As I sit here in the work room at Freedom Firm, I am reminded how diverse India is. I can hear a man in the next room speaking what I assume to be Tamil, the language of Tamil Nadu, the state in which I find myself just now. The S. Indian languages are hard on my ears. Earlier I was listening to the three girls in Aftercare speaking Kanada, the language of the state from which they come . . . perhaps the real problem is that I just can't understand what is being said! In a while I will return to Mountauban, the guest house where I am currently residing. There I can either be alone with my thoughts, or converse in English with two young women from Australia. I have been enjoying having breakfast with them and have booked in for supper tonight.
It is hard to believe that my time in Ooty will soon be coming to an end. I arrived on Dec 1st after about a 12 hour trip door to door. My first place to hang my hat was Farley House, an idyllic place up from St. Stephen's church where I attended a beautiful candlelight Carol Service on Dec 2nd. Farley is a rather 'low key' guest house where one does their own cooking, and thrills to the luxury of a hot shower . . . the water is heated by solar power . . . how clever to avail of that power! I had to move from Farley on the 5th because of a large number of Australian teenagers who booked a year in advance and are working this week and next with a local Children's Home. It was lovely to get to know Annette, from Germany and her Canadian husband, David who grew up in India of missionary parents. I had my second birthday dinner with them last night, along with their five children! How lovely to have been taken into their hearts and lives like that! David also shared the history of the property. It was a place where Amy Carmichael used to come for vacation. They also reminded me that C. T. Studd preached at Union Church, where I have attended services these two Sundays, for 5 years!!! Oh, the stories that these Hills could tell!!!
The Freedom Firm office is across the street from Hebron School, a boarding school, a bit similiar to Woodstock, though it is the British curriculum rather than an American one. The Malstead's four children study there, and as Day Scholars who live several k's out of the city, it is a great place for them to gather when school is over, and do some homework while they wait for each other and their parents to finish another busy day!
It has been a pleasure to spend this time with Greg and Mala Malstead and the crew here at Freedom Firm. I have known Mala since her very early days! She was born in Kolkata where I worked with her parents (Dave and Cathy Hicks) in my early days in India. Then we worked together in the 80s out of the US HQ of Operation Mobilization.
It has been a busy time for FF as they made cards and jewlery for a large sale at Hebron on Dec 1st. Several days later, they got off another smaller shipment to the US. I have been spending an hour or so a day with the three girls in Aftercare helping them develop their English skills. They enjoy work more than school, I think, though I think my different style has been something of a break for them. Their thoughts seem to be very much on the future. Changes in their situations seem to be on their mind as well as plans for a break at Christmas.
Jaya, the teacher; Elizabeth the social worker, Jenita, the accountant, and dear Susi the driver have all made me feel welcome. I'm not sure that I have been able to help but so much, but I do have a better understanding of the work and the challenges that are faced by rescued girls. All of the ones here currently are HIV positive. That fact alone breaks my heart!
Along with spending time with Mala and family I have also really enjoyed being back in the Hills! Ooty is so different in many ways from Mussoorie, but in other ways the same. The beauty of the surroundings is certainly one of them. Tea is grown here and home made chocolate seems to be available at every other shop. I bought some to treat others on my birthday, which was on the 10th, as that is the custom here . . . you treat on your special days and even when something special happens to you!!! My first batch was a bit stale, but I only got one complaint . . . did they not care, or were they too polite to say!?
Mala and family celebrated my b'day a day early with a lovely meal after church on Sun. We were out on the terrace of their lovely home for a delicious lunch . . . roast chicken and vegetables, salad from the garden, and even carrot cake for dessert . . . my favorite and Mala didn't even know that!
Hebron School closes for the Winter on the 13th and Mala returns from a business trip with Greg the night of the 12th. The plan is for me to go out and spend my last two nights with the family.
One of the other things that I have really enjoyed is the whole horse side of the work here. The girls have therapy with the horses once a week and on Sat they help handicapped children, some who have been abandoned by their parents. Katy from Washington state is very involved with this aspect of the work. She will leave on the 28th of Dec, but another volunteer from the US is expected for a year to take her place. Mala loves horses as do her girls. She, Katy and I have been out twice for a ride. Mala and I hook up Hercules to the cart, and on our last ride, I was training the dogs to stay out of the winding road with lots of traffic by shocking them with their collars and my hand divise. Despite that they are glad to see me when I arrive! Maybe a dog really is a 'man's' best friend!!!
Tomorrow after work, Jaya is taking me to a Compassion Project that she directs. It will be interesting to see similarities with the kids here and the kids in Kolkata.
I've loved being here, but I am ready to go 'home' to Kolkata, too. Yesterday was 'results' day for the children who attend Calcutta Emmanuel School. When I arrive home, several will have gone to spend a couple of weeks with their parents. I'll be spending a couple of nights with Premila, to work in a visit but also to attend the Christmas program at one of the outlying projects on the 17th. She will be leaving on the 20th for Hyderabad to spend time with her brother and sister who live there. I'm not sure how we will celebrate at Pauline Bhavan. I'm sure that Debbie will have come up with some ideas when I get back.
Closing for today!
It is hard to believe that my time in Ooty will soon be coming to an end. I arrived on Dec 1st after about a 12 hour trip door to door. My first place to hang my hat was Farley House, an idyllic place up from St. Stephen's church where I attended a beautiful candlelight Carol Service on Dec 2nd. Farley is a rather 'low key' guest house where one does their own cooking, and thrills to the luxury of a hot shower . . . the water is heated by solar power . . . how clever to avail of that power! I had to move from Farley on the 5th because of a large number of Australian teenagers who booked a year in advance and are working this week and next with a local Children's Home. It was lovely to get to know Annette, from Germany and her Canadian husband, David who grew up in India of missionary parents. I had my second birthday dinner with them last night, along with their five children! How lovely to have been taken into their hearts and lives like that! David also shared the history of the property. It was a place where Amy Carmichael used to come for vacation. They also reminded me that C. T. Studd preached at Union Church, where I have attended services these two Sundays, for 5 years!!! Oh, the stories that these Hills could tell!!!
The Freedom Firm office is across the street from Hebron School, a boarding school, a bit similiar to Woodstock, though it is the British curriculum rather than an American one. The Malstead's four children study there, and as Day Scholars who live several k's out of the city, it is a great place for them to gather when school is over, and do some homework while they wait for each other and their parents to finish another busy day!
It has been a pleasure to spend this time with Greg and Mala Malstead and the crew here at Freedom Firm. I have known Mala since her very early days! She was born in Kolkata where I worked with her parents (Dave and Cathy Hicks) in my early days in India. Then we worked together in the 80s out of the US HQ of Operation Mobilization.
It has been a busy time for FF as they made cards and jewlery for a large sale at Hebron on Dec 1st. Several days later, they got off another smaller shipment to the US. I have been spending an hour or so a day with the three girls in Aftercare helping them develop their English skills. They enjoy work more than school, I think, though I think my different style has been something of a break for them. Their thoughts seem to be very much on the future. Changes in their situations seem to be on their mind as well as plans for a break at Christmas.
Jaya, the teacher; Elizabeth the social worker, Jenita, the accountant, and dear Susi the driver have all made me feel welcome. I'm not sure that I have been able to help but so much, but I do have a better understanding of the work and the challenges that are faced by rescued girls. All of the ones here currently are HIV positive. That fact alone breaks my heart!
Along with spending time with Mala and family I have also really enjoyed being back in the Hills! Ooty is so different in many ways from Mussoorie, but in other ways the same. The beauty of the surroundings is certainly one of them. Tea is grown here and home made chocolate seems to be available at every other shop. I bought some to treat others on my birthday, which was on the 10th, as that is the custom here . . . you treat on your special days and even when something special happens to you!!! My first batch was a bit stale, but I only got one complaint . . . did they not care, or were they too polite to say!?
Mala and family celebrated my b'day a day early with a lovely meal after church on Sun. We were out on the terrace of their lovely home for a delicious lunch . . . roast chicken and vegetables, salad from the garden, and even carrot cake for dessert . . . my favorite and Mala didn't even know that!
Hebron School closes for the Winter on the 13th and Mala returns from a business trip with Greg the night of the 12th. The plan is for me to go out and spend my last two nights with the family.
One of the other things that I have really enjoyed is the whole horse side of the work here. The girls have therapy with the horses once a week and on Sat they help handicapped children, some who have been abandoned by their parents. Katy from Washington state is very involved with this aspect of the work. She will leave on the 28th of Dec, but another volunteer from the US is expected for a year to take her place. Mala loves horses as do her girls. She, Katy and I have been out twice for a ride. Mala and I hook up Hercules to the cart, and on our last ride, I was training the dogs to stay out of the winding road with lots of traffic by shocking them with their collars and my hand divise. Despite that they are glad to see me when I arrive! Maybe a dog really is a 'man's' best friend!!!
Tomorrow after work, Jaya is taking me to a Compassion Project that she directs. It will be interesting to see similarities with the kids here and the kids in Kolkata.
I've loved being here, but I am ready to go 'home' to Kolkata, too. Yesterday was 'results' day for the children who attend Calcutta Emmanuel School. When I arrive home, several will have gone to spend a couple of weeks with their parents. I'll be spending a couple of nights with Premila, to work in a visit but also to attend the Christmas program at one of the outlying projects on the 17th. She will be leaving on the 20th for Hyderabad to spend time with her brother and sister who live there. I'm not sure how we will celebrate at Pauline Bhavan. I'm sure that Debbie will have come up with some ideas when I get back.
Closing for today!
No comments:
Post a Comment