A summer feel to the day!!!???

I feel like singing the Hallelujah chorus!  In fact, I did sing part of it today when I returned to Pauline Bhavan on what I hope was my last day of curtain shopping, at least for this trip!!!  In some circles this has become a huge joke about me being the "official curtain shopper" in the ministry!  It was the third time that I have been sent out to shop . . . and for those of you who know me well, you know that I didn't get that gene, though most of my gender have it!!!  This was my second trip out for curtains for the ground floor windows and doors here because my choice was less than popular last time, and I was very concerned about it . . . I DID get the 'people pleaser' gene, and . . . well, I am so grateful that the shopkeeper took the other 58 meters back, and even more grateful that the person who NEEDED to go shopping with me in the first place went today.  I know that God is good all the time, but I feel very light as I write this evening.  It is 5:33 p.m.

I have just finished my third glass, with ice, of Coke, which felt like an appropriate way to celebrate.  Naomi, my just turned 19 year old English apartment mate, went out and bought a huge bottle of it for me the other day when I had my first attack of 'Delhi belly' for this trip.  I never got around to having any the other day.  My stomach righted itself before the end of the day!  I am grateful!!!

Feb had been a month with no holidays.  Then one of the opposition parties called for a work strike yesterday. So, everything was closed!  I didn't get up until 9 a.m. which felt like a treat!  I hadn't been asleep all of that time because there was a huge dog fight out on the street below that started around 4 a.m. and finished by 5 a.m.  This is not an uncommon occurrence, unfortunately!!!

Yesterday afternoon Naomi and I walked over to Rita's house and began a small Bible study group.  We will do the Ruth study until I leave Kolkata  . . . just three weeks now!  Rita is the Headmistress of the Junior Section of the Calcutta Emmanuel School.  She has become a good friend and has wanted to start a study with others who live on this side of town.  Going over to the office for the Thurs study doesn't work well for them.  There were just five of us.  Others may join, like Debbie, who just returned with her Indian husband from N. Ireland, she is Irish, after the birth of their second daughter.  Debbie and Bablu are much loved here, and they are the supervisors of PB.  So, it is so nice to have them back!!!

On Wed a.m. I take Assembly for KG - Grade 3.  We have done Joshua and Daniel so far, and started Esther this a.m.  I decided to attempt a skit with the 7 children in this age group who live here.  Debbie and Bablu arrived with gifts for everyone about the time that we were going to practice, so it definitely wasn't without error this a.m.  But, it was different, and the children involved, especially the two in KG, were thrilled to be apart of it.  Two more assemblies.  Let's see if we can make them more meaningful!!!

So, why does today have a summer feel?  Well, the temperatures are rising, and though this isn't the hottest month of the year . . . reported to be May, the temperatures are already up in the 90's at the warmest part of the day, especially if you find yourself out in the sun at that time!  Fortunately, the nights and early a.m.s are pleasant.  I'm sitting under the fan now as I write!  I can also hear a lot of children out playing.  Another thing that I think gives it a summer feel, besides drinking Coke, is that I had the day free to plan as I'd like after Assembly was over at 8:30.  Let me tell you about that!!!

Class X, or the people in our school who have successfully completed Class X, successfully passed a whole series of exams post the school exams so that they can take the exams that started on Mon and go on until the 28th of March, are in the midst of their exams.  Because our school is an exam center, Classes I, II and III are getting out on exam days at 10 a.m. so that Classes VII, VIII and X can move downstairs into their rooms to clear the area on the top floor for exams.  Talk about a disruption to learning!!!  It seems that Wed will always be an exam day, and I usually spend two periods a week with Class III on Wed.  So, I was able to get several things attended to today because of this change of schedule.

Tomorrow is Bible study on Ripon Street so I will be going over there.  I am going to spend the night with Premila, her daughter and two grandchildren who are visiting from Delhi, and I am looking forward to it.  I also am on Ripon Street on Fridays, so it means that I won't have to make the trip home and back.  Premila didn't go on her trip last week, and is still struggling with her deep cough.  I think she needs to see a lung specialist.  She lived in an asbestos infested house for many years.

Mon was another hard day with the two Scripture classes that I take.  Class VII did me in, and 5 boys were suspended today for three days for their bad behavior.  I felt badly about that, but it seems that I am not the only teacher who finds them difficult.  I think the principal was making a point.  They will be back in class on Monday.  Let's see how that goes!!!

My plans for departing here on Mar 20th are falling nicely into place.  I know it is going to be hard to go, and knowing how to leave appropriately will be a challenge.  I need to get my head around how I want to spend these last three weeks because I do want to spend more time with some of the projects that I haven't spent any time in.  Each time I share with someone that I am leaving the first reaction is, "When are you coming back?"  My response to that is that I don't know, but that I think I will be back.  It is the when and the for how long that I am not sure about!

Friday there is an official opening of another project in a slum down by the Hooghly River.  I have been an observer of this project from afar, having met the man who is largely funding it last summer about the time that I was invited to come here.  We both met Premila at that time in the greater Atlanta area at the Hicks' household. I was also able to visit the area with Dave and Cathy Hicks when they were here in Oct.  I may or may not attend the function on Fri, Mar 2nd.  Ordinarily that is an English class for the Pavement Club teachers.  We missed Tues because of the strike.  I suspect several of them will be involved.  I will find out about that tomorrow, I suspect!

Speaking of my dear English class, there were tears all around last Fri when I told them I was leaving on March 20th.  One woman's response was, "How will I ever learn English?"  Another was, "Come back soon and stay forever!"  

And, so, another week begins!!!

There are many things that I could be doing tonight, like getting ready for school in the a.m.  Monday is my busiest and most demanding day of the week.  I have been out much of the day, and so now all I really have the energy to do is to sit and rest a bit!  I have made a list of the things I want to talk about, and it is very long!!!  So, better get writing lest I forget!  It helps me so to process, too.

This a.m. I was asked to share something in church.  I was shopping in New Market with George Verwer's daughter and grandson when I got the call on Tues.  I wasn't sure what I would share.  It has been such a busy week, and as I mentioned in the last post, I was feeling quite depleted.  As I thought about it, though, I decided to share about some of the things that we have talked about in the Ruth study.  Ruth's life parallels the lives of more than a few of the women who attend the study.  All of them are connected in some way with Emmanuel Ministries Calcutta (EMC) or Jeevan Joyti Fellowship (JJF).  The cultural things that the study goes into great detail about for its Western readers don't need long explanations here.  Women who attend the study are recovering addicts, women who work in one of our "cottage industries" called the Erica Project, women who work with slum children day in and day out.  Some are widows, some are single, I'm not the only foreigner . . . we "get" it!  In a country such as India where one caste would not be allowed to drink from the same tap as one from a higher caste, we get it when Boaz offered Ruth water from his vessels.   I mentioned in church this a.m. that Ruth isn't just a 'girly' book, and told the men that we had learned more about "real men" from Boaz!  The rich landowner who stepped in to help a vulnerable woman whose character and work ethic had caught his attention.  Boaz, the manager . . . I'm wondering if any of the men who were there will dip into Ruth this week!

I enjoyed worship this a.m.  I was sitting between two of the guys who live in one of our residential projects.   Both of them will be in my Scripture classes tomorrow.  I am particularly drawn to one of them.  His story is remarkable.  He says he is 15, studies in Class 7, but I think he looks older than 15.  More than a few of our kids didn't know their birthdays when they came to live with us.  So, they celebrate that day as their b'day.  (Birthdays aren't celebrated here as they are in the West either, but that is a whole other story!)  My eyes got misty as I thought about the fact that I am likely only to be at JJF four more Sundays.  On one hand, I am looking forward to moving on, and in other ways it is going to be so hard!!!

Alistair from England spoke from Isaiah this a.m.  It was excellent, and one of the things he spoke about confirmed to me that I should seek to 'unplug' from here a couple of weeks before departure from India to regroup and be refreshed by friendships and my beautiful Mussoorie mountains!  I was so pleased after church to get a word with Alistair and his wife Lilly.  They worked here for 6 years and were instrumental in getting two of the children who live here in Pauline Bhavan (PB) into the project.  They worked with Free Set which is involved with helping set women free from "the trade".  It dawned on me today that my dear I's mother 'survives' that way.  This little boy is in the 2nd grade, can't really read, has had a life that most of us can't imagine.  Still, he is so dear.  He loves to build and is good at it.  The other child that they helped I am pretty sure I have talked about before.  She was almost given to a brothel.  Both of these children has a special place in my heart.

The girls are coming up for their bedtime story soon, but I do want to mention a sight that I cannot get out of my mind for a number of reasons!  A couple of weeks ago, I was waiting for the bus across the street from the South City Mall.  (When you walk into the mall, you could be in any Western country!)  A mother was bathing her daughter on the curb.  Just behind them was a "lunch counter/tea stall" kind of place where the family obviously lives and works.  This mother was caring for her child in the best way that she knew how. The breakfast rush was over, and people had gone to work.  I know of at least two of the older teen girls who live here at PB whose parents run a tea stall down at Victoria Memorial  . . . one of the big tourist attractions here.  They live there, and I have been told that the Maidan area, at least at one time, became a brothel like place after the sun goes down.  I could just imagine the two girls, sisters, being bathed in days gone by on the side of the street like this.  I have also recently proofed an article being published by one of the departments at work about the homeless population here, opening night shelters . . . I am being called to think in ways that I have not thought before.  Lord, what do you want me to do with all of this!!!???

Pretty much all of our guests have left for this season anyway.  We have had a steady stream of them since early Jan.  It will be nice not to have so many, and I am sure that the cooks and the drivers are among the most relieved.  They are kept so busy!!!

Premila isn't well.  I haven't seen her in more than a week as she did not come into the office on Thurs or Fri, and didn't come to church today.  That is unusual.  I am pretty sure she has a trip coming up this week.  She was in Delhi for a couple of days last week meeting with gov't officials!

Time with Sandy went well in English class on Friday.  My students seemed to have a good time though I wouldn't have called it "conversation" class.  They had their pens and paper out, and were writing things down.  I am hoping to do some role playing Tues with another speaker of English who doesn't attend the class.

Sadhana is one of the dear women who teaches in one of our Pavement Clubs and attends Bible study.  She is single, has a skin problem . . . pigmentation . . . and is the dearest woman.  Friday she made my day when she said, "Aunty, I like you!"  (This was after class was officially over and we were just chatting . . . well sort of.)  I told her that I liked her, too.  Then she said, "You are just like a child!"  I know that it was a compliment from the way that she said it, but I wish I could find out more about her thoughts on the matter!  Maybe someday!

One of the youngest residents at PB is a boy who is in KG and is an orphan.  He is very tiny, has a lovely side most of the time, but a stubborn side as well.  He was up here the other night and spied his drawing on my fridge that he had given me after Sunday School one week.  He was so thrilled!!!  Well, today I got another picture and he communicated with me in his limited English and with gestures that I was to put it on the fridge . . . it's there!!!

Rebecca is a young American woman who attends JJF and the Ruth study.  Four of us, all foreigners,  went out to lunch after church and then R and I went shopping at New Market.  With the weather heating up, I need some cooler clothes.  I really appreciated what I saw of R today.  She is 29 and basically here on her own.  She is teaching slum children, and today we stopped by one of the families that she deals with.  They live on the sidewalk not far off one of the main streets in the city . . . on the way to New Market.  She had gotten the mother some medicine which she is trying to get her to take.  The children were really dirty, but she scooped them up anyway.  Bless her heart.  It was nice to have someone to shop with and get some opinions on things.  I got two new outfits! Someone asked if she were my daughter, which, of course, she could be, but . . . she told me last week that she wanted to become my friend.  I thought that was really sweet!

Some guests that really didn't have anything to do with EMC that came through this week were George, Christa, and Jonathan Verwer.  Rosemary Morris was also traveling with them.  They were here on Mon and Tues.  Our visits were brief, and I spent the most time with Christa.  I lived with them when Christa was just 5.  She is 47 now.  Forty two years ago we traveled overland from England to India together.  She thought it was pretty cool to be together again in India!

Calling it a day!

Like a kid with a new toy!!!

It is 9:30 p.m. here in Kolkata.  Ordinarily I would have headed for bed by now.  With the ability to work on this when I want to, and in the comfort of my own home, well I am finding it slightly addictive.  I cannot tell you what a boost this is for me!!!

Today I have been able to have a quiet day which is just what I needed.  I didn't really want to head over to Ripon Street to lead the study on Ruth.  I just really felt drained, and like I had no resources left.  I went on an errand for a friend, my bag was heavy, and though I was at the bus stop, I just thought that I couldn't take it.  The constant horn, and traffic . . . the thought of it was more than I thought I could take.  So, I asked a taxi driver to take me, and he did!!!  The traffic wasn't bad, and though the bus costs Rs. 6 and the taxi cost  Rs. 80 (maybe $4.00) it was worth it today!  Have I ever mentioned that the average speed for any vehicle in Kolkata is 15 mph!?  Have I mentioned that I can't wait to be able to drive my car again to get where I need to go?  Please remind me NEVER to complain about traffic again.

About this time last night, I was sitting here answering email, and all of a sudden the wind picked up.  I had several windows opened because someone turned summer on again and yesterday was pretty warm, well late spring, early summer kind of warm in VA, but NO AC!  Well, I was afraid that some of the windows would break, and the leaves were blowing into the house!  Then I heard some of the wood shutters banging.  I did manage to secure everything, but . . . it stormed and stormed through the night, and it was still raining this a.m. when school opened.  More than a few kids didn't come!!!  So, it was cooler today, but the paper says that the "winter" weather won't return this time.  I'm a little bit fearful about what that means!!!  I really don't like hot weather anymore!

By the time Bible study was over today, I felt refreshed.  Funny isn't it . . . the Word and fellowship even though most of the discussion today was in Bengali!

Can't believe that tomorrow is Fri.  I am going to give my English class topics for conversation.  Sandy, a new American volunteer, is coming with me to class.  I think it will help to have two people helping them with their conversations.  Sandy is going to work at the school, too. She is here for three months.

Better hit the sack for tonight.  It is my last night alone.  Naomi's family has been here this week.  I have appreciated having the place to myself again!  Well, actually I haven't been home much this week.  That is a whole 'nother story which I will get into at another time!!!

Trying to download some more pictures!

Got our internet stick, that's what I call it anyway, today, and I am writing from home.  How nice!!!  Now, let's see if I can download some pictures by myself!  (A little later . . . )  I definitely cannot, and right now I am too tired and too hungry to try anything else.  

Time is flying!!!

Things are moving forward and hopefully this is my last post from a cyber cafe!!!  Let's see.  Things are in the works for the four of us who live at Pauline Bhavan in a capacity other than being a child in residence,  have handed over the things that are needed to our faithful friend in the ministry who knows how to get these things done, and soon, we may be able to do this in the confines of our own home!  Let's see.

I did get a haircut this week from one of the members of the Tear Fund Ukraine team.  She did a great job!!!  She has been giving hair cuts at Pavement Clubs, was back at PB yesterday and did 6 more.  She also taught Zubani, the woman from Nagaland who looks after the boys how to give better hair cuts.  Everyone is excited about all of this!

I went to Nico Park (an amusement park) with over 90 kids from the JCDC project yesterday.  The weather was nice, and things were very well organized.  So, it all went well, and I turned off my life before 8:30 last night!

I made a dash to New Market with the team after church today.  They had found a place to buy things to take home that they thought was a great deal!  They were so definitely being taken for a ride, but they were seemingly happy with the prices that they were being quoted.  It gave me a chance to speak a bit of Hindi . . . the shopkeepers were complimentary.  I will be sure NOT to shop there when I am buying things to take home!!!

We are stuck into the season of visitors!  More arrived from UK yesterday.  I think they are here for a week.  More arrive next week for 10 days.


George Verwer, his daughter, grandson, and a family friend will be here the 13th and 14th.  He founded an organization that I was with for 11 years, and I first arrived here after a trip overland with his family 42 years ago this month!


I also visited 15 Camac St. this week.  I lived there for 2.5 years 40 years ago.  It is now a posh highrise hotel!  Nothing about the surroundings reminds me of anything about the place that I knew and loved!


Gotta run and get ready for classes tomorrow!  Two with Class 4 . . . reading comprehension and two Scripture classes with Classes 7 and 8.  So thankful for the friendly faces of the guys and girls who live in our residential programs.  I am trying positive reinforcement.  They are just used to being yelled at here and then not responding!!!