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!!!
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!!!
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