Ecsflemings's travel blogs:
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ECS In Guwahati
Entry 8 of 17 | show all | print this entry |
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This morning we explored our new setting a bit. Our room, apparently the great bwana's
room with its private bathroom, has a small balcony overlooking the Brahmaputra River. If we had time to sit there and watch people, traffic and boats go by, I'm sure we could be kept interested for many hours. Women in colorful saris walk down the sidewalk. A man rushed by carrying a balancing scale across his shoulders with bananas on one side and oranges on the other. Moto-shaws, Ambassador taxis, Land Rover-looking Tata vehicles, buses and trucks drive along honking at each other continually. On the river, people ferries ply along bringing people to a dock. As you would expect the ferries are almost overflowing with humanity. No wonder when we hear of a ferry disaster in this corner of the world, the number of dead is almost unbelievable.
The compound we are staying on is inside the city of Guwahati. It covers several acres and has three or four dormitory buildings, several other buildings, what looks like a former missionary house and a Baptist church building. The church was begun in 1845, although the building is probably not that old. Facing the street from the compound are two Christian bookstores, OM Books and Christian Literature Centre. All through the property are huge citri trees (that's the name they told me) that are probably as old as the church. Palm trees also tower over the premises. Crows flock and caw. Dust rises from everywhere and you can taste and smell it.
We walked about a block down the street this morning and passed four or five small shops that advertised silk, saris and other items, but they were still shuttered. We also saw the minaret on the mosque from where we heard the call this morning at 5 a.m. This city is much less western than Delhi where I notices many women in western clothes ("trousers") this time. I have only seen saris and salawar camisees here.
There are 20 at the Emmaus meeting and they are interested in using the courses. Only 4 or 5 are actual RDs, I believe, but the rest have applied or are applying and want to use the courses to reach people.
Jim seems to be struggling to get them to understand (or is it they who are struggling to understand?) things like why the courses are not just literature, the importance of reporting how many courses are distributed and corrected, the need to make Emmaus their major ministry if they are going to be RDs and the possibility of being an Associate Instructor or Promoter instead. Please pray that they would grasp these things and that the language barriers that exist would not be a problem.
Thank you for praying for our health. So far we are doing well. I have had to use my inhaler once each night. Please pray that I'd sleep through the night and not wake up and cough or wake to cough (not sure which way it works!) Otherwise we are fine and enjoying curry twice a day and thanking God for porridge at breakfast!
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