|
|
|
|
PL812
3rd November 2019
As it does predictably around this time every year, the weather has completely changed. Clear and warm monsoon mornings have been replaced with misty cool weather...though not quite enough to warrant sweaters. It is a nice time of year but also serves as a warning that before long winter will be here.
We don't have much in the way of heaters here on the mission, but there are a few wood fires placed strategically around the campus. We collect up wood from fallen trees and branches throughout the year and just hope they are enough to last the winter.
|
|
|
|
With winter now on its way, the boys chop into the woodpile, bringing sticks and logs back to their hostel for future warmth.
|
|
|
|
Ajay collecting wood from the woodpile.
|
|
|
|
Raj decided hands were just as effective as the wheelbarrow behind him.
|
|
|
|
Joey, 54 years old and once a mission boy himself, has been collecting wood from this woodpile for many winters.
|
|
|
|
Raymond wanted to show his strength by picking up this branch from a mango tree.
|
|
The change in the weather also means we can finally get weeds and grass under control. General gardening is almost futile in the monsoon as weeds grow faster than we can pull them. As a part of their regular chores the Small Boys got stuck into the now empty woodpile, pulling, chopping, raking and shifting unwanted sticks and weeds out of the way to make the whole place look much more civilized. Good job, boys!
|
|
|
|
Back in the woodpile for a different reason.
|
|
|
|
Indro pulling one of the pesky weeds now that the monsoon is over.
|
|
|
Above: Ebyon and Shivam moving sticks to a big pile.
Below: Amir (in yellow) and Raj cutting weeds and shifting wood.
|
|
|
|
Everyone lent a hand to shift this big log.
|
|
|
|
Raking up the leaves and small sticks.
|
|
|
|
Vishwajeet took care of a few weeds in the playground.
|
|
Work like this is just a part of daily life here on the mission. We all participate; we sweep floors, cook, clean, pull weeds, carry loads and help around the farm. It's part of being a part of our big family. Even our youngest ones get involved by helping to keep rubbish under control in the playground.
|
|
|
|
Nursery kids collecting stones and rubbish from around the playground, their reward on this day was an ice cream! Sadly 10 minutes later Clifton found the wrappers thrown on the ground. An investment in tomorrow's reward perhaps?
|
|
|
|
Malik was the Team Captain of the rubbish patrol.
|
|
|
|
Ruhani and Manisha found some stones near the woodpile.
|
|
All across the mission, everyone chips in (excuse the woodpile pun). If you ever come and visit you will notice, from young to old, our children have an incredible work ethic. It is a part of our culture that often takes people by surprise...in the very best of ways. In the vast majority of cases people are smiling as they scrub, dig, wash and work for the family.
|
|
|
|
Anthea is on pots and pans this week, but does it with a smile on her face.
|
|
|
|
We mentioned Jyotika last week. She was back cleaning another guestroom today.
|
|
|
|
Cynthia's chore this week is to sweep the walkway each morning.
|
|
|
|
Seeya and Santoshi taking cushions from their sofa out to be dusted.
|
|
|
|
Pinky helped cut some onions for chicken curry lunch on Saturday.
|
|
|
|
Rampal gathering a little soil to fill some holes on the playground.
|
|
|
|
Gordon scraping away the monsoon weeds growing outside their hostel while Shane gives Peter a head massage.
|
|
|
|
Shane also got in on the gardening along with Gordon and Dhiraj.
|
|
|
|
Ayushi wiping down the shelves in the kitchen.
|
|
|
|
Corinna was up on the kitchen benches to wash the windows.
|
|
|
One of the tougher places to work is the dairy. It is smelly and messy... but also fun in its own strange way. This week, with the addition of a new laborer, the girls chores were slashed from every morning down to just one day per week. Something they actually had mixed feelings about. Sounds crazy, right?
|
|
|
|
Saturday is water trough cleaning day.
|
|
|
|
Reena working hard to keep the cows drinking water source clean.
|
|
|
|
Jyoti cleaning another trough as Tumtum, one of our laborers, picks up manure which we use to produce methane cooking gas.
|
|
|
|
Cow manure is fed into a digesting tank where it is turned into cooking gas.
|
|
|
|
All of our bread and much of our food is cooked with this gas.
|
|
This time next week all of our girls will be off on an incredible adventure up in the Himalayan mountains. With the support of our good friend Kelsey, a few new friends and the community at June Dresses, soon 34 of our girls and women staff (along with Clifton and Eugene) will be heading off on a Women's Empowerment Camp. They will be in the deep wild jungle trekking for 4 days and 3 nights.
In preparation of the upcoming camping trip, Jack, Amos and Kamal set up all of our tents in the yard for airing out and so they could be checked for missing parts. Thankfully everything was in order.
|
|
|
|
Starting to set out all of the camping gear.
|
|
|
|
In total we have 16 tents for our 36 campers.
|
|
|
On the farm our tractor drivers Kallu and Sylvester have been working hard to till and prepare the rice paddy fields that were harvested last week. When they are ready the fields will be planted with mustard, a crop we grow to provide cooking oil for our kitchen.
|
|
|
|
Now that the rice paddy has been harvested these fields will be planted with mustard for cooking oil.
|
|
|
|
Kullu has been working as a tractor driver for us for over 30 years.
|
|
And finally this week we leave you with a few photos from Atalia's 5th brithday. It was a lovely party in which several dozen of Atalia's friends from the local village came to celebrate. There was cake, snacks and juice for everyone.
|
|
|
|
Happy Birthday, Atalia!
|
|
|
Above: Is that a candle or a flame thrower?
Below: Angel and Priscilla serving snacks out to everyone.
|
|
|
|
Niyati with one of her school friends who lives in the village next door.
|
|
Though you may not be scrubbing tanks, cleaning or weeding here on the mission, you are an important part of our family. We cherish the replies and comments we get to our newsletter each week, drawing strength from your support. With next weekend's adventure ahead of us, we are unsure of what our newsletter will look like...so please don't be alarmed if it is a day or two late in your inboxes. Until then...
Blessing on you,
Rick, Clifton, Eugene & Priscilla
|
|
|
For Those Who Pray:
- Pray for safety for our girls (and guys) as they head off on their camp. They will be hiking, white water rafting and participating in many other adventurous activities. Pray for their relationships, for growth, courage and strength for each of these precious women.
- Pray for the remainder of our rice paddy crop which will be being harvested in the coming fortnight.
- We are facing some financial struggles as Global Giving, our primary fund collection portal, is working out their process for sending funds into India with the Ministry of Home Affairs. We have not received any funds from them since July and our "rainy day fund" it beginning to dry up. We are working with GG on a solution and hope to have some relief this week. All prayers are welcome for a quick resolution to this matter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
