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!!!
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!!!
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