Another awesome day. We started our journey after another interesting but yummy breakfast. The food has been excellent and we are not losing any weight. Today we visited two well sites and several village visits (about 60 km from SGUS) ...we must have received at least 12 bouquets of flowers. We think we will give them to the patients receiving eye operations today. They stay overnight and leave the next morning.
Our first visit was to Changrachak Village. This well supports 60 families of 5 to 8 members each. This village is totally self sufficient which is amazing to see. Next we had a super lunch at the home of our contact in Mayna Block... Anil Mondal. The whole family watched us eat after serving us... we feel like royalty here but it is probably because we use utensils which is very uncommon in this country.
Our second well was in the village of Donachak. We drove down the narrow red roads as far as we could go and then walked along a cobble stone path for about 10 - 15 minutes through rice fields to reach the well. It has been in operation since September '09 and serves 55 families.
Our next stop was a village meeting to explain to the villagers what their responsibility would be when they receive a HAVE well. Biswajit explained all the details and they agreed to fulfill their part of the project and later he told us that it would take about a month to have the well installed. Their committee will consist of 4 women and 5 men. This village, Sudampur, has no electricity and a population of 1200 people. They also have a small children's centre with over 100 children attending... wow! That was a busy day and we thought we were heading home when as we were nearing SGUS the van suddenly stopped and Biswajit said: "Let's go and visit my old school." We spent the next hour talking to grade 10 students (who were lodging there to prepare for up coming exams) about Canada, why we were in India and to share some songs with each other. They requested Jingle Bells. At the end, many of the students wanted our autographs.... we were surprised, amazed and humbled.
We finally got home at 8:30p.m. just as the eye clinic was starting the operations for 16 patients. Each operation takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes so they should be done by 11:30 tonight and we will have a house (hospital) full of guests resting over night.
We hope to post some photos and videos soon ... we've got lots of both.
Keep the prayers coming for the crazy traffic! We hear it is cold in Haliburton!! We hope all is well with everyone.
God bless,
Toos and Ron
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3 comments:
Hi Ron and Toos
Your days sound very busy and long. I find the concept of a children's centre interesting. Is this a school or a daycare so that their parents can work on the farms? Perhaps it is both. I imagine that Toos was able to sing a couple of songs for the students. How was your singing Ron?
Love Rox
It sounds like you are doing wonderfully. It sounds like you are having a great time. Thanks for the updates and I wish I was there.
I have to admit I also wish I was there...the children walking with you asking for autographs etc. reminds me of our travels too! It's great to hear these stories again! We are so glad to hear everything is going well! Miss you guys. Lisa, Matt & Avery
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