A Bump in the Road

It has been a long time but it is time for AM and IW to return to the blogosphere.

A lot of things have happened since our return from India over 12 months ago.  We have been exploring a direction for our life with the help of UnitingWorld and arrived at the decision that the next step for AMandIW (this is the new collective term for us) would be Zimbabwe.  The basic plan is to resign from our jobs and in late January head off to work with the Uniting Church of Zimbabwe in the area of Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

Well this is still our goal but there has been a 'Bump in the Road'.

AMandIW have been working hard on our health the past few months, changed our eating patterns, joined a Gym and have lost a combined total of about 26 kg.  Pretty impressive we thought.  About a month ago IW got a sore hip - overdone the exercise was the popular opinion so off to the local chiropractor for a bit of relief.

After a session or so it was suggested that we should get some XRay's.  This was followed by a trip to the GP, some bone scans, some CT scans an MRI a trip to IW's Oncologist and a diagnosis that there was cancer present in the left pelvis and right femur plus various spots on the shoulders/back.  We were both in disbelief.  How could this happen when our plans were set and everything seemed so straight forward.

Everything was put on hold as we plotted a new way forward with the help of some very good medical practitioners.  The end result is that IW will soon begin a regime of Radiotherapy to the left pelvis and right femur plus some to the right chest area where there is some suspicious 'thickening'.

We have been encouraged by the advice that we should be able to continue our adventure to Zimbabwe next year but will wait a couple of months to test the effectiveness of the treatment being given.

Stay tuned as AMandIW deal with the 'Bump in the Road' and see where the next adventure is.

On the Road (Plane) Again

Well here we sit at Kuala Lumpur waiting for our connecting flight back to Chennai.

What are we doing here? - well a small window of opportunity opened up that allowed us to see the 12 Std girls (aka Year 12 girls in Oz) before their final Public Exams and then their disappearance back to their villages or hopefully for some, tertiary studies.

When the window opened both IW and AM grabbed it and ripped it wide open. After consultation with the Principal and Uniting World it was agreed that we would come back for a couple of weeks.

We hope it has been kept a secret from our Hostel girls so we can surprise them. We don't know how successful this has been as we received an email from one of the day students from the Orchestra telling us that when they were practicing on Tuesday (in the house where we stayed) the groundsman came in and told them to leave as they had to get the house ready for the return of Uncle and Aunty (AM and IW).

They have assured us that they won't tell the Hostel girls so we will wait and see.

We will arrive at the school at about 11:00 Saturday night and hopefully slip in unnoticed (by the girls). Then we will just walk down and meet them when they are boarding the bus to go to Church on Sunday morning.

Well that's the plan, so stay tuned to see how it works out.

Bye for now.

AM and his editorial assistant IW.

Back at Work

IW and AM have returned to work so expect details of the departure from Jessie Moses and the resumption of responses to agr's questions shortly.

We did get through all the questions so only have to write them up now so expect them to come at a rapid pace. AM just has to get IW's hands back on the keyboard to complete her answers.

Thanks for your patience.

Blog pause

Sorry for the delay in posting.

Last few days have been very hectic. We fly out of India tomorrow morning for a three day break in Singapore before arriving back in BrisVegas on Friday morning.

May be able to answer a few more of agr's questions from Singapore but no promises.

Questions 21-27 have been submitted by agr so stay tuned for the answers plus some news about our many farewell parties we had.

Question 20

agr's question: "What is your view of the Madras Diocese of the Church of South India?"

I have been encouraged by what I have seen. The range of services they provide is extensive. Their focus on Mission and Evangelism is quite incredible and the way they send missionaries into the villages to live with and help the people is a great model.

The sacrifice that is made to meet the needs of others has challenged me.

Question 19

agr's question: "Some advice for me and my community?"

A community seems to be made up of people headed in the same direction but not necessarily all thinking the same so what direction do you and the Hostel want to go?

agr and I have spoken about the force of 91 girls wanting to head in the same direction and the impact that would have on the greater school community at CSI Jessie Moses.

Most girls here know what they want but at the moment they are individuals. The Hostel community needs leaders to focus the group but not to take control. Community is a gentle moving of people as they see what they have to offer each other and those outside their particular community.

The next question for agr and the Hostel girls is how do they as individuals influence each other to focus on the common community good rather than on the individual good.

Question 18

agr's question: "Who is the most highly regarded person in your life other than IW and God"

The short answer is there is no definitive answer.

There have been many people in my life that I look up to and regard highly, who because of their actions have helped me to grow in my understanding of who I am.

I guess I should stop sitting on the fence as I know in my mind there is one person who has exhibited God's grace to me and taught me more about grace than anyone else.

To find out the name just click and drag the mouse between the two asterisks below.

* Ken Neill *