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