Reflecting

Our trip was so rich, meeting new friends and renewing old ones, representing the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), our Synod, Presbytery and congregation, learning more about the Church of North India, visiting  schools, hospitals, an orphanage, participating in worship, and visiting sites historical, beautiful, religious.
All of which was tempered with good food, great shopping and the fun of one another's company.

The people we met, each in their own way, presented to us the face of Christ.  Their faith and desire to be an embodiment of Christian ideals touched us all.  We were successful in that we met the goals we had initially set forth:
                             To strengthen ties between PCUSA and the Church of North India (CNI), especially during this time of transition to a new General Secretary, Alwin Maseh.
                             To show solidarity, support and increased vigilance among Christians during a time of persecution.
                             To develop a greater understanding of the political challenges faced by Indian Christians and by Dalit Christians in particular.
                              To further our own understanding of the religions in India.
                              To reach out to all who are interested at home to share what we have learned, seen and felt and to develop ways to further support our brothers and sisters.

We have been enriched far beyond any contributions we may have made during our time in India.  As much as people appreciated our interest and support,  they touched our hearts and strengthened our faith in a loving God who answers prayer.  I was particularly interested in the many references to the role of missionaries in the establishment of the church.  People we met were quick to acknowledge the foundations of medical care and education they established.  The gift of Christianity, a religion that espouses the equality and worth of all humankind was welcomed by downtrodden and excluded people.  Of course things are never as clean as that; and we heard about injustices perpetrated long ago that continue today as well as current problems with evangelicals.

Preparations are underway for a presentation at the Smithtown Church on January 23, 2011.  We will use the sermon time at both services, host the fellowship hour, and invite folks to stay after the 11:00 service for further sharing.  This will serve as the prototype for further presentations.  We have been invited by the Long Island Council of Churches and expect to present at a meeting of the Presbytery of Long Island.  We will also share our impressions with fellow members of the India Mission Network of PCUSA.

Perhaps most exciting of all is that I have started exploratory conversations with an eye toward establishing a 501C3 not for profit, India Journey with Grace.  The mission of the foundation will be to increase educational and cultural awareness between Americans and Indians through future visits.  I do plan to host a trip in October of 2011 and invite you to learn more about that.  If you have an interest in coming with me, I can be contacted at gsimonette@verizon.net

And for now a heartfelt  Namaste to each of you.




                          

Last Days in Delhi

It seemed as if we had meeting upon meeting with the General Secretary of CNI to discuss our future mission involvement in India. Finally it was agreed that we would continue to work with the partners with whom we have historical relationships in the Etah area. We were assured that we should require reciept of information regarding use of funds, financial recordsn mission statements, etc prior to releasing any funds.

On Tues., our first full day back in Delhi, Lois and I went to visit Birjees Kidwai, a good family friend who lives in Delhi. She and my mother were close friends from their Isabella Thoburn College days in Lucknow. Her daughter, Shaanza Mehta and I are also good friends. The feelings of warmth and closeness with one another and with my mother were palpable. Lois and I got to see family pictures and learn more about the family history. Birjees' grandfather did not allow his daughters to be kept in Purdah and ensured they were well educated. Her father also treated his daughters that way so that each one grew to be a well educated and distinguished person in her own right. She took us to lunch at the Indian International Club, which was a treat. Lois and I would never have known such a lovely place existed without her.

Our friend Santosh George who had arranged for our cell phones arranged a tour for us of the Sikh Gurudwallah in Delhi. At last I have a sense of Sikhism and what it is all about. Besides going into the temple we were able to visit the kitchens where they prepare lunch for thousands of people every day. We were there in time to watch part of the serving, and decided not to stay for lunch but to go and do other things.

On two mornings we got out early enough to actually walk. We visited the Nehru Gardens and Lodi Gardens, both beautiful in their own right. Lodi is graced with beautiful old buildings in addition to more elaborate plantings. There were quite a few folks out in both places jogging and walking and meditating.

Through a friend of Lois we visited the American School where she and her husband Andy worked. What a haven of loveliness and order. I wished I had a more privileged birth so I could have enjoyed going to school in such a place. And they have a cafe with real coffee, a little gift shop and free WiFi. Obama will be visiting there this week.

Denise, the friend of the friend, accompanied us to the orphanage operated by Mother Theresa's Sisters of Mercy. The children are well cared for and enjoy plenty of interaction with their caregivers. The first group of little ones we met burst into tears at the sight of so many strange white faces. According to Denise it is important for them to see new faces even if they get upset. Most of the children with the help of staff were subsequently able to overcome their fears and interact with us.

Sushma Ramishwamy, Communications Director for CNI whom Jimmy and I had met on our last visit, invited us to dinner for our last night together. We all hit it off immediately; she and Margaret bonded over Sushma's connections with Bollywood movie stars. We went to Karem's; very famous and listed in all the guide books. It is in Old Delhi, crowded and exciting at night as it is in the day time. Only with more of an air of mystery. Dinner was a meatfest starring goat in several forms. Very yummy and kheer for dessert. Afterward she took us to a shop to get some rose water and then a stop at a sweet shop and finally a stop for paan. I was the only one game enough to try it. It was in a form that was sweet and fibrous and I did have a few little tastes of it. Not enough to feel any effects; clearly an acquired taste.

India, too, is an acquired taste. One that is well worth the effort. I am already thinking about the next trip in October 2011 and hope many friends old and new will be able to join me.

On our very last day we visited the B'hai Lotus Temple. It is an architectural wonder, shaped like a lotus blossom which looks an awful lot like an artichoke. But of course it is the lotus that has meaning in India. The temple is designed to express the B'hai belief in the oneness of all religions and is visited by throngs of people every day. The crowds are managed well, even to the storage and return of shoes. And again, learning took place.

Our last "tourist" stop was one of the most meaningful to me. Birla House where Ghandi spent his last days is now a musuem dedicated to him. It is well cared for and thoughtfully displays art in his memory along with the room he stayed in. His last steps to the garden prayer meeting before he was assassinated are laid out and the story of his life and the birth of an independent nations are well told.

Fame

Scottish Followers

I was up early on our last day in Delhi and after more packing got dressed in my new Afghani style shalwar chamize, my new amber beads purchased in Darjeeling, my new bangles and my old black scarf. Even though it was too early for breakfast, I went to the dining hall hoping for a cup of tea and planning to read. Alwin Maseh, General Secretary, and his wife Nina were there and we were soon joined by two women from the Church of Scotland who had arrived around midnight the night before. Introductions were made and when Margaret Ann Crawford heard my name, Grace, she asked if I wrote a blog. "Why yes, I do, India Journey with Grace." She and Joyce Strachan were quite excited to meet me as Robert Burgeon of their group had photo copied my blog which they all read on the plane on their way to Delhi. Robert and Stuart Cowman came along shortly and were also amazed to meet me. We took pictures and Robert even tweeted about our meeting.

Knowing how thrilled I was to meet people from Scotland who actually found and read the blog, I can't imagine what it must be like to be a published author with legions of fans.

They were on the way to Kalimpong and staying at the Komfort Inn. Hopefully they will like it as much as we did.

SHOPPING

Back in Delhi and the shopping is fine. Not to mention Kalimpong (rug), Darjeeling (tea, silk embroidered Kashmiri coat, Pashmina shawl, wool embroidered jacket). Gifts back in Agra at Kohinoor, a world famous store where I got a lapis lazuli ring on our first trip to India. They have expanded to a new location, and the same masterworks of embroidery grace their walls. But I digress.

Margaret buys sets of faux jewelry, and bangles and individual pieces at every turn. Her habit when traveling to India is to bring very few cooties and have salwar cameez sets made up. She bought five or six three piece sets. Dupatta always included. A dupatta is the scarf Indian women always wear that is difficult for us Western women to keep in place. Or at least for this western woman to keep in place. Today, at Dilli Haat, I got a two piece set in Afghani style with tight legging like pants, very much in style, I am told. It is cotton and casual and may be fun to wear at home. I can certainly bring it next time I come. And I got a set of four wooden bangles to go with, following Margaret's excellent example. Dilli Haat is a very nice market with goods from all around the country. it is laid out well with brick stalls for the vendors and places to eat regional foods. At last Lois and I got to have moms, Tibetan type dumplings which are either steamed or fried. We had order of each in chicken. Very yummy served with hot sauce.

Yesterday we went to the Red Fort. Wouldn't you know, the original plan of 1639 included a covered bazaar which still operates today. another chance to stock upon bangles for Margaret and I got a pair of fake gold earrings for Rs100.

Delhi has many famous shopping areas, and we did not get to many. It is a Mission trip, after all. We did go to Connaught Road twice. The first time was pretty disappointing to me and the second time last night to find a jewelry store that had been recommended. A friend had given me some money to get her a pair of earrings. We didn't find the one we were looking for,but did find a lovely pair of earrings in her price range. I hope she likes them. We also happened upon a cheap luggage store to get duffel bags to haul the loot home in. Besides the rug, we all have mountains of literature that shouldn't be thrown out before we can read it. Or not.

I like to do my Christmas shopping on vacation and there is no better place than India.

Compassion Sunday

Compassion Sunday was the day before we left Darjeeling. We were picked up for services at the CNI church, a very modest building, nothing at all like the beautiful and imposing St. Andrews up on the hill. We were met by the Elder whose history with the church goes back to before CNI was formed. There was a split in Darjeeling as many members objected to the adoption of a church hierarchy which included Bishops. Most members left, taking church property with them. He and about 8 members remained to build up a tiny congregation.

The church is bursting at the seams and plans for expansion are in the works. The service was focused on youth and they led by singing, reading the gospel, and singing some more. It was a treat to see women and men, boys and girls up on the dais and using the pulpit. As Pastor Roshan was away our Elder friend preached. He told stories that contained a lesson related to youth and sprinkled his sermon with humor. Since the service was in Nepali, we were pretty much on our own. We did enjoy singing "How Great Thou Art" with the congregation. It is a favorite everywhere. I was moved by lines in one of the children's songs "we are the children, we are the present."

At the end of the service we greeted everyone and were introduced to sons and daughters, in laws and grandchildren, brothers and sisters. It seemed he had single handedly filled the church himself. or, as he said, he shot many straight arrows.

Later that day we visited a Buddhistt Monastery, very new and dedicated by the Dalai Lama. The outside looked a bit Disneyesque, but inside was the same peaceful feeling and incredible art. We came upon a group of people in a room with giant prayer wheels. they were sitting in boxes on the floor and rotating the prayer wheels by means of a sash like cloth which they pulled on rhythmically. Try it? Of course we did. Not easy work until you let your body become one with the exercise.

Hoping that shorter posts will alleviate the WiFi blues.

Goodbye to the Hills

How to leave such a beautiful place? Only by vowing to return SOON. Jimmy got up early to catch a view of Kangchendzonga, the third highest peak in the Himalayas. He showed us the snow covered peaks of the sleeping Buddha off in the distance and we thought he had nailed it. After bill paying and breakfast and hugs with the Director we ready. Except for the box lunches they prepared for us tied with green ribbon. and one more thing. the mountain is in the opposite direction from where we were looking. Our taxi driver took us to the right spot and we really saw it in all it's glory.

The ride to the airport through miles of tea gardens was fairly smooth until we hit the inevitable mega traffic jam. This one even had a police officer involved. Our driver was the most nonagressive we had come across in all of our travels, adding to the sense of urgency to get to the airport in time. And we were just in time, going through all the ticketing and security steps and immediately on line for boarding.

It was a plane trip never to be forgotten; the pilot banked slightly, and there it was below in all it's glory: Kangchendzonga. I was sorry Gerard missed it.

Drinks at Seven,Dinner at Eight

Again too many days have passed, so I will start with what is most recent and work my way back. As of yesterday we have been ensconsed at the Windamere, a hotel straight out of the Raj in Darjeeling. Our rooms are lovely in a very British way, the service is unbelievable, the meals really good. This morning I got up and out early, around 5:00 AM to watch the sun rise over the mountains. I went out in PJs, bathrobe and jacket, knowing it would really not matter. Especially since my PJs are the same sort of fabric that is used extensively here. Anyway, a waiter came a long to ask if we would like tea or coffee and we accepted. In the meantime we climbed up into an observation deck for a better view. Instantly someone appeared to take the tarps off the table and chairs, set them up comfortably for us, and brought us our tea. The turn down of the beds at night includes a fleece covered water bottle. And all of this in the midst of the beauty and serenity of the hills.

Deliberations were held this morning out on the veranda about how to proceed with all we have seen and learned. We developed a set of questions for each of the organizations we visited and each of us has an assignment for contact purposes. My job is the Etah schools.

Before lunch I walked to the zoo with Jimmy, a totally downhill 2.5 kilometers. We saw snow leopards, tigers and black bear, among others. the zoo was much better than I had anticipated. The animals are magnificent and obviously well cared for. There was no way we could have made the uphill trek back to the Windamere and were relieved to find a taxi to take us back. Lunch was followed by a trip to a Buddhist temple, very new and dedicated by the Dalai Lama. this afternoon was a round of shopping with Margaret. The supply of fabulous tea I bought should last for a decade of drinking and gifting.

At dinner Elizabeth Clark, the Manager, brought me a lump of Himalayan salt which I had asked about at lunch. It looks like a chunk of dirt, but at only 40Rs, I am glad to have it. I know it can be attractively packaged for gifting.  Now I am hoping she comes up with my other request, curry leaves. we had a grand old time with her at the bar this evening. She is an actress and chanteuse at heart and endlessly entertaining. She runs this place with vigor, maintaining high standards for all staff.

Yesterday was our travel day from Kalimpong. It rained like crazy all night and well into the morning, but the trip to Darjeeling was uneventful except for the scenery. The hillsides were glistening from the rain and the rice paddies and tea gardens provided contrasting greens against the forest. We arrived at the Windamere in time for lunch and then tea. No meals were missed, although we did skip tea today. And probably won't be here for lunch tomorrow.

We were met at Badogra Airport after our flight from Delhi by young men from Kalimpong sent by Enos. Two vehicles were used for us and them and all our luggage.The trip was not an easy one as there was a landslide on the road which held up traffic for a long time. On their way down there was an accident with 11people dying in a vehicle that went off the road and down a hillside. We were taken to the Komfort Inn where Enos and a couple of men from the church met us. It was good to see him again and we were garlanded with white scarves, in Bengali fashion. The hotel proprieters were very helpful and welcoming. They do all the work themselves with the help of just one girl. Marketing, meal preparation, serving, cleaning of the establishment, repairs, etc. They are planning to add on a few rooms as the hotel is frequented routinely by various church people that come to Kalimpong.

The next day we were taken to downtown Kalimpong for a little shopping and then on to Enos' new house for lunch with church/school leaders. The house is very large for two people, with generously sized rooms and plenty of balconies. We went from there to the site of a vocational training center they are building. Students will be people who have dropped out of school and have no skills. One of the issues in the area is that young women and girls who leave home seeking employment are often caught up in the sex trade. By providing a path to employment the hope is that they will not be easy prey for traffickers. I loved the site visit and looking at the plans for the center. We also looked at other property the church has and talked about plans for expansion of the school programs. We had some free time after that meeting and were able to make a short run into town to look for a couple of things we didn't get to in the morning. I found a beautiful rug that I hope will fit in my kitchen with great colors and a Tibetan style dragon design. Kalimpong and Darjeeling are Gorkha land, where there has been a move for independence from India two years ago. People are ethnically and culturally different from the Indian population at large and the general feeling is that the government ignores their needs. We got back in time to meet with a group of church elders and leaders (all men) to talk about their hopes and dreams for improving outreach to youth and populations in need in their area. our discussion ranged to issues we all face such as how to encourage the participation of the youth. Dinner was then served and once again we got to bed late.

Dalit Theology

After breakfast we were invited to meet with Alwen Masih, General Secretary. We discussed some things like communication and working together, etc. he arranged for a car for us for the day and for our laundry to be picked up and delivered this evening. a car will be waiting door us tomorrow morning to take us to the airport. Later we met with Dr. James Massey, a noted scholar of religions and the main developer of the theory of Dalit Theology. This is very different from Liberation Theology which posits Christ as a champion of the poor and oppressed. Dalit Theology posits Christ as a Dalit, a person outside his community in every way. The discussion ranged over several hours and lunch, giving us new perspectives on some of what we have already seen and felt. It will provide a backdrop to our talks while we are in Darjeeling, debriefing.

Afterward we walked around Connaught Place, one of the reknown shopping areas in Delhi. Construction all around which should have been completed before the Commonwealth Games and dust everywhere, including the goods in every shop we entered. The only thing I bought was a bottle of organic triphala; a combination of herbs good for cleansing the system, to put it euphemistically. My search for the Apple Store was in vain, so no 3G network for me. Which is why I am staying up so late again to bring this up to date. The Bhavan has WiFi and I managed to get on tonight before dinner after initial frustrations. Dinner was provided by the Bhavan, as was the car today and tomorrow. Every day brings new surprises.

School Visits, Etah

At the school we were treated to a lovely, interminable program where the girls sang and danced sweetly with many costume changes and everybody spoke at least two times. We all received garlands of marigolds from the girls during the program and one artificial one on the way in. We learned that many of the girls in the program are the ones we support. The program lasted at least two more hours so counting the time in between the service and the program, it was at least five hours and we had no breakfast that day, just a cup of tea before church.

Lunch was served in the auditorium, which was very nice. (The lunch, not the auditorium which was pretty dirty.) After lunch we met with Sheela Prasad, Mr. Lall, and Dr. Lyall, the superintendent of the Christian Schools and the Hospital at Kasganj, in addition to many other boards and duties. We met at Sheela's home, which gave us the chance to talk frankly about the communication difficulties we have experienced. the trip itself was a perfect example, with no confirmation that we were expected or welcome until a week or so before we left. Even that was a source of confusion as Dr. Lyall thought we were staying several days and Dr. Sheela referred only to 10/17. We also discussed ideas we had talked about with Bishop Cutting the previous day in Agra of providing transportation to Dalit girls in outlying villages who cannot afford transportation to school. Dr. Lyall and Sheela advocated for the expansion of our current program by extending scholarship opportunities to girls upon graduation so that they could receive vocational training such as nursing programs which would lead to employment. The Girls' hostel has been closed for five years. The children we have been supporting are not Dalits from outlying villages, but Christian girls who are day students. They advocated for a continuance of this as there is no government support or funding for the Christian girls, while the Dalits do receive support. The Christian girls come from very poor families and would not be able to attend without our help.

After discussion, we agreed to alter our schedule to include a return to Etah the following day to visit Asha's school, the Agricultural Inter College and the hospital in Kasgang, and to visit the newly opened eye clinic in Etah. The plan was to go to Delhi directly from Kasganj the following afternoon. We got back to the hotel that evening around 10:00, got something to eat and fell into bed, although not necessarily to sleep.

We left the next morning at 9:00, feeling very thankful that we had the same car and driver for our whole stay in Agra and that Jagedesh was
such a good driver.

Around 11:00 we arrived at the intersection of the "main" road and the very muddy dirt road to the Ashram. We have no idea how the driver recognized the place or how he managed to get the van through without getting stuck in the mud.

We were joyfully greeted; Asha did not think we would come as no one ever did. The children were engaged in studies of reading and math. they were sitting quietly and attentively. They were three and a half to four and five. And they had a lock on cute. I loved going around the classes saying good morning to them and shaking hands. They sang songs for us, of course. Our favorite was "Send a message to Jesus" with each verse ending with a gesture of talking on the phone and "Hello". Her father was murdered about two years ago, stabbed 22 times and she is carrying on his work and making constant improvements to the school. She lives alone on the property with only four dogs for protection. Asha, which means hope, is a visionary who will not be deterred by fear or misfortune.

Of course we were late in leaving and late in arriving at the Agricultural College where we received garlands again and had a tour. Mr. Lall made sure to tell us all the many ways we could be of help to the College. Of all the institutions we visited his was remarkably well cared for and clean. He gave me some pictures to share with folks at home, hoping for support.


Lateness built up so that we arrived at the Christian Hospital at Kasganj quite late. We ate lunch immediately and then went to see the program the staff had prepared for us. We were all moved by their efforts and by the five garlands we each received; these with roses and jasmine in addition to the marigolds and one beaded one to keep with us. Nursing students danced, Dr. Lyall's son sang and played the guitar and accompanied the dentist who also sang. Dr. Lyall had prepared that morning a history of the hospital which he shared with us
and we each had opportunity to speak...two times. Thenwe toured the hospital, which is quite large on a 6 acre campus. There are separate wards for OB/GYN, men, women, Dalits. A special eye hospital, and many other services. Dr. Lyall is justifiably proud of the work they are doing and the growth of the hospital in terms of services, patients served, training programs for nurses and doctors, etc. the need for updated equipment is obvious; the autoclave is older than he is. India is a dusty place, but again we wished things were cleaner.

Twilight was fast decending by the time we left Etah for Delhi. The constant stimulation these car rides provide cannot be adequately described. Suffice it to say there seemed to be a close call almost every minute, and passing through villages

Can't Keep Up

I am back in the wi fi world here at the Church of North India (CNI) Bhavan where we are staying. Connectivity has been problematic. The blog posts but e mail does not get sent. checking in on the blog is the best way to follow the trip. I wish more people would sign on as followers; Margaret has three to my two.

Etah...On Sunday,10/17, we drove to Etah from Agra, leaving at 6:00 AM to be sure of a timely arrival for the 9:00 AM service. Pastor UR Jacob has retired and lives with his son, Pastor Anish Jacob. The little room we met in before the service last time is now occupied by a bearer and his family and there was no effort to plan our participation in the service. Girls sang enthusuastically and performed a sacred dance with lit candles. each holding twio lit candles, turning about in limited space, placing candles on the floor and dancing and then kneeling next to the xandles wearing pretty white polyester dresses. I was in the fron row, figuring the most efficient way to perform a drop, roll and smother. Jimmy was asked to preach, of course, which he did well as always. The two hour service concluded and clergy left the sanctuary. A pause and the three returned and I was asked to get the congregation. So I shared my little remarks and presented framed photographs of Bert and Ella. No one seemed interested or happy about it. Margaret spoke, always warm and compelling.

There were a few people from six years ago, a woman named Grace and Mr. Lall, Principle of the Boys' Agricultural Inter College. Dr. Mrs. Sheela Prasad was there, having come from Agra where her husband is recuperating from heart surgery. She provided translation for us as the service is in Hindi. Afterwards, Asha introduced herself. She had been planning to ask for a picture of Rev. McGaw to hang in her Ashram. She runs a little elementary school for children in the Awagarh area, following in the footsteps of her father who incorporated all the teaching of Mr. McGaw into his life and work. She invited us to visit the school, but it did not appear possible, as we planned to leave from Agra for Delhi the next day.  (12/13/10 I have since sent her the pictures.)

At last I got to see the house where my mother grew up, just the outside.  It was certainly familiar from the pictures I have seen over the years.  There were many apologies for the condition of the house, but still, it is lovely.

To Be Continued

Humility

I have 20minutes before getting in the van for the ride back to Etah, Kasganj, Delhi from Agra. There is a flood of impressions and happenings to relate, but I want first to go back to thoughts that are now three days old.

From the plane trip from Nagpur to Delhi to the train ride from Delhi to Agra we were treated with exceptional care. On the plane I sat next to a young couple who were returning home to Delhi after visiting her parents in Nagpur. Both are dentists who teach in the AM and operate their private clinic in the afternoons and evenings. She was particularly charming and beautiful and we enjoyed our conversation together. Deepika gave me her card and encouraged me to call her if I had any need, large or small. We were welcome to visit and the sincerity of her offer to help seemed most sincere.

From the airport in Delhi we taxied in two cabs to the home of Santosh George and his wife and son. Santosh met us on the road before we got to his street to avoid confusion in finding his apartment. Snacks were served and we awaited the arrival of the cell phone man that Santosh had arranged for us. He arrived, the phones unpacked and put on chargers. His wife, who works with him in the NGO dedicated to correcting club foot deformities in young children, had taken two days off from work to spend time at home with Santosh as they had not been home together for several weeks and were expecting overnight guests that evening. she was as gracious and relaxed and welcoming as could be. The original plan was that we could spend our time in a spare room they have until we needed to leave for the train to Agra while they went about their business. But they spent the day with us, even ordering takeout food for our lunch together. They are used to entertaining a stream of visitors and see that as an important part of their lives together. We had help getting our bags up and down the three flights of stairs, and taxis were called for the trip to the train station. Santosh spent considerable time trying to reserve tickets for us on the return to Delhi from Agra, but none were available?

On the train (there is now time now to talk aboutthe train station, etc.) we sat across the aisle from a young woman with two small children. She was charming and very interested in us and our trip and shared her excitement with her upcoming move to the Czech Republic for a year. She is an architect and stay at home Mom; her husband is an IT guy.

All these folks showed us extraordinary hospitality and I only wish I could be as giving as the strangers we meet along the way.

Church of North India Fortieth Anniversary

With no wifi and limited access to the Internet at the Pride Hotel where we are staying in Nagpur, I have too much to try and remember. I know we have been here three nights already because we have eaten at the hotel restaurant every night.The food is excellent and we are too far from town to go back and forth. In any case, Nagpur is most unappealing with heavy traffic and no identifiable downtown. Walking is not possible due to traffic and limited walking space. Jimmy is staying at a hotel on the other side of town and has joined us for dinner.

Starting with today and the immediate afternoon: We waited an interminable time for a CNI car to take us back to our hotels.Jimmy left first with a CNI staffer, leaving us ladies to continue waiting. While sitting in the hotel lobby where the rest of the foreign guests stayed, the Archbishop of Canterbury came off the elevator. He came over to us, shook hands and chatted most cordially. Shortly after that his main go to person joined us and spoke at length about her work with the Archbishop. A fascinating job and challenging. She needed to make another phone call for a car for him and his staff and kindly included our needs as well. I do credit her intervention with finally getting us a vehicle, even though Alwin Maseh, the General Secretary of the Church of North India had already called for a car for us.

This morning we arrived on time at St. Ursula's Girls' School where a double row of girls stood waiting to greet every guest. There were at least 200 in their school uniforms standing proudly with balloons and flower petals. We foreign delegates were ushered into a room together and led out behind the Archbishop and Bishops of CNI for the procession through the streets of Nagpur to the Episcopal Cathedral grounds where an immense tent had been set up for the occasion for 2,000 people. We were seated on the dias with the Bishops and other foreign delegates, most of whom were Moderators or leaders from their various denominations from England, Scotland, Canada and the US. The church service itself lasted about an hour and a half, with communion served to all. Hyms, some of them very familiar, were sung with repeats of many verses and refrains. And it was hot. Sweat poured from the faces of the group on stage, we were higher and there were no fans as there were for the audience. That was ameliorated with a few fans on stage. According to our driver this evening the temperature today was 40 degrees centigrade. The sermon by the Archbishop was moving and perfect for the occasion. He is a good speaker with a great voice and presence.

After the service representatives of the visiting denominations were invited to speak. Margaret was called on behalf of PCUSA and her words of greeting and love were well received. After that gifts were given out, one by one, and recognition of various people for their contributions to the Anniversary Celebration. It was past 12:30 when the service concluded.

We noticed the huge signs announcing the anniversary celebration of CNI placed at many places around the city on our way to Hissop College where the conference was held. The first day we attended was devoted to presentations of papers written by various theologians. Habil Massey, who we are going to visit in Delhi was among the presenters. I made a new friend; 10 year old Yashika Daniel took a liking to me and sought me out each day of the conference. She must have a library of 50 pictures of me. I gave her my card and she gave me her e mail address. I am hoping she and Natalie, my 10 year old grandaughter might get in touch with one another. I also met Bishop Cutting of Agra Diocese and we agreed to meet on Saturday, 10/16. I do hope that goes well and that he can help arrange a car and driver for our trip to Etah the following day.

The second day we were broken up into groups to talk about ways to address the challenges facing CNI. Groups were Bishops, Clergy, Lay Men and all the Women wether they fit into any of the other categories or not. The prefact to the announcement of the groups was a statement that no gender discrimination was involved in grouping the women separately. I did speak out about that, perhaps inappropriately. It may have helped women in the group Margaret was assigned to discuss gender inequality in the church and bring it to the attention of the whole group in their report. We were invited to lunch at the Tulli Hotel by the General Secretary along with the other foreign representatives. It was a good time to meet Alwin Maseh and to talk about concerns we may have as partners of CNI.

Tomorrow is a travel day. We leave early for the flight to Delhi and will go to the home of Rev. Santosh George who has graciously arranged for cell phones for us and has promised to make train reservations for us to Agra the same day. It will be the end of the Commonwealth Games and there is concern about traffic and availability of space. His work provides for treatment of infants born with club feet. The treatment, routine in the US, is not readily available in India. He coordinates services in a number of hospitals in the Delhi area.

And now my Internet Session must end. I tried earlier to log on to my Verizon Account, to no avail. Best love to my faithful readers.

The Daba Wallahs

We went to Churchstreet Rail Station this morning in time to witness the famous Daba Wallahs of Mumbai. This is a business comprised of illiterate men from a particular village. You may have seen them on 60 minutes. They pick up lunches prepared by the wives of businessmen and deliver them to the offices where the spouse works. The lunches are packed in tiffins by the homemaker so they stay hot. They are collected from a designated neighborhood and loaded on long ladderlike flats about 8 feet in length and 2 feet wide. They are carried on the heads of the deliverymen using the rail system. Amazing that they can do this at all, never mind in crowded railway cars. They meet outside the train station and regroup the lunches according to where they need to be delivered and off they go on bicycles. Their rate of accuracy is very high, well over 98%.

Back to the Y to collect our bags and off to the domestic airport for the short flight to Nagpur. We were met by two groups; one from the Pride hotel and the other from CNI. They had flowers to welcome us. Jimmy went off with the CNI van and the ladies took the van to the hotel, just outside the airport. Our room is very nice and the hotel lovely, but the pool is closed on Mondays. Who ever heard of such a thing?

Ready for dinner, waiting for Jimmy to come in from town to join us.

Mumbai Impressions

A telling (?) omission from my previous post.

We did not go immediately to roam the streets of Mumbai: We went to church. The. Methodist church was within easy walking distance, with an English service starting at 10:00AM. We arrived around 10:20; just in time for the start of the service. Indeed, we were among the first people to arrive. The service and hymns were strongly similar to services at home. Differences: The Prelude to the service was a series of hymns led by an a cappella vocalist member of the congregation. There was a guest preacher, an Evangelistic Baptist who suggested more emphasis on Evangelism and salvation and less on the social aspects of poverty and the like. His words, not mine.
Fellowship afterwords was a chance for introductions all around. There were as many visitors as members present. The congregation consists of 35 families and they are struggling to bring their young people back to the church. The organist, a woman in her 80s, told me about her two adult children; her son with autism and daughter who is "slow.". They are both living at home and are independent in taking care of themselves and household tasks in her absence and go to their programs. It was a good feeling to be welcomed so warmly and to feel so at home in the company of strangers.

During our walk I was struck again by the sense of style and beauty of the Indian women. This was as true of the beggars as of their wealthy sisters at the Taj. on one street I witnessed a circle of women sitting in the dust of the street. They were engaged in discussion, one with a babe cradled in her arms. I think they were a group of beggars, but they held themselves with such dignity and assurance and were so nicely dressed that the only clue was their comfort on the dusty street.

We had a light dinner at the Y, included with the room, and have agreed to meet at breakfast tomorrow at 8:00.

Followers to the blog have doubled to two. Welcome, Evelyn Mareth.

Adventure to be continued.

At the YWCA in Mumbai

New York to Heathrow to Mumbai is quite the undertaking. We left NY at 6:25 PM on 10/8 and arrived at the Y on 10/10/10. We had arranged for transportation from the airport through the YWCA, but none appeared. So we arranged for a prepaid taxi at the airport at a substantial savings over the charges the Y quoted. The airport is quite a distance from Mumbai Central and it took a long time to get into the city. That was with no traffic in the middle of the night. And with ignoring traffic signals like red lights. We, and everyone else just barreled on through. The cab driver, who said he knew where it was stopped to ask for directions several times. Exhausted and happy to have arrived, our luggage was promptly unloaded and the driver left. Well, our reservations were at the YWCA. Another cab was called, this time a car instead of a little van. Luggage was loaded on top and off we went again. Turned out we had passed it during our previous search. Even with two cabs with tips and two sets of porters to tip, it still cost less that the reserved ride. Got to bed at 5:00AM and up at 8:00AM.

The weather, as described by our pilot, is typical Bombay; hazy, hot and humid. It did clear up for chunks of today in time for beautiful views of India Gate on the Bay of Bengal.

Breakfast at the Y was simple and adequate. As long as there is porridge, I am happy. The room is adequate; clean, air conditioned, private bath. There was no top sheet, just a light coverlet thing, and I was glad to have a shaw of Erica's from her first India trip. I am very much looking forward to our next hotel venue at the Pride in Nagpur.

After breakfast we ventured out for some light shopping. Margaret was quickly adopted by a young beggar woman with a child in tow. She spent a good two hours trailing, leading, and beseeching us. Finally, Margaret negotiated a "tip" and we were left in peace.
Lois and I bought 11 silk scarves for the mela we are planning for our church. Negotiating started at 550 rs and ended at 250 rs with one extra scarf thrown in. So we will be able to sell them for $10.00 and make a nice profit. the pashmina price dropped from $150.00 to $40.00,but we didn't want to invest that much in any items that might not sell. I do plan to buy one or two for myself or gifts and now have a good idea of price. Some more walking through crowded streets with hawkers calling out and we were ready for a break.

The cafe we went to turned out to be the first restaurant to reopen after the bombings in MumbAi in 2008. We ladies had mango lahassis and Jimmy a diet coke. then back out for a while until we were all ready to drop. We had planned to go to the Taj for high tea and decided to go there for a drink before tea, which we did to our mutual delight. In addition to the g&t, I ordered a calamari appetizer; the best ever; fresh, hot, lightly crisped and beautifully seasoned. We sat by a window overlooking the India Gate and Bay of Bengal. Throngs of brightly clad folks were enjoying the day with photograph, postcard, peacock feather, drum and balloon salesman touting their wares. It was cool and beautiful. Then on to tea where we sat on an enclosed veranda, again with the view of the Bay. This time we also got to watch a group of florists decorating a doorway in all white roses, orchids, etc. The tea was lovely as one would expect, with a big surprise. there was a lovely presentation of tiramisu in small teacups, light and fluffy and rich like a mousse. I have never liked a tiramisu better than what I make at home, but this was the all out winner. When our waiter learned it was my birthday he said he was so sorry he did not know earlier so that he could be bring me a cake, but it was too late and the kitchen was closed. A while later he came back with a lovely bouquet of roses and orchids for me.

Departure Looming

Time to get packing. Yesterday our group of four met over mulligatawny soup, served and assisted by Erica and Gerard. Lois is making last minute arrangements for airport pick up, transfers, etc.

Everyone is so knowledgeable, and all are reading up on Indian history. I can be the official ignoramus. I will finish reading Richard Young's article and downloaded Kiran Desai's book which Lois speaks of so enthusiastically. AND will finish A G McGaw's letterrs.

We have had definite confirmation that Bishopn Cutting of Agra knows of our plans. He has not received word from Etah either? We do have an outline of the Nagpur Conference which has sessions for Clergy, Bishops, Lay Leaders and Women.

Work on Share the Harvest for the Long Island Council of Churches keeps me very occupied; things are getting exciting now with money and ticket purchases coming in. Tomorrow a meeting with Edgar Goodale of Riverhead Building Supply, our Corporate Honoree.

Itinerary Adjustments

We still have not heard from anyone in Etah, or from Bishop Cutting in Agra. This is deeply troubling and i wonder what our reception will be like when we show up for church on the 17th. In addition, Enos has travel plans which entailed some changes on our part. The outcome, depending on hotel availability, is that we will spend more time in Delhi and less time in Etah and no time in Calcutta. I have contacted the hotels to make adjustments in our reservations, but have not heard back from them yet.

When I got home from 17 days in Eastern Europe, I learned I have bronchitis and am responding to treatment. It is time to get back into paying good attention to our mission trip. I am reading an article, as yet unpublished by Richard Young, whom we met in Princeton. It is about the history of politics of conversion in India, going back many centuries. It puts into perspective much of what is happening today with respect to Christian Dalits.

Blunder Repair

I made myself crazy after I sent for and recieved a birth certificate from the New York City Dept. of Health. It included very little information and I was afraid that it would not be accepted by the Indian Embassy. So I emailed the company I got the certificate from and I emailed the company that handles the visas for India. My "issue" was that the visa instructions said information on the certificate must include parents names, date of birth and nationality. My interpretation was that date of birth and nationality pertained to the parents. But it didn't and all went smoothly. (After I had to call Gerard two times; once for the exact address of where I was going and the second time for a telephone number where I can be reached in India. Good thing he decided not to go with me.)

I was lucky that Lois was in Manhattan that day as well to visit the Met with a friend, so I joined them for the costume exhibit and lunch. It made the day go quickly in a very pleasant way.

Earlier in the week our group of four met Professor Richard Young at Princeton Theological Seminary. He teaches World Religions and is extremely knowledgeable about Christianity in India. He had many insights to share about political situations that could affect our reception in Etah and about the plight of Indian Christians in general. so many Christians have converted from Hinduism where they were Dalit or Outcaste people. Indian laws have penalized these people in terms of educational opportunities and government job set asides that they no longer qualify for once they convert. Unfortunately conversion alone does not magically raise them out of dire poverty. The situation now with fundamentalist Hindus and the Hindutva movement also present potentially life threatening challenges to Christians as well as to Moslems. We don't know of this type of violence in the Etah area to date.

Professor Young also expressed concern about groups who do mission without connection to the established churches of India. There is no communication between these groups and the indigenous churches. This is not only disrespectful, it can be dangerous to those they are converting and is illegal. Two groups in particular enjoy the support of PCUSA, even as they disregard basic tenets of working in foreign cultures. We hope that our reports upon return can help alleviate some of these tensions.

A Blunder

Today I planned a trip to the city with Lois and Jimmy to get our Visas at the Indian Embassy. You drop off your passport and assorted other things in the AM, per a pre arranged appointment and pick up the passport with visa in the afternoon. One of the assorted other things is a birth certificate, which of course I have and had no need to check on in advance. Sure enough, that attitude led to disaster; the birth certificate was no where to be found. So Jimmy and Lois went in without me and I ordered a new one. I'll let you know if the old one turns up in the meantime.

On the plus side, I will receiving reimbursement for airfare in the mail in a day or two. And reservations are made for two nights in Darjeeling. Of course Lois had a lot of info to go over with us on the train, but she and Jimmy can make decisions on our behalf.

Sunday's Sermon

During the Sermon on Sunday Jimmy talked about our upcoming trip and how we would be extending the hand of love and friendship, deepening relationships with our sisters and brothers. He relayed a conversation he had with his dentist, who is of Indian descent. The dentist talked about the huge contributions Christian missionaries had made to India through schools and hospitals. These institutions trained and cared for anyone who came to them regardless of caste, creed, race, etc. And it was within these institutions that the caste system began to be broken down as people were forced to be in the presence of people they would not otherwise have tolerated.

Christians, Buddhists and Moslems raised people from untouchable and outcaste to children of God. Imagine learning that you are a person of worth and loved by the God who created you. A powerful message to people suffering on the edge.

Today I completed my application for an Indian Visa. I'll be going in to NY to submit it on August 2nd with Jimmy and Lois. Now all I have to do is remember the safe place where I put my pictures.

India in the News

It seems India is everywhere. Today the Times had two articles. Protests there against an honor killing made page one and further on there was an article about two Americans of Indian descent. Both of them are in elected office and both had converted to Christianity before their political lives began. It seems like the opposite poles.

I remember a young woman I used to work with who converted to Christianity in order to make herself acceptable to her future husband's family. They were Greek Orthodox. She did not want her family to know what she had done and so she did not wear the new gold cross in their presence. No religion is without adherents who cannot accept deviations from custom.

It Counts as Progress

Letter written to Pastor UR Jacob. He is the Pastor of the McGaw Memorial Church, or at least he was six years ago. We never met him as he had to attend a meeting in Agra when we visited Etah.

Enos said he would work on arrangements with Etah from his end, but I figure another letter couldn't hurt, expecially since I already have the stamps. And I'll send a copy to Bishop Cutting of Agra.

It all sounds so simple except that the printer hasn't been working ever since we had a paper jam. That got cleared up and it still didn't work. Turns out I had reattached a cable that came loose, but I put it in the wrong place. All is well now and I am very sorry for the big chunk of Erica's time I wasted.

Self Discipline

Every day I think about the Blog. do I have something to say? Is is important enough to write about? Clearly, this line of thinking is not productive.

Every day should be moving forward towards our trip, making it more productive, educational, fun, etc. And most days we do move forward, especially if you count tangential contacts. For example, I met with Arvind Vora, Chairman of the Multi-Faith Forum of the Long Island Council of Churches. Through him I have met other members of the Council, some of whom are Indian. Every new contact has the potential to open new doors.

Yesterday I spoke with my dear friend, Shaan Mehta. Shaan's mother, Birjees and my mother were very close friends so we are family to one another. Shaan tells me her mother will be thrilled to see me when we are in Delhi, which is very good news. And she has messages for me to share with a shopkeeper or two in Darjeeling.

Jimmy has made some wonderful contacts for us and we will be meeting with educators in the US and in Delhi who are well known for their knowledge of Dalit Theology. We have much to learn.

And now I must reach out again to see if I can connect with someone in Etah. Even though the General Secretary of the Church of North India is trying to help, I think I need to give it another try.

I am reading a very good book lent to me by my sister, Eleanor. "The Age of Shiva" by Manil Suri has many references to Hindu beliefs and traditions and to the effects of Partition. It is the human story of love and desire, motherhood, and all the nuances of familial responsibilites and relationships. A great read.

Self Discipline

Every day I think about the Blog. do I have something to say? Is is important enough to write about? Clearly, this line of thinking is not productive.

Every day should be moving forward towards our trip, making it more productive, educational, fun, etc. And most days we do move forward, especially if you count tangential contacts. For example, I met with Arvind Vora, Chairman of the Multi-Faith Forum of the Long Island Council of Churches. Through him I have met other members of the Council, some of whom are Indian. Every new contact has the potential to open new doors.

Yesterday I spoke with my dear friend, Shaan Mehta. Shaan's mother, Birjees and my mother were very close friends so we are family to one another. Shaan tells me her mother will be thrilled to see me when we are in Delhi, which is very good news. And she has messages for me to share with a shopkeeper or two in Darjeeling.

Jimmy has made some wonderful contacts for us and we will be meeting with educators in the US and in Delhi who are well known for their knowledge of Dalit Theology. We have much to learn.

And now I must reach out again to see if I can connect with someone in Etah. Even though the General Secretary of the Church of North India is trying to help, I think I need to give it another try.

I am reading a very good book lent to me by my sister, Eleanor. "The Age of Shiva" by Manil Suri has many references to Hindu beliefs and traditions and to the effects of Partition. It is the human story of love and desire, motherhood, and all the nuances of familial responsibilites and relationships. A great read.

Shanti

Arvind Vora, an Indian American, has been active in promoting peace and religious understanding through the Shanti Fund (shanti means peace) and the Multi-Faith forum on Long Island. They provide education in schools at every level and community groups. He has been recognized for his leadership in this field by the President Bill Clinton of the United States, Pope John Paul XXIII, the Indian President and international bodies. Mr. Vora's own religious background is Jainism and he is a Founding Member of the Jain Society of Long Island, the Federation of JAINA and Secretary of the Jain Center of America. He is also a founding Member of the India Association of Long Island and Executive director of the Federation of Indian Association , NY.

Lois and I met with him this morning at the Bagel Chalet in Commack and were pleased to learn of all the people we may meet through his contacts. And there may be people in Bombay, representing different religious backgrounds and educational institutions that he may connect us with.

As for his own feelings about Partition, he says his family was "far removed from any tragedy."

Lois and I wondered if this was because of their geographical location or the fact that as Jains their outlook was calmer and more accepting of the way things are.

I will send him a pamphlet from Lend a Hand, India as he is interested in learning about the group.

A very good start to the day and to our Partition Project.

Kick Off Meeting

Today Lois hosted Jimmy, Margaret, Gerard and me with a lovely Indian meal at her home. We talked about the trip, and hashed out dates and itinerary. We plan to leave for Mumbai on 10/8 and return from Delhi on 10/29. Along the way we will visit Nagpur, the site of the founding of the Church of India 40 years ago. Enos has invited us to attend the ceremony with him and the Archbishop of Canterbury!

From there we will go on to Agra and visit Etah from there. Hopefully attend a church service, meet with school people and see Villages, hospital, and whatever elswe they may think we should see. I hope we have a chance for some real talk about their vision for the Christian community there and for the schools. I would like for us to be able to make a contribution that will be meaningful. It may be that the support we send every year is the most meaningful thing we could possible do.

After Agra/Etah we will go to Delhi to reconnect with Enos and the Church of North India staff. We expect to stay at the Bhavan and to visit outreach projects of CNI. Then on to Kalimpong with Enos and Darjeeling before heading back to Delhi and home.

We talked today also about our project to explore with Indians we know and will meet their family history surrounding partition. This cataclysmic event informs so much of what we see today between India and Pakistan and effects their relationships with the US. And it has an impact on everyone on the subcontinent. Lois, Margaret and I are reading Freedom at Midnight, the story of the events immediately leading up to and following partition on August 15, 1947. I remember how upset my mother was about this and how she blamed Ali Jinnah for the bloodshed and horror that followed. And the fight rages on with Kashmir as the desired prize. We have some leads from Tom Goodhue of the Long Island Council of Churches of people we can talk to about this. Hopefully they will be able to feel some catharsis from talking to neutral parties (not really) and can help us to formulate a good way to go about having conversations with people we meet during our travels.

Our next meeting is not for another month, but in the meantime Jimmy will be speaking with Dave Hudson and Bill Edwards. Margaret suggested pursuing an end run around the Presbytery committee that did not fund our grant request. We are still seeking funds to cover her airfare and internal transportation costs. Hopefully that can come from the Peacemaking Committee, chaired by Rev. Bill Edwards, Pastor Emeritus of FPC Smithtown.

Funding

Our proposal was submitted and we received the full amount requested from the Synod of the Northeast. It will fully cover the cost of lodging for the four of us for 3 full weeks in India. The proposal to the Presbytery of Long Island has not been reviewed yet. Update to follow.

Buffering, buffering...

Every day I go to the mailbox hoping for a letter from Etah. It was only just today that I checked to see when I had mailed the last letter, and it was a scant 4 weeks ago. Hardly enough time to reach its destination and elicit a response. So I just need to chill for a couple more weeks.

In the meantime I've worked on proposals to various bodies of the Presbyterian Church, USA. The Session (governing body) of the Smithtown church has pledged $3300. towards airfare for Pastor Jimmy Hulsey, me and Deacon Lois Netter. The Baldwin church has pledged $250. towards travel expenses for Elder Margaret Cook. Tomorrow is the day two submissions will be made; one to the Presbytery of Long Island, hopefully for the balance of the travel costs and one to the Synod of the Northeast, hopefully for lodging costs.

This Sunday Lois, Margaret and I are going in to the city to see a program of Indian Classical Dance. One of the performers, Satya Pradeep, and her students presented an outstanding dance program at our church and is willing to do so again. we are looking forward to some good Indian food afterward. Seeing as how we will probably be sharing a room for three weeks in India, some bonding time beforehand is a good thing.

The Blog, Resumed

Hello Friends,

It has been a very long time since the last post and a lot to catch up on. I have been troubled about the upcoming trip this October, as a different opportunity was presented. And it has taken some time to come to terms with the change because of the commitment I made for a group trip in October 2010. I am now convinced that the change will benefit the group and the mission.

Jimmy Hulsey, the Pastor of my church, and I have been invited by the Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary of the Church of North India (CNI) to spend time in Delhi in October. I expect we would stay at the Bhavan, which is headquarters for administration and has housing for visitors. We would meet with staff of CNI and become more familiar with the Church mission and outreach. This opportunity is most important as Rev. Pradhan is retiring. During the time of transition, Presbyterian partners are welcome to maintain and build the relationship which has already been established.

We have contacted partners in Etah to determine the possibility of spending about a week there. Relationship building is critical to our ability to go forward with meaningful support of education for dalit children. The community in Etah is involved in other outreach such as

the Christian Hospital in Kasganj, and we would be able to visit there. Hopefully we will visit rural villages and learn firsthand the circumstances in which village folk live.

The third and final week of the trip will be to Darjeeling to visit Rev. Pradhan at his home. His retirement plans include vocational training, so we will become familiar with those efforts. Darjeeling is located in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a very beautiful and serene place. It will give us a chance to digest some of what we will have seen and learned.

We are in the process of seeking grant money from our church, and the Presbytery of Long Island. And we are partnering with another Presbyterian church in Baldwin. We have identified a group of 4 people representing both congregations to participate in this mission trip.

For those who planned to go to India this October, I hope you can adjust your plans to October of 2011. That trip will be all the more meaningful for the relationships to be developed this year. And you will still get to see the Taj and much, much more.

On a personal note, November through the present has been a good and interesting time for me and Gerard. We enjoyed a family vacation with our daughters, son in law and grandchildren in Cancun over an extended Thanksgiving vacation. While we enjoyed the sun, the first phase of kitchen renovation, demolition, was accomplished. We spent the next month confined to our small (but cozy) den. nevertheless Christmas cards were sent out, gifts wrapped and preparations made for guests to arrive on Christmas day. The job was 97% complete two days before Christmas, leaving time for clean up and minimalist decorating.

The following Monday Gerard and I drove to Bloomington, Illinois to visit the Jones family and new puppy Snoofie. We stayed a week and went up to Chicago to the Art Institute which neither of us had previously visited. We spent the day, saw much of the collection and were able to join two tours, one of Asian art and the other of Modern. Then homeward bound, staying one night in Indiana.

Now we are back in the bustle of lessons, meetings, choral groups and the like. We have joined a bridge group and did pretty well on our first time out. I am a member of Bread for the World and we are preparing for the annual Lenten soup supper. Gerard is now working for the Census, an eight week full time stint. He is enjoying going out to different group living to verify the presence of residents in preparation for the actual census. A cell phone is a job requirement, so believe it or not, he now has one.

As of yesterday, the kitchen was 100% complete, and the dining room which had collateral issues will be 100% again by tomorrow afternoon. After the back fence gets painted I will turn more focused attention to India. I want to be able to speak at least a little Hindi before we go.

And let's not forget the Rev. A. G. McGaw. Upcoming posts will share more of his story.