About a week ago I pulled out my suitcases, dusted them off, aired them out and set them aside. Even after all of these years of packing and moving, I have a certain amount of anxiety about the process. I find the best way to deal with it is to begin packing!!! My greatest fear is that everything won't fit into my cases. My dad tried to teach me to travel light, but it isn't a skill that I have developed!!! Changing seasons doesn't help, I told myself as I packed my sweater and shawls. When the temperatures dropped in Dec, I wished I had brought along more warmer things, but now that the temperature regularly reaches the 100 degree mark, I wonder why I brought the warm things that I did, and I have added some cooler things to my belongings!!! What's a girl to do?
A week ago today I started shopping! That seemed like one of the necessary elements to all of this because until you have what you are taking home with you, how can you begin to pack!!!??? On Friday I went to New Market with Rebecca, a friend from church, and we got a lot accomplished all in one shop! So, on Sat, I started packing. I was hoping that my suitcases would be lighter going home because of the things that I brought with me that have been used, but adding the things purchased negates that. I am packing one suitcase that I will close in Kolkata and not reopen until I hit Richmond. Fortunately I can leave it in Delhi with friends when I travel to Dehradun and Mussoorie!
I miss my dining room table which is where I generally pack at home! If I pack down there, I don't have to get the luggage down the steps. It works well for me. Unfortunately I had no where to start my packing other than my bed, which is fortunately a double, and so the suitcase is there, and I have a little giggle to myself as I crawl into bed next to it at night. When I flew to Kolkata in Oct, I had to pay overweight charges. I fear the same may be true on the 20th when I return to Delhi!!!
Sat, the 10th, was a big day in another way. I paid for a really nice lunch for the boys who are in the residential program like the one here at Pauline Bhawan. There were approximately 40 of us counting the boys, the staff who care for them, and some invited guests. We have so much more room at PB plus the grounds of the school. The boys live right in the central part of the city, not a blade of grass in sight. Their living space is minimal, but they make the most of it! We had a great time playing games before and after we ate. Premila's third daughter and her children along with a friend and her children . . . these folks all live in Delhi and were visiting joined us, and what fun we had! One of the things that amazes me about these children is how quickly they open their hearts and lives to people. It takes less than 60 seconds, it seems, to become their friends. I feel like it is a gift especially considering some of their backgrounds. I think they know they are loved, and somehow the fact that they are safe, secure, and have three meals a day as well as a roof over their heads . . . it just means a lot I think! I am touched deeply by their love! (I'll try to post pictures when I get home because it takes too long here, and with the connection device that we have . . . well, it just isn't practical.)
Sunday Probhita (Premila's daughter) sang in church with Hussein, one of the young adults who was rescued from the station platform a number of years ago. I am guessing that he is in his early 20s . . . he is one of the boys who doesn't know when his "true" b'day was so he celebrates the day that he became apart of the ministry. Anyway, he is an interesting character. Probhita is like an older sister to him, and the two of them sounded so wonderful singing together. Of course, I got teary and thought, "Oh dear, the beginning of the week of lasts!!!"
Because of "unit tests" I didn't have Class IV on Mon. I had my last Scripture classes with Classes VII and VIII. Some of them registered regret that I was going, but I am quite honestly relieved! I managed to get all of the grading done before going to bed that night. That also felt like quite a triumph!
I took devotions with the "kids" here Mon night. We looked at Ps. 139, a Psalm that we used to talk about often when I worked with Third Culture Kids. It was good for me to remind myself of the truths of this Psalm, and to remember how God has always been faithful to me. I was first introduced to this Psalm as a young Christian who felt pretty lousy about myself! I shared that with them . . . I am NOT a mistake, and neither are they. I can't help but wonder if they feel as if they are sometimes, though! Anyway, many commented that they appreciated looking at the Psalm. We talked about the fact that even though they aren't going anywhere, people that they love are always coming and going out of their lives!
Today I took the last Assembly for Classes KG - 3. Moshimi, Moinul, Ishob and Sandy, another American volunteer who is here for three months, helped me read an original script to finish up Esther. I left out a lot of the details, but I think I got the gist of the story. How I love Esther, and the thought that, "for such a time as this . . ."!!!
Tomorrow is the last Bible study. We are just beginning the third chapter of Ruth. I regret that we couldn't finish the whole study. I'll leave the book. Perhaps someone else can carry on.
I am going to spend the night with Premila tomorrow night which will help me finish up some shopping on that side of town Fri a.m. It will also relieve the pressure of getting home on public transportation during rush hour, and take care of getting back over to the office for my final English class.
Friday night I am having a special dinner here . . . again for 40 people. I should add that all I do for such meals is say what I would like to have to eat, and pay for it. Someone else shops, cooks, and cleans up! They do a great job! I was laughing with my friend Rita, the Headmistress of the Primary Section of the school, that soon I will have to get used to doing such things for myself again!!!
Sun will be my last day at church. Mon will be my last day at school. They are planning to have a special all school Assembly to farewell me . . . touching . . . then I will leave to spend the night at Premila's again, and then off to the airport on Tues a.m.
This time next week I will be with friends in Delhi. With all of the good byes I think I am settled in my heart that it is time to go. Certainly the next few days will be emotionally challenging, but the well wishes and the 'when are you coming backs' are touching in and of themselves. My response continues to be, "I think I will be back, but I don't know when or for how long!" In two weeks, I will be in the Hills enjoying much cooler weather as well as old and dear friends, having been refreshed at the bottom of the mountain by former colleagues and dear friends in Dehradun. In three weeks I plan to have dinner at SPC, or is that Spring Break!? Oh, I hope not!!!
A week ago today I started shopping! That seemed like one of the necessary elements to all of this because until you have what you are taking home with you, how can you begin to pack!!!??? On Friday I went to New Market with Rebecca, a friend from church, and we got a lot accomplished all in one shop! So, on Sat, I started packing. I was hoping that my suitcases would be lighter going home because of the things that I brought with me that have been used, but adding the things purchased negates that. I am packing one suitcase that I will close in Kolkata and not reopen until I hit Richmond. Fortunately I can leave it in Delhi with friends when I travel to Dehradun and Mussoorie!
I miss my dining room table which is where I generally pack at home! If I pack down there, I don't have to get the luggage down the steps. It works well for me. Unfortunately I had no where to start my packing other than my bed, which is fortunately a double, and so the suitcase is there, and I have a little giggle to myself as I crawl into bed next to it at night. When I flew to Kolkata in Oct, I had to pay overweight charges. I fear the same may be true on the 20th when I return to Delhi!!!
Sat, the 10th, was a big day in another way. I paid for a really nice lunch for the boys who are in the residential program like the one here at Pauline Bhawan. There were approximately 40 of us counting the boys, the staff who care for them, and some invited guests. We have so much more room at PB plus the grounds of the school. The boys live right in the central part of the city, not a blade of grass in sight. Their living space is minimal, but they make the most of it! We had a great time playing games before and after we ate. Premila's third daughter and her children along with a friend and her children . . . these folks all live in Delhi and were visiting joined us, and what fun we had! One of the things that amazes me about these children is how quickly they open their hearts and lives to people. It takes less than 60 seconds, it seems, to become their friends. I feel like it is a gift especially considering some of their backgrounds. I think they know they are loved, and somehow the fact that they are safe, secure, and have three meals a day as well as a roof over their heads . . . it just means a lot I think! I am touched deeply by their love! (I'll try to post pictures when I get home because it takes too long here, and with the connection device that we have . . . well, it just isn't practical.)
Sunday Probhita (Premila's daughter) sang in church with Hussein, one of the young adults who was rescued from the station platform a number of years ago. I am guessing that he is in his early 20s . . . he is one of the boys who doesn't know when his "true" b'day was so he celebrates the day that he became apart of the ministry. Anyway, he is an interesting character. Probhita is like an older sister to him, and the two of them sounded so wonderful singing together. Of course, I got teary and thought, "Oh dear, the beginning of the week of lasts!!!"
Because of "unit tests" I didn't have Class IV on Mon. I had my last Scripture classes with Classes VII and VIII. Some of them registered regret that I was going, but I am quite honestly relieved! I managed to get all of the grading done before going to bed that night. That also felt like quite a triumph!
I took devotions with the "kids" here Mon night. We looked at Ps. 139, a Psalm that we used to talk about often when I worked with Third Culture Kids. It was good for me to remind myself of the truths of this Psalm, and to remember how God has always been faithful to me. I was first introduced to this Psalm as a young Christian who felt pretty lousy about myself! I shared that with them . . . I am NOT a mistake, and neither are they. I can't help but wonder if they feel as if they are sometimes, though! Anyway, many commented that they appreciated looking at the Psalm. We talked about the fact that even though they aren't going anywhere, people that they love are always coming and going out of their lives!
Today I took the last Assembly for Classes KG - 3. Moshimi, Moinul, Ishob and Sandy, another American volunteer who is here for three months, helped me read an original script to finish up Esther. I left out a lot of the details, but I think I got the gist of the story. How I love Esther, and the thought that, "for such a time as this . . ."!!!
Tomorrow is the last Bible study. We are just beginning the third chapter of Ruth. I regret that we couldn't finish the whole study. I'll leave the book. Perhaps someone else can carry on.
I am going to spend the night with Premila tomorrow night which will help me finish up some shopping on that side of town Fri a.m. It will also relieve the pressure of getting home on public transportation during rush hour, and take care of getting back over to the office for my final English class.
Friday night I am having a special dinner here . . . again for 40 people. I should add that all I do for such meals is say what I would like to have to eat, and pay for it. Someone else shops, cooks, and cleans up! They do a great job! I was laughing with my friend Rita, the Headmistress of the Primary Section of the school, that soon I will have to get used to doing such things for myself again!!!
Sun will be my last day at church. Mon will be my last day at school. They are planning to have a special all school Assembly to farewell me . . . touching . . . then I will leave to spend the night at Premila's again, and then off to the airport on Tues a.m.
This time next week I will be with friends in Delhi. With all of the good byes I think I am settled in my heart that it is time to go. Certainly the next few days will be emotionally challenging, but the well wishes and the 'when are you coming backs' are touching in and of themselves. My response continues to be, "I think I will be back, but I don't know when or for how long!" In two weeks, I will be in the Hills enjoying much cooler weather as well as old and dear friends, having been refreshed at the bottom of the mountain by former colleagues and dear friends in Dehradun. In three weeks I plan to have dinner at SPC, or is that Spring Break!? Oh, I hope not!!!
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