R & G in UP: And here they are ...(& some H & S ...) ... & some people just like to say "hi" (Namaste!)

Namaste!

Sometimes there is just no time to report on the amazing things we see happening here ... it's such an honour to be working alongside & supporting such an incredible outreach here in UP. The real lives and people we touch from all sorts of (very varied and sometimes awful) backgrounds ... the sense of humour, the relaxed way Indians go about organising things ... we have much to learn ... It's great to have a team of 16 Danish, Slovakian and Norwegian Bible students on board at the moment - for 3 weeks they are keeping the School assemblies rapt with stories, drama & music, and taking full part in shepherding & parenting the Mahima Niwas girls, who need full on attention - so strong young arms for swinging are necessary! Its'still quite aweing for the local villagers to see white people, and more so when there are a lot of them and they are extremely tall, as most of the team seem to be! We've been out to the village tonight, taking with us a doctor and a nurse who are accompanying the Danish team, to give first aid and health advice to people who seem to never even have had a bath in their lives, never mind a visit to a proper doctor ... Broke a record recently - went to 7 parties in 10 days. But don't think of it in a Western sense! Apart from the wedding celebration, "any excuse" is more the theme ... so different cultural themes, food & social groups became a bit of a blur ... can't keep up with the youngsters! Last night may well have been the best meal of my life; the staff "pot luck" with dishes from everywhere in India, cooked with love on many home stoves, with great attention to spices ... wow, what an experience.The staff were asked to keep the spices down a bit for the sake of the European visitors, but they didn't do a very good job with that ... YUM!

Monday, 15 November 2010

And here they are ...(& some H & S ...) ... & some people just like to say "hi" (Namaste!)

... all smartened up & presentable! Our "literacy children" with new clothes, achieving and being included in the life of the school. The very first prize presented on Junior Sports day was to the "literacy girls" 50m runners ... great applause.

Working on the drill ...

... WALKABOUT ...

Technology & Hinduism in the outlying Villages

Winter fuel drying in the sun. Bit smelly.

A bit of Health & Safety (only a bit!) -

Plug? Uh?

What's a hod?

Who needs an angle grinder?

SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT TO SAY "Namaste"!

A Sadur (A Hindu Priest let me take his photo ... unusual)

Village shop. Seriously!

"Rupaidiha 3"

SO tempting to nip into Nepal!

If you take a photo & show them, they'll follow you round the village!

the magnificent seventeen! (New Mahima Niwas children)

... watching their first Sports day.

... Only in India ... Someone is going to miss their train ...

2 comments:

Joanna15 November 2010 at 03:28
It is lovely to see the ingenuity of people and you seem to have caught the essence of humanity in these photos, so much life and vitality amidst the challenges.
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Anonymous10 June 2026 at 10:45
Is that a Barbie doll? Nothing wrong with a simple life.
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Dedicated to the students and staff of the AG Church School Rupaidiha

How can we love you the way you deserve?

Could we teach English or maths to some of you?

Play the music, support an incredible cast,

Give lessons to enthusiasts of noise!

Sit in exams so tense,

Organise papers and babies for staff

- comfort a few for a fleeting while?

But then we must leave.

- Only One can love you the way you deserve –

And His love is here to stay.

Could we speak a word over you –

Encourage you more?

Give money or time or friendship?

Could we be moveable, compliant, servant hearted and humble,

Have plans change, and do it without the least grumble,

Go with you boldly to village and jungle?

But then we must leave.

- Only One can love you the way you deserve –

And His love is here to stay.

You are champions of future:

Growth, hope and challenge are in you.

You hold your families’ futures in your hands –

Make the choices you can in the light you are given.

As for us …

We are full, so full of life and contented with happiness!

We will love you and speak well of you

For the rest of our days –

But now we must leave.

- Only One can love you the way you deserve –

And His love is here to stay.

Gill and Roy Fowkes

October 2009 – March 2011

Sept '10 ...

Uttar Pradesh is rural, with 70% of its children not attending any school at all. Most live in mud huts in villages. Leopards, tigers, elephants, monkeys, snakes and large numbers of other species live wild in UP. Especially mosquitos!

Farming methods seem mediaeval, with buffalo pulling wooden ploughs and people carrying sticks and straw on their heads. People collect buffalo dung to dry and burn as fuel.

In this background of poverty and illiteracy, Jenny & Roy Ramble have set up an English speaking School right on the border with Nepal. Here, smuggling takes the place of schooling for many village children, yet many are now able to take part in a quality English education because of their dedication and outreach.

Please visit their RaJministries blog: www.rajministries.org

In Sept 2010, we obtained Employment Visas to go as voluntary workers to help in the Literacy Projects in the AG Church School in Rupaidiha, Uttar Pradesh.

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Namaste!

Monday, 15 November 2010

And here they are ...(& some H & S ...) ... & some people just like to say "hi" (Namaste!)

2 comments: