Karl Pilkington (the original Idiot Abroad) once said:
'Of all my travels, my most memorable experience has been …
....India had a big impression on me, it's just the maddest place in the world, as much as I hated it when I was there. I actually called up to try and get out of it, saying I wanted to go home. It was just illness and [that it's] non-stop, all your senses are being smacked, everywhere you look there's something mad, the smells. I would say to everyone that they should witness it. Out of all the places in the world, there's not a lot of places that are different. Wherever you land there's a Starbucks, there's a Gap. I've been in the Peruvian jungle and you meet the head chief and you think ''this is different'', and then he pulls out his phone to do a selfie. Yet in India there's just something about it. Every time I've been, the memories of that stick with me a lot more than, say, a trip to America.'
****************************************************
As the latest (Geriatric) Idiot Abroad I can echo so much of the above. However, I'm so glad that I didn't make such a trip as a tourist. I feel privileged to have been, gone and done it to experience it as it is in reality. Sure it was a roller coaster of an experience. I was in the somewhat unusual situation of going alone and not part of a group and also as an older man alone. That said, there were no restrictions on me and also it was easier as an older married man to be more easily accepted. I went from being 'Brother' to 'Uncle' and finally 'Grandpa' as an address during my stay - all being someone who was readily accepted, respected and welcomed.
I felt immediately at ease and at home with both the westerners (mostly American) and indigenous population. It seemed (in my experience) that in India, I was never regarded as an outsider - either in the orphanages where we were all part of a large family, but also out in public, whether it be in shops or on the streets, I never felt any hostility, resentment, threat or any other negativity. It seemed that people were pleased to see westerners, many wanting to engage in conversation (such as it could be), asking 'What your name?' or 'Where you from?' and always happy to tell you their names and always wanting to be photographed.
I never really experienced any 'culture shock', I had always had an interest in Indian (and Pakistani) type culture having worked in heavily populated areas of such families in my policing background and as a result had been drawn to watch documentaries on these countries. Obviously there are major contrasts in weather, family lifestyles, communities, topography, food, cleanliness, attitudes..... the list of diversities is almost endless - but I honestly met these head on and accepted them as read. I also never experienced any 'jet lag' either way - perhaps this was because of my life of working long hours and 24/7 shift working - so I guess my body clock just went with the flow (I was obviously tired by the 5,000+ miles journeys each way but that was all).
What can I say about Sarah and her family?
Sarah seems to me to be like one of those old acts that were on the TV a lot when I was young, where someone had what seemed like dozens of thin poles set on a stage and each one had a large plate spinning on every one and the performer ran round frenetically keeping them spinning. I wouldn't describe Sarah as 'frenetic' but I would look at her from a distance and feel for her. I can only say that God gives her the strength to do and continue what she does. I am concerned that as a mother of 5 and loved by 120 other children who light up and flock to her as soon as she enters their homes; someone who knows each of them intimately, their names, their background and their up to date medical situations; someone who carries the 'burden' of the upkeep of all of the homes, 200 miles apart, the employment and problems of the army of Indian staff and also the Foster Moms; the one who plans for the future; the one who is a loving, caring mother of her own 5 children and also her parents-in-law who are dependent on her and her husband James. The lady who is INCREDIBLE and for who I am concerned may not easily carry the load indefinitely on her own. (These are my thoughts and I hope do not in any way offend Sarah).
There is a vision for the future for all of the orphanage to be brought together in Hyderabad - a 4 acre plot is needed where everything can be all in one place, the accommodation, the education, the medical facilities and the administration. The seed seems to have been planted for this vision God would want it to go. Certainly, I personally feel, that this is a door that should be tried and tested to that end but this is such a great vision with a myriad of considerations and the need of much support. That said though - although I have been 'connected' with Sarah's work for some years (since 2010) - I was amazed to learn that what seemed a very sizeable and established work had only been up and running since 2 years prior to this. She achieved incredible things (you need to hear her full testimony) in such a short space of time and miraculous things have taken it on since then.
So as God is the One in charge, anything is possible and also likely.
The day before I left, Sarah asked me to consider returning in November for a number of weeks to help with a team of young people going out with 'Passport' an 'Adventures in Missions' programme - similar to the 'World Race' programme as mentioned before in my blogs. I'm not sure that this will be the right thing for me personally at that time but it does lead me on to the recurring question that I have asked myself and been asked so many times by others - 'Will I ever be going back?'.
Well, I have thought long and hard about this ever since I first arrived there back in mid-January. Initially my response would have been an immediate 'NO' and then it happened. I started to feel a part of it all. I can't say how, where or when - it just happened gradually I think. Even when there were times that I felt as though I was struggling and frustrated, I couldn't imagine leaving and never going back.
I was sorry to leave Hyderabad to go to Ongole after about 3 weeks and have to try to settle in another new and strange place where I didn't know anyone - but - by the time I left, I had a whole new set of 6 'adopted' Yankee daughters, 4 orphanages with their residents, foster Moms and Indian carers who really seemed pleased to see me, Sukamar and his Wife Hanna who seemed genuinely sad to see me leave and a whole bustling town that was incredible to walk around and largely unexplored by me.
Then I was sorry to leave Ongole to go back to Hyderabad but felt like a long-lost relative as soon as I returned. I became immediately engaged with meeting and mixing with the World Racers' parents and so many other things that happened in the following 10 days. Then the last 2 weeks took another turn. I was ill and also, for some reason it began to feel like I had chosen to stay 2 weeks longer than I ought to have and my flight home date seemed an age away. I suffered several frustrations - but as was the case throughout the whole experience, it was a time when God not only used me for others (as I could sort of see at the time - but clearly saw afterwards) but also was teaching me.
I can honestly say that whilst I felt that all of the things that I did were quite ordinary in their way - my visit there was used by God to help and encourage more people than I care to mention. I say this not as any sort of self-promotion or boast, but as someone looking back, hearing what people said at the various times and realising that if I hadn't been there to do those ordinary things - then they wouldn't have been done. Small as they were, they did make big differences.
This is true of anybody who goes to do what they can and to be there to help and support others (hopefully there will be a further, consistent flow of such people and teams to help because those that I experienced have literally been God sent and made such a huge difference while they were at the orphanges).
The work of Sarah's Covenant Homes, India goes on daily. I went and then returned to the comforts of my own home - still SCH remains. I can help as before in a small way by supporting financially from my home - but the real GIANTS and HEROES whom I admire and feel privileged to have known and been alongside are those who are there for the duration. I have witnessed what I can only describe as ' genuine God-given love' from these people. I feel that I have made many 'life-long' friends whether we meet again in this life or not (my invite to each and every one of you to come and stay with Ann and me in the UK was sincerely meant and will always hold good - but please don't all come at the same time!).
'Of all my travels, my most memorable experience has been …
....India had a big impression on me, it's just the maddest place in the world, as much as I hated it when I was there. I actually called up to try and get out of it, saying I wanted to go home. It was just illness and [that it's] non-stop, all your senses are being smacked, everywhere you look there's something mad, the smells. I would say to everyone that they should witness it. Out of all the places in the world, there's not a lot of places that are different. Wherever you land there's a Starbucks, there's a Gap. I've been in the Peruvian jungle and you meet the head chief and you think ''this is different'', and then he pulls out his phone to do a selfie. Yet in India there's just something about it. Every time I've been, the memories of that stick with me a lot more than, say, a trip to America.'
****************************************************
As the latest (Geriatric) Idiot Abroad I can echo so much of the above. However, I'm so glad that I didn't make such a trip as a tourist. I feel privileged to have been, gone and done it to experience it as it is in reality. Sure it was a roller coaster of an experience. I was in the somewhat unusual situation of going alone and not part of a group and also as an older man alone. That said, there were no restrictions on me and also it was easier as an older married man to be more easily accepted. I went from being 'Brother' to 'Uncle' and finally 'Grandpa' as an address during my stay - all being someone who was readily accepted, respected and welcomed.
I felt immediately at ease and at home with both the westerners (mostly American) and indigenous population. It seemed (in my experience) that in India, I was never regarded as an outsider - either in the orphanages where we were all part of a large family, but also out in public, whether it be in shops or on the streets, I never felt any hostility, resentment, threat or any other negativity. It seemed that people were pleased to see westerners, many wanting to engage in conversation (such as it could be), asking 'What your name?' or 'Where you from?' and always happy to tell you their names and always wanting to be photographed.
I never really experienced any 'culture shock', I had always had an interest in Indian (and Pakistani) type culture having worked in heavily populated areas of such families in my policing background and as a result had been drawn to watch documentaries on these countries. Obviously there are major contrasts in weather, family lifestyles, communities, topography, food, cleanliness, attitudes..... the list of diversities is almost endless - but I honestly met these head on and accepted them as read. I also never experienced any 'jet lag' either way - perhaps this was because of my life of working long hours and 24/7 shift working - so I guess my body clock just went with the flow (I was obviously tired by the 5,000+ miles journeys each way but that was all).
What can I say about Sarah and her family?
Sarah seems to me to be like one of those old acts that were on the TV a lot when I was young, where someone had what seemed like dozens of thin poles set on a stage and each one had a large plate spinning on every one and the performer ran round frenetically keeping them spinning. I wouldn't describe Sarah as 'frenetic' but I would look at her from a distance and feel for her. I can only say that God gives her the strength to do and continue what she does. I am concerned that as a mother of 5 and loved by 120 other children who light up and flock to her as soon as she enters their homes; someone who knows each of them intimately, their names, their background and their up to date medical situations; someone who carries the 'burden' of the upkeep of all of the homes, 200 miles apart, the employment and problems of the army of Indian staff and also the Foster Moms; the one who plans for the future; the one who is a loving, caring mother of her own 5 children and also her parents-in-law who are dependent on her and her husband James. The lady who is INCREDIBLE and for who I am concerned may not easily carry the load indefinitely on her own. (These are my thoughts and I hope do not in any way offend Sarah).
There is a vision for the future for all of the orphanage to be brought together in Hyderabad - a 4 acre plot is needed where everything can be all in one place, the accommodation, the education, the medical facilities and the administration. The seed seems to have been planted for this vision God would want it to go. Certainly, I personally feel, that this is a door that should be tried and tested to that end but this is such a great vision with a myriad of considerations and the need of much support. That said though - although I have been 'connected' with Sarah's work for some years (since 2010) - I was amazed to learn that what seemed a very sizeable and established work had only been up and running since 2 years prior to this. She achieved incredible things (you need to hear her full testimony) in such a short space of time and miraculous things have taken it on since then.
So as God is the One in charge, anything is possible and also likely.
The day before I left, Sarah asked me to consider returning in November for a number of weeks to help with a team of young people going out with 'Passport' an 'Adventures in Missions' programme - similar to the 'World Race' programme as mentioned before in my blogs. I'm not sure that this will be the right thing for me personally at that time but it does lead me on to the recurring question that I have asked myself and been asked so many times by others - 'Will I ever be going back?'.
Well, I have thought long and hard about this ever since I first arrived there back in mid-January. Initially my response would have been an immediate 'NO' and then it happened. I started to feel a part of it all. I can't say how, where or when - it just happened gradually I think. Even when there were times that I felt as though I was struggling and frustrated, I couldn't imagine leaving and never going back.
I was sorry to leave Hyderabad to go to Ongole after about 3 weeks and have to try to settle in another new and strange place where I didn't know anyone - but - by the time I left, I had a whole new set of 6 'adopted' Yankee daughters, 4 orphanages with their residents, foster Moms and Indian carers who really seemed pleased to see me, Sukamar and his Wife Hanna who seemed genuinely sad to see me leave and a whole bustling town that was incredible to walk around and largely unexplored by me.
Then I was sorry to leave Ongole to go back to Hyderabad but felt like a long-lost relative as soon as I returned. I became immediately engaged with meeting and mixing with the World Racers' parents and so many other things that happened in the following 10 days. Then the last 2 weeks took another turn. I was ill and also, for some reason it began to feel like I had chosen to stay 2 weeks longer than I ought to have and my flight home date seemed an age away. I suffered several frustrations - but as was the case throughout the whole experience, it was a time when God not only used me for others (as I could sort of see at the time - but clearly saw afterwards) but also was teaching me.
I can honestly say that whilst I felt that all of the things that I did were quite ordinary in their way - my visit there was used by God to help and encourage more people than I care to mention. I say this not as any sort of self-promotion or boast, but as someone looking back, hearing what people said at the various times and realising that if I hadn't been there to do those ordinary things - then they wouldn't have been done. Small as they were, they did make big differences.
This is true of anybody who goes to do what they can and to be there to help and support others (hopefully there will be a further, consistent flow of such people and teams to help because those that I experienced have literally been God sent and made such a huge difference while they were at the orphanges).
The work of Sarah's Covenant Homes, India goes on daily. I went and then returned to the comforts of my own home - still SCH remains. I can help as before in a small way by supporting financially from my home - but the real GIANTS and HEROES whom I admire and feel privileged to have known and been alongside are those who are there for the duration. I have witnessed what I can only describe as ' genuine God-given love' from these people. I feel that I have made many 'life-long' friends whether we meet again in this life or not (my invite to each and every one of you to come and stay with Ann and me in the UK was sincerely meant and will always hold good - but please don't all come at the same time!).
