A short drive today – only 50 km but 2 hours each way. It is good to know that in India you never ask how far away some place is but how long it will take to get there.
We drove south to Melrosapurum to see the schools there as well as the Ewart Women’s College then on to Chengalput which was where Anna was stationed when she was in India for three months.
Although every day is different there is a sameness about what we are witnessing. Dedicated, faith filled people providing an education for those who would normally not receive one, in buildings that are falling down around them.
Three of the principals we have met this week received their education in a mission school and two of them are now back in the same school they grew up in.
In every school visited there are pictures of their Founders proudly displayed and the school staff are eager to tell you about their school’s heritage.
Ewart Women’s College is a College offering Bachelor degrees in Medicine, Science and IT to girls who are first generation learners. It was great to hear them talk about their desire to be educated so they could provide money for their family who have nothing.
They were having a nutrition display and Lynn got to cut the ribbon and officially open it. We were the first two to progress through and have the girls explain the exhibits they had prepared.
Lynn's first Official Opening
After hearing about Chengalput from Anna, it surprised us. By Indian standards it was a village but the traffic was thick and heavy and it was significantly larger than we had imagined. The headmistress of one school we visited told us there were nine schools in the village.
Mangy dog at Chengalput (especially for Anna)
We visited a school for mentally handicapped children. There are 25 children living here ranging from 6 to 30. Mahimi, the lady in charge, has been there 15 years and has never had a holiday. This really challenged us when we guard our holidays so much in the west. A little girl called Commina, who is an orphan, came to sit on my (Lynn) lap while we were talking in Mahimi’s office, and just wanted to be hugged. She stuck to me after that. We were treated to a singing concert and then some dancing. I joined in with the dancing with Commina on one hand and another little boy who seemed to gravitate to me also.
When someone else tried to cut in they were not impressed. They are trying to raise money for a new hostel. The house they are living in is over 100 years old and is badly in need of renovation.
The CSI Home of Abundant Life,
where Anna was stationed, was typical of the buildings we saw – old, dirty and badly in need of renovation. They showed us the room they thought was Anna’s, which wasn’t too bad. However Anna informed us that she didn’t sleep in that room but another one behind the dining room which we saw and is now a kitchen of some sort. I am glad we are where we are and not where Anna was. Her’s would have been a difficult situation to live in.
We also visited another girls’ hostel which was dark and gloomy and again, old and dilapidated. Although the condition of the buildings were bad and saddened us, it seemed that everywhere we went, it had little affect on the occupants – children just being happy to get an education and have somewhere to get 3 meals a day.
It is indeed a different world and we have been continually challenged about our Western values and waste and what we treasure.
It was another long day and another long drive through the traffic to get “home”.
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