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.