Posted by Randy on July 31, 2008 – 9:02 am
Toady was nuts! It started out by us joining the hospital in morning devotions. That was a very fun inspirational time. After that Craig, myself and a few others accompanied the hospital chaplain while he went around the hospital praying for patients. It was a pretty cool time. We started out praying for a few guys who had been badly burned. It’s the first time I’ve really seen anything like that, and it was a privilege to be able to join with them in prayer for their needs. Several of the other patients we visited we Hindu, but yet they were very excited to have Christians praying for them.
Next, Craig and I went to see the feeding lines in action. It was cool to see how they didn’t just arbitrarily hand out food, but each person was registered, they actually visited with them, and got to know about them. I was also told they check their story to make sure they are actually those in need, and aren’t simply resealing the food.
Our intention was to spend the afternoon going and helping at the new home for the school of nursing. However, the bus got stuck in the mud, so we found ourselves with a bit of free time. So, we walked to the American consulate her in Kolkata. That was fun, and even though the consulate was tiny, and didn’t offer much, it was fun to see.
We finished the day with dinner out, and it was an awesome Chinese place… such good food, and the team got a real treat and got to experience some true street life.
Posted by Randy on July 30, 2008 – 6:14 am
Today was a pretty fun day. It started off by myself and two of the ladies heading on about an hour drive out into a rural area to help with the medical clinic they were holding. The place it was held also happened to be an elementary school, and I took a peek around there as well. It was pretty cool, people would check in to the clinic, then see the doctor, and go to our make shift drug store and pick up the medications they needed. There were around 35 folks who came through. One interesting case that caught my attention was a 19 year old girl who came in with her 5 year old and 12 month old child. The greatest part about all of this is that it was free to the patients. It’s neat to see the Father’s work and love for all people.
They always say that the journey is half the experience, and today was no exception. The two ladies who had accompanied me had not yet known the joy that is Indian driving. More or less, the rules are like this: drive on the left when you have to, and if a bigger car is challenging you, move. I can’t count the number of gasps and nervous laughs I heard today. I spared them riding up front where you get to really see how close you come to other cars. We had our windows down, and I had rested my arm on the window, and at one point, had to bring my arm into the car for fear it would hit the bus next to us. (the rearview mirror had already suffered this fate)
Then, this afternoon we were supposed to go down to the port and help clean a house that the girls in the school of nursing will be moving to. but the driver didn’t return in time, so we worked on cleaning up some drawing for the architect that we took the measurements for. (apparently we don’t know how to make architectural drawings, go figure…) We emailed her some of the work we’d done, and she emailed back how it should have been done, so we just adjusted what we had done.
When time for a break came, we decided to go see the cemetery that is just across the street from us. This cemetery opened in 1776 and was closed near the end of the 1800’s. It’s filled with the graves of many of the British who helped colonize Kolkata. It also has the graves that were moved from the site where the hospital now sits. They were moved when the hospital needed to be built. It’s a cool, eery, fun place. You can see the tops of the trees from the terrace of the hospital, and one odalisque poking out. It was great to see all of the different monuments. I also purchase a book with some of the stories of the folks for rs. 100 (about 2 USD).
Been a great, fun day!
Posted by Randy on July 29, 2008 – 9:17 am
Today we spent most of the day measuring, and more measuring in a hostel for the girls who are in the school of nursing. And of course, I tore the crotch of my pants… awesome. Lucky we have an awesome lady on the trip who has already sewn it back together, you can’t even tell it was torn. They will be remodeling what currently is the hostel for the girls who are in the school of nursing here, and making it a guest house and home for parents whose children are having pediatric care. It’s cool to be helping with something like this! We also had some time waiting today, so we took about a four block square walk around a part of the city across the street from us. It was pretty fun.
Tomorrow I’ll be traveling to a rural area to do a health clinic. It sounds fun and interesting. Then, in the afternoon, we get to go to the place where the school of nursing girls are going to be moving their hostel, near the port. The building was built be the British, I can’t wait to see it!!
I’ll have more to post soon, check out the flickr stream on the right, I’ll pull my pics each night, and post them there.
Posted by Randy on July 29, 2008 – 12:24 am
Popping in on my lunch here to let you know we’ve created a flickr group and have started uploading some pics. Check it out!
Posted by Randy on July 28, 2008 – 8:04 am
My wife always tells me that I should get my rear off the couch, and go out. This is especially true around sunset or dusk time. It’s her favorite part of the day. So, today, I heard her voice ringing in my ears, and took the opportunity to see the sunset in Kolkata. I went up on top of the hospital (you can walk right up on top via a stairwell in most Indian buildings), and watch the sun set over the city.
Today we spent the majority of the day touring the ministries around the hospital and attached ministries. It’s been quite an emotional one. From the NICU to the children’s ward, it can be tough as you walk through the hospital and see the hurt and need. It’s great to know that most of these people, although the can’t pay, will get good health care here. We have some options tomorrow, we can go to the village to help a clinic out there, stay and finish a project measuring the school of nursing building that we started tonight, or go and help in the children’s ward. In the children’s ward, you get to help orphans have someone who will comfort them throughout the scary hospital experience.
Posted by Randy on July 28, 2008 – 2:03 am
Some of the gals wanted to go on a walk out on the streets during our afternoon break today… and I told them I’d come along. What do I get myself into?
Posted by Randy on July 27, 2008 – 2:32 pm
Well, it’s 3am India Standard Time, I’m in a nice A/C room, and haven’t taken a shower in two days. Traveling is awesome:) After sitting in Taiwan for a few hours, we took a three hour flight to Bangkok. Then… it began, the world’s longest layover. Don’t get me wrong, Bangkok has an amazingly cool airport, it’s like a huge mall… but the mall’s not cool anymore after hour 4, and then 5, and then 9… So about hour 8, I decided that sleep would be cool, and slept across a bunch of chairs. It was nice, right in front of the A/C, and 20 or so Indians and their children all around me. It was great until one the kids slipped, and hit me… man, I was awake fast:)
We boarded the plane a few long hours later, and I remember getting on, eating some food, and then the stewardess telling me to put my seat up coz we are going to land. Man… that was the best flight ever.
Driving through Kolkata to the Hospital, it’s easy to see the needs here. Lots to do! Well, I have to be up in four quick hours… I’ll post some pics soon. (I promise)
Posted by Randy on July 26, 2008 – 4:05 pm
Well, we’ve completed leg 1 of our 3 part trip, and spent 12 hours on a plane from Seattle to Taiwan. The flight was good, and I met a nice man from Jakarta, Indonesia. There was some pretty neat electrical storms as we headed into Taiwan, but they subsided and the landing was soft. We got here about 6am Sunday local time and are starting to get our first experience of a touch of humidity.
Looking forward to our next flight, and seeing Thailand for 12 hours, at least the airport… I’m definitely getting some food (in honor of you Nate:))
Posted by Randy on July 25, 2008 – 10:16 am
Well, here I go, joining the blogosphere… watch out world… or something like that.
I intend to use this first to update people on my trip to Kolkata, India. Then, well, who knows? Maybe I’ll have such a following that I’ll never have to work again! muh wha ha ha
right.
