R & G in UP: Walkabout WEST ...

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!

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Walkabout WEST ...

AND NOW ... ROYAL ASCOT ...

Like the art work outside my gate, man?

... this is not just artwork with buffalo poo, it's "surface to volume ratio" for maximum drying efficiency!

King cobra skeleton we found right on the border. The guards caught it sneaking into Nepal.

Sports day " Shouldn't be allowed!" ...

hands up if you think we've gone H & S mad in the UK...

Back to the border ...

I'll have a Rs2 return to Rupaidiha please...

Arjun just stopped his bike & asked me to take his photo. Brick factory in the background.

This Muslim funeral of a tiny person was a complete surprise. I wonder whose child...


This smaller Rupaidiha Hindu temple is dedicated to Vishnu. (The main one in the town centre is to Hanoman the monkey god.)

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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!

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Walkabout WEST ...

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