It has now been two weeks since I arrived home from 16 days in Ukraine and about 10 days in England. As I was returning to 'my base' in England, I was reflecting on the time and asking the Lord for a word to sum up the time. REASSURING was the word that came to mind.
As I reflected more on that, I thought of the time in Ukraine. The first week at camp had its challenges; but the things I learned about the friends I had met in Kolkata, the country, and just watching the young Ukrainians who translated for us or who lead groups, life guarded . . . children who are poor and from large families, some who are social orphans . . . their parents given to drink so the government takes them, foster families who then take them in and give them a second chance. Helping with clubs . . . card making, story telling and sketching three mornings . . . Trying to get to know the oldest girls, eight of them, at camp to whose group I was assigned . . . only one spoke much English. One day a translator helped me tell them about India. I was touched by their questions and by their compassion for people in other parts of the world. I enjoyed spending so much time outside. The weather was perfect . . . warm sunny days with no humidity. It only rained once and that was at night.
The second week with the Bute family. Katya has lead the team to Kolkata the past two years. Hearing more of her story, meeting her husband and children, getting to know more of Sonya who is the daughter of her best friend and like another member of the family. I had met Sonya at camp and had been drawn to her. David, K's British husband, so different from the rather self indulgent British young people that I met at camp, has given himself to Ukraine . . . speaking English only with his children so that they will be bilingual . . . a gift that I so appreciate parents giving their children and the many guests that come and go from the English speaking world. Breaking out of the legalism of the Ukrainian church, entrepreneurial in his approach . . . language school, website design, youth meetings at Kafe Kreative etc.
The wedding of Roma and Ira and getting to know more of their family. These relationships also began in far off Kolkata. Meeting families of team members, having dessert in the yard of one such family and discussing missions and missionary heroes of years gone by, all through translation.
Meeting with perspective team members for the team returning to Kolkata in Jan, seeing how hard they work to raise funds to do this. Katya and I made Chutney one day that would be sold. It was the end of a busy summer for the family so we did something fun every day with the children. I had taken Jolly Ranchers and a pack of cards with scenes of Virginia on them. Both were a big hit!
On the 24th of Aug, I left Kiev and flew to London Gatwick. I was met by Mike and Elsie Lyth who had graciously offered their home as my base! Elsie and I made the maiden voyage on the LOGOS together more than 40 years ago, then we all ended up with OM in Calcutta where they fell in love. I used to be their chaperon . . . another long OM story. It was just wonderful to be with them, to talk and walk, to meet their eldest and only son who lives nearby with his beautiful wife and four lively children. I would love to have spent more time with all of them.
On the 27th I packed my small bag and took off for London Victoria where I met Daniel Verwer for lunch. Again, such a great reunion!!! (I lived with his family when he was seven. He is now 51!!!) After a lunch of fish and chips . . . totally indulgent and not Weight Watcher's friendly . . . I was off to Leamington Spa to spend a couple of nights with Ruth, Hugh and Robin Bradby. Ruth and I worked in the OM Bombay Office, again more than 40 years ago. This family and I also share the Woodstock experience though we were regretfully not there at the same time. Tricia Leigh came over for dinner. She and I were on my very first OM team together in France . . .1968!!! A bonus for that time was getting to meet Nimmi, an old Woodstock student who lives close by.
On the 29th I left for Tonbridge where I met with Christa and Drena Verwer (daughter and mother). What a fun day. Christa introduced me to her sons as 'my friend'. I felt so touched . . . in days gone by she always introduced me as her teacher! Christa was five when I lived with the Verwers. She just turned 49! Drena looks as young as she did in 1969 - 70 when I lived with them. I returned to West Wickham with her by car and spent two nights in the flat of a friend who isn't in the country. I made some new friends there with a young Indian couple who is living in the flat awaiting visa for Australia. Josh got word while I was there that he had passed his Charter Accountant test . . . like the American CPA.
I spent most of the 30th with Mike and Kerstin Wakely. Kerstin had been my women's leader, again in France, in 1969, and has always been someone I admire. We were together again in Calcutta in the 70s, and I used to see them regularly at OM conferences. Their daughter and her three children came in later in the day. Things were hopping!!!
My last trip was the longest and most challenging! I did love making my way around England by train, tube and bus . . . let's hear it for the ease of public transportation!!!. I was helped so much by each person that I stayed with get to the next place, but things on that Sat a.m. had to be changed as the tube line that I was to take was closed for repairs! I had to take two tubes instead of one, but it all worked out. This journey took me about three hours. I had been on three trains and the two tubes when I arrived at Bury St. Edmunds, and I thought, "I hope this is worth it, Lord!" I was visiting Rosemary . . . too long of a story to go into details, but friends for a LONG time and fellow India lovers!!! From 'hello', I knew it was worth it. We had such a wonderful time, went out into the English country side and enjoyed a cream tea! The next day, which was such a totally unexpected treat, we had Sunday dinner with Peter and Birgitta Conlan as well as Peter and Colette Wales . . . again the story is too long to go into, but India figures heavily into all of our paths. It was such a glorious day.
Returning to Mike and Elsie felt like returning home. I was only sorry that I didn't have more time to spend with them.
Back to Amsterdam on the 3rd because a flight out of London in time to make my flight back to the US on Sept 4th was too early to ask someone to get me to, enabled me to see Maria, Ramesh and Sophia Chand. They are in Holland, and came to the airport to meet me, so that Ramesh can get a PhD in Theology. Maria's dad is principal at Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Dehra Dun, at the bottom of the mountain from Mussoorie, and also studied for two years at Woodstock. Sophia is their adorable daughter. They will return to India where Ramesh will teach at PTS.
I got a room in a hotel after they left . . . I slept like a log which I had done throughout the trip . . . pretty unusual considering all of the beds in which I slept. I should add that it didn't rain one single day while I was in England. The weather was gorgeous . . . sunny and warm, with no humidity!!!
The challenge for me when I return from a trip overseas is always to get my head around being back. It is always such a let down as I feel so useful and fulfilled out there . . . not so much the case here. I know that part of it is that I am always getting ready to go somewhere else. I realize that this has been the case since I arrived back in 2002, with the exception of the two years that I taught . . . a time which had its own challenges. I have had another long talk with Jesus this a.m. about it all. I do submit to Him, and trust Him for next steps. They seem blurry right now, except that I know a trip to Pensacola is next. My sister Carol turns 70 in Nov, and I want to be with her to honor her and celebrate with her.
As I reflected more on that, I thought of the time in Ukraine. The first week at camp had its challenges; but the things I learned about the friends I had met in Kolkata, the country, and just watching the young Ukrainians who translated for us or who lead groups, life guarded . . . children who are poor and from large families, some who are social orphans . . . their parents given to drink so the government takes them, foster families who then take them in and give them a second chance. Helping with clubs . . . card making, story telling and sketching three mornings . . . Trying to get to know the oldest girls, eight of them, at camp to whose group I was assigned . . . only one spoke much English. One day a translator helped me tell them about India. I was touched by their questions and by their compassion for people in other parts of the world. I enjoyed spending so much time outside. The weather was perfect . . . warm sunny days with no humidity. It only rained once and that was at night.
The second week with the Bute family. Katya has lead the team to Kolkata the past two years. Hearing more of her story, meeting her husband and children, getting to know more of Sonya who is the daughter of her best friend and like another member of the family. I had met Sonya at camp and had been drawn to her. David, K's British husband, so different from the rather self indulgent British young people that I met at camp, has given himself to Ukraine . . . speaking English only with his children so that they will be bilingual . . . a gift that I so appreciate parents giving their children and the many guests that come and go from the English speaking world. Breaking out of the legalism of the Ukrainian church, entrepreneurial in his approach . . . language school, website design, youth meetings at Kafe Kreative etc.
The wedding of Roma and Ira and getting to know more of their family. These relationships also began in far off Kolkata. Meeting families of team members, having dessert in the yard of one such family and discussing missions and missionary heroes of years gone by, all through translation.
Meeting with perspective team members for the team returning to Kolkata in Jan, seeing how hard they work to raise funds to do this. Katya and I made Chutney one day that would be sold. It was the end of a busy summer for the family so we did something fun every day with the children. I had taken Jolly Ranchers and a pack of cards with scenes of Virginia on them. Both were a big hit!
On the 24th of Aug, I left Kiev and flew to London Gatwick. I was met by Mike and Elsie Lyth who had graciously offered their home as my base! Elsie and I made the maiden voyage on the LOGOS together more than 40 years ago, then we all ended up with OM in Calcutta where they fell in love. I used to be their chaperon . . . another long OM story. It was just wonderful to be with them, to talk and walk, to meet their eldest and only son who lives nearby with his beautiful wife and four lively children. I would love to have spent more time with all of them.
On the 27th I packed my small bag and took off for London Victoria where I met Daniel Verwer for lunch. Again, such a great reunion!!! (I lived with his family when he was seven. He is now 51!!!) After a lunch of fish and chips . . . totally indulgent and not Weight Watcher's friendly . . . I was off to Leamington Spa to spend a couple of nights with Ruth, Hugh and Robin Bradby. Ruth and I worked in the OM Bombay Office, again more than 40 years ago. This family and I also share the Woodstock experience though we were regretfully not there at the same time. Tricia Leigh came over for dinner. She and I were on my very first OM team together in France . . .1968!!! A bonus for that time was getting to meet Nimmi, an old Woodstock student who lives close by.
On the 29th I left for Tonbridge where I met with Christa and Drena Verwer (daughter and mother). What a fun day. Christa introduced me to her sons as 'my friend'. I felt so touched . . . in days gone by she always introduced me as her teacher! Christa was five when I lived with the Verwers. She just turned 49! Drena looks as young as she did in 1969 - 70 when I lived with them. I returned to West Wickham with her by car and spent two nights in the flat of a friend who isn't in the country. I made some new friends there with a young Indian couple who is living in the flat awaiting visa for Australia. Josh got word while I was there that he had passed his Charter Accountant test . . . like the American CPA.
I spent most of the 30th with Mike and Kerstin Wakely. Kerstin had been my women's leader, again in France, in 1969, and has always been someone I admire. We were together again in Calcutta in the 70s, and I used to see them regularly at OM conferences. Their daughter and her three children came in later in the day. Things were hopping!!!
My last trip was the longest and most challenging! I did love making my way around England by train, tube and bus . . . let's hear it for the ease of public transportation!!!. I was helped so much by each person that I stayed with get to the next place, but things on that Sat a.m. had to be changed as the tube line that I was to take was closed for repairs! I had to take two tubes instead of one, but it all worked out. This journey took me about three hours. I had been on three trains and the two tubes when I arrived at Bury St. Edmunds, and I thought, "I hope this is worth it, Lord!" I was visiting Rosemary . . . too long of a story to go into details, but friends for a LONG time and fellow India lovers!!! From 'hello', I knew it was worth it. We had such a wonderful time, went out into the English country side and enjoyed a cream tea! The next day, which was such a totally unexpected treat, we had Sunday dinner with Peter and Birgitta Conlan as well as Peter and Colette Wales . . . again the story is too long to go into, but India figures heavily into all of our paths. It was such a glorious day.
Returning to Mike and Elsie felt like returning home. I was only sorry that I didn't have more time to spend with them.
Back to Amsterdam on the 3rd because a flight out of London in time to make my flight back to the US on Sept 4th was too early to ask someone to get me to, enabled me to see Maria, Ramesh and Sophia Chand. They are in Holland, and came to the airport to meet me, so that Ramesh can get a PhD in Theology. Maria's dad is principal at Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Dehra Dun, at the bottom of the mountain from Mussoorie, and also studied for two years at Woodstock. Sophia is their adorable daughter. They will return to India where Ramesh will teach at PTS.
I got a room in a hotel after they left . . . I slept like a log which I had done throughout the trip . . . pretty unusual considering all of the beds in which I slept. I should add that it didn't rain one single day while I was in England. The weather was gorgeous . . . sunny and warm, with no humidity!!!
The challenge for me when I return from a trip overseas is always to get my head around being back. It is always such a let down as I feel so useful and fulfilled out there . . . not so much the case here. I know that part of it is that I am always getting ready to go somewhere else. I realize that this has been the case since I arrived back in 2002, with the exception of the two years that I taught . . . a time which had its own challenges. I have had another long talk with Jesus this a.m. about it all. I do submit to Him, and trust Him for next steps. They seem blurry right now, except that I know a trip to Pensacola is next. My sister Carol turns 70 in Nov, and I want to be with her to honor her and celebrate with her.
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