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
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
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