Commercialism has come to India!

How is it in a country where only 6% of the population identify themselves as Christians that the South City Mall, just a 15 minute walk from my place of residence, is all decked out for Christmas!!!???  Of course, it is the secular Christmas with Santa and his reindeer, their home, I suppose it is, looks like a castle!  Those who work in the food court are even wearing Santa hats!!!  It is all too much, and I am longing for the peace and quiet of the hills of Mussoorie!!!

We took the kids who remain at Pauline Bhavan to the Mall today.  I suppose it was fun for them to see it, and they have gotten quite a bit of the real meaning of Christmas over the course of the month.

We had a little party up in my flat last night.  It was fun, and I admit that I have only added to the decadence of the season by introducing them to Nutella!!!  I somehow wanted to do something with cookies yesterday, but couldn't find anything attractive in the "regular" sort of super market where I visited.  So, when I spied the chocolate spread that reminds me of my chocoholic mother, I couldn't resist.  They loved it, and we had a good time together.  Tomorrow we are having lunch after church with our family there.  I am looking forward to it.  Then we are planning our own little special dinner together tomorrow night.  There are 11 of us still there.  Usually we are 24.  Oh, and we got a new little girl the other day.  Today is the first day she hasn't wailed . . . no tears . . . she is quite certain that she will return to New Market tomorrow.  New Market is another old shopping area in the city, and the surrounding slum is something to behold!  Ekta is from there.  She seems fairly bright, is around 8 and when she isn't wailing, she is pleasant.  Shovash, also a new resident, a boy, wore the shoes Kamlesh used to wear today to the mall.  Thoughts of what might happen to him still makes us sad!

I have been asked to share thoughts (3 to 4 minutes worth) on what Christmas means to me.  I'd already been thinking about that.  Phil 2:1-11 come to mind.  To think of Jesus leaving heaven to come and live on earth . . . in the context of living in Kolkata causes me to ponder coming from Richmond to be a slum dweller.  This is not something that I have done, and it is not something that I think I could do, but Jesus did it for me.  I cannot but bow at His feet and worship.

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!!!

Merry Christmas to you all!!!

What a week!!!

It is hard to imagine that it has only been one week since I last wrote.  It has been the busiest week, yet, I think!  I have not even had time to come in and check my mail until yesterday!

This was the last week of school, and there were seemingly endless practices for the final program.  Things are so formal here, compared to schools I've been involved with before, and if I am honest just a little bit old fashioned.  Still a new student council was installed, including PREFECTS for all four houses, etc.!!!  If we hadn't had "houses" at Woodstock, I would be lost.  It is a British thing, Prefects, Captains and Vice Captains have a lot of power and are essentially responsible for a lot of the discipline of the students.  We are very proud of Pauline Bhavan residents . . . Dolly (rising Class 11) is Vice Captain, which means that she will likely become Captain in a year's time.  She was also given the award of Student of the Year! Deepa (rising 10th grader) is a Prefect and also came second in her class.  Believe it or not, she was disappointed as she was working for first!!! Moinul (rising 3rd grader) is first in his class.  I went with him on Friday to get his report.  His yearly average in all subjects was either 99 or 100!  Only one student in Pauline Bhavan or Anandoloy (where "our" boys live) was not promoted to the next class.  It was great to be able to rejoice with and encourage them.

So, at school, the final program was on the 15th.  It was all over by lunch time.  Then the Jadavpur Child Development Center had its gift distribution that afternoon.  Yours truly gave out close to 200 gifts in the space of about an hour.  

The next day I went with four of the PB students to get their results (report cards) and speak with their teachers.  Then I helped the JCDC teachers finish up some of their work.  At 5:45ish, the Christmas program of PB and Anandoloy began . . . . songs in English, Bengali and Hindi; a hilarious skit, so I am told, by the boys in Bengali; testimonies by Saikat and Deepa who have come to faith since living in the residential homes of EMC.  Saikat and one of the other boys of Anandoloy had walked me to catch the bus on Tues, and he shared some of his story with me then.  He came into our program as a child addict.  God is good, all the time, but sometimes . . .The program was followed by a delicious dinner which most of us had spent some time helping with.  Indian food is very labor intensive.  Gifts were also distributed.  I made it to bed by 10 still somewhat fatigued from the day before.

I should also report that I visited a local Christian bookstore three times this week trying to finalize the spending of a Compassion grant for Bibles (130) for the children at school who are over 14.  The store is on the other side of town, closer to the office.  Traveling back and forth presented its greatest challenge to me on Tues.  I rode the Metro home at the height of rush hour and now have a fuller understanding of the term packed in like sardines.  I have never been so crowded into space as I was that night.  I even have some bruises to "prove".  Never again, I vowed.  The next night I returned home by taxi . . . more expensive, and it takes longer because of traffic, but . . . it was worth it!  I AM going to learn how to take the bus home!!!

The weather has turned decidedly cooler, and even I am admitting that it is chilly!!!  On the way to this cyber cafe I passed a little boy wearing a jacket, hat and gloves . . . now that was a little excessive, I thought, but the winds are cool, and I got a blanket for my bed this week.

Yesterday I felt the need to do something completely different, so I pulled on my jeans and headed to South City Mall.  I have always found that there are times when you need an escape, and yesterday was one of those times.  The Mall is the most Western thing that I have come in contact with here, and so off I went.  I walked and got there before it got to busy.  I had a small pepperoni pizza at Pizza Hut, and some French fries, that weren't worth it at another counter.  Then I topped it off with some ice cream!  After some shopping I returned home to drop things off, and headed to this cyber cafe . . . quieter than the one I have been frequenting though it has more terminals . . . and checked mail for the first time in five days, I think.  After getting some fruit and veggies on the way home, I ate, and turned off my light by 7:30.  I did not stir for the next 8 hours which was great.  I didn't get up to stay up until 7:40 this a.m.  Yes, I was TIRED, and I still am a little bit.

I was asked to read the scripture this a.m. in church.  It was about the lepers in Luke, 11, I think.  As I was reading it, I was struck by their faith and obedience . . . they were healed as they went!  And, the one who came back was made WHOLE.  Interesting, isn't it how new insights hit old familiar stories, isn't it!?

It was announced in church this a.m. that we will have lunch at church next week.  I was so happy to hear that.  I wasn't very excited about just coming back to PB and having dinner as usual!

On Wed they had an EXHIBITION at school.  Just that a.m. I had told the Lord that I didn't even have any candles for my Christmas observance.  I just love to light as many candles as I can find on Christmas night.  One of the things they were selling at the exhibition was some candles!  I bought four!  (They are in little "glasses"!)

Yesterday when I got home the second time, Kamlesh was leaving with his mother.  Many of our residents will go home for varying lenghts of time depending on whether or not their parents have a place that they go safely.  K said, "Aunty, I will miss you."  "I will miss you, too," was my reply.  Little did I know until I got inside that his mother had "taken" him for good.  WE are so disappointed.  Both his mother and his step father are HIV positive.  K is about 6!!!  

Another year older . . .

Yesterday was my birthday!  I celebrated with Premila and her oldest daughter Vandana.  Friday night we went to a musical performance at the AG church here.  I then spent the night back "home" on Russell Street!  I am now 65, and feel good about reporting, "I'm retired!!!"  The first b'day that I celebrated away from home was my 23rd!

In India, you treat others on your birthday, but I got an American style celebration . .  gifts, a cake, singing, and before the end of the day even some ice cream initially!  I insisted on treating, too, and we went out for a pretty late lunch in a sort of Western upscale restaurant on posh Park Street, just a five minute walk away.  I treated that time!!!  Premila sent me back to Pauline Bhavan with enough cake to share with the other 23 residents.  As I came through the gate, I was greeted with lots of well wishes and hugs . . . I'm not even sure how they knew it was my b'day!  They were thrilled with the cake, and I had bought sweets for them, too.  At school, children always come around with sweets for you on their b'day!!!

It seems to me to be warming up again . . . not hot, but not really "Winter" as the locals insist!


Today we heard some members of a Bible school who are visiting from Shillong, Megalaya (a state in the NE) sing.  It was beautiful!

We have a busy week ahead with several Christmas programs, and the children's final results.  When they start back in Jan, most will be in a new grade!

Another super Sunday!!!

Here it is Thursday afternoon, and I am finally able to start to tell you about the events of last Sun.  I remember sitting through the worship service wondering if I were just getting used to living here because it didn't "feel" like anything special.  I had been at home awaiting the arrival of workmen of varying sorts much of Fri and Sat.  Admittedly, time had passed very slowly, and I wanted to do something different!!!  I had thought about not riding home on the EMC bus after church, and just getting a good book and going out for lunch.  Then, it was announced that there was going to be a sort of impromptu bat-mitten tournament after church.  I'll stay, I thought.  Some of the girls were staying to play.  This seemed like a perfect solution to me!

As we drank our tea and chatted after the service, I noticed Ishob talking to a woman.  Ishob is one of the boys that I have been helping some after school.  I knew that sometimes parents and/or guardians of our children come to Ripon Street on Sundays as it is in central Kolkata and easier for them to access.  It wasn't long before Ishob and the woman approached me.   

"This is my mommy," he said.  Our communication was minimal because of language.  I was able to tell her what a good boy her son is.  She told me that she had been unwell, and that she had prayed to Jesus and was better.  Later in the evening when I returned from a trip to the Mall, Ishob met me at the gate, helped me get my things upstairs and stayed, talking non-stop for the next hour, sometimes in English and when he couldn't go on in that language, he switched to Bengali.  He just wanted someone to listen to him!!!  He told me how small his house is, how much he loves his mommy, about his rabbit and his dog.  Apparently the house isn't far from his Massie's house (his aunt . . . sister of his mother) and his grandmother.  He will go home for a couple of weeks during the school vacations.  His mother told one of the men who works with EMC, and Prashanto told me later that Ishob's father is a drunkard and a drug user.  P said that this is the case of many who are from slums.  Mrs. Sardar, I's mother, isn't well.  Please pray to Jesus with her that He will heal her.  I pray that He will heal them both spiritually as well.

Another woman, who is older was talking with Moala, who is the house parent for the girls.  Someone told me that she was Patty's (not her real name).  Grandmother.  Apparently, this lady lives near Ishob's mother.  Anyway, later, I learned that this woman is really not related to P, but when her mother was going to sell her to a brothel, the lady asked if she could have her instead.  My heart just melted when I heard this, especially after being with Mala and Greg in Ooty who work to rescue such girls!  P is in about the 3rd grade.  She is quiet and I don't feel that I have gotten to know her as I have some of the more outgoing girls.  I do pray that I could find time to do something special with her in the future.  She shares a b'day with my sister, Carol.

I finished reading Prashanto's paper and gave it to him on Sun.

The tournament was fun.  I was just a spectator but was hailed as the Chief Guest, and gave out the prizes . . . that is just something that is done out here.  It was a beautiful day, the temperature was moderate though it seems to me that it has heated up a bit lately . . . not as hot as it was when I arrived, but I do not call this Winter as the locals insist!

As the tournament went on, I realized that there were people there that I had never seen before.  So, when Mariamma came over to sit and chat, I asked her about them.  Oh, she said, they are former members of the Pavement Club.  Timothy Uncle called them to come and play.  I was so touched.  Here I was with all of these "slum children" of various ages and stages.  Timothy and his wife work faithfully in the Pavement Club, especially in the New Market project.  They have kept up with these kids and still have such an obvious rapport with them though they are in their 20's I am guessing and no longer Pavement Club (informal education) attendees . . . it struck me that this is likely to mean that they have never gone to "formal school" such as the Calcutta Emmanuel School!!!

When I got home on Sun, I needed to get some things for the house, and even though it isn't my preference, I decided that I was going to go over the the Mall . . . South City Mall . . . when you are there, you could be in the West!  I decided to try and walk it because it really is that close, and I was ready for some exercise!!!  After a few wrong turns, I got there, and felt very proud of myself!!!  I went up to the bookstore and bought another book.  I don't watch TV here and so I am reading more!  I then decided to get a cup of coffee and even a tart, and to just sit there and read!  You know, sort of like going to Barnes and Noble!  I enjoyed that, and then made my way down to Spencer's . . . I decided that going on Sun afternoon isn't a good idea because it is CROWDED!!!  But. I did find a really nice loaf of bread . . . something I have been looking for . . . and CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER!!!  Wow, it is the little things in life that delight me sometimes!!!

It occurs to me that I should go back now until Sat when I had the idea that I would take the younger residents of PB to a nearby park.  Thirteen of us left together and the kids did a great job of walking along our busy road in pairs, etc.  We got to the park and off they were running, sliding, seesawing, and then . . . 15 minutes after we arrived, we were told that the park was going to be LOCKED!!!  Well, several of them were sure that they could find another park . . . long story short, we didn't, and by then I didn't know where we were!  Fortunately Moinul, who is 10 going on at least 20, led us home safely.  He is a great little guy, very smart and good at everything apparently.  As I left he wanted the key to my apartment, which I gave him, to continue working on something that he had started working on when a bunch of the boys . . . well, all of them as there are only 6 . . . were up the other night.

Oh, that reminds me that we got a new boy on Sat.  I am ashamed to admit that I haven't gotten his name yet.  The story I heard was that his mother was only 14 when she married.  The father beats both her and the child.  She has run away three times, and the last time he told her he would kill her if she did it again.  So, the boy is with us for safety reasons, kind of like being in shelter, I guess you could say.

Mon, the 5th, our first Christmas program warmed my heart.  It was the Christmas nativity with an Indian twist.  It was all done in Bengali, so the part that had an "Indian twist" for me was the music and some of the "steps" that characters like the shepherds took.  During the days leading up to the program, I had watched some of the little girls practicing a dance to "O Holy Night".  I was very impressed.  Their dance was the finale of the pageant, and it was lovely as they danced before the manger scene!

I have been helping this week both in the school, and in the afternoon "child care" program with communicating with Compassion sponsors!!!  Wow, I think of the child that I sponsor at Grace Hostel in Dehra Dun.  He writes me once a year, and that is enough for me!!!

I wrote in my journal yesterday a.m. that I wondered where I am in the cross cultural adjustment process.  I am now one-third of the way through this venture.  I continue to believe that this is the right place at the right time, but . . . Sat, the 10th is my b'day, and until this afternoon I had no plans.  Then there is Christmas and I have no special plans.  So, if I am honest, I am just a little bit homesick.  I don't really want to change places, but I do miss some of the things that I'd gotten used to and that seemed "old hat" at home.  The Lord has also reminded me that I came to fit in and to serve.  That is exactly what I am doing.  There are times when I go downstairs to go to school or the office, and I have no idea what will unfold.  By faith, I am making a difference, and being used for His glory.

Premila called at lunch time today.  I am going to go to meet her tomorrow for a performance at the large AG church in town and then spend the night at her place as it will be over "lateish" when things are over, and making my way home alone on public transport isn't something that she'd want me to do.  We had talked about doing something together for my b'day on Sat anyway, so that will work out fine.

I'm enjoying reading through Luke as I prepare to celebrate this wonderful season.  May He be lifted up and glorified in this land as children who don't know Him perform the nativity and sing of his greatness.  One of the girls at PB commented the other day, "I believe in Jesus, but I am not a Christian!"  Great honesty, but, Lord, please break though and show her your power!!!  She needs you so.

I also finished reading HEAVEN IS FOR REAL today.  If you haven't read it, I recommend it.  

My hot shower is still working, and I am enjoying the luxury of it!!!

First hot shower in three weeks!!!

Now that I have your attention, let me explain!!!  My faulty geyser was fixed yesterday.  Let's see how long it 'holds' this time!!!  I moved into my apartment here in Jadavpur four weeks ago today.  On the following Mon, a geyser was installed, and hot showers were the result . . . bucket baths had been the order of the day, which are not a problem.  At one time in my S. Asian experience, that was all I took.  I am so grateful for the fact that I am not a novice in this land.  It has come in handy on so very many occasions!!!

Back to the mountaintop experience . . . the Montabaun Guest House was built during the days of the Raj (when the British ruled in India).  It would have been the destination of many an expat who came to Ooty in the hot season, especially the missionary community.  We had such a guest house in Mussoorie, Edge Hill, which was very near my home, Maple Cottage, for four years!  Anyway, I had a very basic room with an attached bath.  All of the rooms have attached baths.  There were two buckets in my bathroom, a big cup for dipping the water from the bucket and then throwing it onto your body to both get it wet and rinse it off, and a Western toilet . . . thank goodness!  My knees don't like the Eastern toilets anymore, and I have only had to use one of them so far on this trip!  Anyway, Rajan who redefines the definition of a 'servant's heart', serves all who enter in at Montabaun!  The first night we were all there, I made a list of when everyone wanted their "bed tea" the next a.m.  You could also request coffee.  Then, we were instructed to put an empty bucket outside our room when we wanted our hot water for bathing.  I don't know who the watchful eyes were, but the coffee, in my case, came within 10 minutes of my appointed time, and I never waited longer than 5 minutes for my bucket of hot water!  I last remember getting that kind of service in the 70's when I was at Hebron in Hyderabad!

All of this is to say, that I have been bathing, but a hot SHOWER really felt like a treat this a.m.  The weather is getting cooler here, and so throwing cold water over your shoulder and washing you hair in the a.m. is a chilling experience.

This week I got an email from my almost 10 year old great nephew asking me some things about how India and the US compare.  It has made me look at my surroundings differently.  I can hardly imagine how to explain the difference in the two places.  Yes, I am in a big city, and yes, we do have a huge mall near where I live, and you could close your eyes there and think you were in the West.  But, the walk to 8B bus stand, where I walk most days either to get a rickshaw to the Metro, or to come and use the cyber cafe. . . well, it is like nothing you have ever experienced in the West!  The cycle rickshaws; the small, somewhat dirty shops, the pile of garbage that the crows and the dogs are going through . . . someone will come around eventually pick it up, but that doesn't happen everyday!  There is the little shop that does re-appostrying (sp?) mainly in the street . . . sorry about the type change . . . I'm not sure just how it happened!!!  There are the cycle rickshaws lined up, seemingly for nothing sometimes, shops that may or may not be open and side walk/street vendors that may or may not be open.  Yesterday I noticed a sign for the first time that said, "Do not urinate here!"  I had to laugh to myself as I remember being in Mumbai with my brother in the 70s and being amazed by the number of people who just stop and urinate along the street!  (I must say it does seem less nowadays . . . well in the cities anyway!)

Then, there is the whole idea that many here don't have birth certificates, or don't even know what day they were born . . . maybe the season, or by an event.  I am sure that this is changing, too, but it has been a sobering thing for me to ponder.

Yesterday I went to Ripon Street, where the office is, which meant I took the Metro.  It seemed unusually crowded and it was the first time I had had to push to get on, and my bag was pushed off my shoulder.  I remembered the 70s in Mumbai and being horrified at the pushing and reluctant to take crowded public transportant for fear of being touched.  That doesn't happen anymore, the touching I mean.  Last night was the first time I had ridden the Metro home in the peak hours, and there was a long queue (line) waiting to get a rickshaw to Jadavpur . . . the Metro stop is Tollygunge which has a new name, but I can't honestly tell you what it is.  India is in the process of renaming things to what they were before the British came and named things here.  (Can you believe that there is Charing Cross in Ooty, for example.)  Anyway, Indians are generally not good at lining up for things, but here they were waiting patiently for it to be their turn to get into the rickshaw that would take them home!!!  I was amazed, and grateful not to have to push, or get knocked out of the way!  (Survival of the fittest . . . one of my first memories of India.)


Starting Mon, our Christmas programs begin and I will start being apart of the CDC (Child Development Center), kind of like a daycare with informal education that is held at the school from 3:30 to 5:30.  The director is going to join his family in Ireland as they await their second child.  They won't be back until the end of Feb!


I have been helping students at the Calcutta Emmanuel School make Christmas cards for their sponsors for the last several days.  (I'm at the school M, W, and F).  Monday will be the last day.  Then I'll go shopping with my colleague and a couple of the kids whose sponsors have sent them some Christmas money.  I just love Molibaka, and it will be fun to bring the kids here to the 8B bus stop to shop.  


It is about 6 p.m. and time for me to head home.  All of the kids at PB have now finished their exams.  I think some of the older girls are probably asleep!  They have been really studying hard!  I laughed today after making cards.  One of the boys said, "Maam, when did your country become indepentent?"  They had their history exams today.  He got the answer right!  I wonder how many American school kids could tell you when India got their independence!!!


Oh, next Tues is another holiday . . . a Muslim one.  So, English lessons won't start for the adults, maybe now until Jan as we are into Christmas program mode these days!!!  Never a dull moment.  Please pray that all of the preparations will end up being more than a performance!  Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!!!