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!!!
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!!!
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