I've turned the corner!!!

By the end of last week, I realized it was a touch of culture shock!  I felt irritable and wondered if I had just made a big mistake by coming back at this time.  Things were all up in the air at school with exams, and plans for various and sundry events being planned after the pooja season, which I thought would be over when I arrived.  Living in a fish bowl, or so it seems, was getting to me.  Questions, questions, questions and just feeling like giving up my quiet, independent life style in Richmond was too much!  Of course, along with the culture shock was spiritual warfare . . . all of those idols being worshipped every night, etc.  No wonder!!!  I climbed the steps to my place early on Fri night and just closed myself in, had a talk with the Father and went to sleep.

The girls make puris for breakfast on Sat.  Puris are a kind of India bread.  They are deep fat fried and delicious, but not so healthy and certainly not good for the waist line!!!  I hadn't gone down the Sat before  . . . I usually don't eat breakfast with "the crowd", but I decided to go down on Sat and offer to help!  I couldn't help but notice almost immediately that my heart was different!!!  I helped with the puris and enjoyed a delicious breakfast!  Then I just hung out with the girls for most of the rest of the a.m. working on a piece of embroidery that I have been carrying around the world for a couple of decades!  I also broke out the "Satin Hands" by Mary Kay that I had brought along!  Last time the kids were always commenting on my soft hands, and I thought this would be fun.  They loved it, and we did it again last night.  Their only complaint is that their hands still aren't as soft as mine . . . what can I say!?

Sun I stayed back after church just to hang out with the teens who stayed for YPF (Young People's Fellowship).  It was enjoyable, and it did make me want to be involved.  I feel that many in this vast ministry need to be discipled, and I wonder how the Lord might want me to fit into that.

Mon night we had a church meeting followed by dinner together at Pauline Bhavan.  It was a good discussion, and once again, I learned things I didn't know before.  I think that we need a pastor and others do too.  The elders are keeping us going, but we need consistant teaching, etc.  The uniqueness of the congregation might be an "issue" as the church was started in the first place because many of the good Christians in Kolkata didn't want all of those "street kids" and recovering addicts worshipping with them.  We are quite an electic group.  God knows what we need . . . prayers are needed.

Tues afternoon I went over to the office and met with Premila, her assistant Bulbul, and Ilora.  All of that helped bring some plans for the future into sharper focus.  I'm going to be going over to Premila's tomorrow to spent the night as I have an early a.m. flight on Sat a.m.  I'll be going way down South to spend two weeks with Freedom Firm.  I'm really looking forward to this!  Please pray for safe travels and wisdom for the time there.  Jaya is the teacher of the girls in Aftercare.  I also hope to get time with Mala and family!  I will return to Kolkata on the 15th and return to Premila's house because I am arriving late (PB is locked up tight at night.  I hate getting people up to let me out or in!!!)  I'll stay at least until Mon so that I can visit a project quite a way out of town for their Christmas program on the 17th.

I'll be starting Bible study with the ladies later today and my English classes will resume in Jan . . . once a week for two hours this time.  It is a better schedule for me.  I plan to be working at school M - W when they reopen in Jan.

Tues evening I spent the evening with 29 very active boys . . . the residents of Anandoloy . . . the 'other' residential program for children at risk.  It was a goal to spend more time with them this visit.  After dinner, two of the older boys accompanied me home on the bus and spent the night with their parents who live close by.  I'd brought them VA pencils.  They told me that they wouldn't use them.  Among other things I thought they might like having an eraser on their pencil.  They don't 'come' like that in India!

Wed was FOUNDER'S DAY.  It was 'celebrated' in several places this year which was different from last year.  The school, Pauline Bhawan, JCDC and Connexions had an hour's program.  The kids do shine so brightly at times like this.  What a joy to be in their lives!!!

Tomorrow we will be celebrating CHILDREN'S DAY at school!  Should be fun . . . games and food!!!  Children's Day was actually Nov 14th, but that was also Divali, so . . . besides that, exams are over so there really is something to celebrate!!!

One week in Kolkata!!!

Greetings from a cyber cafe here in Kolkata.  I arrived last Sat night, and it is good to feel a little bit like I am settled here.  It is hard to believe that it has been less than two weeks since I left the US. 

The new experience of flying standby was interesting.  For those of us who like structure and order, I admit that I found it a bit stressful.  The flight from Richmond to Atlanta was much fuller than I'd expected it to be.  I got on it, though, and I got on the next flight to Amsterdam, in economy class, but I was on, and that was the leg of the journey that I had been 'warned' would be the tightest!  Imagine my surprise when I was called in Amsterdam at the last possible second for boarding that final flight to Mumbai.  I had a boarding pass in my hand . . . again on economy, and had even cleared security . . . . but it wasn't meant to be.  The passenger that they couldn't find was already on the plane, and there was no seat for me!!!  

I thought I knew the Amsterdam airport pretty well.  I have traveled through it numerous times over the years.  Well, let's just say that I know it better now after spending more than 24 hours there!  There were several of us who didn't make the flight so the first order of business was to make a booking for the next day.  With that accomplished, the next thing to do was try to get in touch with Kedu who was meeting me in Mumbai that night at almost midnight.  Getting a calling card, getting some internet access and trying to reach Kedu for a total of four hours was stressful at best.  During that time, I also decided to get a 'cubicle' in the airport, much like a ship's cabin, where I could sleep and shower and just get out of the airport noise.  When I finally got Kedu she had just gotten out of surgery!!! (She is doing a surgical oncology residency in Mumbai at a top cancer hospital).  I had also contacted the hotel she had booked me into, but the calling cards only last three minutes and are frightfully expensive!  She assured me that she would take care of things and meet me on Thurs instead.  

I hadn't even stopped to get anything to eat by that time, and so off I went to take care of that, and then to my cubicle to crash!  I went dead asleep, and my watch said 7 when I awoke.  I thought, a.m. or p.m. before I remembered that I had borrowed a clock from the hotel counter.  It was p.m. so I took a sleeping pill and hit the sack again.  I got two night's sleep in that cubicle so it was worth it.  All of us who hadn't gotten on the day before got on in Business Class the next day.  Oh my . . . I am spoiled forever.  I watched four movies, ate smoked salmon on a real plate with real silverware and drank out of glasses!  

Rebecca had taken Thurs off to spend with me, but we still got in a visit on Fri afternoon.  Kedu joined us and after Rebecca went off to a prior commitment, Kedu and I headed for a piano/violin recital which was relaxing and lovely.  Kedu is a beautiful pianist herself.

On Sat I had to check out of the hotel at noon and my flight wasn't until 4 p.m.  I finally found a quieter place to roost while I waited after the very busy atmosphere of holiday travel had taken its toll on my nerves.  I thought by coming to India in Nov, I would have missed the big Hindu festivals, but alas I was traveling at the same time that many were also traveling because of Divali, the festival of lights . . . one of the biggest!

Salim, one of the EMC drivers was there to meet me and wisk me off to Pauline Bhavan.  By the time I got there half of the residents were asleep, the others welcomed me warmly, and those heavy suitcases were wisked upstairs.  My bed was ready for me, and I was ready for it.

It was Sun a.m. before church that I discovered that I had left my Bible and devotional book behind in Mumbai . . . in my hotel room.  I just couldn't believe it.  We called after church, but alas . . . I have gotten a new Bible now, and am reading 1,000 Gifts which I had brought along and is so thought provoking that one can only read it in small portions.  It is my new devotional book!

It was fun to see many friends on Sunday at church.  It was also very nice to completely unpack and find a place for everything.  I am in the same place as last time.  Things are still working out with regards to my schedule.  With Kali Pooja and Divali in full swing, things have been closed a lot this week.  Hopefully by this time next week things will be a bit more settled.  They want me to help with sponsorships at school during a pregnancy leave.  I am quite keen to restart the English classes.  I may be leading two studies with adult women.  More details to be worked out.

I have also booked my flights down South for Dec 1 and 15.  Really looking forward to the time with Freedom Firm.

I'm healthy, the weather is pleasant though it has been sort of muggy today.  They even closed the door here a little while ago and turned on the a.c.  Now, that feels good!

I feel the Lord is speaking to me about listening to Him and being led by Him rather than seeking to do everything that others want me to do.  Praying for wisdom, guidance and realistic boundaries.  

The kids in PB, at Anandoloy and at school have been very welcoming, and it is great to be back with my adult friends here, too!

Closing for now!

Departure Eve, Nov. 5, 2012

This first blog entry is way overdue!  I want to get it up and running because who knows when I will get to it again.  I am delighted to be here on the eve of departure as I find the packing, leaving stage of a journey the most difficult.  Oh yes, then there is getting to the airport and all of the stops along the way.  I have closed one of my suitcases, and it is HEAVY!!!  I won't open that one until Sat when I arrive in Kolkata.

This is the first time I have flown standby, and admittedly the half price ticket is a wonder, and the promise of a possible seat in business class the major draw, but I have found the uncertainty a little agonizing.  Yesterday the Father gently reminded me that I was supposed to be trusting Him in all of this!  Oh yes, Lord, and thank you.  I have learned that I am #3, or I was last night, in line and that there are three seats available in business class, or there were last time.  It is the Atlanta to Amsterdam flight that seems questionable.  The onward flight to Mumbai (Bombay) isn't as tight.  So, I am due to fly out of Richmond tomorrow @ 2:24 p.m. and out of ATL @ 5:30.  The connection is also quite tight.  Just asking the Father to help me get it all done!

Meanwhile in Mumbai, Kedu who is now a surgeon in Mumbai and doing cancer research at the Tata Hospital . . . Class of 2000 at Woodstock, has the three days in Mumbai planned.  Discovering that for various reasons the original places to stay didn't work, she has booked me a hotel out near the airport.  She and Rebecca, another old student from Woodstock (Class of 2002) are going to make sure that the reunions I was hoping for are going to take place.  Indian hospitality . . . it's something else!!!

I'm so grateful that many things sort of fell into place yesterday.  Now I have my TO DO list and I am working through it.  The house is cleaner than it was and I am feeling that this is really going to happen.

I'll post from Mumbai if I can.  I am not at all sure what internet access will be like.  I still don't have a lap top . . . maybe when I get home this time!  I know where the cyber cafes are in Kolkata, though, so hopefully you will hear again in a week or less.  

Divali is Nov 12 - 14 so shops, etc may be closed.  (That is the biggest Hindu festival of the year.)  I thought it was in Oct, but it must be one of those holidays that is based on something like the moon!

All for now . . .