to have me wander into the bazaar with them to find a place to eat.  I was so happy because I enjoyed spicy alu channa (potatoes with chick peas) and naan!  It was a treat!


Four of the men who are here are Bengali speaking, and they took me along with them for lunch today.  Three of these men were my brothers back in the 70s and one of them is new to me.  He has such a testimony!!!  He would have been a candidate to live in a facility like Pauline Bhavan, and was in a Kolkata orphanage at one point in his life.  The very dramatic change in his life from a life of anger, hatred and violence . . . God has used him to be apart of planting 70 churches in W. Bengal.  He works with his father in law who is one of my "old" brothers!


I really am so blessed by the time here.  The relationships that are being renewed, and the realization that even when I was young and in this land, the Lord did clearly knit my heart together with many.  How is He going to use this in the future?  I am being encouraged, "Come and visit."  Lord, what is your will???  I would love to go up to N. Bengal in Jan for a conference.  Let's see what they have to say about that in Kolkata!!!

Three more airports, back in the mountains, glorious reunions!!!

Yesterday a.m. my alarm went off just after 4 a.m.  I had an 8:00 flight leaving Kolkata's Dum Dum airport and was expecting my ride at 5:30.  It arrived much earlier, and with no traffic it didn't take an hour to get to the airport.  So, I had two hours to "kill"!!!  I'd thought I'd get breakfast, but from being in K's airport twice now, I have decided that I am not impressed!!!  I was expecting a food court, such as the one I've enjoyed in Delhi in several flights past, but . . .  I did get a cup of coffee and a veg burger which left much to be desired.  Anyway, the Spice Jet flight left on time and arrived on time.  I had arrived in the Mumbai airport which is very impressive!  I enjoyed a favorite snack there, paneer (they called it cottage cheese, but it isn't that by American standards) something, and though we left a little late, we made up the time and arrived in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu . . . way down South, on time.  AlongSide Asia had sent a car for me, and I enjoyed the 2.5 hour trip up the mountain!


AlongSide Asia is the organization that my friend's Dave and Cathy Hicks started some years back.  They have a number of partners, EMC being one of them.  They agreed to be my spiritual overseers while I am here.  Premila couldn't come down because of a lot of goings on in Kolkata, but I had an increasing desire to come, and now that I am here, I am just so delighted that I did!  Not only am I in another of India's beautiful hill stations, towns in mountains . . . like Mussoorie where I lived for seven years, but it is just a wonderful change of pace, and a chance to reflect after a very intense initial six weeks in India.


In addition to that, I am with old and dear friends from 35 plus years ago when I lived in Kolkata the last time.  My wonderful India brothers like S N Das, Nicholas Narginary, Sekhar Stephen, and Nicholas' brother in law whose name escapes me right now as well as Dave and Cathy, of course! Their daughter, now the mother of four, was a favorite of all of ours during our days at 15 Camac Street, and we were out at her home today for lunch.  She and her husband are involved in rescuing under aged girls from prostitution.  They have an aftercare home here, and there are various training opportunity for the girls to generate income in more productive ways for themselves.  Mala and Cathy are both house lovers, and they have three horses on the property that are being used not only in rehab for the girls but on Saturdays physically challenged children come out to ride the horses.  The girls are involved in helping with this.  Mala was telling us that it has been such an outreach and encouragement to the mothers' of these children, too.  Few real opportunities exist for children such as these in this part of the world!


Before I left, I felt sort of sad that I was leaving Kolkata.  The children at Calcutta Emmanuel School have exams next week.  We are also getting ready to observe Founder's Day on Nov. 28th.  But, my ticket was booked and there was no turning back!  Now I am so glad to be here, and I look forward to this week of remembering times together, and celebrating what God has done in our lives.  We are staying together in a guest house that was built in the days of the British Raj, and wouldn't make it on the list of greatest places to stay in India, but it is warm and fun, with hot water brought to your room when you put your bucket out to indicate that you are ready for it.  Tea or coffee arrives at your room at the time you have said you wanted it in the a.m.   They call it "bed tea" in this part of the world.  I don't know if it is a British thing or an Indian thing, but I have only gotten it here!!!  The food has also been great.  


There are 13 of us staying there, and we are swooping stories of the "good old days".  Lots of memories, but we need to be careful because not all of the people at the gathering were around in the "good ole days"!  Dave has asked me to try to "capture" some of the stories that are generated.  I have my notebook with me, but it is going to be a challenge!!!

Children's Day and other random thoughts!

It is Nov. 16th.  I have found my third cyber cafe in Jadavpur today.  Let's see how it goes!!!


I have just read by Sun post, and I am sure that I wrote more.  I remember having trouble posting on Sunday, and just maybe I lost some of it.  I thought I had mentioned Sashi along with Shalom.  Sashi is from Nagaland and regularly leads worship at JJF.  He is a gifted guitarist as are many from Nagaland . . . we had a lot of students from Nagaland when I taught at Woodstock School.  Anyway, as I suspected, as we talked on Sun, I learned that Sashi has been through our drug recovery program.  He is currently studying graphic design at Jadavpur University.  He told me through tears that he often struggles still with temptations related to his addiction.  I encouraged him to be in the Word daily, and even if he didn't have much time, to go to the Psalms in order to be encouraged by them.  I have been praying for him this week as he comes to my mind often.  I will not be in Kolkata this Sun, and I will miss seeing him and just checking in with him.


I will not be in Kolkata because I am going way down South for a week to Ooty, one of the beautiful hill stations in India.  I will be attending a retreat for several who are also partners with AlongSide Asia.  I used to work with some of them 40 years or so ago when we were all with OM.  It will be wonderful to hear what the Lord is doing in their part of this great land!


Children's Day was on Mon the 14th.  It is a wonderful  concept, and I wish I could have been present at more than one of our projects as the day was celebrated differently in different places.  I was at the Calcutta Emmanuel School and went with the Nursery and Kg students to a nearby park.  We walked which is another story in itself with that many wee ones, but I think the kids had a great time!  We were back in time for lunch . . . fried rice and chili chicken!  I also saw some eating ice cream for dessert.  Grades 1 - 4 went to the zoo and those in 5 - 10 went to Science City.  They were also back in time for the special lunch.


Later in the day I went to the Mall to pick up a couple of things and they were decorated with Mickey Mouse characters, and even a bounce castle, or whatever you call them!!!  At Spencer's the place where I went to shop, they were playing children's songs which I frankly found irritating.  One of the things that I have realized recently is the I live in a lot of noise!!!  My bedroom is on a busy street, and the last thing I hear at night is the honking of various kinds of horns . . . different vehicles here have different sounds . . . that's another whole story.


Yesterday I was over on Ripon Street at the EMC office and enjoyed spending time with some of the teachers and children at the Pavement Club, informal education with children who live in nearby slums.  Their teachers had put on skits for the kids . . . I know that they had been practicing for some time.  It sounds like they had a really fun day!  I kind of wished that I had been there.  Special food was also no doubt apart of their day.


I am finding out more of the stories of the 20 "children" who live at the Pauline Bhavan.  They range in age from about 4 to maybe 17 or 18.  Several of them know nothing of their parentage, two sisters have parents who live on platform 8 of one of the local train stations.  Two other girls, who are also sisters, have parents who run a tea stall at the Victoria Memorial in the heart of the city.  For these four young women, "going home" means sleeping on the street.  It does give one perspective on what it means to them to live with us.


Wed is a big day at PB.  The counselor and some of those who tutor come.  I am also working with Ishob on M, W, and F evening.  He is in grade one but really struggles with reading.  I found some games the other day at the Mall to help with that.  I have enjoyed using them with the kids!  Tonight Ishob and I are going to talk about long vowel sounds!  He is such a sweet boy, and has started teasing me about the way I pronounce Bengali.  Apparently to his ear, I have a drawl!!!  I think I have about learned which child belongs to which name.  It hasn't been easy for me!!! Zubani and Moala, the house parents have been a big help.


Sat I had a visitor, an old WS student who lives in Delhi and was en route to Bangladesh for training.  He was the second to pass through recently bearing news of what the Father is doing in BD . . . very encouraging!!!

I have now been at this computer for more than two hours!!!  So, I thought, why not just go for it and perhaps make it another hour!

I am so delighted to have "landed" on this cyber cafe in Jadavpur, my new place of residence.  It is South Kolkata, so I suppose it would be like living in Midlothian in the greater Richmond area!  Not only is this cyber cafe less than a 10 minute walk from Pauline Bhavan, but it is also fairly quiet.  There are only about 6 computers here, it is run by a woman and often I am one of the only ones here.  I just killed a mosquito which could be a downside of being here once the sun has set, but . . . The keyboard is pretty good, and I usually "get" the same terminal.


This week has been a good one, and today has been a great one, as Sundays tend to be for me here in Kolkata.  I look forward to worshipping at the Jeevah Joyti Fellowship, and today was no exception.  My Richmond church family would be horrified, I think, by all of the AV mishaps . . . very amateur at best, and the sermon was longer today as it was delivered in Bengali and translated.  But, the heart and soul of the church is real, and I continue to meet people there who bless my socks off!!!


Today I met Shalom for the first time, though he told me that he was blessed by my sharing a couple of weeks ago.  He helped lead the singing in worship today.  It was the first time I had noticed him.  He is very tall by Indian standards, so he stood out in the group.  In talking to him, I learned that he is a Tibetan from Kalimpong . . . which is in N. Bengal.  I knew so many Tibetans when I was in Mussoorie as we had a number of Tibetan students, and many T refugees lived in the area.  But, to meet an enthusiastic believer, that was very special.

Four minutes left on my hour here in the Jadevpur cyber cafe.  It is more expensive, by Rs. 5, almost nothing, an hour, but . . . the key board is wonderful compared to the ones on Ripon Street!  It is also just a fairly short walk from Pauline Bhavan which feels like freedom!!!  I donned my walking shoes for the first time today to walk into "town"!  Oh, the joys of being unpacked.  Of course, I had to take my shoes off to come in here.  Somehow I didn't realize that the other day!!!  

The other big piece of news is that I got gas today in my kitchen!  So, I now have the freedom to cook upstairs if I want to!  I am also making arrangements to have chapattis made on a daily basis so I don't have to eat rice everyday for lunch!!!

Had a much better day at school today, and tomorrow is another holiday!

About 5 minutes left on my Ripon Street computer today.  I ended up helping at school this a.m.  My goodness, the kids who are in Nursery Class, aged 4, are the most unruly!!!  I had a head ache after being with them for a short time today.  Planning to start with conversational English lessons when I get back from a retreat that Dave and Cathy's group is putting on Nov 18 - 25.   Enjoyed playing the part of a commuter today . . . rickshaw times 2, metro, and then a brisk walk to the office!  Looking forward to a visit from an old student who is passing through on Sat!

It's Nov. 7th!  I have moved to Jadevpur, South Kolkata!  And, guess what!!!???  It is a holiday here in India!  Yes, it is Bakarrah Eid, which is the day that Muslims slaughter animals.  It was so interesting to make our way across Kolkata yesterday in the Emmanuel Ministries Calcutta bus.  All of the children from Pauline Bhavan, my new place of residence, the dorm parents and various other friends/family that were dropped off along the way!  You couldn't miss the line ups of both cows and goats that have been slaughtered since we passed them yesterday.  Somehow it seems ironical to live in a country where the two major religions have such differing beliefs.  Hindus don't eat or kill animals, neither do Buddists, but Muslims have slaughtered them here today!  Guess what else!?  Thurs is a holiday, too, because it is the birthday of the founder of the Seik religion (they are the ones who wear the turbans)!  Yes, it is a wonder anything gets done in this country!!!  And, you aren't the only one thinking that!

I am in a race against time, so I want to keep this brief.  I am completely unpacked which feels really good!!!  My bedroom was settled before my light got turned out very early on Fri night.  The geyser (how you get hot water) was installed today as was the mirror in the bathroom.  I feel really set up!!!  Then the tailor came for permission to bring the curtains for the living room/dining room as well as the cushions for the chairs and sofa set (wicker), purchased second hand several weeks ago, or at least it seems so.  The promise of the cushion covers is that they will come tomorrow.  I had to come into the bazaar, shopping area, to get more curtain ring and find an internet cafe.  I still don't have a source for cooking in my kitchen, but I am having lunch daily with the kids downstairs.  I have an electric kettle and a toaster for breakfast, and generally supper.  I don't want to eat rice twice a day . . . Bengalis do!!! 

I need to hurry back to tutor a couple of the kids tonight.  I am trying to get to know Zubani and Moala, both from Nagaland who are the houseparents at Pauline Bhavan.  It seems that helping with homework three nights a week will be a good place for me to slot in.  We will do that M, W and F as those are the days that I play to be over here during the day.  On T and Thurs I plan to be over at the office.  Hopefully Tues I can be involved with Pavement Clubs and working with teachers in the afternoons in whatever way!

Don't have time to proof this carefully, so here's hoping!!!

It's Nov  2nd, and I am so pleased to have actually reached this site!  I have been unable to do so for some time, well only a week, but so much has happened in that time, that I just hope I can remember it all!!!  I'm back in the Ripon Street Cafe, which isn't my favorite spot, but it is a place where I am able to add to the blog!  Yesterday I found a really nice cafe that was air conditioned, not crowded, all of the keys on the key board worked properly, but I couldn't access the place to post!  So, I left in frustration and hoped for a chance to come here today. And now, here I am!!!

Last week was a varied one with the Hindu goddess Kali being worshiped for days all over the city, at least, and possibly throughout the region.  Fireworks, loud drums and a festive atmosphere abounded in the park behind the apartment where Premila lives.  Friday night it reached a very noisy level as the night wore on.  I just had to get up and see what was happening.  As I suspected, Kali had been taken from her make shift temple and put on a truck.  Her destination then was the Hoogly River where she would be thrown in.  I remember clearly my first Divali, it was in Mumbai in 1970.  Ganesh is the favorite god there (half man, half elephant), and he was worshiped nightly by those who lived in our apartment complex.  When I learned that they would dump him into the sea after worshiping him, I was astounded.  That feeling hasn't lessened forty one years later!  How grateful it makes me that I can worship the living God whenever I want, wherever I want and that I don't have to dispose of Him when I have "had enough".    Further, I don't have to appease Him.  He chose me before the foundation of the world, drew me to Himself, forgave me, communes with me . . . Hallelujah, what a savior!!!  On Sun afternoon, it was wonderful to hear the sounds of boys playing Cricket in that park out back, rather than listening to the din that had been wafting through our windows previously.

Last Mon and Tues I had gone to school to help with the very youngest students (they start at 4 here) who are weak and could use a little help in a smaller group situation.  The next three days schools were closed as were many shops.  I went out exploring to see what might be open and was able to do some further buying for my apartment.  I then planned to spend Mon and Tues of this week getting settled in.  Premila is going to her sister's house for the long holiday weekend this weekend (Fri - Tues), and that is a great impetus for me to actually move out!!!  After what seems to me a very long and complicated process, it looks like this is actually going to happen!!!  I am looking forward to completely unpacking and getting settled!!!  As of right now I am planning to spend three days a week helping in the school and two in the office!  School starts at 8, so it will be so nice to only have to descend three flights of steps!  Currently I take the metro and a rickshaw and never even try to get there before 9!  It is actually a great way to travel to Jadevpur, in S. Kolkata, where I will be living!!!  I will continue to use the Metro to come back to the office as it is the quickest way.  I might take a cycle rickshaw, a motor rickshaw, the Metro, and a taxi to get here, but . . . unless I can be otherwise persuaded, it is the best way, the quickest, and even the cheapest!!!  I am now the proud owner of a Metro card that is good for a year and cost me about $4.00!  Let's see if it really lasts past the first month.  Hussein doesn't seem to think it will.  I know that it saves me having to wait in line for a ticket.  I missed a train the other day doing that.  Sometimes the queue (line) is so very long!!!

There are two days next week that will be holidays!!!  Let's hear it for this land of diversity!!!  Last week it was a Hindu festival.  Monday is Bakara Eid (the day that Muslims slaughter animals) and Thurs is the founder of the Seik religion's birth anniversary.  As Premila commented the other day, "This is hard for your foreign friends to understand!" 

Dave and Cathy Hicks have been through again, this time after several days in Bangladesh and  Malda district of W Bengal.  It was very excited to hear about what is happening in these areas with believers who have come to Christ from the majority religion of those areas!  Last night I proofed a proposal that Dave is submitting for funds to help build a retreat center in Bangladesh, for next to nothing by Western standards, so that these believers can meet together, learn from the Word, learn to trust each other, et al.  Most of them are first generation believers, and with the second generation coming up, plans need to be made to strengthen them in their faith.

I am going to be traveling down to Ooty, a hill station in the South, Nov. 18 - 25.  Dave and Cathy are having a retreat with their partners.  At first I didn't think that I would be able to go, but it is going to work out for me to go after all.  I am really looking forward to meeting with others, some that I knew from days gone by and some that I have just read about in the Along Side Asia publications.

This past week I also got a cell phone.  That is so convenient, as you all know.  I thought about getting an internet connection so that I can check the internet from home, there is a computer in my flat at Pauline Bhavan, which belongs to PB, but it seems a little expensive and visiting an internet cafe is very cheap if you can find a good one!  I'll be investigating that in the days to come.

On Sat I will celebrate by first month anniversary of my arrival in India.  Though this past week has pinched at the independent American woman that I am, I remain very pleased to me here!  I do feel like I am launching the next step.  It will be nice to be a little bit more "in control" of my own schedule, what I eat, etc.  I am looking forward to interacting with the other residents of Pauline Bhavan, and to seeing how the Lord wants to use us in each others' lives! 


Sunday as I walked into Jeevan Joyti Fellowship, I was asked to share a word of encouragement with the congregation!  The Lord had encouraged me that week from PS 32:8.  So, I shared it with them.  I found it very meaningful because of the fact that the wonderful hospitality of India can sometimes stifle those of us who are independent and don't like to admit that we don't always know what we are doing and would be able to do it in half the time if we were in a Western setting 


As I close for tonight, thanks for taking the time to read by rambling thoughts!  Shoot me an email . . . gindy.miley@gmail.com to help keep me up with what life is like back there in the USA.  I don't get much American news here!!!