What can we say so far about our visit to India? It is difficult to know where to start. First impressions include the warmth and friendliness of the people, their humility and thirst for God, the insane traffic and driving, the heat, the smells of spices that are so different to the smells of bacon and coffee at home, the contrast between luxury and poverty and the sheer colour and vibrancy of all we see.
Fredrick and Reeba have welcomed us with warm hospitality and are solicitous in looking after us. We are humbled at being treated as minor celebrities wherever we go and at being asked for photos, simply because we are white!
The traffic and driving are mad. Fredrick says the motto is ‘you can drive without brakes, but you can’t drive without a horn’!! The noise, volume and speed of driving through crowded roads take some getting used to, and the drivers amongst us are amazed! ‘You’d get fined for that in England’ is Diane’s recurring comment on driving practices (riding motorbikes without helmets, overtaking on the inside, driving the wrong way down roads etc.)
The area where Fredrick’s church is situated and the area where the tailoring programe and slum children attend meetings has to be seen to be believed. One rickety tap provides water for the whole area. Families live in a room that looks more than ramshackle. Dogs, goats and cows roam around freely. In contrasat, we are staying in the IT part of Bangalore. It’s like a construction site!
We have been very busy so far. Today we are going into people’s homes to pray for them. Tomorrow we will be taking part in two Good Friday services. Please continue to pray for us.
