Just a brief update for those still reading the blog.

Although the team made it home, most of us are rather poorly. Diane and I had nasty colds and now have stomach infections. Marguerite has a chest infection and a stomach condition. Others are either recovering or still struggling.

So your thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

We do all want to share our experiences with you, of which there are many, but bear in mind that we are a little tender at present. Must dash!

Blessings

Nick

We hope to be back with you soon. The latest on our flight is that the incoming plane, which is taking us back to Blighty, has left Heathrow about 45 mins late. Hoping to make up time. So we may not have much delay. Not sure we will be able to take hand luggage on board given the terrorist scare. Will try to keep key contacts posted. Pray for us please!

We had a marvellous send off by our hosts Patsy and Stephen and church leaders at this eve's prayer meeting. All of us shared our experiences over the last 3 weeks and we were thanked for all the work we had done. Will tell you more when we see you.

Must get packed! Until we meet again.

Nick

Greetings one and all!

We have made it to the end of our three weeks here. Lots of energy spent singing songs, preparing for each of the projects, resting to maintain good health and continuing to soak up the atmosphere that resonates here. Last night a group of us went to a "Hostel" which is similar to a boarding school. The kids that go there are from the streets and their families have allowed them to leave so that they could get a good education and live in a safer healthier atmosphere. The sea of red t-shirts greeted us as we entered the area. The children were so glad to have visitors. It was nice to see how the projects progress and that the street kids do have options to make their lives better.

As we start preparing for home, packing, organising the resources that we have brought to give to the projects here and reflecting on the memories, we find ourselves anticipating the effects of coming back to "normal" society. We are looking forward to sharing our experiences, pictures and songs about the happy cells in our body.

I think I realise more and more that my experiences here may not hit me until some time later...but at the same time will I miss the honking noises of the taxis, the children from the streets giving me snotty hugs or dare I say even the hot Indian food. Coming to India has been a great experiences that I pray will have a life long impact and that I apply the lessons that I have learned here. Thank you all for the prayers! They were very much felt here. For me, whenever I hear a honking car, eat Indian food or even sing Jesus loves me, I will think of the time here and remember to pray for those here.

Signing off!
Glenda

Travelling to each project early in the morning I have been fascinated to see the children of Kolkata being escorted to the various schools. They all have distinctive uniforms - often including long white socks. Some are walking through the busy and crowded streets, still others are taken by human drawn rickshaw and bicycle drawn rickshaw. Others are lucky (?) enough to be taken by motorbike - I saw a father taking his 4 children to school by motorbike - 2 in front of him and 2 behind (no helmets to be seen). Other methods include the cross bar of a push bike, auto rickshaw and taxi.
These children represent only 10% of the city's child population, probably because parents have to pay the fees, the cost of the uniform and provide other resources.

Helen

I thought as we've been here for over half our time now it was about time I wrote a blog which is something i've never done before!

It's been an amazing experience so far. I've really enjoyed working at all the schools and it's also been great simply doing preparation with the rest of the team. I'm mainly working with Nick and Carol, and we've been sitting around this evening drawing monkey, lion, elephant and frog faces so that the children we're seeing tomorrow can make masks for different animals in Noah's ark.

The children at all the schools are just fantastic. Most of them are absolutely full of beans, and I had my first experience going on the school bus with some of them today which was so much fun... they all pile on and simply run all over the place - definitely no thoughts of seatbelts here. It's going to be hard saying goodbye to some of them.

Hope all's well in England, we're looking forward to the weekend here as have been promised a trip to see a bollywood film!

See you all soon and thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers,

Anna

Well, just to say i am immensely enjoying my time here and have loved deeply the first two schools i was at. I must admit that there were tears in my eyes at the prospect of not seeing these children agian. they really are wonderful people - wish you were all here to see them as i'm sure the pictures (though wonderful) won't entirely give a realistic picture.

talking about combining films, which sounds like a very good idea. a comment was just made about how you can grasp a better feel of the city from it, minus the smell (pleasant or unpleasant!)

well, we are off to the orphanage in the next few minutes... talking about showers etc.
had better be going.

one moment - the last paragraph didn't really make much sense - talking about warm showers :
ella: 'yes, i won't miss the cold showers at half six'

bye for now
thank you again for all the encouragement and prayers.

Only someone who has been here would be able to appreciate the sheer manic madness of the roads. The horn is used constantly - but not as a means of showing outrage as in the UK but as a warning that my vehicle is within 1mm of yours on the left-hand side and I am coming through! We have not been hit in our taxis yet but all vehicles in the city have numerous dents, scratches and scours. It's a wonder that there are not more accidents.

A tale from yesterday's visit to the Howrah Bridge project. The traffic going out of the city over the bridge is stationary in all 3 lanes. Our taxi driver hits on a wheeze to 'beat the jam'. He pulls out through the bollards which define the central reservation and heads at speed down the opposite side of the road which is clear at present because the lights are holding traffic back. Suddenly there are 3 lanes of buses coming straight for us when the lights do change. Our driver manages to find a small gap in the traffic on the 'correct' side of the road (relatively of course!) and squeezes in between a lorry and a bus. Anna and I are not sure whether it was all a bad dream - but no, we soon arrive safely at Howrah Station. Anna thanks the driver for the ride - to which he smilingly replies "good driver"!

Another interesting sight - a learner driver - with yellow taxis swarming around it like angry wasps. Rather than showing some tolerance, the horn honking is longer and louder than ever. Given the theory expounded above, it is not because the taxi drivers are more angry just that they fear she - the learner - might be unaware of their presence on both sides and up the rear and cause a collision. Alternatively, they are in a hurry!

Otherwise, we are getting along OK. A few of us not in the best of health but we are supporting each other through it all.

Roger and I are about to have a Transport Afternoon seeing how many different forms we can travel on (or in).

Love and blessings to all at NBC especially those e-mailers who are keeping in touch.

Nick

Hello everyone.
It was good to see everyone on sunday, the live link was fairly successful this end, I hope we gave you some sort of insight as to what is actually going on out here!

We're still carrying on with our projects, having great fun with the children. We're moving around so we all get a chance to see everyone. Each project has its own individual challenges, but we all seem to be sorry to leave when we do!

Life at the guest house is settling down after a busy change over weekend. Two individual BMS workers have come to the guesthouse, and being from the same organisation (and as there are only two of them) for the time being we have adopted them into our group, to 'show them the ropes'. They're called Helen (a TA) and Henry (currently at bible college), and its great to have some new faces with us.

Some of the girls we're excited to find some sari's yesterday, and I'm sure a fashion show will be in order when we return! Roger, Dianne and Nick visited the Victoria Memorial, which was closed on mondays... oops.

Thats all for now, we'll update soon.
(Ella and Roger)
NBC India Team

Technical trials* now lead us to believe that the planned live video link will take place on Sunday at 11:05am UK time. We have an audio backup plan if this should fail. Don't miss this chance to hear from us! It should be interesting to see how 11 of us will fit into this small cyber cafe.

Today there will be a sewing class at the Guest House. Naturally, Nick & Roger will be giving the benefit of their combined wisdom on this subject.

*Today at 14:45 Kolkata time, a live link was established between Kolkata and Newbury.
Ella, Anna, Nick and Roger had the privilege of speaking to and seeing Jon in close-up technicolour.
A rare privilege indeed.

Namaste (as we say over here!)

We have had a busy morning working in our different schools but it has been really rewarding - so much to take in we are still reeling from the sights and sounds of the place.

This PM there is a special meeting of about 40 visitors at the Guest House. David ? the BMS (Didcot) rep for SE Asia is leading and flew in today. We have the delightful task of making 100's of cucumber sandwiches for the guests' tea (or tiffin). Should be cool anyway.

A big thank you to Laurence & Vivien, Jackie and the Biltons for their latest kind messages of support. You say it is hot at home but I am sure you can't beat the humidity here! Need regular showers and lie-downs to recover.

We will post again soon - please do likewise when you get a moment.

The Team Xxxxx

Thank you again for the prayers and messages we have all been to our first placements and the challenge was enormous. Styles of teaching are so different and quite a culture shock. We have all coped well with thinking on our feet. Tomorrow we will be more prepared. The children are a joy today Diane Ella and I were reminded today that Kolkata is a city of joy well a little TLC produces the most rewarding of smiles and appreciation. We are going shopping today to buy a camera as a gift for our hostess. We are well looked after and feel most welcome

Please continue to pray for us and we travel about a very busy busy busy city and cope with even higher temperatures today

Looking forward to a shower let alone a monsoon downpour which would be so refreshing

with love

from NBC Team India Marguerite

At long last we have arrived. We are all fit and well. We have indeed found the first few hours very challenging indeed, but we're resilient. Thankyou for your prayers and email messages of encouragement. They are a great help to us. So far we have visited the Old Mission Church for Sunday evening service ( 3 power cuts during the service - and we sang to them) one school (and given morning assembly devotions (including a number of action choruses) to 500 very smartly dressed children who joined in enthusiastically) Today was a trip to market to have suitable garments manufactured. One of us got lost temporarily, but was found soon.

We'll have more to say when the "official" programme starts tomorrow( it's now 10pm Monday night here).

Good wishes and our prayers for you all.

NBC India Team

I'd like to share my reading from this morning with you - I use Closer to God from Scripture Union:

'...but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on' (Mark 12.44)

And how are we to respond to such amazing love?

Namaste!

So we have started the tabs. How are you feeling? Hopefully OK. I woke with a headache today after starting the course with the double dose of 4 tablets yesterday. However, probably has more to do with the amount of red wine consumed at Cliff's 40th last eve than the effects of tablets.

Owen Joyce has come up with an ingenious challenge for me. To take Clifton's "Pretty Boy" birthday T-shirt with me and see how many pictures I can get of Indian folk wearing it - I guess the kids might oblige.

Whoever is out there reading this, whether you are part of team or not, can you please ask God to lay on your heart one specific thing to pray for in terms of our trip. Share it if you like, but most importantly pray about it. We will need all the prayer support that can be mustered!

I am hoping to put together some prayer pointers for the Church which can be used whilst we are away.

Thanks for your support

Blessings

Nick

This time next week we will be only 12 hours from landing. I am sure I am not the only one to be experiencing a sense of excitement & anticipation mixed with a little trepidation. But we know in whose name we go & that He has gone before us & will be with us all the way. Many thanks to all the people who have been praying for us & who continue to do so,
Carol

The sands of time are running out as the our departure day comes ever closer.

The preparation session at BMS centre in Birmingham was very thorough and has set us up for the trip.

Psalm 46 was the focus of our devotions.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging"

Inspiring stuff and good news for all. I suspect there will be times when we are in Kolkata when these re-assuring words will be worth remembering.

I want to thank all those who have and still are supporting us through prayer and giving. We have been overwhelmed by so many people's generosity. Bless you!

I leave this blog with a prayer which I hope provides you with a focus for the team

"Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to serve you in this mission work. Give us grace and love for one another and those who we shall meet and work amongst. Help us to be prepared, spiritually, mentally and physically. May this opportunity be a life-changing experience which increases our faith and enables us to grow as Christians."

Nick

BMS partners in Kolkata, India are rejoicing over the witness of a 12 year-old girl who has brought her grandparents to faith in Jesus Christ - in miraculous circumstances.

The girl, whose name is Pinky, lives at a hostel run by the Good News Children's Education Mission (GNCEM) - an organisation that BMS World Mission has supported for several years, mainly through the annual involvement of Action Teams and Summer Teams. As well as being at the hostel, Pinky also regularly attends Sunday school and the Good News Club.

Pinky's mother died several years ago and her father remarried, so she was left with her grandparents until the hostel took her in two years ago. It was during last summer's vacation, when she returned to see her grandparents for a week, that a remarkable event led to Pinky sharing the good news of Christ she herself had discovered through GNCEM.

See the rest of this inspiring article at http://www.bmsworldmission.org/standard.asp?id=18562

Please pray also for the BMS Summer Team who will be supporting the work of GNCEM and other projects in Kolkata for three weeks during July - that's us from NBC! http://www.newburybaptist.org.uk/activities/kolkata.htm - may what they do have an impact like the one made on Pinky and her family.

Please pray:

For Pinky - may her love for Jesus develop and her desire to tell others grow. Pray too that her grandparents would be great Christian witnesses in their community.

That GNCEM would be able to start a school, Sunday school and regular church services in Gopal Nagar.

For the BMS Summer Team as it goes to support mission in India, making a difference to the lives of children like Pinky.

I would like it noted for the record that I am still firmly fixed in my first childhood!

I offer you this poem by Steve Turner

For Lianne, Aged One

As far as is possible, stay as you are,
with the eye clear and open
and washed clean of fear;
with the skin untracked
by the sad workings of the heart,
lips unskilled in spite.
As far as is possible, stay as you are,
the morning's first light
cause enough for joy,
each passing face
judged only by the colour of its smile.
As far as is possible, stay as you are.
Gaze out at the world
with its mystery and noise,
but refuse all offers to join.
Be backward in evil,
advanced in love.
As far as is possible, stay as you are,
with the upturned face
and the open palm,
with the stumble of faith
and the shout of hope.
For of such is the Kingdom.

Much fun was had by those enjoying their 2nd childhood at Cadbury World.
Take a look at the pics ...

You have to concentrate very hard ...

Where do I move next?

We leave our mark on the marble slab

Table tennis practice at IMC, Selly Oak

Does anyone remember the briefing?!!

Roger

We're really getting excited now. In just 44 days the team of 11 members from Newbury Baptist Church will depart for Kolkata, India for 3 weeks.
Our next step is "Preparation Day" at BMS International Mission Centre, Selly Oak, Birmingham on Saturday, 10th June.

We are to develop "flexibility and servanthood". Also looking at "cross-cultural communication". My Bengali is about 3 words at present, so much room for improvement still.

It's rumoured that some team members are calling at Cadbury World just down the road from IMC. I wonder who the chocaholics on the team are?

Roger Ryton