I want to paint a picture of our day yesterday. We had a wonderful day of exploring the city, finally more able to navigate, more bold in asking locals and any white face! We were on a mission to find the Mother Theresa house and the YWCA in preparation for the next 6 weeks of our trip. Along the way we found an Oasis of a guest house which Lexi had been told about by good friends. It was beautiful! Gated walls with beautiful gardens within... nice buildings, clean, AC, and shelter from the rain that began pouring down during our exploration.
The streets that we had to walk down were the most disturbing though. Imagine walking down a narrow sidewalk with one side being a gated wall or building and the other side of the sidewalk being plywood elevated on bricks and torn tarps and garbage bags tied to the trees or fence to provide shelter for a family. A peek under their tarp revealed piles of clothes, pots and pans, naked babies, or a mother preparing some food for her children. At first I thought "There is no way that this is where they live... it must just be where they set up for the day to do street vending!" Outside played little children with potbellies due to poor nutrition. I wish I had a picture to share with you, but I could not bring myself to document this new level of poverty.
This was sandwiched in between the discovery of the Baptist guest house OASIS:) and a visit to a street vender where I bought a kit kat for our American taste buds. Like I said... contrast.
Something I want to let you all know is that tomorrow begins the festival called Durga Paja which celebrates the goddess of kolkata. Sadly, she is a goddess of violence. The city makes memorials for her in extravagant ways in which the eye can easily be deceived to think it beautiful and good. There is extreme spiritual bondage during this time. Please pray that God's glory would be revealed and pray for our strength and wisdom as we share this time with these people and pray and fight for their souls.
This was a bit of a heavy post... I don't mean to burden you with some of the realities, but I count on the detailed prayers that have gotten us thus far and will get us to Nov. 26th.
Many thoughts and thankfulness go to you!
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2 comments:
Oh girls - I so can relate with what you have written, it doesn't sound like too much has changed since I was there for my 8 week trip 15 years ago. We will have you in our constant prayers and pray that you can shine Jesus and light into the dark places and oppressed people. Please take especially good care of Lexi, we miss her in a big way and it is only the first week.:)
Love, Gerri for all the Thorsgards!
Danielle,
It'd be great if you gals can sign your entry posts with your name so that we can know which of the four of you wrote it. I especially love to read your perspective-- cuz you're the only one I know-- but I do read them all.
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