Since my arrival home from India in March of 2013, I have been planning to return in Jan 2014, after celebrating Christmas with my family in Pensacola, FL. Initially when I wrote to the EMC leadership about this plan, they suggested that because of so many other foreign guests coming in Jan that I think of coming at another time. So, I contacted a former OM colleague that I visited with mutual friends in 2009 who has wanted me to return to N. Bengal and spend more time with his ministry. I thought everything was more or less set. I would return to Kolkata towards the end of Jan so that I could overlap with the team from Ukraine that I have grown very fond of, especially after visiting them in Aug.
Then I learned that my standby ticket would not work on the departure date that I had proposed. What initially seemed like a set back now seems like wisdom from above!!! Why did I think I could leave again so soon after returning from Christmas? I have realized this past week just how travel weary I am!!! Getting ready to travel and the long trips are the challenge . . . not being with the people I love!
So, today I began investigating leaving on Jan 21 with a Mar 25 return. Let's see how that works out. I would fly through Amsterdam to Mumbai . . . hopefully not being delayed anywhere along the way . . . and plan to reach Kolkata on Jan 25th. That arrival date would make it possible for me to be in Kolkata with the Ukraine team for a week.
What about a return to Hamiltongunj, in the northern part of Bengal state? I am investigating that. Nicholas Narginary has been used of God in his home area, a tribal one. A Children's Home, a school, lots of outreach and church planting are the major focus of his ministry. His son Joshua has asked that I help in the school. Going in Feb or Mar is what I am purposing.
I want to return to Kolkata to continue relationships there especially with my spoken English students, several of them are also in the women's Bible study that I have lead during my past visits. I am also looking forward to deepening relationships with the children, teens, and young adults and various and sundry others who work in EMC that have become very precious to me.
Then I learned that my standby ticket would not work on the departure date that I had proposed. What initially seemed like a set back now seems like wisdom from above!!! Why did I think I could leave again so soon after returning from Christmas? I have realized this past week just how travel weary I am!!! Getting ready to travel and the long trips are the challenge . . . not being with the people I love!
So, today I began investigating leaving on Jan 21 with a Mar 25 return. Let's see how that works out. I would fly through Amsterdam to Mumbai . . . hopefully not being delayed anywhere along the way . . . and plan to reach Kolkata on Jan 25th. That arrival date would make it possible for me to be in Kolkata with the Ukraine team for a week.
What about a return to Hamiltongunj, in the northern part of Bengal state? I am investigating that. Nicholas Narginary has been used of God in his home area, a tribal one. A Children's Home, a school, lots of outreach and church planting are the major focus of his ministry. His son Joshua has asked that I help in the school. Going in Feb or Mar is what I am purposing.
I want to return to Kolkata to continue relationships there especially with my spoken English students, several of them are also in the women's Bible study that I have lead during my past visits. I am also looking forward to deepening relationships with the children, teens, and young adults and various and sundry others who work in EMC that have become very precious to me.
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