An in between day!!!

Everything is over here on the GA campus.  Friday's performance of Pilgrim's Progress was delightful.  I was the Chief Guest which is a much bigger deal than I had realized.  India is a land of pomp and circumstance, and the protocols that were followed seemed a little over the top for me, but . . . I had to make a speech, and kept it short and sweet as I was warned that people don't generally listen to the CG's speech!  I borrowed a sari from a friend, which thrilled the kids, and I have gotten good reviews from friends on the speech!  It was sad to say goodbye to the kids in boarding, and reaffirming to hear several of them tell me in devotions Thurs night what my time here had meant to them.  I have, admittedly taken them into my heart as well.  They seem genuinely sad that I won't be here when they get back on Jan 15.

I am having an 'in between day' because my friends that I am staying with initially in Mussoorie are traveling back from Mumbai today!  So, tomorrow I will lock the door here and look forward to spending the rest of the year up in Mussoorie!  I will 'shift' to a second location on Christmas Day.  More on all of that next week.  I do hope to get to see my second bride and groom while I am up in the mountains, and three of the girls from Grace Hostel live up there, too.

It has become chilly, and I realize that I am not adjusting so easily to the cooler temps with no 'creature comforts' . . . The best place to be warm is outside in the sun, where I am now, or in bed, where I do spend more time than usual once the sun goes down, usually reading or playing games on my iPad!

I sense that one of the reasons that I am on this current 'pilgrimage' is to help me see that although my memories are rich beyond measure, coming back to India to live permanently isn't the best thing for me.  I have a sense of anticipation to see what will happen when I get home, two weeks from tomorrow!  Yes, I have started packing . . . for Mussoorie, and for home!

I trust that you will have the Merriest of Christmases.  I admit that it doesn't seem like Christmas at all.  Perhaps that will change when I get up to Mussoorie, and the people I'm staying with are getting ready to celebrate!

Light to warm us . . .

 Above is the title of the chapter in the book on Advent that I am reading for today.  It couldn't be more appropriate to the situation in which I find myself today here in Dehradun.  You see, the Winter rains came on Fri, and this time it wasn't a 'tease'!  Colder temps are settling in, and it is colder inside than out at times since houses in India are built for the heat of summer, and do not have central heat!!!  Sun, though not our friend in the summer, is our best friend this time of year.  It never managed to peak through the clouds yesterday!  My Yahoo weather assured me that this entire week would be sunny which I was looking forward to, but . . . this a.m. it took awhile for the fog to 'burn off' and the sun to break through.  I wanted to attend the assemblies for grades 3 to 5 and Nursery to grade 2 this a.m.  In the fog, that was a chilly experience.  I got some pics though . . . this is the last week of school . . . I can procrastinate no longer!

Birthdays, mine as well as other members of my family, a special event at church, Christmas, a few creature comforts that I miss . . . I have to admit that I have had a tinge of home missing since the beginning of Dec.  I love being here, but I also miss being there.  I love friends here, old and new, but I am missing out on things with friends there who are going on with their lives without me!  Of course, that is natural, and I know that.  Yesterday I read this on FB . . .

"You will never be completely at home again.  Because, part of your heart will always be elsewhere.  That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place."

All I could do was thank the Lord for this reminder.  The quote is actually written for TCKs, and I am not one, but I think I qualify as a TCA and have always been helped by things that I have read about those who have become 'green' as we are neither blue or yellow . . . because our passports tell us we belong one place, but our hearts tell us differently!

My birthday has come and gone.  The lovely cards that the girls made for me were endearing and reassuring.  Many have said that they are sorry that this is our last week together, that they will miss me when they come back, and that I MUST return!

I am the Chief Guest at the final program on Dec 18th.  They are very excited about that especially since many of them now know that I intend to borrow a sari for the event!

I support one of the boys here by contributing to his boarding fees.  It has been nice to get to know him a little bit.

I am going up to Mussoorie for the day on Wed to attend the wedding reception of Birju, and I hope to find out more about the plans of the first set of friends that I am staying with to see exactly when I should head up the hill for the holidays.  I will move to another friend's home on the 25th where I'll stay for a week.  We plan to take a couple of long walks that I have been longing to take for sometime but never seem to have time to do so!

This trip has been so reassuring that all of the years that I have invested in this great subcontinent have been worth it!  Thank you, Lord, for your good gift to me.  I am looking forward to learning what is next!

I just gave up!

Everytime I blog, I run into the frustration of not being able to edit it like I would like to, and I don't want to take the time, or go through the frustration of getting it just how I like it, so I posted!  Now, as you read 'Tis the season, please accept my apologies if there are mistakes.

I left off with the girls liking my hair!  It's now back to normal because I don't have a blow dryer with me nor would I ever have the patience to go through with all that the stylist did!

The other big thing that is happening here this week is a bonfire on Sat night!  The girls are really looking forward to it, there will be more performances . . . something else to practice for.  Apparently, there is also good food, but no marshmellows!!!  S'mores some other time back in the US of A!!!

I am going to spend the week after Christmas up in Mussoorie with friends, and I am looking forward to going on some of my favorite walks during that time.  I still haven't made a final decision about returning to Delhi for my flight on Jan 5th @ 3 a.m.!

'Tis the season . . .

I'm overdue for a post.  I have had very spotty WiFi connections this week, and am so thankful to be up and running here at the flat, at least for now.  My other alternative is to go over to the school.  I can't really concentrate over there, and so I am really pleased to be able to get this done here on my dining table/desk.

It's my birthday . . . the last in this decade, which is sobering at best!  The girls in the Hostel know because when they were over, they guessed!  I have tried to keep a pretty low profile otherwise!  In India, YOU treat on your birthday.  So, I have ordered a huge cake for the 91 Boarders to enjoy tonight, but I don't want to have to share treats with everyone, and I don't want them to feel like they have to do anything for me.  Things are also VERY busy here with the end of the school year activities and seemingly endless practices.  More on that later!

Yesterday I took Maria and Judy out for lunch, they are mother and daughter!  It was kind of an early celebration for me and a thank you to them for their warm hospitality.  In addition to that, the cantata at PTS is largely Judy's 'baby', and I wanted to celebrate with her that it was over, and a success.  I also had dinner with former mission colleagues last night . . . two Western meals, including meat, and no rice yesterday . . . that in and of itself was a celebration!

I enjoyed the time with all of the girls.  I still don't have all of their names straight, but I have made some progress.

On Dec 1st,, the school timings changed!  Because of the cold mornings, and the absence of central heat, school now starts an hour later, and finishes an hour later!  That means it is nearly three when we have lunch, and after three for those who are in the final program, Pilgrim's Progress, on the 18th!  I am the Chief Guest . . . if we are friends on FB, you can check out the invitation!  I've never been a Chief Gues before!!!  Pictures of the girls in their class groupings are also on FB.  Some of the girls race back when practice is over about 3:10, and those who play band instruments have another practice at 3:30.

Last week I also spent a fair amount of time at this table/desk prepping!  In addition to the two devotions a week that I lead for the 'kids in Boarding', I took staff devotions on Thurs and addressed the Sr. School assembly on Fri.  I appreciated the positive feed back from several of the teachers, I get little or no feed back from the kids, though I have a feeling that they like the things we have talked about.  One of the 11th grade girls told me last Fri, "Good job, ma'am . . . short, sweet and to the point!"  That isn't the usual style of some assemblies, appartently!

On Sat I once again spent the day out in greater Dehradun with Maria, Ramesh, Sophia (3) and Nadia (1.5).  Maria's cousin was also with us most of the time.  We went to a food festival at one of the other 'institutions of higher learning' in the area and even took in one of the big new fancy malls here in town.  During my first year at Woodstock, this area formed a new state, and now DD is the capital. It has grown and changed so much over the past 20 years.  Some of that is nice, other factors, like the traffic, make you miss the good old days!

Sun after church, I went to one of my former favorite places to eat in DD, in fact, I would say that WS staff frequented there regularly . . . they even gave us a discount!  A sizzler was among the favorite things to order.  So, I indulged on Sun.  I was there earlier than most Indians eat, and so spent an hour all alone in the restaurant eating at my leisure and reading.  Then, the people started filling up the tables and I exited to return to the Seminary grounds for the Cantata, a favorite thing to do here at Christmas time when I am here.  Tea on the grounds afterwards is always a nice time to meet and greet.

With much fear and trembling, I went to get my hair cut on Mon.  I went where Judy gets her hair done, and I was pleased to find one person in the shop who spoke English.  I got a wash, cut, and style for less than $3.00, and I must admit that I am pleased.  The girls raved over the style which lasted on

Time's beginning to fly!

So, here we are on another Mon in Dehradun.  It is sunny and pleasant when you are outside, but still chilly inside, especially in the early a.m. and in the evening!  One day last week it rained, I can't remember which one, and this time of year that generally means that the temps drop, but they haven't, and thankfully the sun has shone brightly ever since!

Another surprise today was that school lets out early on the last day of the month.  There were workmen in my place this a.m. searching for a Christmas tree that was put away somewhere last year, but no one seemed quite sure where!  Oh dear!  They returned once, but I haven't seem them since!  I also spent an hour and a half waiting for the dobi, the man who does your laundry, for a price, of course, to come and pick up some things!  He'll bring the things that just needed ironing back in the a.m. and the things that need washing will come back on Wed.  The labor intensive society is working for me this week!

Last week on Tues and Wed, I helped Mashaphi, who looks after the girls in Boarding oversee the study times . . . school was closed, but the Boarders have to spend four hours in a study hall!  Yikes!!!    So, I had time to work on my devotions, read and even played a few games on my ipad!  It did work for me to have two groups of girls over both of those days!  I have enjoyed getting to know the girls better, and they seemed to enjoy coming over for 'treats' and a chat.  They have wanted to know more about me and have enjoyed looking at the pictures I have in the ipad . . . can't believe I don't have any of when I was in school, young, etc!!!  They think Virginia is beautiful!  Today is Class five, tomorrow is Classes three and the one second grader that is in Boarding.  I know that's young, but . . . Then, I've had all 60 over.  Their parents do a variety of things including Bible translation, teaching in a school setting, medical work, teaching/preaching in a church setting, training, etc.

I gave myself permission to take Thurs (Thanksgiving) 'off' and went to Rajpur to pick up what I had left the week before to be 'stitched' as they say here.  It was a disappointment, but I did enjoy the different kind of a day.  Maria, a former Woodstocker with an American mother, had me over for dinner that night and cooked up quite a tasty 'Thanksgivingish' meal.  Ramesh, her husband is a gem.  Their two little girls are amusing at best.  We had such a good time talking and catching up!  Ramesh teaches at PTS.  Maria's father has been the principal there for quite awhile!

Sat was an inter-house Volleyball tournament . . . houses, its a British thing . . . and I also attended a marathon Christmas songs competition.  It lasted well over 5.5 hours, was in English and Hindi, solos and choirs . . . our English Choir took second place.  I had been warned, but couldn't have anticipated how long and tiring the evening was going to be!!!  I was really tired when I got home, and all of yesterday!

So, with the coming of Dec, I have started thinking earnestly about what I am going to do after the 25th . . . need for some things to become clear . . . in the mean time, I am happily hanging around here, and trusting that the Lord is using my thoughts and words as I live among these 'kids'.

To God be the Glory!

Settling in . . .

So, it has been a week since my return to Dehradun!  For me, things have been fairly quiet here.  The world around me, however, is a busy one!  It has been nice for me to sleep until I wake up and then have breakfast and a Quiet Time here in the flat before going over to the Girls' Hostel for a.m. tea where I am able to check in with the girls and Mashaphi who looks after them on what just might be up for the day.

School ends at 2 and more than a few of the girls are involved in practices for the final program which will be on Dec 18th.  Some are in the choir which practices behind the building where I am living.  Others are practicing for the play Pilgrim's Progress.

I have taken devotions with the Boarders twice this week . . . there are 91 Indian MKs who study here and live in the two hostels.  I shared Tues on what the Lord was teaching me about trusting Him, even in hard times.  On Fri I spoke about lessons I've learned from Joseph on God having the Big Picture which helps us realize in the midst of 'hard times' that we can TRUST him.  I am planning two or three more lessons on Joseph.  I am not sure what the schedule is for this week.  It seems that Tues and Wed are holidays . . . we have lots of them in India because of there are several religions practiced here . . . this week they are Sikh holidays, I believe, and no Sat school!  Yes, they DO go to school two Saturdays a month.

Another thing that the students are practicing for this week is a Christmas song competition between church choirs which will be held on Sat.  Our students sound pretty good to me.  Let's see how it goes.

At the end of devotions, with just the girls, last night I began teaching them FINGERPRINTS OF GOD by Steven Curtis Chapman.  I learned earlier in the week that he wrote than for his daughter which makes it more meaningful for us  girls, I think.  Several have told me that they like it.

On Fri I went out to Rajpur, a town on the way up to Mussoorie.  It is where Sharp Memorial Blind School is located.  It is run by a couple that I was in OM with 40 years ago.  Their children went to Woodstock.  It was lovely to catch up with them, and I also ordered a sweater to be knitted by some of the blind women who live/work there.  Unfortunately, I lost my black sweater the first week I was in India, and have been borrowing one that belongs to a friend that was knitted by a Sharp Memorial knitter.  Of course, the 'problem' is that I need it by Christmas, if possible.  Apparently, their fastest knitter, a woman in her 80s just fell and broke her hip.  They think they can get it done if several women work on it.  I think it would be special to own such a sweater.

I also went to Chhaya Cafe which is a place where women who are poor and need employment have learned tailoring and cooking.  I had a delicious lunch there . . . nice to eat Western after a steady diet of Indian food . . . they are going to make a skirt for me out of some Indian fabric that has been lying around waiting for something to happen to it for the last 6 years!  It is a tribal 'outfit' that needs to be wrapped, and I have not been able to remember how to successfully wrap it.  I will be interested to see how it turns out.  I'm also looking forward to the return trip, if for no other reason to visit the lady who started the place . . . PTS and WS connections there also!

Church this a.m. in one of my favorite places on this side of the world . . . Presbyterian Theological Seminary . . . sitting on the Chacko's front porch while the children were in SS is another treat that I enjoy!

This week I am planning to have all of the girls over to my flat in Class groups . . . all of those in Class 12, 11, etc.  Otherwise there is just no way that I am going to learn everyone's name, and I don't want to spend 5 weeks with them and not know who they really are.  Of course, I am also interested in what their parents are doing and where they are working.  Several are on the 'count down' for the end of school for this year and Christmas break.  The older girls have lots of extra classes to help them prepare for their so I am hoping it will all work with the time slot that has been given.  Maybe with these two days off that I didn't know about things can be worked out nicely!

Nesting in Dehradun!

I arrived back 'home' yesterday at about noon, just one day shy of two weeks since my departure.  The six days in Nagaland were packed full of friends, food, and festivities!!!  I am very glad I went, but I am equally glad that the travel is history for the next month.  I am travel weary!

I spent my first and last nights in Nagaland in Dimapur with Dolly who is Kedu's, the bride, aunt.  She is so warm and friendly.  We met as I exited the airport, and in a minute or two, it felt like we were long lost friends!  After a quick lunch and being shown to a lovely guest room on her premises, Asola and Meren, sisters, came and picked me up.  The destination was Meren's restaurant where we were joined by three other old Woodstock students.  It was between 15 and 13 years since I had seen most of this group, but it took us no time at all to begin catching up, telling stories and having a grand ole time!!!  I was 'informed' when I returned 'home' at 7:30 that I was 'late'! Dolly and her husband had retired for the evening!!!  I was surprised, but I was given dinner separately, not that I really needed to eat again!  (I'd always been told that Nagaland was very different from the rest of India culturally.  True . . . in Kolkata, for example, no one eats before 8 or 9 and goes to bed much later!  In Nagaland, they eat by 6 at the latest, and go to bed early, wake up early . . . it is very dark by 5 . . . )

Kohima, the home of the bride and groom, is a 'hill station' about two hours drive from Dimapur.  Dolly, her driver and I started out about 8 a.m.  Kedu was expecting us to arrive by 10!  We didn't get there until 11:30 because of several stops, really bad roads, and lots of TRAFFIC!!!  One of our stops was to pick up a friend of Dolly's.  The three of us had a really enjoyable time traveling together!

More eating, meeting relatives, friends who had traveled up from Mumbai, where Kedu has been training to be a surgical oncologist . . . let me stop to brag here . . . she is the only person in the whole of NE India who has this qualification.  And, oh yes, Kedu was struggling with nightly fevers and not feeling well.  In good medical hands, her mother, father, sister and brother in law all being physicians . . . still no treatments broke the cycle.  Even so, she was a gloriously beautiful bride!!!  I didn't get to see or meet the groom until the ceremony.  They look like brother and sister, I think, and are a truly adorable couple! The ceremony was conducted in two languages, one of them being English.  My oh my, what a 'charge' to the couple!  Then, both sets of parents were asked to stand, and they were also given Biblical 'instructions' on allowing their children to leave and cleave!

Nagaland is a Christian state!!!  I have never been anywhere in India quite like it.  Churches everywhere and lots of evidences of people of faith.  Formally headhunters, there are 14 Naga tribes, a rivaval came to the area several decades ago.  Kedu's dad says that they have American missionaries to thank for their growth.

The reception was held at a large Christian convention center.  I was slightly overwhelmed by the number of people who were gathered for a generous buffet meal.  I was equally surprised when not too long after we started eating, the whole place seemed to clear out.  That happens a lot in this part of the world . . . eat and leave!!!  Of course, most of those people greeted the bride and groom, sitting like dolls up on the platform receiving their guests!

I didn't see them again, but was able to do a little touring around Kohima the next day.  There is quite a beautiful cemetery there commenorating many Indian and British soldiers who gave their lives in the area fighting the Japanese.  I was there on Nov 12, the day after American Veterans Day.  It was pretty special.

On the 13th I returned to Dimapur and Dolly's gracious hospitality and spent the afternoon and evening with another very special old student.

I was hoping to see Kedu and her groom on Sat at the airport . . . there are only two flights out a day.  They were due to leave on their honeymoon.  I knew that her older sister and family were also slated to be on that flight.  Word was that Kedu was responding to some anti-Malaria drugs.  Time was already running out for boarding when the sister and family appeared.  The baby boy was quickly put into my arms so that they could finish getting all of their things and other children through security.  Kedu and hubby had changed their departure date.  Hopefully she is continuing to Inprove.

After a night in Delhi and a short flight, then a long ride from the airport, I arrived back at Grace Academy.  I very happily unpacked and sorted out two weeks worth of dirty clothes!  Long story short there, I was able to get everything clean by washing some things by hand and by doing others in the principal's washer!  They even have a dryer!!!  So, everything is clean though I was expecting the dobi to come this evening to take some things to be ironed.

It has been nice to have time with the 60 girls in the Grace Hostel for meal yesterday and today.  Their dorm parent and I both thought of the same song . . . Mary Did You Know? . . . for the students to learn for a Christmas song competition coming up.  I am not sure who the other competitors are, but . . . surely I will know before long.  I also spoke with the principal briefly today, and he would like for me to be the 'Chief Guest' at the final program on Dec 18th.  Of course, I accepted, and hope to be properly briefed before hand on exactly what that means.

Before I close, yesterday the big news from those returning from church was that a young girl had just died over at the Seminary.  She was just three, a student of the Nursery Class here.  It seems there were complications from pneumonia.  Very sad!!!

The weather is cooler here which is welcome to me.  During the middle part of the day it warms up, but it is 5:30 p.m. as I write, and it is definitely time to close the windows and doors.

I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, but I am confident that He is in it with me!  I am so grateful to belong to Him!!!

What a week!!!

So, here I am again on a Sat with some much needed down time!

So much for thinking that flying from Dehradun was such a great idea.  It is a tiny airport, so the flight to Kolkata last Mon began with a flight to Delhi!  As the clock ticked well past our departure time, with the lay over in Delhi a short one, and with only one boarding pass in my hand . . . well, I just wondered how this was going to work out.  I wasn't the only one 'sweating' the connecting flight. But, I decided that there was absolutely nothing I could do, but trust the Lord for the outcome.

Yes, the flight had left for Kolkata without us when we arrived in Delhi!!!  The Delhi airport is huge and directions that I found easy to follow were not forthcoming, though I asked several people.  Finally after several askings, I ended up at the luggage 'belts' and was told that my luggage could be picked up . . . what a relief!!!  I was then given instructions as to where to rebook my flight, that also took several askings to get me to the correct place, and I was the last of my fellow travelers to get a booking on the flight out at 7 a.m., and was then wisked off to a nearby hotel which was certainly nice enough . . . bill footed by the airlines, and told that I could get dinner, also on the airline!  I crawled in bed about 11 p.m. with my alarm set for 4 a.m. as the car was leaving to take us back to the airport at 5 a.m.  Happy to report, I slept well those five hours, and was in the lobby at 4:55 a.m.!

We took off and landed according to schedule, and when I exited the airport, an EMC driver was there to meet me!!!  Unfortunately, he had started for the airport the night before as I hadn't gotten word to the correct person in time.  Gracious as ever, it took us almost as long to get from the airport to the office, where I am also staying in the Guest Room, as it did to get from Delhi to Kolkata!!!  The traffic would not have been so heavy the night before, but it was rush hour in Kolkata!!!

It was my first time in the new airport here, and my oh my there are lots of new roads, flyovers they call them here, that do help with traffic.  We were almost here when I finally knew where I was.

This feels like home, too, and the welcome was very warm.  There has been lots of skepticism about the fact that I am only here for a week, lots of  comments on the 'new do' . . . most don't like it and don't mind telling you so!  So goes life in India.

On Wed I made my way to Calcutta Emmanuel School and spent time with friends there, then walked across campus to visit the girls in Pauline Bhavan, where I lived for a total of 10 monhts.  The evening was finished off with dinner with the RoyDas family . . . a very nice time to catch up.  Craweled into bed latish that night and again, slept like a log!!!

Thursday all of the Pavement Clubs . . . there are four . . . celebrated Children's Day here at the EMC HQ.  Several of the teachers at the Pavement Clubs have been my English students in the past.  It was special to have this day with them and many of the children who get some 'informal' education at these clubs but do not attend school.  They are from various slums around the city.  At times it was hard to tell who was having more fun the children or their teachers.  These women and a few men are really so committed to these children.  Many expressed a desire for me to return to help them with English, something that I am open to.

Yesterday I returned to S. Kolkata to CES for Bible study, which I took, for the girls at PB and a few of the school staff.  I shared about Joseph and how God has the big picture even when life doesn't go your way.  Those girls really know the details of the study.  We also talked about ABIDING in God as that has been such the theme of 1 John.

Later today I am going over to see the boys at Anandoloy.  I have seen most of the ones who attend CES, but some go to Bengali medium schools.  It will be great to see them all.  We're having a special dinner together . . . my treat!

It is hotter than I thought it would be, which has been draining, and the traffic jams . . . oh my, but the reunions have been sweet!

Tomorrow is church.  Monday a.m. I am off to Nagaland 

Home Alone!!!

It is about 7:55 p.m. here in Dehradun.  I arrived back just after noon, and have enjoyed an afternoon to myself.  I have unpack and started repacking!  No one asked me about taking devotions tonight with the 'kids', and I decided not to volunteer.  They have had a couple of people from Scripture Union on campus all week.  At first I thought maybe they weren't having devotions, but the singing started at 7, so I guess they had them without me!

Last Sat night, all of the 91 students in boarding were present at devotions!  I felt so incredibly free as I shared my story, and they interacted with me nicely which I was happy about.  I then went to dinner with the girls, and enjoyed talking to a couple of the girls.  I think maybe different ones are being 'assigned' to eat with me which is nice!  I will see them in the a.m. as I am going on the GA bus with them to church at Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  There are several congregations that meet on the grounds in various Indian language groups.  I attend the English service!  I love it when I hear all of the languages singing as you walk across campus!

It was really nice to be there last week and to get to touch base with Mohan and Judy Chacko.  I commented to Judy, "This feels like home!" as we sat on the porch drinking coffee.  Ramesh, Maria and their two daughers joined us later.  Maria is Mohan and Judy's daughter.  Ramesh teaches at PTS and is finishing up doctoral studies that he did in Holland for a couple of years.  He grew up at Bhogpur Children's Home and told me once if he hadn't grown up there, he'd be a rickshaw driver!!!  I just love the ministry of giving people a 'leg up'!

The car picked me up at 2:00 as scheduled, and by 3:30 I was in the home of Dana and Judy Crider, long term residents of Mussoorie.  They have been at WS for 36 years, but Judy was there as a student.  She started Woodstock when was 6!

One of the reasons that I didn't 'volunteer' to do anything tonight here at GA is because I arrived back really very tired.  This is day 10 in India, so my body is over jet lag, but the sheer 'demands' of the terrain of Mussoorie was harder on my body than I expected it to be.  All of the up and down, and then also all of the excitment of seeing people.  I loved every minute of the time, but man I generally woke up still tired every a.m.  So, I'm going to bed early tonight, but I did think 8:00 was too early!!!

One of the very rewarding things about the week was to meet one old student, there are several on staff, but this one left WS making very unwise choices.  I had heard that he had turned his life around, but to see him, hear others speak highly of the job he is doing, to meet his wife and his children . . . special . . . thank you so much, Lord!!!  Yesterday during the lunch hour, I had a chance to tell him how proud I was of the man he has become.  I'd known him since 7th grade!  The irrestible grace of God!!!  Love it!

All of this said, I am going to put my 'wonderings' about whether or not I should return to work at WS to rest.  I will always have a special place in my heart for this very special place, but . . . I'd have to start all over on relationships with students which was the most meaningful thing about being there to me.  The pace of life there is more than I want to take on again, or even think it would be wise to do.  And, I just cannot climb those hills like I used to be able to!!!  I have real peace and confidence that this is a right and good decision.  I didn't even talk to anyone about coming back.  This is a big answer to the VISION part of the REV . . . reasons for going!

After working at it all week, though not very consistently, I finally have a working Indian phone!!!
That adds a level of 'security' in that I can call someone if I need to . . .

I expect a fairly quiet day tomorrow and don't leave until the evening on Mon for Kolkata.  Wonder what that week will bring!  I'll let you know!!!

Perhaps I've been too long winded . . .

Fearing that things were going south again, I published, but wanted to finish off with some encouragement from today.  This morning Sudeepta brought Mashaphi up to meet me.  She is single handedly taking care of 60 girls in boarding!!!  We had a lovely visit.  I had agreed yesterday to take devotions tonight with the girls, I assume . . . there are also 31 boys in boarding  . . . these are all children of Indian nationals who are doing mission in India, but in an area that is not their own . . . that's a whole 'nother thing to explain.  But, let's just summarize by saying that they are crossing cultures though not borders.  India is sometimes referred to as a subcontinent because each state is like a separate country.  They speak different languages, have different customs, may eat and even dress differently.  There ARE 1.2 billion of them, after all! Only 6% of the population calls themselves Christians.  And, in that 6%, a good number of them are nominal.

Since I was up so early this a.m. after having my own devotions, I prepared devotions for tonight.  I am so glad that Mashaphi came up because as we talked, we agreed that it would be good for me to introduce myself tonight by telling part of my story.  I had wondered about that, and was pleased that she felt free to tell me what she really thought . . . it is a huge gift when a younger Indian does that!  May God lead us tonight as we spend time together.

I did have lunch with the girls today and will begin eating lunch and dinner with them when I am here.  It is spicy, simple food . . . not my favorite.  Rice wears off quickly in my body, but I just cannot eat it in volume the way that they do.  I know that there will be chapatti tonight.  I much prefer them to rice!  May God give grace and show me if I need to make other arrangements.

Hannah, whose parents are Telegu speaking but work in Mumbai, came to get me for lunch, brought me food, walked me home, and will be back tonight to 'pick me up' for devotions.  She is lovely!!!  While eating lunch, a 9th grader began talking politics with me.  I want to be totally available to these girls when I return, and to dear Mashaphi who really needs help!  Help me, Lord, to listen to your instructions.  My desire is to bring you glory!

I got everything unpacked yesterday and semi organized.  It was a good feeling.  I leave tomorrow afternoon for Mussoorie, a homecoming!  The closer it gets, the more excited I become.  So, repacking has begun.  I will be gone a week, back a day, and then off to Kolkata and Nagaland before returning here for a month!  Thinking about all of this is likely the reason for my inability to sleep.  I did go for a long walk today to try to counteract the effects of too much sitting this week . . . my ankles are swollen again after yesterday.  They have gone down some, but aren't right!  Fortunately tomorrow's travel is only an hour and then walking everywhere and sleeping in the same bed for a week . . . I should be good to go by next Fri if it really is true that it takes a day for every time zone you cross to get completely on the new time zone!  Thanks for reading this far!

Oh Snap!!!

I just spent a lot of time telling you all about the great adventure of getting here to Dehradun, my current state of jet lag, etc. only to loose it.  I just hate that, and it has taken the wind out of my sails!  So, I am going to take a break and try again later!  What I really need is a nap!  It is 3 p.m., and I have been up for 11 hours and awake for almost 14!  I wish I knew how to retrieve that which I have lost.  Maybe something will come to me!

It's now 3:45, and I am up from my unsuccessful attempt at a nap!  My brain just won't turn off, the adrenaline is pumping, and the construction going on next door, right outside my window, isn't helping at all!

I simply cannot retrieve my narrative on yesterday's journey, so here goes another version of it . . .

The timetable . . .

5:00 . . . a knock at the door of my room, my wake up call . . . a waiter with a cup of coffee

5:45 . . . I roll my suitcases to the elevator, something that wasn't in the building when last I stayed there 13 years ago . . . and successfully get myself, and my luggage, downstairs.  The taxi, ordered for 6:00 is waiting for me.  Luggage loaded, RR station nearby, no traffic . . .

6:15 . . . surrounded by coolies at the New Delhi train station!!!  I am definitely getting soft in my old age . . . let two coolies talk me into letting them take my two pieces of luggage, which admittedly were heavy, to Platform 16 for a greatly inflated price!!!  Their argument . . . it is the last platform, you have to use the bridge to get across all of the other tracks, your seat is in the first car of the train so we have to walk a long way . . . on and on . . . I didn't feel like haggling, and I do have white skin, what's a girl to do!!!???

What I didn't know is that in the last couple of months an elevator has been installed at the station which makes using that bridge much easier than it used to be!  And, what the coolie with the really heavy suitcase didn't realize is that a four wheel roller suitcase is really easy once you are on the flat platform!!!  Of course, they did wait with me for the train to pull in, and they did get my luggage situated nicely above my seat.  But, in the 'rush' to get onto the train with all of the other coolies, one of my shoes got knocked off and fell in the 'gap' between the train and the platform onto the tracks!  Needless to say, I was upset and was wondering how I was going to retrieve a pair of shoes out of my locked suitcases nicely placed over my seat.  Well, the smaller coolie jumped into action and got my shoe for me, I don't know how, but I was very grateful . . . maybe he really did deserve that inflated price for his work!!!

6:45 . . . the train pulls out of the station on time, if my memory serves me correctly, and the service begins!!!  I am in a First Class compartment because of the big suitcase . . . there is more space for luggage in that compartment, I get a Sr. Citizen discount, and the dollar is very strong currently against the rupee.  You get your breakfast in stages . . . first, the large bottle of mineral water, then lassi in a box . . . a little sweet for my taste, tea, followed by cereal, then your 'main course'.   I chose omlette over veg cutlet, and finish that off with coffee or tea!  Each 'course' is cleared before the next one is served, and because you are in 1st Class, you get china and silverware!  Jai Hind!!!

The rest of the trip was fairly quiet with the exception of somebody's  'mobile', as they are called here, going off regularly, and a man somewhere behind me that snored like a freight train!!!  The man in the seat next to me never said a word, nor did he eat anything.  He did fall asleep, but fortunately for me didn't even have labored breathing!  I worked on my 1 John study,  read several things, and played a few games.

Though we were a little late getting in, Mr. Sahu who is the property manager here at GA was waiting on the platform, came in and dealt with the coolie, got us successfully into the GA Jeep, successfully steered the vehicle though the too many cars, not enough concrete part of the journey home.  Sudeepta Newton was waiting lunch for me along with her handsome son Sammy, now a student in Grade 12!  He wasn't taller that I am when last I saw him!!!  My luggage was taken to my new home away from home . . . the guest flat at GA.  I never lifted a finger!  I had 20 copies of Hanna's book shipped to me from OM Books in Hyderabad.  They published it here so that it can be sold in the developing world at affordable prices!  Thank you George Verwer, for making it possible for me to get some of these to give as gifts!

Let the jetlag recovery begin!!!

It's 8:20 a.m. here in New Delhi!  I have been at the YWCA International Guest House for about eight hours!!!  I have slept a little bit, rearranged some of my belongings whilst looking for others, gotten cleaned up and had breakfast . . . puris and omlette . . . yum!!!

The IGH is a place that I frequented from time to time on visits to Delhi from Woodstock School.  There's nothing fancy about it, but it gives you the basics . . . a bed, an ensuite bathroom and breakfast is included.  It's in central Delhi, not far from Connaut (I'm sure I didn't spell that correctly) Place.  The staff speaks good English and is pleasant.  The same man was at the desk last night when I arrived about midnight and again this a.m. when I came down for breakfast.

I haven't been here for 13 years!  I stayed here with the 4/5s of the Henderson clan on my last night in India in June 2002.  The restaurant, at that time, had become quite POSH.  Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to have lasted.  Don't get me wrong, it is good enough, and nicer than my first visit here.  I was surprised to find a buffet set up which meant that I could easily not have cornflakes with hot milk . . . I am not at all sure where they got that idea!  I have certainly never had that anywhere but here!  Adequate . . . simple I just overheard other guests with British accents comment.  They are just beginning their breakfast,and I haven't turned around yet to gawk!

Last night, though I was in something of a daze from the long journey, there was something so comforting about the familiarity of Delhi!!!  Though I miss staying with the Wetherbys out in the burbs of Delhi, it is nice to be back in a more central part of the city!  The great contrasts of the country were very much in evidence last night as a Mercedes passed my somewhat rickety black and yellow taxi shortly after we had passed several cows roaming along the sidewalk.  Passing the Freedom Fighters monument and lots of circles . . . a little bit smoky, but ahhhhh, Delhi!!!

This a.m. as I lay in my bed thinking I wish I could go back to sleep, the thought of the abuse to the body from traveling half way around the world in less than 24 hours, most of it on a plane, really is just that!  Ever so tired last night, I had trouble falling asleep,and then the brain turned on early this a.m., and there was no other thing but to just get up and get on with it!  Hopefully, I can make it through today and get to bed, and sleep, early tonight because tomorrow a.m. it is up early to catch the train for Dehradun . . . my base of operation for the time here.  It means that I will be able to completely unpack and organize that which I have with me.  On Sun after lunch, I will have packed again to spend a week with friends in the 'Queen of the Hills', Mussoorie . . . one of my home sweet homes!

Let's see what we can get accomplished today . . . a phone, a manicure (they are lovely and inexpensive here, and in looking at my hands yesterday, I could use one.)  Let's see what I can find out from that nice man at the desk about a phone . . . I know where to get a manicure.  I wouldn't mind just laying low with my feet up . . . happy to report that even a few hours horizontal last night helped greatly with those swollen ankles!

Though it isn't as far from Boston to Paris as it is from Atlanta to Amsterdam, I did miss being in airports that I find familiar.  I found both the Boston and Paris airports very comfusing, and there wasn't any Southern hospitality or Dutch jovialness in either place.  There was also almost no lay over . . . by the time you had gone through security AGAIN, you were lining up to board!  The plane   to Paris was larger than the plane to Delhi, so it was nice to have a bit more leg room.  Neither flight was full, and the seat next to me was empty both flights!!!  It was nice to be able to spread out a bit!!!  Imagine my surprise in Paris to board a flight to Delhi with more white people than people of color.  That IS a first for me!!!

All for today . . . until next time!  It is great to be back in my beloved Hindustand, but . . . my friends/family in the USA, you are also very much in my heart!  God bless!