I am writing today from the newly renovated 'Day Room' at Holly Knoll, the historic home of Dr. Robert Russa Moton, in Gloucester, VA. It is such a beautiful spot, and it is a glorious day here on the York River! A few years back, I worked for the Gloucester Institute, and it is always a joy to spend time with the Emerging Leaders, African American university students, during any or all of their four weekends together. This is their last weekend of the year, the topic of the weekend being I missed their last gathering because I was in India. I am still getting over what almost feels like a dream as the place where I am sitting was sort of a furniture warehouse when I frequented this historic site, giving tours of the house or overseeing events.
On April 8th, I will have been back for two weeks. It feels like lots longer!!! In other words, time is flying, I am over jet lag, the mail is read, and it feels pretty 'normal' to be back here. My thoughts are still often with my Kolkata family, especially the boys of Anandoloy. Fortunately I am friends on Facebook with several of them, which is the way I feel up with them a little bit. The ones who go to Bengali medium school have had exams this week and the ones who go to Calcutta Emmanuel School, which is English medium began a new school year on April 2nd. I also know that India beat South Africa in cricket yesterday. I love it that I can imagine them watching the match, and being absolutely delighted at India's triumph!!!
The trip home was long and tiring!!! Oh my, I left the EMC office about 2:30 p.m. on Mar 24. I had a three hour flight to Mumbai to get my international flight. Because of my standby status, I was on the 'other side' of immigration until about an hour before the flight. That doesn't sound so bad until I add that there isn't much to eat on that side, nor is there any place to plug in your iPad. The flight to Amsterdam is 8 hours, 45 minutes. Time enough to do a little bit of shopping. Then, the waiting game again. This time, I was the last person with a boarding pass. That flight to Atlanta is 9 hours and 15 minutes. A rough landing, due to weather, and just general fatigue left me feeling like I couldn't get back to Richmond fast enough. Just as I had all upgrades going to India, I had NO upgrades returning. Dear Keallie was awaiting my return at the RIC airport with a welcome home sign, fruit, as well as cheese and crackers. I was so glad to be home when we got there . . . just after 7 p.m. EDT. (There is a 9.5 time change between Kolkata and Richmond!) So, if I figured it correctly, I was vertical for a very long time, and in transit for about 36 hours. I managed to stay up until 10 p.m. that night and every night during the first week back, part of my strategy to get myself back on EDT. Thankfully, I was also able to stay in bed until 6 a.m.
I will have to admit that recovering from two months away is easier to recover from than I usually find it. Now that the weather has turned, I am really looking forward to Spring time in Richmond. I am teaching during the Women's Bible study at church three times, beginning on the 8th, back to tutoring at CHAT, looking forward to going on a church mission adventure in June, and just asking The Lord to show me what is next.
Yes, I do want to go back to Kolkata, and I would like to stay longer next time. I did so love being with the boys and wonder if this might be the way that The Lord wants to use me in building the church in India, encouraging and teaching them as well as helping the women who teach in the Pavement clubs in their English acquisition.
On April 8th, I will have been back for two weeks. It feels like lots longer!!! In other words, time is flying, I am over jet lag, the mail is read, and it feels pretty 'normal' to be back here. My thoughts are still often with my Kolkata family, especially the boys of Anandoloy. Fortunately I am friends on Facebook with several of them, which is the way I feel up with them a little bit. The ones who go to Bengali medium school have had exams this week and the ones who go to Calcutta Emmanuel School, which is English medium began a new school year on April 2nd. I also know that India beat South Africa in cricket yesterday. I love it that I can imagine them watching the match, and being absolutely delighted at India's triumph!!!
The trip home was long and tiring!!! Oh my, I left the EMC office about 2:30 p.m. on Mar 24. I had a three hour flight to Mumbai to get my international flight. Because of my standby status, I was on the 'other side' of immigration until about an hour before the flight. That doesn't sound so bad until I add that there isn't much to eat on that side, nor is there any place to plug in your iPad. The flight to Amsterdam is 8 hours, 45 minutes. Time enough to do a little bit of shopping. Then, the waiting game again. This time, I was the last person with a boarding pass. That flight to Atlanta is 9 hours and 15 minutes. A rough landing, due to weather, and just general fatigue left me feeling like I couldn't get back to Richmond fast enough. Just as I had all upgrades going to India, I had NO upgrades returning. Dear Keallie was awaiting my return at the RIC airport with a welcome home sign, fruit, as well as cheese and crackers. I was so glad to be home when we got there . . . just after 7 p.m. EDT. (There is a 9.5 time change between Kolkata and Richmond!) So, if I figured it correctly, I was vertical for a very long time, and in transit for about 36 hours. I managed to stay up until 10 p.m. that night and every night during the first week back, part of my strategy to get myself back on EDT. Thankfully, I was also able to stay in bed until 6 a.m.
I will have to admit that recovering from two months away is easier to recover from than I usually find it. Now that the weather has turned, I am really looking forward to Spring time in Richmond. I am teaching during the Women's Bible study at church three times, beginning on the 8th, back to tutoring at CHAT, looking forward to going on a church mission adventure in June, and just asking The Lord to show me what is next.
Yes, I do want to go back to Kolkata, and I would like to stay longer next time. I did so love being with the boys and wonder if this might be the way that The Lord wants to use me in building the church in India, encouraging and teaching them as well as helping the women who teach in the Pavement clubs in their English acquisition.
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