Back from Shillong

Here it is almost a week since we returned from our trip to Shillong. We thought that we would be home only a few days but as it turned out we were unable to get our permits to go to Manipur and so we are staying home and enjoying the company of Wilf and Laura!! Dad is still very busy with school stuff so it is nice for Autumn and Andrew to have Wilf and Laura to help them with their Canadian schoolwork and do other fun stuff like building and flying kites, baking gingerbread and cookies and decorating a gingerbread house that Laura brought with her. Great to have them!

We took a vehicle to Shillong a very long windy road it was very interesting to pass through several different cultures and to think about the changes in clothes, appearances and the countryside was quite different on the 3 hours of plains that we drove through. the rest was mountainous. Andrew was sick most of the morning , poor little guy. Even the rest of us suffered from uneasy tummies. We got to our friends house in Jowai and were greeted very warmly, Tina, ThyWill be Done(yes, that is her name!) and Don as well as Mother Grace and little girl Sharon. Ray has visited them many times and always enjoys a visit. They fed us fried chicken and french fries etc and we really enjoyed that. Thy Will and Heather especially connected in 1995 and Thy Will was so happy to see pics of Heather and all the rest of our family. They remember each team that has come and always have a story to go with each one so we had lots of laughs!! Of course they had to sing for us and it was so beautiful. They sang He leadeth me.

We arrived at our guest house, after an hour delay by a truck jam, actually that happened before we got to Jowai. On the way to Shillong in the dark we passed many many trucks since they only let them go at night. The guest house was wonderful. We enjoyed it very much for the whole week. The next day we went to Umroi a place that we used to visit often and have mtgs, but this time it was to the airport to meet Wilf and Laura, at the airport we met up with the singing group PETRA who had finished a concert in Shillong and were flying to do one in Aizawl. I had seen hundreds of posters in Aizawl so recognized them so we had a little visit with them. They were very friendly. I told them Billy that you used to listen to them as a teenager!! Andrew was quite delighted unfortunately I didn't think of getting an autograph.

The rest of the week was very interesting, a little stressful and mostly delightful!!. We visited what seemed like dozens of old friends and all of our houses that we lived in and all the places ABC was held and had dinner with old friends 4 times, it was wonderful. We enjoyed especially the times we got to be with our wedding party. The bridesmaid, Basra, the bestman,Shellson, Portia , Rissla and Bilansy , the flower girls, we were all delighted to spend time with them. They all have large families and we enjoyed meeting all of them and sharing the story of our wedding day with them. WE had a nice visit with Brother Lester whose wife passed away this last year. This is the man who taught Ray Khasi and who translated for him many many times. Malki his wife was a very special lady to me. Ray and I went our for supper as a last celebration of our 40th to the Pinewood Hotel. It was fun and connected with a waiter who had probably served us many times 35 years ago. I'll have to admit way back then it was very British and elegant, but we often got sick!! This time we didn't!! The food was lovely and because of the cold in Shillong they lit a fire in the fireplace so we lingered quite a while!! Wilf and Laura stayed with the kids, many thanks for them!!

It was the consensus of all of us that we fly back to Aizawl, which we did and enjoyed leaving Shillong at 10AM and arriving back at the school at 3PM!! rather than the 14 hour trip by car. Shillong has changed a lot in 30 years and I found myself struggling to remember places. I did remember our homes, some store names and the places were we went a lot. The market has burned down and so was all different. We were able to find lots of different and useful things in Shillong so came home loaded!! I enjoyed the whole time very much and having Wilf and Laura to share it with was a real bonus!! WE visited Elephant Falls and Shillong Peak were we always picnicked at this time of year. Of course the best part was the people we were able to connect with and to encourage. They were a real blessing to us.

When we got back there were lots of things to do. School was finishing up and there were grades to give out, Farewell to participate in, and goodbyes to be said to the students. Since we got here we have been to places for tea, served tea to students and staff and done shopping and baking. One night we made pizza (found some cheese in Shillong that sorta melts!) . It took ages to bake since the voltage was way down!!.. It was tasty when we got it baked. Laura is finding that it takes ages to do anything here but is enjoying the little quieter atmosphere of Silver Oaks as compared to Delhi and Calcutta. We love having them here and sharing our lives and the lives of students and staff here, as well as the little group we meet with on Sunday. The days are quickly passing and soon it will be Xmas, we plan to have a few more people over between now and then and then to have some in for the day as well. Laura and Wilf leave on the 27th. That will be a sad day but we are so thankful for their visit. The children have especially enjoyed Wilf and Laura. Well, Ray has returned from yet another trip to town to get the internet and computers all working. We were without it for several days upon our return, we don't like that!!

I wanted to get this written so you would know we are all well. I also wanted to wish each of you the blessing of a joyous Xmas with many happy family memories and especially the Gift that we have been given and that we share with folks at this time of the year. Have a wonderful holiday,
Lovingly
Ellen