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!!!
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!!!
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