Monday 23 April 2012

Adjusting back to life in the UK...

Being back at IMC has been fun as always. Playing games, laughing, drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate and tea- obviously working hard as well!!


We've even been brushing each others teeth/face apparently! (Polly's idea..)


Kinda ended up all over my face though. Cheers Pols.

Throughout our first week at IMC (International Mission Centre) we have had many sessions on various things preparing us for tour. As part of training, we went back to Queens Road Baptist Church in Coventry which we went to as our "training church" before going to India. We went back here to kinda report back about everything we had done overseas, and to also use again as our training church before properly going "on tour". 

We arrived Friday and that evening we were taken bowling by the youth leaders Neeta, Angela and Raj who are amazing (and, conveniently, Indian.) It was loads of fun, they're all so laid back and outgoing. 

Ang wasn't so good at staying behind the lines...

Making bowling more interesting with posing before throwing the ball

Everyone

I lost pretty badly but it was great fun. We also found this hurricane simulator which was hilarious.



After effects.

So on Saturday night we held a quiz night at the church which included rounds of questions about us, our time away, the projects we worked with and about India in general. It went down really well and everyone enjoyed the evening. 

Setting up for the evening. 

(None of this is important really. All that matters is Polly.The best thing about this year has been meeting her. My life would have been incomplete without her. A life-changing meeting some might say. May as well end this blog now because that's all you need to know really. Safe.) - Polly stole my computer and threatened me to keep this here. 


Sunday morning we dressed up in our Indian attire and started the service with the "all age" slot in the morning, talking about God's purpose for us, and then after some worship we did a 20min report on our time in India, talked about Kolkata and the main projects we were involved in.




Being prayed for.


After this we went into the youth group to see them and chat with them and then when the service was over we mingled and answered all the same questions from almost every member of the church until around 1ish when we went for lunch at a lady from the church's house and relaxed at hers until about 5.30 when we went back to church to give a more in depth report on our time overseas. We split it into 3 slots. 1. Our projects, 2. Thoughts and feelings, 3. Stories. 
I kinda knew it would happen but talking back through everything we did and saw really brings it back to life, and makes everything seem real. When we were there we witnessed everything but never really processed everything. Now we are back and we are on track to sorting out everything in our heads, its hitting a lot harder. I was shaking talking about how I struggled walking around the red light district. And that evening when I got home, I got into bed and just broke down. Its not something I have ever liked to talk about, I very very rarely get emotional or let my guard down in front of people so I've always been one to go for the bed time breakdowns. (Don't worry, this is nothing to worry about! I swear I am happy like 95% of time) I'm even pretty uncomfortable with typing this now, but I promised I would keep my faithful readers up to date with my journey, and I think this is a big part. Things are hitting home. Its not easy, but its bringing me even closer to God, so for that I need to be grateful. 



'Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.....
...Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.....


....Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.' -James 1:2-18


So yeah. Don't bring the whole crying thing up when talking to me cause I will quickly change the subject. Thanks.


Got back to IMC today and its so good being back with the other teams, even after just one weekend. :) 
Back into sessions tomorrow. Its been busy but good so far. 


Here's to the next 8 weeks (She says with worry in her eyes)


<3

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Back where it all began...

We are back at IMC and it has been amazing to see all the other teams and catch up with them. 


Debrief starts tomorrow which I'm really looking forward to. It will be good to spend a decent amount of time trying to work through everything etc. I kinda feel like I've been floating for the past couple of weeks not really knowing what to do with myself! 


I'm afraid I don't have any photos yet but I'm sure I'll be taking some when things start up more.


We have spent the last couple of hours planning out talks that we have to do and other bits and pieces for BMS. Its going to be a busy 8 weeks touring but I'm hoping and praying that we don't find it too hard but that its still a challenge. I hope that we grow closer to God through it as we rely on him completely. I pray that he speaks through us to the people we meet and that they get as much out of it as we do. Its gonna be hard but I have high hopes. 


Please keep praying for us as we go on tour. We may be back from Kolkata but the journey is not over yet. 


Harriet x


P.s- This is worth a read:



Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?


Student : Yes, sir.


Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?


Student : Absolutely, sir.


Professor : Is GOD good ?


Student : Sure.


Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?


Student : Yes.


Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?


(Student was silent.)


Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?


Student : Yes.


Professor: Is satan good ?


Student : No.


Professor: Where does satan come from ?


Student : From … GOD …


Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?


Student : Yes.


Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?


Student : Yes.


Professor: So who created evil ?


(Student did not answer.)


Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?


Student : Yes, sir.


Professor: So, who created them ?


(Student had no answer.)


Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?


Student : No, sir.


Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?


Student : No , sir.


Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?


Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.


Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?


Student : Yes.


Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?


Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.


Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.


Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?


Professor: Yes.


Student : And is there such a thing as cold?


Professor: Yes.


Student : No, sir. There isn’t.


(The lecture theater became very quiet with this turn of events.)


Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.


(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)


Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?


Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?


Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?


Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?


Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.


Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?


Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.


Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?


Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.


Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?


(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)


Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?


(The class was in uproar.)


Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?


(The class broke out into laughter. )


Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?


(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)


Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.


Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.


P.S.


I believe you have enjoyed the conversation. And if so, you’ll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same, won’t you?


Forward this to increase their knowledge … or FAITH.


By the way, that student was EINSTEIN.



Monday 16 April 2012

From one home to another.

So what have I been up to since I've been home? Apart from freezing, hugging and getting my fix of cheese...?
Okay so that's about it..
But I have also been practicing my new found cooking skills.. and it actually worked! (This is a big achievement for me.)

Onion Bhaji's

Chhole masala. (Tastes better than it looks)

Bebe was with me when we cooked these things... we also made a den (love being a big kid)



It was so great to see Bebe. Missed her loads.. I can't quite function properly without her <3

The other day me and Chris went for a lovely walk by the castle and then went to Sugary cove and after being told I'd "never go in the water" I did just that. Not being able to warm up for 2 hours was worth the look on his face when he could only go up to his waist and I was swimming... Sometimes I can't help but wonder who is really the woman in the relationship....... Especially when I then go and win monopoly when its supposedly 'his game'!

Though I have spent the last few days with him proving I am in fact the stronger, braver person in the relationship, it has been absolutely wonderful spending time with Chris and 'catching up'. I do love that man.

Being back in Dartmouth has been great. Its days like today where the suns glistening off the river and the water looks more tropical than it really is but you believe that its actually that colour because in that moment its just so perfect. One of Gods many master pieces. 

Today I went shopping with mum and Rosie which was really nice. Met with Nana for a lovely lunch too. My legs are really aching now but I've had a really nice day with my wonderful family.

We did not buy these.

Nana and I

Peoples boobs should not be this big. We can fit our heads in it!

Tomorrow I head to IMC in Birmingham for debrief and tour training. Very excited to see the rest of the teams but not really sure how to feel about tour. I'll keep blogging though so you can follow the journey. 

I may be home, but the adventures don't end there...

Saturday 7 April 2012

Final goodbyes...

Here's a brief overview of my last few days in Kolkata. 


The 2nd was our last day at Freeset. It was so sad to say goodbye to all the amazing people I have worked along side for the last 6 months. And they seemed pretty sad to see us go too. They have all been so supportive and lovely through everything and really appreciated and enjoyed having us around. I would love to go back there again one day. They're such a family and everyone looks out for each other. Gonna miss these guys loads! 


Josh, Ellen, Heather (Steve's wife), Adam (Steve's youngest son), me and Naomi.


On the 3rd we went to school armed with a big bag of craft bits. We told the story of Jesus' death and how he rose again. Then we handed out post it notes to all the children and asked them to draw or write on them what Jesus means to them. 







Slightly wonky...

After this we split the children into two groups. One group made what were meant to be chick masks (Easter themed of course), but they liked to think they were elephants.. And the other group made sock rabbits! With limited resources, I think we did pretty well!









Some of the children came in the next day with their socks up their arms. They were quite happy to just put the sock on- don't think they ever thought about putting them on their hands! So sweet. 


Most ticklish child I've ever met.

Luckily the school we go to has a proper school bus. But a lot of children get to other schools in these...


That afternoon we went out and took photos at all the places we visit regularly:


The local "supermarket"

Goats heads.... Just for fun.

Where we bought the threads to make our sari blankets

The tailors

Where we got photos printed

Fabric shop

The cafe we soon went off.... and Josh being asked to buy chewing gum...

Cafe Coffee day- our favourite cafe.... And the guy still following Josh..


After this we went out with Benjamin Frances for the last time. He's been great to us and its been good getting to know his crazy self. What a busy, God filled man.


Ellen, Josh, Benjamin, me and Naomi


That evening we had our very last curry cooked by Joseph- the lovely BMS cook. He made a lovely last meal for us (bet you can't guess what it was.....) As much as I got sick of having the same meal every night, I will miss these guys!


Camp helper cook who has "many names" but we weren't told any of them, me, Josh, Ellen, Naomi and Joseph.

Me and Ellen eating our last BMS meal!


The 4th was our very last day at school. And the saddest yet. We played pass the parcel and various other party games with the children. It was a bit of a good bye party day so no lessons. 


Pass the parcel

Our good bye/thank you gift to the school

The bags of goodies we gave out to the children



Saying good bye to these beautiful children was so hard. Cause even if I go back to Kolkata, the liklihood is that I would never see these children again. They were all telling us to not go and that they would miss us and giving us loads of hugs. Then when it came to waving them off on the bus- I had tears in my eyes- I'm going to miss them so much. 






I remember the first time I saw their bright smiling faces, and since then I have loved them more and more every day. They're forever in my heart and I pray God makes for them a better life than they have already. They're so clever and kind, they deserve so much more than what they have. 


This afternoon we said good bye to all the wonderful staff at BMS that have become our family for the last 6 months.


Us with Shanker- the BMS driver

Us with Mr.Nag (or Jupiter) and Sham- the guards.

Us with Karjol- the lovely cleaner

Us with the guys from the office. 

Us with the gardeners/maintenance guys.


That evening we went out for our last meal with Anu.




That evening we spent packing and eventually got to bed at midnight with the alarm set for 4.30 the next morning.


Madness.
I hardly slept that night as I was worrying so much... But we got up and loaded our bags into the car. We've seen so many people come and go it was weird that it was now our turn. 


Last photo outside the guesthouse

Packing up the car to go home.

The drive to the airport was a quiet one as we took in our last moments in Kolkata. 
Saying good bye to Anu at the airport was so hard. I had a headache holding back the tears. I will miss her so much. She has been absolutely wonderful and she's such an inspiration to me and the others. She has taught me so much and continued to go above and beyond for us throughout our time. I will definitely see her again. Shes well and truly my Indian mum and I love her to pieces.


The flight was about as good as flights get... no problems and nothing special. 


Coming home to my real mummy was amazing. We walked around the corner at the airport and there they were, all our families waiting eagerly for us. It was so lovely to see mum run towards me and give me a big hug. So good to feel her again instead of just waving to a computer screen! 


This is what I came home to:


Its good to be back.


No matter how prepared you think you are to say goodbye, its always so hard. Kolkata has been my home for the last 6 months. The smells have been nasty, the people have been creepy, the traffic has been scary, the air has been smoggy, the ground has been bumpy and the cities been dirty. But the people I met and came to love have been my family, the guesthouse became my home, the children became my brothers and sisters, the streets mapped out my journeys, I became a regular at shops and had friends on the streets. I found God in places I didn't expect him to be, and followed the paths he set out for me. I've faced trials and seen things I can't even begin to explain. I still struggle with understanding a lot of the things I've seen and learnt, and a part of me will forever be haunted by some of it. But through all this I have grown as a person. I have found out so much about myself. It has made me stronger and braver. My trust in God has grown extraordinarily as he has continued to be faithful and go before me and with me and after me. 
It was hard to sleep last night as the silence almost rang louder than the craziness of Kolkata. But its so lovely to be home. To hold my family and friends again, to be able to wrap up in a duvet and hug a hot water bottle, to remember what cold feels like, to drink tap water, to eaves drop, to people watch instead of being watched by people, to wake up in my own room, to listen to the radio, to walk down the street on my own and not have to worry, to appreciate life more. 
The last 6 months have been up and down but an amazing experience all the same. I will be going back to Kolkata one day. But I think for now my heart lies in the UK. 
I want to thank everyone who has supported through all this and more- financially, spiritually and emotionally.  Every single one of you have been a part of my experience with me, you have listened to me and laughed with me. You have helped me in ways you probably don't realise and given me strength when I've needed it the most. I keep you so dearly in my heart, and pray that God blesses and uses you in ways you can't even imagine. 
I can't believe I'm home! Its so cold!! Instead of getting out of a nice cold shower in the boiling heat, I was getting out of a nice warm shower into the freezing cold! I'm warming my hands up on hot drinks instead of cooling my self down with bottles of ice. Its funny how you can leave one country and get to another in the same day. How you can live somewhere for so long and then it be gone just like that. It took us 3 days on the train to get from one part of India to another, yet it took a quarter of that to get from India to England. But its so wonderful to be back home. The air is so fresh and lovely. Such a beautiful country that we take for granted.


So yesterday I spent the day at mums shop relaxing, and then we had a lovely evening together, catching up, eating good food and watching Saving Grace. And todaaaay I'm seeing Chris! So crazy excited. 


There we go, you're up to date...
And I'm home.


<3