Day 7
Today, Wednesday 1st August, we had a lie in, 7am
instead of 6.30! We had a meeting with the India Campus Crusade for Christ
group (ICCC). This is a team that operates in the local colleges, a bit like
Christian Union. They were anxious to know how we communicated the Christian
word to young people in England. A useful exchange of ideas took place and we
were invited to two colleges in the afternoon. After an early lunch, you’ll
never guess, curry, we proceeded to St. Paul’s where fresher week was in
progress. This was quite an old building and we sat in the on the Christian club
meeting in the chapel. Our hosts explained that it was not only a way of
spreading the message but also befriending those scholars who were going
through difficult times in the hope of cutting down the very high suicide rate
among the young people. The girls then interacted with the pupils and many
photos and exchanges of email addresses took place. On our exit from the
college we had a little ceremony where a red wax like substance was daubed on
our foreheads with rice and also presented with friendship bands. Funny moment
of the day – we were interviewed by National Indian TV news – fame at last!
From there we preceded by taxis, another hair- raising
experience, to St Xaviers college. This was huge, over 3000 pupils, and is the equivalent
of Oxford or Cambridge at home. We went to their canteen for refreshments and
chatted to some of the students. They were very interested in our faith and its
quite refreshing to know that people openly talk about their religious beliefs
and are keen to know all about our views. The leader of the ICCC group, who was
accompanying us (I can’t pronounce his name let alone spell it) was a Muslim
when he started college and went specifically to convert people to the Muslim
faith. Instead he ended up being converted to Christianity and now works in the
colleges befriending students and introducing them to the Christian faith.
Then he took us to a Christian book store which we all
enjoyed as the store was an equal mix of English & Bengali written books, a
number of which we recognised from home.
We were finally ferried home in two tuk tuk’s where we were
in time for dinner – yum another curry.
I think my skin is going a nice shade of yellow!
Tomorrow we are off to Freeset in the red light district.
Stay tuned for the next instalment!
Love Mumma Carol
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