My goodness, a great couple of days . . .

On Sat we welcomed nine members of the Ukraine team to Pauline Bhavan.  We remembered four of them from last year, and as usual, the kids had all found a friend within a couple of minutes.  With three days of down time under their belts, this was a great distraction . . . W - F, they were out of school.  Thank you guys for coming!!!

After introductions, the kids decided that they wanted to 'paint' the T shirts that the team had brought, and I was the first to line up for a hair from from Lyena.  She had cut it last year as a novice, but has gone through training now, and though my hair is too short, as it always is when I have first had it cut, it is cut correctly and will grow out wonderfully!  With three weeks until Monika's wedding, I should be in good shape!  I think it was 10 other heads that she cut during the five hours that she was here.  We also had a delicious lunch thanks to Moala who looks after the girls here and several of them worked hard, too.  I feel so proud of the older girls when we have guests.  They are very gracious and don't seem to mind working hard.  The little kids especially really enjoyed all of the attention lavished on them.

This a.m. at church, things were really packed out!  The foreigners kept pouring in . . . some are fellow volunteers with EMC, others are associated with FREESET an organization that helps give women in the sex trade other options, a YWAM team that I'd met at CALCUTTA EMMANUEL SCHOOL also visited for the first time, and then there was the Ukraine team.  The YWAM team sang in German . . . the girls from PB who were sitting behind me asked, "Aunty, did you understand that!?"

"Well," I replied, "I don't understand German, but I did understand the words beautiful and wonderful!!!"  How blessed we are!  Last weekend we heard praises sung to the Lord in Ukrainian!

Shubrato, a young man in Class XII at CES, gave his testimony.  He is the son of our cook, Surrender, at CES.  He was so honest, and his story is so Indian . . . though attending CES and hearing about Jesus for 14 years in school assemblies, he had continued to celebrate whatever festival was going on at the time.  From a nominal Hindu family, he celebrated those festivals.  When there were Muslim festivals, he celebrated those.  When there were Christian festivals he celebrated them, too.  He even gave out Bibles during the Christmas season.  It was while attending an EU (Like IV in the US) conference, that the Spirit of the Living God convicted him of his sins, and he has given his life to Jesus.  I know from being here at school that his parents don't 'mind'.  (Hindu philosophy says that all roads lead to God.)

The songs we sung we so beautiful this a.m., and I got some of the sheets to sing with the kids in devotions this week!  I told you that Aslan is on the move!!!  Please pray that many hearts will be open!

Shubashish, head of the recovery unit ...  and a recovering addict himself, shared about the Prodical Son as the a.m. message.  It was a very clear message that we have to repent of our sins and follow the savior.  Shashi, a 'graduate' of the recovery unit who has become one of my dear friends here shared after church, that he felt like he is the older brother.  I told him that I had come to the same conclusion several years ago.

Zubeni, who looks after the boys here, is in Bangalore and blacked out upon arrival, as I understand it.  Please pray for her recovery. Fortunately, she has relatives there that she is recovering with.  She had gone to attend a seminar for an online course that she is taking.  Mariamma and Deepa Gayan, the oldest girls in residence here, are looking after the boys' but both need to focus on studying for BIG exams coming up.  Zubeni was supposed to come back on Tues.  I don't think that will happen!

Mala is due on Tues.  Really looking forward to seeing her.

Devotions Mon and Tues evenings, classes at CES M - W, English class and Bible study at Ripon Street on Thurs and then English class on Friday again at Ripon Street.

The weather!

People are always talking about the weather.  And, from Facebook, I know that it has snowed at home in Richmond at least a couple of times!  I forgot to mention that the weather has moderated here, and we have gone back towards cooler temperatures which are sort of perfect for us foreigners, but still a little chilly for the locals.  It's in the 70s during the days and 50s at night.  It has been a bit windy this week, which just makes it pleasant especially when you are in the garden at Ripon Street!

I can only imagine!

The dawn call to prayer has just wafted across the airwaves which means that it is a ridiculous time of day to be up and blogging!  Still, I was awake and couldn't go back to sleep.  I hadn't been able to 'finish' what I wanted to 'finish' last night as I kept loosing my internet connection.  So, I decided to get up and try.  My rule of thumb is that I try three times to get on line . . . it is a process . . . connecting isn't as hard as just being able to connect to Google . . . anyway, I am on so here I go!!!  Generally I get on the third attempt!  This a.m. was no exception.

This week has been another week of unexpected challenges.  School was only open for two days.  Wed, Fri and Sat were all holidays.  The teachers asked for the 24th off as well so that they could go for a picnic . . . that seems to be a big thing to do at this time of year when the temperatures are more moderate.  One of the women who looks after the kids is away, and with another five days 'off', they are 'off their routine' which they had barely begun to settle into!

Zubeni, the woman who is away, is down in Bangalore.  She went for meeting about a course that she is taking online, but somehow blacked out and had to be taken to hospital.  I can't get a lot of details, but it seems a little doubtful that she will be back on Tues as planned.  Last night all of a sudden, I got landed with taking devotions with the younger ones . . . it was a disaster!  Two languages . . . six children six and under and then four slightly older ones who all think that they should say what is going to happen, and at least three who can't seem to get along with each other.  We met up in my apartment . . . that won't happen again!!!

I made my way across town to the office at Ripon Street twice this week because I needed a change of scenery and the feel of a little bit of freedom.  Mon I was going over by taxi so that I could get there in time to do Orientation with the Ukraine team.  I have never had Orientation and wondered what I was missing.  While en route, my phone rang.  It was Joyti, the receptionist at the office.  She said something about Dr. Fullerton.  I told her that I didn't know such a person. " Oh, you don't remember him," was her response.  The noise of the city is a challenge on the phone at times even when you are not in the traffic.  I thought and said, "Do you mean Subrato?"  Then I told her that I was on my way, and that we could talk when I arrived. Well, I never made it to Orientation!  Subrato Fullerton was on the OM teams that operated out of our office here in Kolkata back in the 70's.  I would not have recognized him 40 years later, but it was nice to catch up!  I also got to catch up with the Ukraine team.  They are coming for a visit here to Pauline Bhavan, and that will help these restless children . . . 11 new people to 'play' with!  They know five of them from last year.  I am praying that Lena brings her scissors because I need a hair cut.  She cut it last year and did a good job!

I went over again on Tues to try and help get a 'Jumble Sale' organized.  Nothing much materialized on that and now the urgency of that is behind us because of the change in plans of some of the guests that we were expecting next week.

Wed I went to the Mall to do something different.  I saw Les Mis . . . for myself and also with an eye to see if it was something that we should take some of the older girls to see.  I know I am in the minority here, but I wasn't so crazy about it.  Maybe it was all of the hype.  Maybe it was because I just can't picture Russell Crowe as any character other than the gladiator, and can he sing?  It seemed to me that neither he or Anne Hathaway were singing their parts.  I thought the scenery looked computer generated . . .it was very long, and I just don't think the girls would 'get' it without a lot of background information.  I am surprised by the lack of knowledge of the 'outside' world that the children that I am coming in contact with have (very little TV, and no internet).  I suppose that isn't surprising, but . . .I also treated myself to pepperoni pizza, from Pizza Hut, and even an ice cream sundae!  I did that last year on Seth's b'day (my oldest great nephew).  This year, I did it a week early!

Thurs I was back at Ripon Street for my English class with some young girls who have recently become students at a 'formal' school . . . after being prepared in our clubs . . . they are working for the Duke of Edinburgh award.  In our two meetings I have found out that they don't know who Queen Elizabeth II is, or Prince William.  They also don't know where England is . . . I am taking a map next lesson!!!  Fri was a Muslim holiday, and I learned that all but one of them is Muslim.  So, naturally I inquired about what the holiday.  They didn't know, but new clothes and good food were to be involved!!!  Very interesting, very interesting indeed!!!

Thurs is usually the day that I lead Women's Bible study.  It was announced in church that this week would be a combined study because Pastor Praburaj, who was preaching on Sun, and is an excellent teacher, was coming to take a Bible study.   Well, long story short, he didn't come, and I was asked on the spot to do something because a lot of people had 'showed up'!  So, I shared a few thoughts from the study that I am doing with the women, some thoughts from Ps. 139, and sat down.  The man who translated for me is currently living at the drug rehab residential unit.  I heard his testimony at the Christmas program there, and though I don't know his name yet, I see him often at church and at other times when I am at the office.  He has a strong Christian background, but because of relapses in his life, he has lost his ministry and even his wife.  After the study he told me that this was the first time he had translated in over a decade.  It meant a lot of him.  I was so blessed because I had spoken of God's unconditional love.  A couple of the boys who live at Anandoloy, the residential unit for boys, like PB is for girls, thanked me for what I shared, and Ilora, who overseas several of our projects at EMC, called me on the phone to thank me for what I shared!!!  Thank you, Jesus!

I keep getting 'funny' messages from the computer, and because I am often unable to stay connected to Google long enough to complete what I'd like, I need to close.  But, I still haven't talked about my title.

There are times when I am going somewhere in India when I try to imagine what it would be like to have someone from home with me.  I mean, how would you 'convince' someone from the US when you are walking down Mullingar Hill in Mussoorie why you love India?  Or, even better how would a friend from home react to traveling by bus from Jadavpur to Ripon Street on a crowded bus whose brakes squeak so loudly at every stop . . . and there are many stops!?  Or, last Thurs night when six of us, five girls had come over to PB for Bible study, tried to get off the bus . . . our seats were sort of towards the back of the bus and other women were pushing back to try to take our seats . . .I can only imagine, because I'm not sure you could imagine, or even how you would react!

Could Winter really be already over!?

The first day of classes at the Calcutta Emmanuel School was Jan 8th.  As I looked out of my bedroom window here on the third floor of the Pauline Bhavan, I could see something that resembled a sea of blue uniforms moving across the dirt 'playground' toward the building.  It was windy, very windy that day and for Kolkata, it was COLD, maybe in the upper 40's, low 50's.  I couldn't help but feel sorry for the younger students . . . boys in their short pants and girls in their knee length or shorter dresses.  A sweater is part of the Winter uniform, but that day and for several days that followed, that wasn't really enough.  There were nights when all we wanted to do was eat dinner and go to bed as that is where you really get warm!!!  (I should hasten to mention that there is no heat in any of the buildings that I know of in Kolkata.  Couple that with houses that are built for the sweltering heat of the summer . . . high ceilings and cold floors with no covering.  Then there is the factor that few have clothing, even socks, for this weather.  And, no matter how hard you try to convince them of a few hints that you have learned over the years about keeping your body warmer, they don't follow your advice!)  I concluded that life in the Hills with these temperatures was easier because all of those years I lived in Mussoorie when it was this cold for three months, at least I had a heater and could keep one room warm.  I also missed my hot water bottles, but was very grateful for warmer clothes that I had brought with me this time and my three blankets!  Each night when I would snuggle into my bed I would ponder what it must be like for the thousands of people who live on the street in this great city.  Not only do they not have three blankets, they don't have a mattress or any walls!

Today I went to 8B bus stand with Ishob to get a copy of a picture of the two of us for his mother who is coming to visit him tomorrow at church.  She asked me to take a picture with Ishob and get her a print when I picked him up from Ripon Street on Dec 30th.  He has been reminding me that she is coming tomorrow for at least 10 days!  So, we went to the shop together, but alas I have to go back tonight to collect it!!!  So much for the instant world that I am used to in the USA!  We trekked in just about noon, and also picked up some fruit.  By the time I got back, I had shed several drops of perspiration!!!  Yes, since Jan 8th, it has been steadily warmer, and now it is in the 80s during the days and the 60s at night.  At this rate, what WILL it be like by early March when I depart!?

Since returning from Ooty, just about a month now, I have had a chance to catch my breath and get pretty organized.  Then I was awaiting the start up of things in Jan and trying to prepare for that . . . Bible study with the women in the ministry on Thurs and English classes with some of the teachers in various Pavement Clubs on Fri.  I was expecting to spend time with Classes I - V reading to them in order to work on vocabulary, comprehension and listening skills.  I had purchased a couple of books, and thought I was getting ready.  Then, of course, things changed, and I have had a HARD time adjusting.  I felt 'forced' to take on some teaching in Class V that I didn't want to do for various reasons.  One of the big ones being the very different system here and the other one involving class sizes and experiences with children that I just could not control on my last visit.  Thankfully a new Class V teacher has been hired, and I have convinced Rita that the class should just settle in with him.  I plan to continue spending one period a week with them so that we can complete the Ladybird edition of THE SECRET GARDEN which I found in the library and decided to read to Classes III - V.  I wanted to read SNOW WHITE to I and II.  I may rethink some of that.  School will only be open two days next week and there will be no English class on Fri.  You gotta love this land . . . the land of a thousand holidays!!!

To continue the narrative, in the last two to three weeks, I have struggled with loneliness and even boredom.  This is not because I am alone.  I am also able to keep myself busy, largely with things that I do over and over again.  I have finished the third season of my four season embroidery!!!  I have concluded that these feelings have a lot to do with the fact that my love language is QUALITY TIME, and that is just something that I am not getting with anyone on a regular basis.  Surrounded my people who don't speak my language most of the time, coupled with the feeling that sometimes people are more interested in what they can 'get out of me' or just 'controlling' me.  I go across town to the office twice a week, go to the mall for shopping or to the 8B  bus stop mentioned earlier, but an absence of someone to share 'quality time' feels hard as does the ability to be out and about at will.  There are also just things you have to get that seem difficult at times.  Drinking water, for example, can now be delivered to your home . . . 20 liters at a time.  I have always gotten it from a nearby store, but the phone isn't working . . . I have now gotten the cell phone number of the owner so next week that frustration should be lifted . . . so I have been dependent on Netu who works here . . . he can be silly, and I am not always sure that we have communicated.  Then there is the 'problem' of just getting change for a Rs. 500 note, connecting with the internet 'on demand', etc.

Yesterday, as I read Ps 78 I was struck afresh at just how much like the Children of Israel I am!!!  I am the 'control freak' here, and hate it that I can't always be on top of things and don't always understand what is going on.  Also, reading 1000 GIFTS, I have been trying to be thankful.  I also acknowledge that a lot of this is spiritual warfare.  Gratefully, I share that the fog is lifting!!!

Before I go on, I think I should mention that Debbie, Irish and the person in charge of Pauline Bhavan and is married to a Bengali who grew up in this very building, is a great encouragement to me when we both have time to 'chat'!  I did speak with her about working out a solution with the older girls who were studying up here and we have come up with a workable solution.  It definitely isn't over as both girls still face their FINAL set of exams, but I think the situation we have worked out will enable me to get the alone time I need for preparations! (Just writing that makes me smile . . . are we ever satisfied!?)

Again, back to the narrative!  I thought Bible study was a bust on Thurs only to learn later that the women really appreciated it and that Premila, who translates for me, is also pleased with their response.  (We are going Gospel Identity  . . . Sonship).  That night when I came back to PB the kids were having 'devotions'.  That is something else that I feel somewhat frustrated about, but I won't go into that!  I was asked if I had anything I wanted to share, so I told the kids some of the things that we had just been talking about in Women's Bible study.  I was amazed at their positive reactions on their way to get dinner.

The next day when I arrived home from English class . . . hooray . . . I understand MOST of what happens in that time . . . Debbie had the older girls up here in the office.  They were watching a U Tube that had a powerful impact on them!  It was the testimony of an Australian man who was born without arms and legs . . . a situation much 'worse' than some of the things that they have experienced.  This man talked about how his faith had made a difference, that he had decided to CHOOSE to believe God rather than the lies of the enemy, people who had made fun of him, et al.  Debbie had each girl share impressions . . . it was powerful, some tears were shed . . . people are 'getting it'.  I just have a feeling that Aslan is on the move!!!

Afterwards Debbie and I had a chance to talk, and she is going to set up a roster that I will be apart of to share what I am teaching on Thurs to the older girls and then the "middle girls" a different day.  (We have girls from 18+ to about 5 or 6).  They are generally 'categorized' by their Class rather than their age, because many of them don't really know how old they are and their recorded age might not be the age they really are . . . oh the 'joys' of the poor in this land and in many lands around the world that are born without birth certificates.

In the midst of all of this, I am very much looking forward to a visit to Kolkata from Mala (Jan 29 - Feb 1) and another couple who works with Freedom Firm in Pune.  They are coming to look into setting up a workshop here.  Then Dewy and Carolyn Wetherby are coming Feb 12 - 18 to look into ways to facilitate a new business that they are setting up whereby they would market things that are made here to benefit the poor in the US, returning profits here.  When it rains it pours as I am also jetting off to Lucknow the weekend of Feb 15 - 17 for the wedding of Monika Gunnar, Class of 2002 from Woodstock.  Also Naomi is coming for a week Feb 16 - 23.  AND, a team from Ukraine arrived this a.m.  Four of the eleven of them were here for three weeks last year, and they were a real blessing.  Various and sundry others will be visiting in Feb . . . mostly from a church in England.  I wasn't involved much with them last year and just tried to avoid all of the activity.  They are staying for a couple of weeks this time and there don't seem to be so many coming and going at different times which wore me out last time, and I wasn't really involved!!!.

In the midst of all of this, it is wonderful to belong to Jesus, and to be able to serve Him.  I am looking forward to the weeks to come, and remember last time that I enjoyed by second three months more than the first.  Time will begin to fly now, and there are things that I need to accomplish.

Thanks for reading this far, and thanks for your prayers . . . very much feeling the need of them!!!  Please pray that the Spirit of God will hover over this place . . . Pauline Bhavan and Calcutta Emmanuel School . . . and that His word will penetrate the hearts of young people who need to come to know Him.  Please pray the same for the Thurs Bible study that a true understanding of JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH will be understood!  Thanks be to God for His unspeakable GIFT!!!

An Interesting Picnic and other random things!

Yesterday we went on a 'picnic'.  This is my second Jan in Kolkata in 12 months, and my second such picnic.  I won't go into too many of the details about the selection of the venue for said picnic . . . more of an outing really!  Rita Banerjee, the headmistress of the Junior School at Calcutta Emmanuel School, was the instigator of this outing as she was last year.  We went to the Kolkata Horticultural Gardens, founded by non other than William Carey!  It just so happens that it was the weekend of the annual flower show.  If you know Premila Pavamani at all, you know what a flower lover she is!  This was her choice and though her allergies kicked in big time after her return to Kolkata from two weeks away, she met us there and of course bought some plants before making her exit!  The residents of PB seemed to enjoy the flower show and things really picked up for them when we found the CHILDREN'S CORNER!  We weren't there long, but they were easily rounded up for the second part of the day.  Several had 'mentioned' that they were hungry!

After a rather short ride on the EMC bus, we arrived at our destination.  The area is called "The Lakes" and when you are there, it is hard to believe that you are in Kolkata!  Large trees, sidewalks, I only saw one lake, but I heard that there are three . . . no traffic . . . lovely, really lovely!  Our lunch was tomato soup, a boiled egg, a boiled potato and some meat that Rita had made for us.  Oh, yes, we also had a banana, a packaged cake and jelabies (a very sweet India sweet).  There was supposed to be a bun, but we didn't find them until we were on the way home!!!  Oh well.  I thought to myself, "This is the most unusual picnic lunch ever!"  I wondered how the kids would do as none of this would have been their favorites . . . any meal that doesn't include rice is not a favorite!  We had already had two of those this week!!!  I decided to put some of my soup on my tasteless potato.  Later someone mentioned that there was salt and pepper at the bottom of the bag . . . by then I had finished my rather bland lunch!

By about three thirty, we . . . well, the adults, were ready to return home.  I came up to my room to rest, and heard the call for 'dinner' at about 6:00 (we generally eat at 8:00).  I knew that the kids were hungry and would be happy to fill their stomachs with their beloved rice and whatever else had been cooked for them.  I didn't go down.  I've been cooking some for myself upstairs . . . just a little tired of rice, dahl and subji (vegetables).

Lilly, our housekeeper, works a little bit for me everyday, something that she wants to do because it is extra income for her, and it does help me, too!  I lay down to rest, noticing that what I left for her hadn't been done while we were out.  I knew that she had been very busy with another project's program that was meeting at the school.  I thought I'd leave it until 5:00, and then I would get up and do the 'chores'.  I had just started when she appeared in the kitchen with a glass of tea which she shared with me.  I knew that she must be tired, and told her not to worry about my work.  She basically 'threw' me out of the kitchen at that point.  One of the things she does for me is made chappatis . . . like tortillas, but made with wheat flour.  It does save me from rice the second time in a day . . . I really appreciate that!  I am sure that there is a lesson in being a good servant in this story!

Today after church I went out for lunch with three young woman who work in various organizations here . . . an American, a Canadian, and a Korean.  It was lovely to speak English, to learn more about each other and have a good meal!  I decided to take the Metro home.  Long story short, I somehow lost my shawl.  I am so very sad about that.  It was hot on the Metro so I just had it over my shoulder.  I put it in my bag as I was getting out of the car, but as I was traveling by rickshaw the rest of the way home, I realized that I didn't have it.  I asked the driver to stop, and got a cycle rickshaw to take me back.  No sign of it anywhere!  I even made it to the Station Master's office.  He did understand my English, and they sent someone to look on the platform.  As I suspected, it was gone, but I had to try.  I feel like this is my second loss of something that I valued on this trip.  I hope that whoever got it really needed it.  I have to admit that one of the things I am sad about is that it is a beautiful shawl, one that always evokes compliments, it was a gift from a friend when I was in Mussoorie . . . help me, Lord, to put this behind me, and be more careful with my things from now on!!!

I also think that I am really going to struggle for the next several weeks.  While I was back in the US, the older girls who live downstairs started using the apartment to study in.  I am happy for that, but they study out loud which means that I can't use the dining table to do my preparations on!  They are sometimes up here as early as 7 a.m. which means that I haven't even had time to finish my QT!  I knew that this change had been implemented, but I hadn't counted on the 'studying out loud' and how that impacts me.  I can hear Deepa right now studying for her history exam, and I am in another room with the door closed.  It means that I am going to need to be in my room most of the time.  HELP!!!

I am looking forward to things picking up this week.  I have to admit that I got officially bored by midweek last week.  I have almost finished the second season on my four season embroidery project and am making good progress on WINTER OF THE WORLD . . . about WW II.

School starts on Tues.  Bible study starts on Thurs and English classes start on Fri.  I need to get into a routine!!!

Happy New Year!

Before leaving Richmond as I was sorting and organizing things at home, I came across some candles that I have had since we moved Mom out of her home in 2007, I think it was!  I decided to bring one of the Bayberry ones in the box along with me.  It is an old Virginia thing, or at least it was when I was growing up with Mom, to burn a bayberry candle to the socket on New Year's Day.  I decided to bring one along.  It just burned out before I started writing!

It is 4:12 p.m. and things are still pretty quiet downstairs.  Most of us saw the New Year in over on Ripon Street.  The service was late starting and then went on quite long.  Many people had been asked in advance to share, and it was really quite touching.  Everyone shared something very different and pretty personal.  I'd been asked to share and talked about the effect that the book 1,000 GIFTS is having on me!  Currently I am reading it for the second time.  Once just wasn't enough!  May I learn to be more grateful as I can 'suffer' from negative, critical thinking!  It was almost 2 a.m. when we reached home!

I can hear Mariamma, our oldest resident, studying out loud at the dining room table!  She is taking exams to see if she can sit the big exams for Class XII.  It is all way too much, and I won't elaborate on my sentiments on the whole 'sitting of exams' in this country, but . . .  Deepa Gayan will also be up studying in the extra bedroom as she starts the selection exams on the 8th for Class X when CES reopens!  (If you don't do well on these exams, you cannot go on to study in Class XI or XII.  I am happy that the girls have a better place to study than in their room downstairs, which they share with 10 or so others; but it does cramp my style a bit.  They all seem to study out loud.  So, I retreat to my room, or can work here at the computer!!!  I am making great progress on my embroidery that I have been carrying around the world for the past two decades!  Let's see if that continues once things start up again next week!!!

This week I have attempted to get myself prepared for the beginning of Women's Bible study . . . I plan to do World Harvest's IDENTITY IN CHRIST . . . which is pretty basic 'Sonship" material; the reading that I plan to do in Classes I - V at CES . . . I plan to do SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS with Classes I and II, and THE SECRET GARDEN with III - V.  I found copies with CDs yesterday when I was at Starmart (Kolkata's answer to Barnes and Noble) with Rita.  I also had a personal pan pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut . . . very authentic . . . for lunch!  It really was a treat!!!  I need to find out if English classes are starting this Fri or next.

As is my 'habit' I read through the book of Proverbs in months that have 31 days.  I was struck as I read in Dec how many times the book warns to stay away from prostitutes.  Perhaps I am just more alert to all of that after the time with FF.  Since I have been back I have also been confronted with the affects of this 'profession', though I do understand that women don't 'choose' it as a profession, and many who sell their bodies do it 'to survive'!

When I got back in Nov there was a new little girl living here.  Her name is Sally, not her real name.  She is 5 years old, I am told.  I find her adorable with big dimples in both cheeks and a sweet smile. (So far she speaks only Bengali.)  One day someone from IJM (International Justice Mission) came to visit her.  Greg and Mala used to be with IJM so I knew it was likely that he mother lives in a red light district.  This suspicion was confirmed.

On Sun it was decided that we would not have a service as we were meeting on Mon and some of the elders of the church who are also leaders in the ministry, not to mention the drivers, had had a very busy month!  In talking with the two women who look after the children here, I learned that they had arranged with Andy's mother to meet her after church on the 30th and then bring him back with us.  Everyone else had already returned from their break with parents or family members.  I volunteered to go over on the public bus to meet them and bring him back.

Andy (not his real name) had wiggled his way into my heart during my last visit.  He has the dearest nature and is very easy to get along with.  He does struggle to read well, but is good in Math and with his hands . . . sounds like classic learning difficulties to me!   I had learned towards the end of my time last year that his mother was a Commercial Sex Worker.  She is a very dear person . . . I have met her on several occasions . . . she looks after him very well when he is with her.  I was in the garden at 48 Ripon Street when they came in.  Upon seeing me, Andy took off running and gave me a big hug!  I was warmed, and then hugged his mother, who speaks no English.  We sat for some time, visiting, with Andy translating for us.  She wants a picture of the two of us, something which I can definitely see that she gets.  About noon I suggested that we start heading back so that we would be here for lunch.  I had learned that they had had no breakfast.  Andy was eager to see that his mom got her bus before we got ours which, of course, we did.  As we crossed the busy street hand in hand in this very big city, I couldn't help but find the whole experience quite surreal!  Who in a million years would have thought 50 plus years ago when I began to understand the Gospel that I would be doing this kind of thing one day.  How good God is to allow me to touch these children's lives!

Yes, I've heard about the horrible rape in Delhi.  According to the paper, Kolkata has the lowest number of rapes in the big cities in India.  Imagine, a better percentage rate than Richmond, VA!  I must say that I do feel safe in Kolkata.  Of course, generally I am transported by EMC vehicles, but I do take public transport, which will become more regular when things pick up with activities in the next couple of weeks.

I am happy to report that the temperatures have moderated.  The kids still find it cold, but it is tolerable to my thermostat.  When the sun goes down it does cool off, and it is significantly cooler inside than out!

I had a cold develop after Christmas that has almost gone.  I'm certainly grateful for that.

With everyone back there seems to be an unusual amount of bickering among the kids.  I suppose it is natural . . . re-establishing your turf, and with many more girls . . . 19 than boys . . . 4, and a growing number of them in their teens or nearing it. . .   Please pray that we can come to some sort of more harmonious living!  It will be good to get back to school on the 8th!!!

I'd also appreciate prayer for wisdom about the things that I will be involved in.  I want to be busy and productive, but not too stretched!

I NEED a haircut, and am trying to work out with Debbie, the Irish woman in charge here at PG, a good place to go.  I managed not to get a hair cut in a parlor in Kolkata last time.  I have had so many BAD haircuts in my day . . . sounds like something petty and vain, but it is a big prayer request for me!

Premila is away until the 3rd.

All for now!