The blogs statistics are showing almost 2,000 views since I began it and I am so grateful for people to take the time. Not at all for my sake - the hope by starting it was that the work and needs of Sarah's Covenant Homes are brought to peoples' attention.
This is happening - and not just back in the UK - but the stats show it is being read in USA, India, Germany - even Ethiopia and Albania !!!
On that note, talking with Sarah about things generally, it seems that there is quite a need for men to come out here and give some of their time.
When I'd thought about coming - I thought what could I really do and I asked the question to them - surely it would be better for me to send the money that the 2 month trip would cost - it could be put to better use. A short, sharp response came back from Theresa Hill - 'God will provide our needs, we want YOU to come' (lovely Theresa - the lady who left almost as soon as I arrived, and just after having had her feet pedicured by fish, laughing sooooo loudly that nearly everyone in the department store in Hyderabad came rushing to see who was being attacked!).
Nevertheless, I don't have many real skills - OK, I'm attractive to have around the place and I tell great jokes - but they don't seem to travel well and anyway, I get to irritate people with them after a short time back home.
All I really had to offer was my time and efforts to offer wherever needed.
MEN OF THE WORLD
SARAH'S COVENANT HOMES NEEDS YOU
Time, willingness and caring are about all that you need to bring. OK, I fix doors, cots, do a lot of labouring and I keep thinking - 'But anyone could have done that' - but the problem is that in India the culture is not the same.
Much of what I am doing involves having ideas, planning the work needed, co-ordinating and overseeing local craftsmen such as welders, masons, carpenters etc (and electricians - oh electricians - don't ever try to understand or mess with the electrics here! . Health and Safety Regulations are about as meaningful here as.....well... Diversity courses back in England! When I was demolishing the walls as in my earlier blog, wearing my flip flops - I think the locals wondered why I had taken so many precautions!).
The thing is that organising and moving things forward is quite alien in some ways here - Sukumar is amazed that I seem to push for the craftsmen and the supplies to arrive yesterday, today - but at the latest tomorrow - before we've finished the job that we are doing. "But you are doing it so fast - it's amazing' is the sort of thing he says - and Sukumar is a very intelligent, educated man - it just seems to be a cultural thing.
It took me a while to get out of my shell because I didn't want to be pushy or offend anyone, but it's not like that really, after becomjng frustrated at the lack of real progress (although even that seemed like amazingly fast to them), I did step up a gear and now, after 4 weeks, I'm beginning to see good, substantial changes which are going to make a huge difference. Hopefully the pictures to come of Victory Home before and after will give an indication and it wasn't all down to me by any means. It was the organising and working with the World Race Team (my new daughters), and even with the ayahs and lads in that home - 'SEECURITEE' was like an ox when it came to moving the rubble:
Lovely 'Levi' who loved to bear hug me and bring the girls chai - 'TEEEEE, three teeee, vereee good. MEREEEE CHREEESTMAS'. We tried to tire him out - but that is like trying to nail jelly to a wall.
The point of this quick blog is to tell and encourage more men to prayerfully consider the possibility of coming out, if only for a short time, to lend their abilities to this important work.
I have no doubt that I will also look back at the pictures of what I have been involved with and see that I have actually made some difference, despite my feelings at this time, and that if I hadn't come, much of it would perhaps never have been done.
I will have made connections with some of the children and although I will be gone in 4 weeks and probably soon forgotten, it will have made a difference at the time - a difference to the 120 or so children by even taking the time just to engage with them, they love it - like the little 'Victoria' who has no sight and who enthusiastically sought out, in order, the magnetic letters which she placed on her board for me; like Christopher who's education Ann and I help finance (He tells me, 'Brother, I will be a policeman too when I am 16'); like 'Gabi' who has no use in his legs but thoroughly enjoyed twirling his little 'wheelchair' inside one held for him by a lady with a hula-hoop ministry; the World Racers who worked so hard with me and who made fun of my English accent and then made me try out my 'American' one for them to laugh at (Hi y'all. Don' get Yurrr Panteees in a bag laydies!), and hopefully Sarah and her team of amazing foster Moms, support staff &c - oh and also my new 'grandkids' - her own children.
So men of the world - give it some thought - especially if it's cold where you are right now (and here you can dine out on £1).....
This is happening - and not just back in the UK - but the stats show it is being read in USA, India, Germany - even Ethiopia and Albania !!!
On that note, talking with Sarah about things generally, it seems that there is quite a need for men to come out here and give some of their time.
When I'd thought about coming - I thought what could I really do and I asked the question to them - surely it would be better for me to send the money that the 2 month trip would cost - it could be put to better use. A short, sharp response came back from Theresa Hill - 'God will provide our needs, we want YOU to come' (lovely Theresa - the lady who left almost as soon as I arrived, and just after having had her feet pedicured by fish, laughing sooooo loudly that nearly everyone in the department store in Hyderabad came rushing to see who was being attacked!).
Nevertheless, I don't have many real skills - OK, I'm attractive to have around the place and I tell great jokes - but they don't seem to travel well and anyway, I get to irritate people with them after a short time back home.
All I really had to offer was my time and efforts to offer wherever needed.
SARAH'S COVENANT HOMES NEEDS YOU
Time, willingness and caring are about all that you need to bring. OK, I fix doors, cots, do a lot of labouring and I keep thinking - 'But anyone could have done that' - but the problem is that in India the culture is not the same.
Much of what I am doing involves having ideas, planning the work needed, co-ordinating and overseeing local craftsmen such as welders, masons, carpenters etc (and electricians - oh electricians - don't ever try to understand or mess with the electrics here! . Health and Safety Regulations are about as meaningful here as.....well... Diversity courses back in England! When I was demolishing the walls as in my earlier blog, wearing my flip flops - I think the locals wondered why I had taken so many precautions!).
The thing is that organising and moving things forward is quite alien in some ways here - Sukumar is amazed that I seem to push for the craftsmen and the supplies to arrive yesterday, today - but at the latest tomorrow - before we've finished the job that we are doing. "But you are doing it so fast - it's amazing' is the sort of thing he says - and Sukumar is a very intelligent, educated man - it just seems to be a cultural thing.
It took me a while to get out of my shell because I didn't want to be pushy or offend anyone, but it's not like that really, after becomjng frustrated at the lack of real progress (although even that seemed like amazingly fast to them), I did step up a gear and now, after 4 weeks, I'm beginning to see good, substantial changes which are going to make a huge difference. Hopefully the pictures to come of Victory Home before and after will give an indication and it wasn't all down to me by any means. It was the organising and working with the World Race Team (my new daughters), and even with the ayahs and lads in that home - 'SEECURITEE' was like an ox when it came to moving the rubble:
The point of this quick blog is to tell and encourage more men to prayerfully consider the possibility of coming out, if only for a short time, to lend their abilities to this important work.
I have no doubt that I will also look back at the pictures of what I have been involved with and see that I have actually made some difference, despite my feelings at this time, and that if I hadn't come, much of it would perhaps never have been done.
I will have made connections with some of the children and although I will be gone in 4 weeks and probably soon forgotten, it will have made a difference at the time - a difference to the 120 or so children by even taking the time just to engage with them, they love it - like the little 'Victoria' who has no sight and who enthusiastically sought out, in order, the magnetic letters which she placed on her board for me; like Christopher who's education Ann and I help finance (He tells me, 'Brother, I will be a policeman too when I am 16'); like 'Gabi' who has no use in his legs but thoroughly enjoyed twirling his little 'wheelchair' inside one held for him by a lady with a hula-hoop ministry; the World Racers who worked so hard with me and who made fun of my English accent and then made me try out my 'American' one for them to laugh at (Hi y'all. Don' get Yurrr Panteees in a bag laydies!), and hopefully Sarah and her team of amazing foster Moms, support staff &c - oh and also my new 'grandkids' - her own children.
So men of the world - give it some thought - especially if it's cold where you are right now (and here you can dine out on £1).....
Hi Dave
ReplyDeleteWill prayerfully consider this, as you say. My father passed away in December, so I may have some money to spare.
As regards the Indian "manyana" disorganised way of life: could be why we had an Empire!!!! (?)
Mark xx