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We are happy to pay one final tribute to Paul, who left us on September 23, 2021.
We have been telling you about Paul and Valsa for some years now, their health issues and all the help we gave them. We spoke to you that this couple didn’t have children, coming from a poor family with no income, there was no one to help them in their day to day lives.
Paul had been hospitalized for 2 months in a state hospital in Ernakulam. He had been diagnosed with intestinal cancer and was waiting for an operation. It’s our association that financed his hospitalization and all the expenses for meals, medicines, travel.
Unfortunately, Paul and Valsa were Covid positive contracted while in hospital. The truth is in Indian public hospitals, all the patients are together in a big hall and it is the families who have to take care of them, to wash the patient, to buy medicines from the nearby drug store, to bring the food, and eventually to stay present to help them.
Valsa had a mild covid and was sent home, she was no longer allowed to stay in the hospital. Paul’s health deteriorated, he had to be transferred to intensive care and put under ventilation.
After a couple of days, he passed away.
For Valsa, it was a shock of her life to know that Paul passed away. It was Biju, who called the neighbors to inform about the passing away of her husband and the neighbors were entrusted to pass this message gently to Valsa. Meanwhile, Biju had a lot of procedures to take care. Calling the priest to fix an appointment to bless the departed soul the next day, arrange to bring back the body of Paul in an ambulance to his home from the hospital. Biju had to tip some hospital staff to prepare Paul’s body and to bring home the next morning. The body can’t be kept at home for more than an hour’s time.
This was not an easy task for Biju as he used a politician friend’s help to call the hospital officials to make things happen as early as possible without delay.
When Valsa saw Paul’s body packed in a bag, it was a horrible experience for her to see her life partner’s body like this. This is the normal procedure for the deceased who died from Covid-19. His body was brought home for a few minutes, outside the garden of their little house. She was not allowed to approach the body as well as for the little gathering of people present. The priest gave the blessing from a distance. The same thing happened at the cemetery, where everyone had to observe the burial from a distance.
Today, we take this opportunity to thank Biju, our association president. It is he who was there from the beginning to help Paul and Valsa, who took care of this couple, he shuttled between hospital and home every day, to buy the medicines, taking care of the administrative and financial part, getting the body out, organizing an ambulance to bring him home, arranging for the priest to come, buying the coffin and the burial at the Cochin Christian cemetery, continuing to accompany Valsa for the administrative documents that she cannot do alone.
A final farewell ceremony was organized by Valsa one month after Paul's death, on October 23rd. A mass for Paul was organized at his parish in Cochin, meals were served to family, neighbors and close friends. Valsa was able to purchase around 40 meals that were offered in her small front yard.
Today, Valsa is overwhelmed in her emotions and she is rightly accompanied by our association so that she can free herself from this pain and find her inner peace.
We invite you for a thought for Valsa and Paul.
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The yellow light of October in Kerala
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Once again Kerala is facing floods, there have been deaths due to landslides, rivers flooded their banks and there has been water everywhere. Several dams had to be opened and people were evacuated to different survival camps.
We have had torrential rains since we arrived. It's been weeks of rain, wind, stagnant water, the humidity soaking everything and everywhere.
Here in Cochin, we have a peculiar sky, the evenings before the rain, this electric yellow which colors the landscape. These are the particular October skies of the coastal areas of Kerala.
“I admire all these people who live in precarious places, the basins of water placed everywhere in the house. Some of the women in the workshop tell me about their experiences, how they deal with animals that come home at night, water that oozes everywhere, laundry that doesn't dry. I congratulate them for their courage to go through all kinds of situations.
For Seena's family, they live with 8 people in a very small 3 room broken house. Their clothes are eaten by rats, food must always be stored in plastic containers, and the presence of mold and mildew. They sleep on mats in this humid environment. These women are strong and never complain, what a lesson for us Westerners”. Words of Sophie.
Moreover, with the Covid situation, everyone is facing a difficult economic situation.
We have already set up social aid for some people, the help for health, housing, food boxes.
We invite you to discover these different projects through these pictures. We always try to stay positive and find ways to bring hope and confidence when everything seems to be falling apart. It works and the divine presence is there to accompany us. We love seeing the smiles come back on faces and actions get underway. The strength returns little by little thanks to this daily accompaniment.
It is a universal process that each of us knows well, the presence is essential when a problem arises and sometimes, we do not know how to face and overcome it.
This physical and the divine presence that allows each and every one to find an inner strength to continue the path.
We therefore continue our mission as guardian angels, sent to soothe and bring love, peace and joy.
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Vinod, finding solace in Ayurveda treatment
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Vinod is Vinisha's husband who has worked at the Bloom workshop for many years.
Vinod has severe back and neck problems, as a result of multiple accidents he had in his life.
For months, He is not able to work, he’s bedridden with severe pain, the family situation was getting worse.
Vinisha and Vinod are unable to make both ends meet with Vinod's mother living under the same roof. They are in a small village near Kolam in the South of India.
The family of the association organized for Vinod a 21 days treatment under a specialist doctor for back problems in a traditional ayurvedic center near Cochin. It is a great experience for Vinod who discovers Ayurvedic treatments. These are intense and powerful treatments with herbs, which we hope will help him to find a better health for his future life.
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The association helped Clara, who had Cancer with her chemotherapy and monthly food aid.
Today, Clara is doing better, and the association wants to continue to support her because she is a widow and is raising her son alone. She finds it difficult to find a job nearby her home.
There is a scope for a tiny shop in her area where she lives. She told us that she loves to sell some groceries and basic necessities in the courtyard of her house.
We proposed her to create a small shop, few square meters to set up her project.
The association found a nice project manager and the meeting with the project manager went very well, the work will start the first week of November and will last 1 month. This project is done, thanks to a private donor of our association.
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A home for Baiju and Sini
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A project that had been in our hearts for 2 years and that had been slowed down with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Baiju is a fisherman and Sini, his wife has just lost her job because of the covid-19 pandemic. They are a childless couple and come from a modest family.
Today, the whole family of the association is happy to see the demolition of the shack in which Sini and Baiju lived and to start the foundations of their new house.
We are grateful for the private donation of an association member which made this beautiful work happen.
We will have to raise the foundations at least 1 meter above the current level because this land could be flooded, it is located a few meters from the coast.
The laying of the foundation stone is scheduled for November 3 with a religious blessing followed by a morning tea service. It is a tradition to start a construction with a prayer and a moment of sharing with the family, friends, neighbors and the people involved in the project. As they are Christians, a rosary and a medal of the Virgin Mary will be placed in the ground to bring luck, happiness and prosperity to this house and family.
Everything will be done to ensure the success of this project, which gives a lot of hope for Baiju and Sini.
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Suresh, a small help to finish his house construction
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It was high time for Suresh to build his house because the living conditions in the place where he currently lives with his family are very difficult.
This achievement is partly due to a private donation from a member of the association.
It was tough to face water leaks, wet and oozing floors, walls, doors filled with termites, rats, cockroaches, animals that come in through all the holes of his dilapidated house, preventing them from sleeping at night.
To finish the construction, Suresh needs a little help.
The association will organize an interest free micro loan of 2500€ that Suresh will pay back at his own pace, over a period of 5 years.
When the house will be finished, Suresh has the project to welcome tourists from the association to discover his village of backwaters, the possibility to immerse in the daily life of an Indian family.
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Harry, take a bite out of life
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For many years now, Harry has been a driver for the association.
The association financed dentures for Harry because he had almost no teeth left.
It is wonderful to see Harry with his beautiful smile, this dental appliance changes his appearance completely.
Today, Harry is like a young man who live life to the fullest.
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Exhibiting Bloom is a touching experience
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The first Bloom exhibition, sale took place on October 15, 16 and 17 in La Roche sur Yon (Vendée) in a joyful atmosphere. Elisabeth, Yannick and Régine, accompanied by Isabelle, the president, and Philippe, a member, presented detailed and delicate art of exhibiting all the objects created and made by Sophie and the seamstresses of the association in Cochin.
Lots of visitors admired the different creations: the variety of products and the shimmer of the colors, the finishing quality, the ways of presentations, ... The visitors had a pleasant weather which favored many fruitful exchanges to take place and sharing between the participants who were also able to meet in the garden!
“Of course, we were also able to talk about what the association "Yoga, a daily life experience" can bring in its different fields.
We wish to support the seamstresses of the workshop and the association was fully fulfilled. During all these moments, we also felt the spirit that blows in this beautiful region of Kerala.
This premiere was also an opportunity for us to share between the 5 of us and to know each other better. Thank you to Isabelle Sophie and Jude for trusting us for this new adventure which delighted and enchanted us”.
Elisabeth, Yannick et Régine
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In France, do not miss our two November and December Christmas fairs
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A Bloom exhibition will take place at Annie Buton's house, 1 Venelle du Clos in Ste Marie de Ré from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 November 2021, from 2 to 6 pm.
Léa Nature invites the association on Tuesday, December 7th for a collective exhibition in solidarity at the BiO'Pôle in Périgny, from 11am to 7pm.
You are all welcome to share these friendly moments to help our association’s projects.
Thank you!
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In communion, we are in a union
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We are all like the little branches that make a tree.
The whole family of the association is happy to unite with you
in this presence of love, peace and joy.
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