Update from India 53

This month we have gone all nostalgic.........

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Looking back.

When we were first called by God to come to India like most people would be, we were a little stunned by the prospect.

We had not been married long but had a closeness that is hard to describe. We both believed in total honesty between us so there were no secrets from the past or ‘things we didn’t talk about’ so when we both felt Gods word we knew it was going to be life changing.

Since then our lives have truly changed beyond our wildest dreams.

We are writing this to show you how the Lord can take two people and combine them into a new entity called in this instance ‘Chris and Kris’, and how He has used us and continues to use us to this day. All we have done is through Him, in praise of Him and in His name, we are his tool and servants and in joy we serve Him.

It began with selling all we owned following the teachings of Jesus ‘to give all to the poor and follow me’. Cars, motorcycles and all our possessions other than a few personal items were sold and the money given to Panavar boys hostel India. Friends and our church helped tremendously by contributing to the total. Proceeds from my book also all went to the same cause.

We had applied for visa’s to come and work in India but there was no guarantee they would be granted. The days passed into weeks as the date we had to leave where we were living drew closer, still no visas. There was no ‘plan B’, our faith in His word was absolute. We had paid the money for the visa’s so just had to wait. Some of our friends openly said we were mad, some believed we would never go, others worried that we were not going to get visa’s, even some members of our church suggested we make a plan B ….just in case. We continued to wait in faith, no plan B.

About that time a young friend we had some 70 miles away that we had been talking to said he wanted to go to church and ‘try it’ . That Sunday we drove to Morecambe and took him to a branch of our church there. It was a lovely day and glory to God we have since heard that he continues to go.

That same week a close friend’s mother passed. We had been able to see her while we were waiting for our visa’s. She was a fine woman and I know many people miss her. That week our visa’s came. God’s timing in all things.

We arrived in India full of plans and idea’s, some came to pass but the majority were based on what we thought India needed, not what India needed, a lesson we learned over the next year.

We have always believed our place was in the community, not living with other Christians but with the people of India. Looking back as is our theme this month in the blog reminds me of where we have lived since moving to India, first we spent a couple of weeks at the college campus, then we moved to Jeevan Tara Colony and our first home in India. 

This was a nice house and would still be there if our landlord had not moved us onto a monthly tenancy, which for us meant too much uncertainty, we had great neighbours, then we moved to the street behind where we are still. We still continue our friendships with our previous neighbours who soon became friends and welcomed us with open arms into the colony community. Our current home is a little smaller but we still have our chickens and kitchen garden which is great.

Although we are now next to the Resort we get less bother from the music than we did in the other house as now we have a wall in front of the house which blocks most of the sound and what is left appears to go over top of our home so it doesn’t seem as loud during parties and weddings etc.

When we moved into our first home we had only a small load for a rickshaw and enough money to pay for a small car to get about in. 

This plan was cancelled in favour of furniture and two bikes. Who wants to sit in a metal box with no AC in 48degC temperatures!!!

When we first came to India we worked for the Pragati Marg Foundation for two years. During this time we learnt so much about what we wanted to do here. We left the NGO to take up teaching as we both felt that it gave us more spare time for the projects we undertake. We currently work at Buddha Group of Institutions an architectural college teaching workshop, art and design and English two days a week, plus one in prep and guiding dissertation students.

We have made many friends of all faiths and castes because of this belief that we would never have done had we lived and worked apart from them. This is not for everyone as it does have some disadvantages, fellowship with other Christians being the main one.

Some people cannot understand why we put working with the poor above going to church, in fact, we were criticised openly in church, by a pastor of the church for only attending for communion! We should attend every week, we couldn't make them understand why this was impossible for us.We either continued our work or stopped going.

So we stopped going. Sunday is the only day off most Indians get. God knows our hearts and sees our work, we leave judgement to Him.

Nor would we recommend living like this to single women or young people simply because the culture is so different. Unmarried women are vulnerable and really should be careful especially at night. Indian women are usually escorted by brothers or cousins for this reason.

Since we arrived we have built water purification systems, formed an NGO (HDS) that we have now handed to full Indian control, taught self-breast examination to hundreds of women, to nurses and even doctors. HDS gained an award for its work on educating women about how to self examine for signs of breast cancer. A very proud moment.

       

We have taught English to all ages, in many different places, indoor and outside under trees.

We have contributed time and what money we have too many other good causes and given our help and support wherever we can.  

We still support Panavar with what we can afford, tithing to this cause instead of the church. We call in as often as our time allows. It is 120Km away by a very poor road and takes up to four hours each way. The last time we went we had to drive through a river because a bridge had been washed away by the monsoon. The jeep is essential for rural travel especially in the monsoon when many roads turn to mud, even getting to work can be a challenge.

We have testified to our faith many many times to our friends and anyone who asks why we do this, trying to explain is often difficult but worth it. So often here Christians are treated with suspicion, people wondering at their true reason for coming to India. Many ‘Christians’ come to India for reasons other than stated on their applications, working on a holiday Visa is probably the main one. It must be remembered that all foreigners are regarded as Christian because they come from a Christian country and that has led to many misconceptions about us. We have overcome that by showing whom we are, not who they think we may be, by living our faith by Gods law.

Our latest effort ‘Warm Aid’ to collect winter clothing for the very poor is snowballing; 

Other groups in other cities have taken up the idea. It began as just us but has grown into a huge enterprise. So far in Udaipur alone, at least 400 people have received clothing and still the contributions continue to come in. Partner NGO’s have taken this to another level visiting village and hostels, the response has been beyond anything we hoped for. So many children will be warm this winter instead of cold and ill. Adult clothing is also distributed. People have been so generous with their donations. This effort will continue as long as donations come in.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing; I (Chris) nearly died when I got two of the worst strains of Malaria at the same time and suffered complete organ failure, for a while it was not at all certain I would survive. Kris has had serious blood pressure problems but continues as she always does with a cheerful attitude and complete faith in the Lord. Medication has helped but it continues to be a worry. We have both had ‘bugs’ that have laid us low for days or even weeks. Several broken bones between us, spider bites and encounters with local snakes and large lizards have made life interesting.

 

Last year we had a mother Panther and her cubs take up temporary residence in the land next to us. This coincided with the birth of many of the wild dog pups. After a while as the pup population decreased she moved on.

Getting used to the climate has also been challenging, to say the least! 50degC in summer to 15degC in winter, which is quite a temperature range, not counting two months of rain at 90%+ humidity and 30degC temperatures.

We have committed social blunders through ignorance of the different social customs but have been regularly forgiven. We are now accepted as ‘local’ having lived in the area for four years and Kris is known at all the local shops and stalls. We have made genuine friends and feel at home here.

People are friendly to us and frankly amazed that we have moved here from the UK to live in their country. I think eccentric conveys their opinion of us best, the garden, chickens (10) and our general lifestyle may be something to do with that. We have also adopted a street dog pup to (Bleu’) save it and she now lives a good life with us. Her only fault is she loves to dig holes….lots of holes.

Nobody we know looks twice now when we pull up in our self-restored 1984 British racing green Mahindra jeep,                   (or on my R500cc single royal Enfield ). It serves us well carrying all sorts about, of late clothes and chicken food. We use the bike to tour to parts we haven’t seen and as transport to work when the weather is warm and dry. Kris has her scooter that she uses as day to day transport; you probably would not believe the different loads she has arrived home with tied to it.

If there is still one thing that we have trouble convincing people of it is that we are unpaid by the college we work for and live on only a small pension. We are sure some think we have another income….I wish! If we did it would be used to do so much more than we can now. This is our only frustration, seeing so much we could do if only we had the money.

How many years we will be here has always been and will always be in God’s hands but as long as we are able we shall work here for His glory.

Five years ago we were wondering where our faith would lead, now we are here, happy, fulfilled and living  in praise of our Lord who brought us together as a tool He could use for good in this world. As long as we are able we will honour Him with joy as His servants.

God bless you all.

Comments from Kris

As Chris said we really wanted to integrate into the community and be part of the real India rather than do what a lot of ex pats do and live isolated from the locals, this I think we have achieved.

  

Well this month has been very challenging firstly on a health front and the problem getting at our cash with the withdrawal of currency here in India.

Firstly my health, I have had high blood pressure and at the beginning of the month it was dangerously high so much so that I was in danger of having a stroke, but after several hospital visits and medication it is improving. It is still going up and down but not as dangerously high as in the beginning. I am finding it a challenge though and get tired very easily. 

I went into the city today, I went by taxi as did not feel well enough to ride. I just went to the one shop and when I got back I was absolutely shattered, I could sleep for a week. I find doing even the simplest thing tiring at the moment. My haemoglobin level is good so I am not anaemic. 

Well along with the whole of India I have spent many hours in queues at the atm and the bank to get cash, it is sometimes frustrating as most run out of cash before the day is even half over but I do agree with the policy of Prime Minister Modi on this one. As you may know the reason is that the government has withdrawn RS 1,000 and Rs 500 notes from circulation and introduced the new Rs 2,000 notes. There are now some new Rs 500 but not many at present. The reason is to get rid of black money from the economy, it is going to be an unsettled time for the near future but I have not met one Indian who is against this policy. On the whole the atmosphere in the queues is friendly and helpful, especially to those who are just using atms for the first time of which there are many. I have only witnessed one incident where several men were getting very angry and aggressive outside the main branch in the city centre, I decided it would be wise not to be around in case it got out of hand.

 Bulletiapa

Well it comes around once a year where members of IBRMC (India Bull Riders Motor Cycle Club) meet and party, this year it was Delhi’s turn, we had planned to turn it into a holiday touring with the bike before and after Bulletiapa but my high blood pressure meant we couldn’t ride and I was not fit enough for more than a few days away. But next year it’s in Hyderabad and I can’t wait we are definitely riding. We decided we would still go but travelled by sleeper coach it was over 12 hour’s journey but worth it. 

It was great to catch up with old friends from around the country and make new friends. Here are a few photos’ to give a flavour of the event. It is attended by bikers, their wives and children so is a family affair. We stayed in a nice resort Surjivan in Manasar, Haryana, Delhi. Chatting to the owner, his wife and the manager on the last day they said how much they had enjoyed us being there and it took them back to their youth, that’s nice as they were a little anxious about having a bike event when we arrived. It’s a lovely venue for a wedding or corporate event. The accommodation was mud built in the traditional Rajasthan style, really interesting, something to share with our Architectural students. As my blood pressure was still a problem I confess I did spend a lot of time resting this year but I still had a good time and it was good to get away.

 

The bike Chris and Manu were working on to customise took part in the dirt track racing event and came 2^nd. Chris worked on the engine to squeeze all the power they could out of it. It is significantly quicker accelerating than the standard bike; Manu the owner was extremely chuffed. The bike got lots of attention at Bulletiapa because of its radical “strip everything to minimum” look. As Chris says to Manu if we don’t need it to run cut it off! Lots of people rode it, and it is definitely a fast bike. Chris was very pleased that his efforts bore fruit.

I know I have mentioned this before but we are very grateful to have the wood burner now we're into winter here, it's fantastic no more being cold in the evenings or when we get up in the morning when it is chilly outside.

One crazy bit of news just had a message from a lady who has just read my book, believe it or not, she bought it in a thrift shop in the Ukraine. Wow!!!!

That’s all for this month, hope you enjoyed it.

God Bless you all from

Chris and Kris in Udaipur