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!
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!
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