Settling in

I’m beginning to settle in now, and it’s becoming home :)

Since my last blog we’ve been up to quite a bit. On Sunday we went to church – it was a relatively small church – about 20 adults and 20 children. It had a very close community though, and us girls were very welcomed. I can see myself spending the next 6 months at this church very easily :) Everyone appears to have a very strong faith here and very bible focused. Which in itself is fantastic, but particularly so as 90% of people living in India are Hindu’, and we find it hard being a christian in England at times!

Monday was my birthday, and a very good birthday it was. I was woken up by my team singing happy birthday to me, and then walking into the front room to see it all decorated and a pile of presents and cards on the table. They had bought me some chocolate (Thorntons at that – so I shall be rationing them!), some scooby strings and some Indian sweets! The morning was spent learning Hindi. We’re getting on pretty well with Hindi so far, we know basic phrases, fruit, veg, colours, relations and body parts. The afternoon we went to the market and bought a couple more salwars. In the evening we had a bible study, and then spent the rest of the time with John, Abha, Arnold and Christie at their house. We played a few games, had tea and I had a chocolate birthday cake with candles in!! Once back at our flat I spoke to my family and PJ which was a nice way to finish my birthday off.

Since Tuesday we’ve been at a Christian counselling course. It’s been interesting, apart from when huge chunks of it are in Hindi and we don’t have a clue about what’s going on. The teachers from Village and City School have been going along too so it’s been great to get to know them a lot better.

Thanks for all the prayers. On the teaching front, we now start on Monday (it was postponed a week due to this course – Indian’s are very laid-back and easy-going!) And I’m teaching vegetables, which should be ok since I know both the English and Hindi word for.

Prayer points:
Just to continue to settle in, get used to the increasingly spicer food and to get to know the teachers and children better.

Hannah x