Guess who...got a tattoo?

Out and about

This morning began with another bus ride through the busy city streets on the GNCEM bus.  We arrived at the Hatibgan school and dropped everyone off, or so we thought...one of the girls hid on board because she wanted to be with us as we travelled on to the baby care centre! We all arrived at the centre and spent the morning with the little ones, helping them wash and dress again, have breakfast and we also joined in with their lesson time.

Pastor Roy, who founded the project with his wife, came to take us to the girls and boys hostels which are located in a different district.

Both visits were lovely. We were welcomed with flowers and then we told a story.  We did a craft with the girls and then played some games. Lots of fun was had! Pastor Roy hosted us for lunch and then took us to the boys hostel. Again we were welcomed with flowers before we told a story and played some more vigorous games with them.

We returned on the bus with the babies, dropping them off with their families in the way.

We had a planning meeting this evening and prepared activities for our visits tomorrow.  We popped out to the local supermarket to get some extra sweets and supplies.

We have a final visit to the GNCEM school in the morning and then a visit to the SEED society, another school for children from the slums, in the afternoon. 

A long day

This morning we travelled about an hour and a half to Serampore College with Pastor Asis (the ministry coordinator at BMS) to see the archive and visit the library. We also were able to see the graves of the Carey, Marshman and Ward families.

After lunch and a rest we were taken by Anu to the local Baptist hostel where we met the girls who lived there. We sang together before playing some games and the girls then enjoyed having glitter tattoos.

We were shown round some of the compound and are beginning to realise just how big the needs are here.  Please lift up the girls and the staff at the hostel in your prayers.

The baby centre

Today, in a change to the planned programme, we revisited the Good News Education Children's Mission, but instead of stopping at the school like last Friday, we travelled on the the baby unit, which is about 15 km further on from the school.  It took a while to travel through the traffic, and some of the children fell asleep on the way.

We helped the children wash and change before sharing in singing time and reading a story. The children then had breakfast and then we spent some time playing with them.  

The bus got a puncture so we were able to stay longer at the centre than planned as we had to wait for it to be fixed. With the repair complete we travelled back to the school with the lunch which is cooked at the baby centre for the older children before heading back to the BMS centre for our lunch.

In the afternoon the monsoon rains fell, the water pouring down the wall like a waterfall.

Tomorrow we head to Serampore College.

The BMS centre, Kolkata

Here are a few shots of where we are staying for the time we are in India:
 The entrance:

 The gardens:

 The doorway up to our rooms:

Sabbath

This morning we were able to go to the Assemblies of God church in Kolkata with Anu and her husband.  It was a lovely time and a blessing to share with our Christian family around the world.  There was a real sense of God's presence as we worshipped.

We rested this afternoon and then made a brief excursion to the local supermarket for supplies for a meal as the centre's kitchen is not open on Sunday evenings. We shared a meal and then had a time of reflection and prayer.

A day of contrasts

Today we were taken to an American style cafe by a fellow guest at the guesthouse.  It was a challenging walk there where we were exposed to life on the streets - the poverty is difficult to witness.

We then had the opportunity to see a temple for the Hindu goddess kali and right beside that was Mother Teresa's home for the dying which was a very profoundly moving experience even though we only were able to spend a few moments inside.

Temple to the goddess kali:

 Mother Teresa's home for the dying:

We visited a busy market after this and then got lunch at McDonald's as we knew it would be safe to eat.

It has been a day of contrasts.  We are so grateful to have this opportunity to see the world from a different vantage point.

Reflective practice

Each evening since we have been in Kolkata we have met together to reflect on our experiences of the day and to share how we're feeling.  Then we have a devotional time and pray together. This is Ali's reflection from yesterday's gathering and prayer time:

Overwhelming

In this unfamiliar place of overwhelming need,
Overwhelming poverty
Overwhelming filth
We ask that you would help us being your overwhelming love.
Love that reaches all,
Covers all
Touches all
And meets every need in unimaginable ways.

And when we return to our familiar places of overwhelming isolation
Overwhelming solitude
Overwhelming individualisation
We ask that you would help us again to bring your overwhelming love
Love that reaches all
Covers all
Touches all
And meets every need in unimaginable ways.

Lord - wherever we are, let us not be impossibly overwhelmed by our circumstances, but only by your overwhelming love.

(c) Ali Taylor

On the buses

Today we went to the Good News Christian mission mobile school.  We were collected by a bright yellow bus filled with children calling 'Auntie, auntie, sit here auntie' to us as we climbed on board. 'Auntie' is a term of respect for adult women.

We were driven to the school and spent the morning with them. They shared songs and a dance with us, and we shared a sketch and a song with them.  We played a few games and spent some time with them during their English and Maths lessons before being driven back to the BMS centre on another yellow bus.

This afternoon we visited The Mother House where Mother Teresa is buried.  We didn't stay long as it would've been her birthday today so it was very busy there.

Then just before our evening meal we changed rooms.  Our new bedrooms have a shared space just outside which will make team meetings and devotions a little easier.

The Good News Children Education Mission

Mother Teresa's tomb

 Our shared space outside our new rooms:

Journey photos

Our plane at Heathrow

Connecting flight to Kolkata at Dubai

Rush hour in Kolkata

'Big Ben's equivalent!

And so to bed...

Having had lunch we mostly rested, but Ali and Michelle ventured out with Anu, the hostess at the BMS centre who kindly offered to take them shopping.  We also unpacked, had dinner and held a team planning meeting for our first full day of events tomorrow.  We ended the day with a short period of quiet reflection and prayer.

Praise God for travelling mercies and safe arrivals.

(Trying to figure out how to get photos off the camera and onto the blog...managed it at home but can't seem to figure it out at the moment - must be tiredness and the heat! Will try again tomorrow...!)

Hello India!

After our second flight we arrived safely in Kolkata at just after 8am Kolkata time.  We are four and a half hours ahead of the UK so it won't take much calculation to work out that's the early hours of the morning!

It is quite hot and very humid here. We missed the air conditioning in the airport as soon as we stepped outside!

We were met promptly by our host, Pastor Asis, and driven through the busy rush hour streets to the BMS centre.

We have had an opportunity to rest and shower this morning and have just eaten a hot and spicy lunch, thankfully cooled down by a welcome ice cream.

And we're off...

After relatively easy journeys, the team is now together.  Check in was almost painless and we're now in the departure lounge waiting for our flight which takes off at 14.15 UK time.  We change planes in Dubai, and are due to arrive in Kolkata at 08.20 tomorrow which is ten to four tomorrow morning UK time. So a bright and early start for us tomorrow!!
It's all starting to feel real now...

All packed up and ready to go!

So - the final day of preparation has is nearly over.  Suitcases are packed, passports are at the ready - just one night's sleep left before we head to Heathrow tomorrow.  Ali will be setting off from Gloucester by train and the rest of the team will be driving over to the airport from Wales.

Hoping for a good journey after a good night's sleep!

Final team meeting

The team met up today at mission trip headquarters
(aka South Wales Baptist College) for the final time before we head off to Kolkata.  A useful time to sort out visas and to check we're as prepared as we can be before departure. Our departure date is arriving fast...only 21 days until we leave.  It seems to have come round very quickly! Looking forward to taking off...