This Month:
Comment
Comments from Kris
A Wedding
Ride to Jaisamand lake
The garden
Bleu'
Flowers around our garden.
Work
A very sad loss
Comment
Comments from Kris
A Wedding
Ride to Jaisamand lake
The garden
Bleu'
Flowers around our garden.
Work
A very sad loss
Comment
Man
has within him the ability to do great good or great evil. Last week, the 27th
was Holocaust Memorial Day held to
honour not only of the victims of the Nazi Holocaust, but also of subsequent
genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur and the ongoing victims of
hate crimes in this world.
Approximately six million Jews were killed by the Nazis,
although some studies suggest that the true death toll of the Holocaust could
be up to 20 million.
Ordinary men and women did this.
But the Holocaust isn’t the
only atrocity committed in recent years. In Rwanda, somewhere between 800,000
and two million people, mainly Tutsis, were
slaughtered over the course of just 100 days in 1994 – over six people per
second. Up to 500,000 women were raped, 67% of which were infected with HIV as
a result of the rape.
In Cambodia, the regime led by
Pol Pot killed up to three million
people between 1975 and 1979. In the Bosnian war
(1992-1995) 100,000 people were killed, including
8,000 Bosniak men and boys from the town of
Srebnica in July 1995 – the largest European massacre since the Holocaust.
But, in case you think that
atrocities like the Holocaust only happen in the past, it’s worth remembering
that the genocide in Darfur has claimed 400,000
lives beginning
in 2003 and continuing to this day. It has the dubious honour of being the
first genocide of the 21st century.
What is wrong with the world,
are we really so blind to the evil we do? Or is it that we really don’t care as
long as it isn’t us or ours.
The bible warns us of the dark
forces, the evil that surround us that can infect us.
Ephesians 6:10-13
finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full
armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full
armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand
your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (NIV)
Sadly many people even those
that profess to be Christian do not acknowledge this dark force in our midst.
For some reason the concept of a ‘devil’ is hard for some to accept. A force
that directly opposes God does exist, is real and will lead anyone who accepts
evil or allows it to happen unchallenged to eternal damnation.
To do nothing and just stand
by and allow evil to overcome is the same as doing that evil. A population may
cry in defence ‘I was not part of what happened’ but that is not a valid excuse,
if you see it and do nothing you must carry the blame as much as those who do the evil itself.
Everyone has
the responsibility to stop the evil of racism, not just people who are directly
suffering because of it.
Don’t fool yourself into
thinking that you live in an enlightened, peaceful world. It might be easy to
ignore massacres that are happening half way across the planet, but it’s not so
easy to turn a blind eye to things that are happening where you live.
Jews are
today leaving Europe because they feel unsafe, in fear of their neighbours who
only a short time ago were their friends. What is happening to us?
I can’t imagine
the pain of having to leave my home, friends, family and country because of my
race. How can we justify this? How long before we again elect a scapegoat for
the world’s troubles? The witch hunt has already begun. The extremists are even
now adding fuel to the fire of hatred that is growing in our midst.
Don’t
ignore it, when you see it, protest it or maybe one day soon you will be trying
to justify your part in another holocaust.
In 2014, anti-Semitic
‘incidents’ in the UK reached their highest ever level–
double the number of incidents in 2013.
Anti-Muslim hate crimes tripled in
London after the Paris attacks. In 2014, hate crimes motivated by racism,
religion and homophobia in London rose by 20%.
And if you think that we don’t
do concentration camps anymore – what about the internment camps in Calais? Or
the refugees in Cardiff forced to wear identifying wrist
bands? (Remember how wearing a star started) Or the
doors of refugees being painted red in
Middlesbrough? Doesn’t any of this sound familiar, how we can be so blind to
the consequences of ignoring this. How did we ever allow this to happen in our
so called Christian society?
We live in a world where
Donald Trump a USA presidential candidate declared that he wants to ban all
Muslims from the US, and his audience cheered. Can you
imagine a full on racist as President of the USA! If there is one reason never to vote for this racist that statement must be it.
Having free speech is precious to us all but sadly that comes at the price of giving the haters, the extremists and the enemies of tolerance and peace a right to
influence our young and desperate with their lies.
This is why I and many
others believe Holocaust Memorial Day is still hugely relevant and important.
We must never forget the price paid by so many because they were judged to be
‘different’.
We must resist evil in all its forms. It is true of
this world that evil can bring great success in riches, acclaim, popularity,
fine houses, all the trappings of wealth. Some would look at all this and say
‘what a great life’. But it is meaningless. It is a trap.
The greatest success
of the devil is getting us to believe he is a myth, a boogy man made up to
scare children. Remember ‘greed is good’ how that became the watchword of so
many, some gained great riches at the expense of their fellow man. Tell me
that’s not the worship of mammon (money). Where is their god? didn't they care who suffered to make their lives 'better'.
I would rather be poor in money
and rich in my faith than have all the money in the world and be without the love
of my saviour.
Matthew 16 - 24
16 Now a man came to Jesus and
asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about
what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to
enter life, obey the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” the man
inquired.
Jesus replied, “Do not murder,
do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,
19 honour your father and
mother,” and “love your neighbour as yourself.”
20 “All these I have kept,”
the young man said, “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you
want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard
this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his
disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God.”
Wealth beyond your needs in
this life is in fact a stone about your neck, who do you worship money or God? You can’t do both.
How far down the road to
damnation will you go to live a ‘better’ life in this world? What will you
ignore, turn a blind eye to because it doesn’t directly affect your life. Will
you lie, cheat, steal, will you ignore the race hatred that is now part of our society, will you allow mass murder?
Remember good can never come from evil, however
small a lie it is still a lie, there is no such thing as ‘justification’ 'Everyone else does it' or ‘I had
to do it’ excuses so often used by the guilty are simply wrong and what is sad is that most decent people know in their hearts the wrong they do.
For the Christian this cannot
be, we must stand up, we must speak the truth always, we must oppose evil no
matter what the cost to us personally, for only then can we find salvation.
Consider carefully the role
you play in this world for good or evil, to say ‘it wasn’t me, what could I
have done’ will not be enough.
With thanks to Abigail Chandler for Metro.co.ukWednesday 27 Jan 2016 for her article ‘Holocaust Memorial Day: What it is and why we need it’ from which this month’s comment is inspired.
Comments from Kris
This has been a tough month
health wise for both Chris and I, I got a chest infection passed it onto Chris
and he returned the favour back to me, who says it’s not fun to share hee hee.
On another note this month
has been very tough for me pain wise. Last month Chris and I were just saying
how great I was managing but alas the cold weather has meant my pain levels
have shot up as I have become acclimatised to the weather here in India and I
am feeling the full effects of the cold winter we have been experiencing.
It has affected my mobility
and affects my sleep so we have been out very little this month other than to
work and once for a short bike ride in the daytime when it was warmer.
As you may know I have
premature generalised degenerative arthritis, spondylosis of the spine, I’ve
had knee replacements on both knees and I suffer from fibromyalgia.
I have been blessed over the
last four years that God has healed me greatly but alas not completely. I do
believe he will complete the healing he has started. I have much more mobility now than when I was
in the UK but I still get pain and stiffness in my joints. I had been on
controlled drug patches, strong painkillers for the pain prior to coming to
India and for the first couple of years we were here. With God’s and Chris’s
help I have managed to come off these highly addictive drugs that made me drowsy and badly affected my balance so I have no
intention of returning to them hence the difficulty and pain I am suffering
now.
On a positive note next year
should be easier for me to cope with the cold as Chris is planning to build and
install a wood burning stove, yippee. Also I keep reminding myself how much
worse my pain would be if I was experiencing UK cold winters, so I have much to
be thankful for.
It is Chris I feel sorry for
as I get really ratty sometimes due to the pain, which is like having chronic
toothache it wears you down. I wear leggings under my jeans to keep my knees
and legs warm which helps a little, but the cold makes going out in the
evenings or mornings before the sun is up difficult as I am in too much pain
and my mobility gets limited.
We have had to decline at least
2 wedding invitations this month as I was not fit enough to attend which is sad
as we were very much looking forward to them, one was a Sikh friend’s wedding
the other a Muslim friend’s wedding. Fortunately they understood.
Due to health issues there is not a lot to talk about this month as we have done very little.
A Wedding
Due to health issues there is not a lot to talk about this month as we have done very little.
A Wedding
We did manage to get to the
blessing at the Sikh temple which was beautiful and to the lunch in the afternoon.
This was the first Sikh wedding we have been to and we really enjoyed it.
Kunal, a friend, Vijay and Manchirag members of IBRMC (India Bullriders Motorcycle Club) celebrating the wedding.
Sahiba and I at the lunch following the wedding
ceremony and below the Gandhi family welcoming
guests to their daughter Avneets wedding.
Some photos of the wedding ceremony at the
Sikh Temple, it got quite full after these were taken. Lovely ceremony.
The food was totally vegetarian but so
tasty and lots of variety to choose from
Ride to Jaisamand lake
The bike ride we did manage to go on was lovely, we went with two friends a gentle ride to Jaisamand Lake about 50k from us. We stopped for chai and a snack, arrived at the lake had a picnic there then rode home, very enjoyable. I was a bit stiff and in some discomfort afterwards but well worth it. We had been to this lake a couple of years ago and it is a beautiful area to visit.
A view of the lake, so clear and calm.
are in action, they made it look so easy.
Akashi and Kunal enjoying a rest just before
our picnic lunch, home prepared and very tasty.
Very fun day with a great couple.
Above are some photos of the local monkeys who
live near the lake. They are mischievous and if you
leave your food unguarded they will pinch it, but as
lots of tourists feed them its not surprising.
This is where we stopped for a snack just a short distance from the lake, we had locally made fresh pakodas you can see in the newspaper above and they were so good we went back for more. Apparently you get great fish here as it is caught locally, next time we will try it.
The garden
I am getting very excited that our leeks are growing well, I really miss this vegetable as it is not available here. We have had our own French beans, carrots and lettuce which is always very nice and we have even managed to grow broccoli and cauliflower reasonably successfully this year and it was very tasty. I have frozen some for later in the year.
The biggest gooseberry we have ever seen!
These trees in our garden produce a local fruit called Amla it is a cousin of the gooseberry but a lot bigger, useful for jams and pickles and full of vitamin C. We are thinking of making marmalade when they are fully ripe.
Pomegranates from our neighbours tree which
hangs over into our garden.
Some of our seedlings just coming through. There
is cucumber, tomato, (cherry and salad) also some pumpkin
which is another of our experiments!
Yes these are our leeks "yippee" still growing
well. Summer coming so we cant speak too soon,
but we have hopes of a crop.
Leek with cheesy sauce, yummy!
Papaya from two of our papaya trees
When I think about all the wildlife we have in and around our garden I cannot help but marvel at God's creation and how much he has blessed us here. Yes, I have problems with pain in the cold weather but what we have here and the work we do far outweighs that. Our life is so full and happy to be His servants living here doing something that really makes a difference; we both only wish we could do more.
Our hens are still giving us
lovely eggs but we are planning to increase their number soon as we currently
only have two hens and a cockerel.
Bleu'
Bleu'
Bleu’ is growing quickly we
are just about to buy her third collar as she is outgrowing them so fast. She
is very inquisitive and at that stage where she is testing the water as to what
she can get away with. A couple of weeks ago I put a new number plate on my
scooter and within 5 minutes she had pinched it off, I then put another one on
(just temporary paper one) I rode down to the market and when I got back within
a few minutes Chris came in laughing she had done it again. I know she hates me
leaving her and going out on my scooter but sometimes she can be frustrating. It’s
hard to get too annoyed with her as she is such a loving little puppy. She
still tries to chase the stray cat who has adopted us but on the whole they get
on well. (An armed peace…Chris)
Bleu' looking all innocent I wonder what she has been up to.
 |
| who me? |
Flowers around our garden.
A competition for you
Guess the names..............
Work.
Buddha Group of Institutions.
the students, she has a natural relaxed
style that works well.
This is an English class studying sentence construction, Vowels and Verbs.
twenty two in this class. They are starting to understand our sense of humour and we do expect them to work hard.
English is going well now, with it now on the curriculum for the first year students. As part of this five year degree course we also teach workshops in casting techniques, clay, metalwork and woodwork.
We are also involved with guiding the final year students in Dissertations and Theses work.
This year we begin working with third year students studying Building Materials and Construction techniques. Any teachers out there will know how we feel.....reading to fill in the blanks in our knowledge and stay at least one session ahead!
We both find this incredibly fulfilling to teach here and be able to help these young people who are the future for India. It is a great privilege that we both take very seriously.
A very sad loss
Sadly we lost a well loved bro this week Muhammad Sohail Muneer of United Udupi Riders when he was hit head on by a bus that only had one light working at night.
He was killed returning from what he loved, a biker meet.
All over India his bro's rode on Sunday in memory of him. he was a warm loving man who cared for others and was always ready to do something to help anyone.
Just a few photos of us in Udaipur paying tribute to a lovely man, This is us at Fateh Segar Lake early hours of Sunday morning. Very few people around at this time of day, just the keep fit fanatics and us. Below chai break, and an opportunity of remembering a friend so sadly taken from us.
Udaipur IBRMC was proud to be part of this. We will remember him. RIP bro.
Well thats all for this month, we haven't been able to do much on the jeep because of Kris's health and a lack of sleep for both of us. Hopefully next month (Feb) will be better for her as the weather warms up.
As Kris mentioned I am going to build and install a wood burning stove for next winter so the whole house will be warmer for her. Funny isn't it how the human body adapts. Our first year here it was too hot for us in winter, now it feels perishing freezing!
I just had a thought..........anyone visiting will think we are mad!
God bless you all
Chris and Kris
Udaipur, India.
