Our group arrived Sunday evening at Luther Glen campground.  We were greeted by the camp staff and began our stay.  We played some getting-to-know-you games and ended the evening with a devotion time of readings and songs.

Today, July 18, the men prepared the tables for breakfast at 7:45 a.m. while the women calmly sauntered to the dining hall at 8:00. After breakfast, the squadron explored the farm which included goats, chickens, pigs, dogs, and a miniature horse, Chuck.

Next, the youth split up into four groups each with a different objective in mind. These activities ranged from chopping wood, to gardening, to shoveling manure, and building a campfire setup.

Then, the groups enjoyed a solid lunch including salad, fries, and sandwiches. Later, the youth visited the campground's swimming pool where they played a long game of Marco Polo. After cleaning up, the youth enjoyed a thoughtful Bible study where they delved deeper into Christ and explored their inner feelings.

 Furthermore, everyone participated in team building games that lead them to discover the "3 C's" (Communication, Concentration, and Cooperation). Even though these games may have caused some of the campers frustration, their intent was achieved as everyone grew in character.

Lastly, the group sat down to eat a Mexican dinner together in preparation for the rest of the day's activities.  This included more gardening, collecting fresh eggs from the chicken coop, trimming trees, and mixing concrete.

 Our time together is proving to be productive and educational!
~~ The majority of this post was written by Nick with help from the gentlemen of the group. :-) 

Our Last Days in Delhi and Kolkata

When we returned to Delhi we spent the afternoon touring the Gandhi Memorial.  This was an experience full of history coupled with messages of peace and unity.  

On the 4th of July some of the team ventured off with Sonia's Aunt Nancy to go zip lining at the  Neemrana Fort.   

We returned to Kolkata on July 5th in the evening.  Kelsey Eaton, the director for the Piyali Learning Center, joined us for dinner.  Much time was spent discussing how our church community might best assist in their continuing efforts to provide safe and transformative environments for the young at-risk girls in this region.  

Today, July 6, we are keeping busy with last minute errands and return travel preparations. We are all missing home by now and cannot wait to tell you all what we have seen and learned through this trip. Thank you for your prayerful support.  

~~ Mindy

Morning Begins With the Taj Mahal

Today we got up pretty early so we could get to the Taj Mahal right when it opened, a little after sunrise.  We'd caught a couple glimpses of it when we were driving around Agra or looking out at it from the Agra Fort yesterday, but nothing compared to being there and seeing it up close for the first time.  It was so surreal to be there because I've seen so many pictures of it and heard so much about it.

I still can't believe I can say I've been to one of the seven wonders of the world.  It was also really funny to see monkeys walking around there, and chipmunks scampering all over the gardens.  We learned a lot from our tour guide and had plenty of time to walk around inside and outside of the Taj.  I'm extremely blessed to have been able to have this experience.

After leaving, we went back to our hotel and had breakfast, then had a long drive back to Dehli.  We couldn't see much out the window on the drive except for the agricultural area past the freeway we were on.

Our car also crossed paths with some water buffalo a couple times.

Now we're back at our hotel preparing for our next few days in Delhi.
Keep us in your prayers.
~~ Sonia

Megan Shares About Agra

We made it to Agra!  On our drive, we saw monkeys, camels, and water buffalo.  After lunch we toured the Agra Fort.  It was impressive.

Each part of the buildings had intricate designs with precious stones inlaid into the marble. We caught a glimpse of the Taj Mahal from here and learned a lot about the Emporers from our guide.

Our guide took us to a local carpet making shop where we learned how the carpets are made. It takes nine artisans, each with different skills, and about ten months to create just one carpet.  

While in Dehli...

Our touring in Delhi began at Jama Masjid.  It was built in 1656 by Emperor Shah Jahan (the builder of the Taj Mahal) and is the largest and most splendid mosque in India.  It has three majestic black and white marble domes covering the prayer hall which can seat 20,000 people.  (The women's robes pictured here are courtesy of the temple - not our own picks.)

Next we ventured into the Chandni Chowk shopping district.  Whole streets are dedicated to a type of merchandise including: weddings, jewelry, shoes, etc.  We exited from our rickshaws to walk through the the spice shops.  It was filled with unique aromas and many familiar items.   

The final stop for the day was the Red Fort.  It is made from red sandstone and is one of the most magnificent monuments in Delhi.  It was build by Emporer Shah Jahan in 1638. It was here that the National Flag was raised for the first time as India gained independence in August of 1947.  (Dave Nichols' parents were present for that event.)

It was a very hot day here in Delhi with high humidity.  In the early evening we were treated to a monsoonal downpour which we watched from our hotel windows.  In a couple days we will have another update including our visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra. Check back soon.
~~ Mindy

Getting to Delhi

Today we began our journey to Delhi to further our cultural education of India. We were up bright and early to leave the hotel at 5:30 am to catch an 8:45 am flight from Kolkata to Delhi. We zipped to the airport with very little traffic. 

When we got to the airport, "Surprise!", our flight was cancelled. We weren't sure if it was related to the attack in Turkey or not. We went into the terminal and sat by The Air India counter for about 45 minutes while they rerouted us. In some ways it worked out better for us because we were now scheduled on a direct flight instead of having to stop once on the way which was our original flight. So we went through security and waited by the gate. 

The time for boarding came and went. Around the time we were scheduled to leave, they started boarding us. The plane had plenty of leg room and we were soon we were settled ready to take off. But we didn't. Soon the captain came on and said there was a mechanical issue. So we waited. Again the captain came on and said there was still a mechanical issue. So we waited. A third time the captain came on and said they were still fixing the mechanical issue. So we waited. Finally about 11:45 we left the gate which was about the time we were scheduled to arrive. The rest of the flight was uneventful. 

We arrived in Delhi and met our driver. We drove to the hotel which was very interesting. We noticed that the driving wasn't as crazy as in Kolkata. We also passed by many of the embassies and the president's house. We also noticed the air was a lot browner. It reminded me of LA during the 1970s. 

We got settled in our hotel and are looking forward to going to Old Dehli tomorrow. 

Joan

Tuesday, June 28, at PLC

Today was a difficult day. It was the last day that we got to be with the students and teachers at the Piyali Learning Center. Even after a comparatively short period of time, it is difficult not to become attached to the kids. There are a lot of them and they are noisy, but what a joyous noise!  

Their stories are very similar, yet each unique.  Each of these girls has come from an abusive environment and/or a context in which they were at clear risk of being trafficked into some sort of slavery. The school was created to mitigate that risk and empower the girls in a decidedly patriarchal system, with roots reaching far back into Indian history. 

The teachers are an extraordinary group of women, dedicated to improve the betterment of the lives of each and every one of these girls. They are delighted with opportunities to deepen their skill set and improve the quality and breadth of education of the children.  These girls and their teachers were the people with whom we've had the privilege to work over the past few days.

Today, we've had to say goodbye to them.  Granted, a week isn't a long time, I know, but watching some of our group say goodbye, makes it clear how close they've managed to come to these children and their teachers. 

In the past week we've had occasion to sit in on classes and observe some of the new methods our teachers have shared with them. I don't personally claim to understand all of that, but I've been assured by the PLC staff that it was all extremely helpful. It was delightful for me to observe the interactions between our group and the children. "Uncle" David speaking "math" to the girls; Aunty Megan and Aunty Joan sharing their insights with a very grateful crew of instructors, and then helping them put it all into practice in the classroom. And Sonia "didi" (big sister) simply being Sonia "didi", hanging out with, laughing with, and loving a whole bunch of giggling little girls. Aunty Mindy was also as much a star among the kids here in India as she is at home. 

The truth is that these girls have already had to face a great number of challenges in life and it is our privilege to help them where we can. All of these girls and young women, in the short time the school has existed, are becoming increasingly self-confident and strong. They are going to be a generation that begins to break the cycle of abuse and victimization of girls. I'm delighted to have met them and hope someday to see them again, for they, all of them, have been a very great inspiration to me. 

Today we had a bit of a gathering before we left. We purchased ice-cream and cotton candy for the kids, in addition to little things we brought from home. They really enjoyed it all. The little ones especially got into the ice-cream and ended up wearing most of it. 

   

  

They were very grateful for the gesture and appreciated all the little things (pens, pencils, balls, candy, hair bands, etc.) we brought for them. 

We later had a catered lunch with the staff and shared some great conversation. 

We took group photos, both with the students and then with the staff, before leaving. 

This school is on an exciting path that is not only effectively fighting against the evil that is sweeping the world, that is human trafficking; it is doing so by equipping young women for life in the world. I am excited by what they have done and are doing, and the extent to which this work represents a paradigm that may ultimately prove useful in other areas around the world.

~~ Pastor Luther

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