Calcutta Day 5 - August 1, 2010

All we had to do this morning was wake up, get dressed, and walk downstairs to the common room where Church is held every Sunday. It was a fun gathering of new and old friends, many of which we had just met yesterday. What’s really neat about the Church is that they bring together the people from EMC’s different ministries, so the women we had met yesterday who were undergoing / underwent addiction rehab, children from the children’s homes and Emmanuel School, as well as other staff from EMC. It was such a blessing to be able to come together as part of this family.


Afterwards, Himadri had wanted to take Rob, Grace, and I on a short trip to a few different sites around Calcutta, Bangal, etc., so they came to pick us up and off we went. Oh, while we were on that trip we found it today is “Friendship Day”. So to all my friends, I’d like to wish you “Happy Friendship Day!” Subaijt who works at CSS and has been Rob’s colleague the past week joined us for the trip, and off we went. We visited the first church of Calcutta, the Serampore College, Hazi Muhammad Mohsin Estate. It was nice to get out of the city and see some more rural areas, the Ganges, etc.

Asking for directions from
random man brushing teeth

Sharing the road with friends.

Mohsin Estate

Meeting more friends
(and doing a photoshoot for them) 

Rob making new friends. 

We then went to Himadri’s house where his lovely wife had made a delicious authentic Bengali meal for us. It was delicious! Although the typically meal time is around 10 or 11pm, so, Rob, Grace, and I sat at the table and ate as the others observed! So very thankful for their hospitality and their love for us. We left with a Punjabi outfit from our friends at CSS. Can't wait to wear it!

We are now back in our room. We have a busy week that officially begins tomorrow with our first field observation. We are so thankful that we had a few days to acclimate to Calcutta, see some different areas, and already see different ministries and meet new friends. Until tomorrow… or the next time we have wifi…goodnight.