Commencement of Bible Week

The 2006 Erina Photo, that sister is seriously amazing

Abi, Deepali & her daughter

Brother and Sister Bera

The Contai ecclesia, with their 12 newly baptised members

The complete Monday family

Mumuta & Rajaput

Deepali Das, one of the 24 new brothers and sisters in Christ

The bon's (sisters in Bengali)

The contact women, Ruth, Mum & Jewel.

The anniversary Cake - and it tasted GOOOOD

Thanks for coming Sarah and Ruth.

Was fab to work with you both

The sunday school darlings

I'm going to try and do this quickly. And maybe I'll be through soon! Sunday morning: Memorial @ Nirmal's. 3 Taxi's...everywhere for this group, not the easiest thing. Met up with our two translators for the week: Uttam & Jewel. Both gave a prayer for the bread / wine. Both amazing... felt thankful for such knowledgeable brethren as we began our work preparing for bw. Nirmal and Wife and Rebecca were all very hospitable. It was good to see them again. Jewel and Uttam took us out for lunch and that day we met up with David Morgan(UK, living in Bangalore), Kam Sandhu (UK) & Ken Easson (Canada). Evening was spent once again at Flury's - making the most of arriving in Kol early.

Meet & Greet - the Kolk BW group

Monday afternoon we arrived at Seva Kendra.
The days that followed are still a blur. Bible week days seem to go very slowly for the first couple, and then after that the week speeds by.
The sisters all took a ss lesson, and a craft with the kids, and also shared out the women's contact classes and sisters classes between us.
The afternoons and any other spare time that we could use translators we worked at giving 35 baptism interviews.
As usual it was a very emotional time. Some women were ready and some were not. It was an incredible experience working with those who did know the gospel and could answer any questions with scriptual depth, but at the same time with some applicants it was so hard to say, sorry, you know some of the bible basics, but you don't know the promises and you really don't have a hope, because you don't know about the kingdom, so we encourage you to continue learning, and please come back after some time and request another baptism interview.
Looking back, it's the time spent with the contact women, and the baptisms that made the bible week for me. Even though i haven't learnt any Bengali yet, I felt the friendships develop and shed a tear or 50 as they left at the end of the week. Some of them are really poor, and one of the ladies came to say goodbye to me and as she did asked if we had any spare Saree's for her, or clothes for her children. It broke my heart, because I wouldn't question her honesty, I'd watched her the whole week and she was a kindred spirit. I gave, trying to be discreet, but she was the only lady who could swallow her pride and ask for help with clothing. It was just a really hard situation, as I wasn't sure when she asked how many others were going to come to me, and I only had one Saree that I could give away, so I'm going to post direct to her now that I'm home. Think that will be an easier option.
So we now have 24 new brothers and sisters in Kolkata. Please pray for them. It seems like there aren't many shepherds in the area at all. And a lot of the people who were at the bible week last year didn't return this year.
They are crying out for longterm mission workers (we DO need a similiar setup to Bangladesh with mission workers there round the year) so please if you can, think about it.
Erina was there, sacrificing all her spare time to do the baptism interviews, although we made sure that both her and Rebecca got to a class for themselves each day.
Kamelish was there, same as usual...
Chips was missing unfortunately, he was busy doing some study somewhere.
Arothi was there, no snakebites this year, although we did have a couple of stiff nervous seizure things (not sure what we call them)
and a mini stroke and some pride hurt.. but we're hoping that forgiveness and pardons will be given.
So continue to pray for all these people, and the work done all around the world.
Aparna was also there, and her husband who is now baptised came halfway through the week as well which was grand.
Sunday School program was on Joseph and Sudeshna played an amazing Pharaoh...feel sorry for whoever she marries if Christ remains away....she's fab at giving orders :-)
Enough for now
That's Kolkata at a glance / skim.

Oh, but I forgot to mention that we did buy a cake. We bought it from Flury's. To celebrate the first week anniversary of Sara and Ruth to India, but it was celebrated a day late... due to unforseen baptism interviews cropping up. In it's first life it was a Diwali cake. But at the shop I scraped off the words happy diwali and got them to write on the cake 'congrats Ruth and Sarah' 'Shine as lights', thought it was an appropriate biblical slant to the festival season! Plus, the cake was in the shape of a lamp.

The commuting

The place to stay in Kolkata.

Amazingly clean, although not green.

Arrival @ Kolkata Train station

The men - Indian style

It may not look it, but this is at 5am after about 5 hours sleep!

I'm not going to put the other photo's on - they aren't so complementary.

From Hyderabad to Kolkata is a long approximately 32/36 hours on the train (and I forget which) so we were quite thankful that although we had to arrive at the station by 5:30 to catch the train, we hadn't been bothered by chai / samosa / chocolate / cultet / zip / toy / book / anything else sellers for all of the previous evening, and we had been able to have some solid sleep before the quick rush to the Srik road station.
I have some hilarious photo's of all the members of our group waiting for the train to come...might put some up later.
Anyways, of course, if you're waiting on the train to get off at a station, the train arrives early, or doesn't stop long enough for you to get down at the station, but if you're on the station waiting for it to come, its usually late. And it was.
We scurried aboard, with loads of packs looking very western and finally found our seats.
I wasted no time at all getting the upper berth and trying to snatch some more sleep before EVERYONE was awake on the train and clearing their throats and talking loudly.
The problem was, I knew that Ruth Laben was on the train. So also were Sara Schlagater (sp?) sorry Sara, and Elle, but I'd spent the previous two weeks with Elle and she was from my country. I didn't yet know Sara, but I HAD spent some time with Ruth two years earlier at Manitoulin and we'd been constantly emailing for a short time before I left and i hadn't seen her for TWO years.
So my brain was tossing up, you need to sleep, but you need to see Ruth, you need to get more rest, and Ruth may be sleeping. How rude would it be to wake her up before at least 8 when they've travelled overnight from Hyd and it's their first train trip!!
Ruth solved the dilemma by searching me out in the early hours of the morning!!
Was soo good to catch up with her. We moved to the open doors and began some kind of conversation while we watched the scenery fly past. Not entirely sure what I said, as it was all between fits of coughing (my asthma reaching a peak at this stage) and i think I was zoning from no rest. But then spent the rest of the day flying from one end of the train to the other.
We were S14 and they were S2, so I had a lot of exercise going from one carriage to the other.
Sara finally woke up and I took them some brekky. Nothing exciting... just some juice and some poori. And they had some peanut butter, AND some Indian jam (think flavoured sugar, no fruit) so we made a meal deal out of it. Then I finished off introducing them to India's best biscuits.....HIDE & SEEK.
They had a family with them....maybe several families...far too many children. So after some time, I laid down beside one of their children to read my book. Haven't read a book on a train before...apart from scripture and it was really bizarre how far away you could be from the immediate surroundings. That killed a lot of time and after some time we were there. 6pm on Saturday evening...destination Kolkata.
Of course, Ruth, Sara & Elle thought they were arriving at 5am Sunday morning, so I had to do a last minute dash down the full length of the carriages and tell them we were getting off in 5 and then run back in time to put my pack on my back and get off. (we didn't want to risk that stop not being the terminating one).
The minute we got off....loads of people...crowds of people. Tim and Ness went to find out the information on where the taxi stand was etc.
Some time later, after walking some time round Sudder St, we were all sitting in Flury's, washed, and possibly NEARLY in our right minds.
We were blessed to find an exceptionally CLEAN, 12 month old hotel, for a good rate, and we went to sleep that night feeling thankful to have 2 nights in the hotel and some time to run around before the bible week began.
After too many asthma attacks we headed to a medicals store, and had the loveliest man dose me up on steroids, for then and a good while to come. The breathing ceased to be a problem nearly immediately!

Beyond India

So here I am at work. I've been home for 5 days, 3 of which have been work days, and it's beginning to sink in that i'm back here in Australia.
It was a luxury to sleep in on Saturday, have a hot brekky and then have the rest of the day to clear up my India mess. I'm feeling somewhat more organised now. The desk is looking better than it ever has since it arrived on the scene about 4 months ago!! There is LOTS of clean space, just waiting for my study books to be spread out and left out.
And now, instead of feeling frustrated that I'm not even at Kolkata yet, I'm going to write and complete my India travels asap. Then I won't feel so unfinished and can get on with working out which of the 1,000 photo's I took I should print.
Enough.
Photo's will be uploaded shortly.

Urlam and Chennapuram

Our brother with his house and ecclesial hall being built

Urlam ladies (me included)

Laxmi & Samuel

This years brief visit to Urlam was filled with emotion. Last year we noticed a little girl, who had the smallest body ever, and the thinest wrists, but was totally bloated in stomach and her ankles were fully swollen. A horrible sight for a westerner who can get to a doctor and fee's aren't such a problem. So after some time and many questions, we managed to take her (well some of the group) to the hospital and get her seen to. We gave the money for her to have the operation needed, and this year when we got back, so was just so happy as was her family.
The reading was John 4 about the Nobleman's son which tied in so well to the situation there at Urlam.
There was faith, and the son was healed and he believed and all his household.
In Urlam, we prayed about his little girl, and she was able to have the operation. But what we didn't know when we left, was that she would be made right, and her Father and 7 other members of her family would be baptised. So there was much rejoicing.
After the readings it was time to say goodbye to Beck. Beck, fellow labourer in the faith, it was hard to see you go. But we had an amazing time together, and the memories will always be there. God be with you sister :-)
Mission work is a really bizzare thing. You work together with whoever as a team and you really become family. Members come and go in the time you're there, but the weirdest part is, there's no time to grieve the loss of any members until you're home yourself. Or if there is an unnatural occasion where you suddenly find yourself with some spare time!!
As Beck left for the station, Dad and Tim had the group for a class while we sisters started on 4 baptism interviews for the women. We came up against what you might call 'rushing into baptism'. Although these ladies were illiterate, we still do expect them to have a basic knowledge of the foundations, and no wrong doctrine. We encouraged them to continue in their learning, but did feel that their needs possibly weren't being met with the current system of talks in their ecclesia. Something else to chase up now that we're home. The 4th lady appeared a little subdued and stated that she didn't think she was ready, and so would continue to learn and hopefully she would be ready for baptism the next time someone passed through. Which was very comforting on our part. It's just the hardest thing to tell someone who is excited about being baptised that they don't know the basics to be baptised into the Christadelphian faith. But I am convinced that someone convicted of the truth would not be put off by this, and would continue to learn.
We were rewarded at the next village of Chennapuram where after we had arrived and had done one series of reading, and after the ladies of the village had asked Mum to give a sister's class (on the kingdom) when we started on the baptism interview and Ma Laxmi told us that she wanted to understand the gospel very thoroughly before requesting a baptism interview and had waited 3 years. It was such a joy. These are the joys of mission work. To have someone who understands the gospel, who is illiterate, and who has been prepared to wait and who was totally sincere in her request for baptism.
While asking the questions, I felt almost overwhelmed that I'd been in India for 2 years before this, listening at the feet of the more experienced leading the interviews, it was almost as if I'd been training up for the task of doing the interview myself that day. It was such a responsibility, but I wasn't on my own, and had Mum, Ness and Leah there, ready for support. We always work in pairs doing the interviews.
She was ready.
'What doth hinder her to be baptised?' - Nothing - so we made the walk in the dark down to the water hole of the village and watched her joy as she was baptised into Christ her Lord. Now a babe in Christ. Please pray for Ma Laxmi as she has just begun her walk in Christ. May it not be long for her to wait.
The next day we arrive back at the same village to do another interview, and walked into her house...and there she was looking so peaceful and serene. The peace that passes all understanding had filled her heart. The angels were rejoicing in heaven.
Tim, Vanessa and I were there to interview one more man, Mr Nido who after some work on the promises was also ready for baptism.
Unfortunately there was a twisted tale about a funeral and all the baptised members of the village attending it, and then mum and dad were asked to attend the funeral, but couldn't find it, or all the village people, so in the end, after we had taken Nido and Ma Laxmi to Srikakulam road for the baptism to be with ecclesial members, we ended up 'after some time' finding a deserted infested backwater and Bro Tim performed the baptism and we sang the Lord bless thee & keep thee when he came up out of the water.
2 new babes in Christ. A beautiful week.
Then it was back to the hotel, for a final farewell dinner for our translaters Ravi and Santoshi, and then it was up at 5:00 for a 5:30 train to Kolkata the next day.

1st stop Srikakulam District

One of the amazing brothers whose name escapes me

The children

Place of the evening meal

At the village well, drawing water for evening and morning

The way things should be done

The pink shirt certainly contrasts

SS on the rooftop

The future Team Dean family

Ness & Ab

Sister Zion

Our group at Sudershan's & Zions

The morning where Daniel asked Mum his '666' doubt

Leah and I followed the crowd getting off the train and slowly made our way to the entrance of the station. We were lovingly received by Becks and Santoshi who had arrived the day before and had woken up extra early to greet us, but unfortunately our train was an hour late, so felt bad about that.
We took a bus to Narsannapeta with our packs. The first time I hadn't gone straight to Satya lodge and it felt a bit strange totally bypassing that hotel. Wasn't able to see my friend who works at the store outside, but hopefully she'll still be there next year - Beck saw her the day before so she's still faithfully working there.
Arrived at the green lodge and felt exhausted. 3 nights on a train, isn't the best way to feel like you're on top of the world!!! So Leah and I rested while the others made their way for a morning at Sister Zion's and family.
I still can't understand this now, but I just couldn't get to sleep, I'd had virtually none for 3 days and I kept thinking - the others are all with Zion, and Samuel and Daniel, and I'm missing out. So after a short amount of time I left, telling Leah I'd pick her up at lunch time!!. What a lovely family. We did the readings, and chatted and then had a lovely chicken curry meal.
In the afternoon we took the family and went to Rallapadu. I can't believe the difference in the hall! 2 years ago we arrived to spend time in a palm branch hut and then last year it was a cement structure that was still being completed. This year when we arrived it was a beautiful white building with windows and door frames. All the brothers did it themselves. Totally reminds me of the Nehemiah story every time I go there. But if you want the truth - I'd have the hut back anyday!
Rallapadu is the most beautiful place. It has the most supurb backdrop. Lush green rice fields, against rows of palm tree's and no pollution to be seen. There is a village well at the entrance of the village and we watched (and helped) many women come at dusk to get their water supply for the evening and following day. Herds of buffalo wander casually along, with their herder with his bamboo massive umbrella as a sun shader!
We also had a flock of sheep and their shepherd in the same area. The funiest thing was that the shepherd was wearing a magenta pink t-shirt. I guess he just didn't want to blend in the with the rest of the scenery!!
The brothers and sisters fit into the same amazing category. Never do we get money requests from them. They are just so satisfied with their simple existance and their examples just teach me so much every time I arrive.
We took the children upstairs and acted out the lesson of the lost son. They sat so quietly during the story, and then all got totally involved with colouring in the activity.
I thank my God each time I go to this village for such amazing examples in the midst of a reasonably crooked place. At the same time I think they deserve some longterm mission help, to give them what they need and strengthen their knowledge.

4 Days East Coast

Typical hour on the train

Leah & I tried a fried rice.

Difficult, but worth the effort.

Sirisha was busy stitching a punjabi to give me.

No Indian woman could be without muscles with the work required of them each day. This was grounding together the ginger and garlic. Smelt SOOOOOOOOO good.

Very quickly turned into crab curry! - I helped cut onions INSIDE while Leah took the pictures!

Picking chicken off the bone, is rather different from picking crab from the shell.

Gathering leaves to create henna

My gorgeous girl

Arriving in Hyd, I managed to get to my only Tim G readings session this trip. There's something very special about doing the readings with the India family every morning. The time has changed now as Tim and Sarah drop Maggie at work before starting readings.
Monday was spent preparing for the following 2 weeks. Going to the tailor, repacking, and Elle and I decided that the mission flat was in no state for new inductee's so we made the trip to Big Bazaar (on the way I showed her Mischief's which has changed it's name to something I can't now remember) and proceeded to buy things like plates, bowls, utensils, cleaning equipment, etc. It was such a good thing knowing that what we were doing was going to benefit many in the time to come GW.
Got back with minutes to spare to get luggage in the bus and leave for the station. Tim had thankfully given us a half an hour earlier time, so although we were stressing, the group - Leah, Cals, Kate, Tim, Ness & I made it on time. Elle had decided to stay behind for a couple of extra days in Hyd to CLEAN the flat, and then to spend some induction time with Ruth and Sarah when they arrived.

The group split at 12am at Rajahmundry station. Tim and Ness stayed on the train till Srik to meet up with Dad and Mum, and Cals, Kate, Leah and I got out and were met by Andrew Johnson and Praveen, Sirisha and Pretty.
Cals and Kate spent the week with Andrew and Shubs at Kadium (which i hadn't realised was so close) and Leah and I spent one night with them before being whisked off to spend a day with Praveen and Sirisha in their new abode in Rajahmundry.
Although it was only one night. It was so good to spend time seeing Shubha in her new home with her in-laws. I know she really appreciated the visit.
Little Prisca is now being called Pretty is a very Indian fashion and i'll post some photo's as soon as I get to an internet connection (probly home) where I can sit down and download them. She's wicked and gorgeous and I still love her to pieces. It was great to spend some time with them both, and find out exactly what the new situation was. Joythi also popped in for some time in the afternoon, and came with us to the 1st Birthday party of little John Thomas (Shubha's sister in Law's kid) that evening.
Exactly 24 hours later Leah and I were getting on the same train to take us further north.
6 hours later we were getting off at Srikakulam station...having spent the previous 3 nights on trains!!!

Weekend with Karnataka Christadelphian Youth

The women of discussion groups and prayer circle

The spontaneous singing

Berny & Pavi - the organisers :-)

So heading back to where I left off in Bangalore, with my story about getting off at the wrong station and then being tricked by the stupid auto driver. You can't afford to be tired in India - the minute you let your guard down and decide to trust someone, you get cheated. The truth was, both Ness and El had caught my fluey thing on the train and were both out of sorts, so by the time we got off the train, they needed quickest method possible to the mission flat.
It was so lovely to catch up with Jo and Dave, and Benji and Lija. I have so much respect for a couple who give up nearly 2 years of their lives with dedicated service, and with 2 boys under 6. Life in the field is not easy.
As soon as we arrived, we were fully made to feel welcome with a western brekky, and after some time we packed ourselves off to bed. The train arrives at some ridiculous hour, and my body alarm clock always goes off too early cause I get worried I'm going to miss the stop.
Bernadin arrived and we went off to Commercial street for a KFC lunch. Twas so so good to see her again. Then more treats in the evening - Dave and Jo cooked up a massive pot of spaghetti bolognaise. Now in India - there isn't much better than not having to eat a meal which involves rice. It becomes a little tedious after a while.
The weekend was led by Bro Tim Dean (Ness's boyfriend) on our Sure Hope - and he looked at fulfilled prophecy with Israel, and gave some great studies. Very encouraging. If the Jewish people have become a nation, we can know for certain that God fulfils His word, and our Lord is returning to the earth soon.
Beckakka once again led the games for the young people. I think we had about 30 there altogether.
We taught some new PTL songs and thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship there. After memorial on Sunday and SS, we had a discussion group on 'enduring to the end' which was also fab to discuss in separate male/female groups before coming as one before our Father and offering petitions. I love KCY. It was such a brilliant weekend, and we all benefitted so much. I was very thankful that we were able to fit it into the program and the girls could meet these amazing sisters, and brothers.
Time ran out so quickly and before we knew it, we were back on the overnight train to Hyd.

Out of chaos, to order

The month has flown by, and here I am back in Singapore airport on the amazingly good FREE internet.
My title might make you think that I hate the chaos - but that is untrue. I was just so very aware India was over for this year when the bus we drove in from the airport to hotel was driving in one lane, and indicating to change lanes, when there were no more auto's and rickshaws on the road, when there was such a massive change in the amount of people walking on the side of the road, when there were no beggars. Don't get me wrong, I felt so safe driving along, but the adventure was over... you could almost guess the order of things and how long everything would take (except for the fact that it took Ness and I nearly a full hour to check into our room.... with Ness nearly fainting from exhaustion because we had a ditzy chick who just couldn't ask us questions to clarify anything unusual. We had 4 people on one voucher and she just didn't get it.)

Now a whole heap of backtracking has to occur.. so I'll try and keep it short and to the point.

Kolkata - City of extremes

The place to eat!!

The place to stay!!

Well here I am, with of course, less than no time to be out of the hotel room, but I just wanted to write a few lines. The blog is now officially out of time order, but this is from India, so it doesn't really make too much difference!!
We arrived here on Saturday night in time to find a lovely CLEAN hotel before rushing off to Flurry's for dinner and then collapsing into bed.
yesterday was spend in fellowship in the morning at our Bro Nirmal's and in the afternoon collecting Ken, Kam and David Morgan. Our troop is now complete, and we're almost ready to leave for the bible week.
It's going to be amazing, fab studies have been organised, and we have sisters and women's classes also this year, so it's going to be a really busy week for all concerned.
This time next week I'll be at the Taj Mahal..finally earned a visit after having come to india 4 times now!!!
Looking forward to spending time with all the bre and sis at the bw, and trying not to be too disheartened by some bad news stories that I've heard already.
Please pray for the work. There is so much to do, and so many long term mission workers are needed.
Our translators are Uttam, and Jewel from Bangladesh and both brothers are amazing. They took us out to lunch yesterday after memorial and it was great to spend some time with them.
Beck has now sadly left the country as Lois has just flown in. But who knows if I'll be able to catch up with her or not.
Also, met up with Ruth L and Sara S on the train here. They're great buddies. Ready to take on board anything (which is good as you always need here in India!)
Must go, there is too much to be done.
Thankyou for all your prayers.
God be with you all.

ps - after reading city of Joy last year - I am using the human rickshaws...if this is their job, then I can only help them by providing an income for them!!! i choose the strong men though..I wish I could pay for the retirement of the ones with grey hair...it is a little too traumatic at times.
But Christ is going to return, to bring justice and equity, and this only really helps you look forward to that time more than ever before.
Ab.

After 2 weeks

Elle, Cals & Ness

Kam's bbq genius - last night at Vijayawada

Prisca who is now nicknamed 'Pretty'

We made it to the top!!

The Vijayawada BW mountain

Amazing BW akka's - Vijee, Pushpa & Santoshi

The teachers & helpers for 10 - 14 year olds

The 'bind us together Lord' singing group

Eunice, Elena, Susi, Ashee, Dahvina, Bahvana, etc

The full Sunday School

Laxmi & a much healthier looking friend

The operation she had a year ago worked! :-)

Laxmi, Laxshana & Ramesh (Urlam)

Activity Book time at SS

Our time is flying by, after our initial time at Shunem and our first memorial in Hyd meeting....which was brilliant catching up with so many amazing old friends, we headed off the next day to Vijayawada Bible week.
When I walked across to the registering tables, so many of my friends came racing across from where they were to say hello! Many joyous regatherings. I felt like I'd come home again.
The week was tops, despite a few upset stomachs with the induction for the Oz girls..we had a fab time with our students, teaching them lessons from the book of Luke. I loved being back with my kids... Beck Paul, Leah Case and I did most of the work with the older group until half way through the week when Sharon turned up and he and Sunder then helped out. The were so amazing with the kids. I felt like it was what was supposed to be happening, these guys who had been constantly looked after for years, were now giving the support back to the kids. We had 38, 11-15 year olds, so it was a large class, but I knew the majority of them from previous years anyway.. the same ones were playing up.
Actually I learnt from Sharon and Sunder that if you carry a stick round with you, it makes a lot of difference to their behaviour. Beck took some of the group for drama, and the rest of us played games in drama time. I had some of the girls learn the song, 'bind us together, Lord' and it sounded just so beautiful when we got up to sing.
It was an amazing week. Every evening we had CYC and Beck took the games for this as well..this woman is so totally full of energy!
One of the spare afternoons a group of us went up the mountain to see the sights of Vijayawada. It was a hard climb, but when we arrived at the top, the view was totally worth it. I was surprised when the westerners reached the top before the Indians though.

On saturday my parents arrived which was nice to see them. Quite hectic for them, as they had flown straight in, had little sleep and then trained 6 hours to the bible week. But it was very worthwhile for marma to meet some of the bre and sisters before visiting them this week.

On the last evening, Cam treated us to a chicken bbq. Lovely to eat late at night, I miss our suppers over here...and then we all slept on the roof, lovely and high up where there was a lot of cooler air and less mozzies buzzing around us.

At the end of the bible week, Beck and I went with Santoshi to visak. by this stage I had developed a cold from somewhere, so rested on the floor of a train on the way to visak as there were no seats.

We arrived in Visak and after some rumaging, we found brother Babji, who took us to the compound where i collapsed.

Thankfully I found enough energy to get up the next morning. Beck and I went and visited Sunitha before she left for work, then went to visit Sheila and new family, and then went on to the ST colony. Twas good to see these people again. Unfortunately it was only so brief, and by the time Beck and i were ready to eat a good meal at Ashray, I was totally exhausted. We ordered, prayed, then they served, then I lay down on the red couch and tried to sleep. Then it was collapsing into bed for a good time with a good fever. Becks was an amazing nurse during that next 24 hours. I was pretty much useless. She went out the next day with Santoshi to make more visits, and Sunitha did visit me briefly before going to work, but I couldn't sit up for more than 10 mins without feeling nauseas.

Tuesday evening, Becks packed us both up, and we eventually managed to get on a bus. Thankfully the illness wasn't so long lasting, after about 3 hours of feeling awful, I errupted out of the bus window, and then proceeded to feel tonnes better..and was nearly all uphill from then!!! Not really very nice.

Back in Hyd, it was good to visit the shop across the road that morning. Beck and I deserved it.

The other girls had been enjoying time at Moinabad and Cals had had birthday celebrations there while we were in Visak.

Two days were spent in Hyd and then Thursday evening we headed off down to Bangalore for the KCY.

Can you believe it, after 4 trips to India, but also with two girls having fever, we got off at the wrong station in Bangalore and spent 80 more rupee's than we should have to arrive at the mission flat. Oh deah!!!

But that's about it for now - I'll update on the Karnataka Youth Weekend next I get on internet. It's time for brekky.

Tonight we head off to Rajahmundry to visit Praveen and Sirisha and then on to Srikakulam with Leah, Vanessa, Tim and Beck to meet up with mum and dad before heading up to Kolkata for our last week.

Love to you all.

Ab.