ROAD SIGNS

ROAD SIGNS

Roads in this part of the world (Asia) are often rough and long. Some people’s road of life is also rough and long; others have rough, but short, roads. Few of us have entirely smooth, long and straight roads. Some folks just have very tough “rows to hoe”. If that’s your trail, I pray that there will be plenty of roses to compensate for the painful thorns. And, may encouraging folks be available to cheer you on your journey. Some travel hints might also help.

While travelling these winding Mizoram roads, I have often wished I had time to photograph the numerous advice-loaded signs which (at least) entertain weary travellers. I recently made the tiresome (17-hour) summon(jeep)-journey from Guwahati to Aizawl and jotted down the quips along the way.

Blind curve ahead, drive slow … Cats have nine lives, you have only one … Check your nerve on curves … Drink and drive, you won’t survive … Driving faster can cause disaster … Expect the unexpected … Fast drive, last drive … Keep your nerve on curves … Life is precious, don’t waste it … Safe drive, no liquor … Safety first, speed next … Slow and steady wins the race … Slow drive, safe drive … Someone is waiting for you, don’t disappoint them … Speed thrills but kills … Start early, reach safely … This is hiway, not runway … Wish you a happy and safe journey!

Then, I guess this one is intended to be the ultimate maxim—not only for the winding Guwahati-Aizawl trail, but also for the twists and turn and surprise curves of life:
Travel enemies: alcohol and speed.
Speed. A poem from public school often reappears in my memory: “What is life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.” (Davies). Or, the classic lyrics: “You got to stop and smell the roses.” (Davis).

Alcohol. What can we say in its defence? Ruin. Waste. Sickness. Poverty. Dysfunction. Malfunction. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Brokenness. Death. No better source can be found for guidance on life’s journey than that of the biblical Scriptures which allow for drinking of wine to quench thirst but totally condemns drinking to alter ones mood.

The road signs are clear: less speed and less drink and the journey will be less rough and, likely, much longer.

HOW TRUE

HOW TRUE
Today’s “Daily Bread” inspiration is written by David McCasland.

A story in our local newspaper reported that a $1.73 billion highway and mass transit project in Denver, Colorado, was nearing completion on schedule and within the budget. But the story was not on the front page. In face, it was tucked into a sidebar of brief summaries in small type on page 3 of the local news section. If the project had been plagued by fraud, delays, and cost overruns, no doubt it would have been headline news.

He then goes on to urge us not to try to “make news”, but to “aspire to life a quiet life, to mind our own business, and to work with our hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

How true! And, I am sure you have noticed how long it takes to establish a credible reputation and how suddenly it can be forfeited. Secondly, you have also likely noticed how eager human beings are to initiate that (almost) irreversible event. I almost called it a “process”! Accusations, allegations, gossip …. And thirdly, have you noticed how much greater the temptation is to defame than it is to build up Of course, any dummy can tear down, but takes a craftsman to construct.

HEADING HOME

Heading home …
Karin Giger, under the auspices of InterServe, has been nursing at the local Durtlang Hospital since March. Shortly after her arrive we connected with her and adopted her into our family. Autumn and Andrew bonded immediately with her. She was much like a replacement for Auntie Harmony who had just been with us for the month of January. Karin and Harmony share many similar interests and personality traits.

In July, Karin referred her friend, Tabea Laslo, to us with a request that she come and teach at Silver Oak School for September and October. Each of them has strong Christian convictions and has had several international experiences (in Egypt and Israel, respectively). They have both engaged actively with the local culture. On Friday (Nov 4), they left Aizawl to visit other points in northern India before heading home to Schorndorf, Germany.

Service opportunities, like these, abound through out the world. Perhaps one of them is calling you!

THE JOY OF GIVING AND LIVING

THE JOY OF GIVING AND LIVING
My first memorable experience of Lallawmawma (Lawmtea) occurred just about one year ago. There is a huge cement reservoir on the path that extends from the main buildings to the upper, terraced and jungley portion of Silver Oak School’s 10-acre compound. The grades I-IV and I were taking a break from classes and enjoying an excursion to higher ground. As we trudged past the reservoir, one minute Lawmtea was by my side, the next he was on top of the cemented reservoir lid, and the next he had somersaulted head-first into a cave-in beside the reservoir. I retrieved him feet first, and no lasting damage seemed to have taken place.
Yesterday, I had the grades VIII’s doing a little art work so provided them with water-colouring pens. Lawmtea caught wind of this followed me around the rest of the day begging for “colours.” At one point I accused him of being a “big beggar.” His response was, “No, I am just a little boy … and I want colours!”
So, I found 45-cent packages of “colours” in the market, bought four and left them on the grade I-II desks after dark. Lawmtea spied on me and soon all four students were jumping up and down with delight. For English classes, I had previously given each of the older students a mini-dictionary. It is rather difficult to learn English without a dictionary. Lawmtea complained bitterly that his class had been left out … so I gave in. The next day Lawmtea’s friend, Tlanga informed me that he had read his new book “from A to Z”.
According to his teachers, Lawmtea has yet to learn any of the three R’s but like many of those of us on “slow side” he makes up for that slowness with the fastest, winningest smile in history!

TO THE TOP

TO THE TOP
Wednesday, October 12 was a school holiday, so our family took to the hills! We rented a vehicle and, at 10 AM, the seven of us--Ellen, Autumn, Andrew, Becky (our helper), Tabea (teacher-in-training from Germany, Karin (nurse from Switzerland), and I—climbed into a (jeep-like) Summo, and headed for Reiek (Ray-ek), a quiet village on the northern slopes of Reiek Mountain. It is an hour’s drive from our village of Durtlang through to the southern side of the city of Aizawl. From that point Reiek is visible off to the south west even though it is another hour and a half down into the river valley and up the twisting road to Rei-ek. From the village it is another hour—or two depending on your endurance—walk to the top of Reiek Tlang (mountain).
Reiek is not nearly the tallest mountain in the state of Mizoram. Phawngpui (Blue) Mountain in the southern corner of the state reaches up to 2157 m (7,075 ft.). However, Reiek does give one a majestic view at 1,465 m. (4,800 ft.). From that stony perch, I hesitated to peer down the steep cliff to thousands of metres below. It didn’t seem to affect the younger generation the same way! In the picture: Becky, Autumn, Karin, Tabea, and our driver. Andrew had already been to the top and headed back down by the time I arrived at the summit.
After that climb and that view, I determined to leave Mount Everest entirely to Sir Hillary and his Sherpa guide! However, there is something thrilling about making it to the top… no matter how (in)significant it might seem to others. A delightful adventure. Weary hikers arrived home after dark.

BEANS ARE UP

BEANS ARE UP!
Planting a garden in October is a new –delightful—experience for me! And, after just seven days the beans are six inches high! We had a small plot, actually three small terraces, dug up just west and up the hill from our apartment. The top one was much too rocky but the bottom two yielded choice soil. Ellen brought several varieties of seeds from Canada. She was especially hopeful about the lettuce. I think a couple short rows might make something but of the rest of the seeds—carrots, cauliflower, cabbage—it seems that the beans are the only ones that are really happy to be here, even though these vegetables do grow here.
We experience heavy rains from May to September (254 cm.; 8 ft. 4 in). The second week of October hosts a Hindu festival (puja) which usually heralds the end of the rains. However, fortunately for our little garden, we are still experiencing drenching rains.
I remember growing a bean plant back in grade 3—I think it was. It is still fascinating to observe what life there is in a seed. I am reminded again for what Jesus said: “A man scattered seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed spsrouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.” Marvelous!

WATCH FOR THE MISTAKE

Watch for the Mistakes!
Yesterday our students participated in an all-day cultural dance competition here in the village of Durtlang. There were seven other schools – hundreds, perhaps a thousand kids. Mizo people as melodious and agile as any people on earth! Just a prejudiced opinion since I haven’t seen all the rest! These cultural dances have their roots in their agricultural heritage and battles of long ago. They are especially renowned for their illustrious Cheraw (bamboo) dances.
The same two dances were performed by each of the schools. So, it was bamboo banging from 10 AM till 3 PM with an hour’s break for lunch.
Two judges sat on opposite sides of the dances—with a pretty young lady holding an umbrella over each of them to shield him from the sun, and ultimately from the rain before the program moved indoors. Maybe judging isn’t such a bad job after all!
This was our school’s first appearance in this kind of competition. The roof was lifted when the judges concluded at the day’s end that we were number one! Number one is most often easy to take!
However, I pondered as to how the judges could place one performance ahead of any of the others. Admittedly, they know a lot more about bamboo dancing than I ever will. However, I inquired as to what the selection process might be. I should have guessed it on my own. You and I have seen (and done it often enough)—“count the mistakes”.
And I thought of other competitions: figure skating, ballet, musical recitals, concerts, speech making, and on and on. Some of us, in our “professionalism” find it difficult to enjoy entertainment, church, ballgames, … because we are entrenched in a mind-set opposite to (1 Corinthians 13) love which “keeps no record of wrongs.” Everything “could be done better”, at least from my lofty perspective!
Back to the dance! Perhaps I was at an ignorant advantage … not knowing where to look for mistakes and being absolutely positive that I could never improve on the performance of the most novice bamboo dancer.
So, may I carry that ignorance (or grace) to the many other imperfect performances of my fellow pilgrimagers.

BREAD OF LIFE STUDY CENTRE

The temporary home for the Centre is a makeshift room on the roof! Before the end of the year, it is hoped that the Centre will inhabit the entire second floor - some 2,000 square feet of space.
The Bread of Life Study Centre is the brainchld of Shyam Salam (in both pictures above). Samuel Salam (left) has a full time job taking care of the office work.

Its aim is to present the story of The Gospels to not-believers, giving them the information and opportunity to choose. To that end, 10,000 copies of The Book of Life have been printed in English. half of those have already been distributed. Each booklet contains survey questions which are returned to the Centre for correcting. A second level of more indepth studies is then sent to the participants. Then, in the second week of January approximately 50 of the graduates will be invited to a 5-day camp in Guwahati.

Translation has been completed and printing is in progress for 10,000 copies of the same in the Assamese language spoken by more than half of the 43 millions people of NE India. Other languages - Bengali and Manipuri - are a part of future plans.

GUWAHATI

GUWAHATI
I spent last week end in Guwahati (population 1 M+), the hub of NE India (43 M +) as well as the capital of the state of Assam (26 M+).
In July, Shyam Salam initiated the Bread of Life Study Centre. Its basic aim is to provide not-yet believers with the information and opportunity to choose faith.
To that end 10,000 copies of a correspondence-like study of the Life of Christ was printed and distributed. To date more than 5,000 have enrolled. The first level of questions is of the simply, survey type. We have prepared a second level set of in-depth study questions which are being offered to those completing the first set.
From the graduates of the second course, 50 will be selected to attend a camp in Guwahati, January 9-15.
In the picture at left, Samuel, Salam, Shyam’s son, is busy working the mail.
Silver Oak School
We arrived back in Aizawl on September 2. Looking back on the last three weeks, Ellen commented, “It seems like we never left (for 4 months), we just slid right back into the school routine.” Enrollment is still about 70 students, much lower than desirable. Staff changes have been multiple. The school has great potential, but has suffered from inadequate management the last couple years. There are rumours of new management in December.
Ellen and I are busy teaching three Bible-English classes each week to each grade. I am also teaching grade XII English and Education (an introduction to teaching). Tabea Laslo, a teacher-in-training from Germany, is staying with us for a couple months and also helping at the school. Our kids enjoy her.
Autumn and Andrew celebrated their birthdays (Sept. 4, 20) in grand style and are back in their respective classes (grades). Andrew enjoys life here immensely! Autumn would enjoy it more if she weren’t the only girl in her class.
It is good to be back. We appreciate the opportunity to share our lives with these special people in this gorgeous corner of God’s world. ~ Ray & Ellen McMillan, Aizawl, Mizoram, India

NEW IS BETTER

NEW IS BETTER

 

“East is East and west is west and ne’er the twain shall meet.” This proverb comes from the refrain of The Ballad of East and West, a poem by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). Unfortunately (I believe), the last 75 (especially the last 20) years of history have proved that they are indeed meeting in a multiplicity of ways. Many are not, in my opinion, for the better, especially for the East. Via television and internet, the beautiful people of the East are exposed to, and often adopting, the worst of the West.

 

However, there are some cherished values that persist.

 

The Indian auditorium is full to capacity. The program is underway. A white haired gentleman hesitantly makes his way through the entrance. There is a scurry of activity to provide him a space in a comfortable front seat.

 

Along with an older couple, a Canadian woman in her thirties recently visited various points in NE India. She relished the experience except for one thing: the women persistently requested that the more senior woman do the speaking. However, she acquiesced when it was pointed out to her that in Canada the value system is reversed.

 

Scanning the “pastors wanted” columns often reveals requirements such as “looking for a person with experience between the ages of 30 and 45”. Perhaps this value should not surprise one when we consider the high price the West is willing to pay for athletes, most in their twenties.

 

“New” is unquestionable better; “old” might be interesting, but rarely exciting. Contemporary music (especially in churches) leaves little space for the traditional. “Today” can be so with us that we may ignore the learnings of yesterday.

 

Perhaps there is no “newness” in our pursuit of the NEW. In Acts 17:21, we read an aside: “All the (first century) Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time do nothing but talking about and listening to the latest.”

 

Vulnerability & Negativity

I wonder if you can resonate with the transparency of Harold Kushner on page 131 of his commentary on the Twenty-Third Psalm. I’m a long ways from being a “nationally known author” but, re the reaction, I’ve “been there, done that!”

His admission and discovery goes like this…
“When I first became a nationally know author, in 1981, with the publication of When Bad Things happen to Good People, I began to receive letters by the carload from the readers. Ninety-five percent of them were complimentary, and I was deeply gratified by them. A few were efforts to convert me to the faith of the letter writer. And one or two a week would be critical, accusing me of blasphemy and of undermining people’s faith. To my distress, I found that one nasty letter bothered me more than fifty nice ones pleased me. I would brood about it for days. If some obscure newspaper ran a negative review of my book, I would be tempted to write an angry letter in response, refuting the criticism point by point. I didn’t enjoy feeling that way, and, on an intellectual level, I knew it was foolish of me to let one critical letter bother me that much, but the feelings continued. Finally I realized that instead of asking myself, What’s the matter with those people that they don’t appreciate me?, I would be better off asking, why am I so bothered by their criticism?”

Perhaps this is excellent counsel for either (both) the receiving or (and) giving of criticism.

One-another-ness

In his refreshing commentary on the 23rd Psalm (p. 150), Rabbi Harold Kushner relates this insightful result of an experiment by a psychology profesor at a major university. He was exploring "pain tolerance." So, he invited several dozen students to measure how long they could keep a bare foot in a bucket of ice water. One of the things he learned was that if there was someone else in the room, a person could keep his/her foot in the bucket nearly twice as long.

Kushner's conlcusion is that "the presence of another caring person doubles the amount of pain someone can endure. Guilt feels less deserved, pain is less painful, misfortune is less oppressive, when someone is there with you." Perhaps, the lesson is obvioous.

Kushner's claim-to-fame is usually associated with his previous book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Much of that book is brought forward in a refreshing way in this book, published in 2003. His caring insights are a potiential blessing to both care-giver and care-receiver.

Beyond that, for Bible students, it is delightful to get a glance of the Shepherd's Psalm from a Jewish perspective. But, be careful, he might just challenge some your perceptions re God's involvement in our world!

Make Poverty History

"Make Poverty History" -- sounds exciting! And very gratiifying. Most everyone would be delighted if that aspiration were realized. "Most"; not "everyone". Do we assume that the elimination of poverty is compatible with the retention of luxury?

And, dare we suppose that there exists some simplistic solution? Gifts are delightful and refreshing, but handouts are often debilitating, and loans are down right enslaving.

Again, let’s remember that it is a lengthy, dwindling journey from the coffers of government to the hovels of the homeless of the massive mega cities of third world countries.

Perhaps this task parallels that of deposing a dictating and supposing that peace will be the direct result. Liberty—maybe; peace—far from it. If you need a current example, consider Iraq or just about any country which has “gained” or been “granted” its independence in the last 50 years.

Perhaps this whole endeavour is related to the follower-ship call of Jesus. If you want to be my follower you must put something down (SELF) and then pick something up (CROSS) – the burdens and misfortunes of others (Mark 8:34).

As long as we have sumptuous-ness, poverty will remain. As long as greed and avariciousness abound, oppression and hopelessness is a surety.

Blame the (our) government? Perhaps. Reform our own lifestyles? Change our value systems? Ouch.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

My father-in-law, Walter Elvin McCutcheon (1912-1983) did not write many letters after his name but that did not mean that he was not well-read and well-spoken. He loved to cultivate both qualities. For several years he hosted a short radio program on CFRY (Portage la Prairie, MB) entitled "Things to Consider". Not a presumptuous title, but it does invite one to explore -- options, values, priorities, directions, relationships, destinations -- as we navigate our pilgrimage.Meditation is in short demand among evangelicals these days. Celebration is in; contemplation is out! Our recent Good Friday service (involving most evangelical denominations in Regina) was more of party-time than cross-examination. This quest for hype may well explain the scarcity of repentance and confession.So, that all sounds (no, is) negative. On the other hand after a lengthy winter, consider the greenness of spring--leaves bursting forth, dead grass coming joyfully to life. Consider Canada. I've been around this globe several times. Threaded my way through various immigration queues. No passport is more welcome the world over. I did not earn it or ask for it. I am a Canadian. Gratefully proud of it.And, consider Christ. And, much more!

More Sunshine than we need

My daughter, Heather, and I arrived in Yellowknife a week ago. Except for a few dim hours between midnight and about 2 AM, there is more sunshine than we can use... at least at my age! If only we could "freeze" some for releasing in December-January!
But that seems to be the way of our world. Too much or too little: energy, education, money, possessions, relationships ...

Playing

I am studying at Silver Oak School in Aizawl, Durtlung, Vengthar. School starts at 8:40 A.M. and ends at 4:00 PM. My best friend is Anjali and she is 8 years old. Every day after school I go down to Anjali's house. She has to change out of her school uniform. We go up to the football field and run around the field. I like to climb trees and play house. I like to play at the school with the hostelers and play on the swings with Anjali. I like to play games and racing at Silver Oak School. Autumn

Autumn in black salwar 

Mrs. Mary and Autumn 

Autumn in white salwar 

Autumn in her salwar 

Thinking

I have been thinking about teaching here at Silver Oak School and thinking what a privilege it is to have been taught to teach in Canada. Not that I was privileged to go to University but from teacher workshops, teaching alonside real teachers, and just from having the opportunity, I have learned to be a teacher.  This morning as I prepared my lessons for Classes 1-4, I was able to find a lesson in a teachers manual, find a neat visual and also a coloring page for the children.  Yesterday we had the story of Jesus calming the storm and again I found a very nice set of pictures which I colored with bearutiful colors of canadian markers, found a neat picture of waves and a boat and by putting a brad (from Canada), the boat would rock!  The children were quite fascinated with that little item.  All in all the lesson went quite well and the children were able to use Canadian scissors  (kids ones), color with crayons, pencil crayons and markers, all from Canada.  Now don't get me wrong they do have some of these things here, but most teachers do not have the money to purchase them and maybe not even the creativity to think of doing it.  Sometimes I have been a little critical of teachers because I thought why don't they do something more than read out of a book to the kids.  I am sorry for that attitude and am just so grateful for the many wonderful helps I have to make preparation and teaching so enjoyable.  Thanks too to Laura and to Sharon for sending most of the things that I am able to freely use and to others who helped us buy the scanner and the printer that we so easily use.  If you are a teacher and I think many of you are, I hope you will not take for granted all the great teaching aids that you have available to you.  At Silver Oak we have cement walls so the first few days I thought why don't we put up some posters etc., so I proceeded to have the children make All About Me posters. Each one was stuck on the wall with good old grey tape.  Unfortunatley it didn't work well.  I guess that is why we don't put much on the wall!!  Be nice to have some bulletin boards!!  So we made folders to put our crafts and artwork in and will let the parents have them on Sat. when they come for visiting day.  Well that is my thinking for today.  Hope you are having a good day being thankful for all the good things that are given to you every day.  Love Ellen

a little help from Grandpa 

My Adventure

Let me tell you about my adventure. It was fun because I went flying down the road on my and Arun's Kar that we made, I jumped off and the Kar crashed! Andrew

My box.

Let me tell you about my box. It is Spider-man. It is cool. I will show you a picture. I got it because I had a prize for not whining.
-Andrew

Here is Andrew's "box" (Mizo English!) 

Aunty Harm

I'm going to miss my aunty. She is so fun. I hope she had fun here. We went to market and bought a new barbie for me. Every Saturday if we have all our stickers then we get a prize.
I'll miss her so much when she leaves us.
AUTUMN

On a recent lunch outing at the new hotspot, "David's Kitchen". Check out those fancy drinks! They are the big treat... 

You can't beat that backgrounod! 

I'm going to miss my Autumn! (Aunty Harm) 

They're pretty cute, I'd say! 

Finally!

Hi Everyone!
It has been a long while since I have written much from this corner of the world. We have been so thankful for all the visitors we have had in the last two months. We enjoyed a very relaxing and encouraging time with Wilf and Laura, then just after the new year we enjoyed Bob Parker, Robert and Melissa Orr, Joyce Taylor , Mike Parker and Uncle John McMillan, as well as Harmony who met up with them at Singapore. She is still with us until Feb. 8. It will not be easy to say goodbye to her and Autumn is already fussing about that!!
After Wilf and Laura left us we spent the time preparing for the team from Canada and the Retreat that was planned for the time they were here. Because the upstairs was close to being ready for them to use we worked hard to get elelctricity up there, to clean (workmen here leave a real mess, especially the cement guy!), and to get beds, blankets, pillows etc ready for the 7 of them. Altho it wasn't 5 star, we think they were reasonably comfortable and we enjoyed having them able to share our home. The steps up to our house, were an interesting feat for all of them. Ray declares that he does not think he will ever get used to them!! The Retreat was planned for any in NorthEast India who could come. We were disappointed that not many came but we still enjoyed it a lot. Tuanzachin, from Imphal, along with his wife came and I was especially delighted to see him after 35 years, and to meet his lovely wife who has met five of my children and who each of them have really enjoyed. He has not changed and we really enjoyed his fellowship through the week. They traveled by jeep here and it took two days. During the time Bob and team were here they also taught at a VBS for our community. Ray advertised by delivering invitations and we were pleased to have over 60 children come for classes every day. Also that week John offered a teachers workshop for our teachers here at Silver Oak. I think this was very useful and John did a great job of relating to the teachers. We all received a certificate at the end of the three days. It was a very busy time for us here but we were thankful for the time they were here. They left a couple of times and came back due to flight changes, however they did arrive finally in Manipur and we hear they have had a wonderful time there with much encouragement to our brothers and sisiters there.
The day they left we began the first session of the school year. It was a little hectic at the beginning for Ray especially with getting the teachers and timetable and everything set up. We were under the idea that school was beginning on Monday however, this is India and we are still getting students and we got a new teacher yesterday and slowly it is getting into a routine. Ray and I are teaching Bible and English classes. Ray does administrative work as well. I only teach Mon-Thurs and have two classes each day. So far that has been going quite well. The children seem to enjoy the crafts, coloring, and visuals that I have been using. Education here is quite different than we are used to in Canada and can be quite frustrating. Autumn and Andrew seem to be doing well. We are in somewhat of a routine now with Ray heading down the hill at 8:00AM along with Autumn and Andrew who begin at 8:30. School goes until 4:00PM. Harmony has been a great help to the school and has taught classes in English, Music, sports and has done a great job of getting to know the teens and all the students in the few weeks she has been here. Last week on Republic Day she organized a day of games for the students. The students were divided into teams and then went to different stations such as the obstacle course, relays, sponge toss, egg toss, and cheer and poster making. Watching them at the final egg toss and the tug-o-war, I delcared it a success!! She also has taken piles of pictures and is in the process of organizing a Picture Wall for the hallway at the school. On Friday night all of the girls were invited to a Princess Diaries pyjama party and the whole dorm watched the movie and ate lots of junk food. The girls loved it, as did the wardens (dorm mothers) to the point of allowing a second movie!! I think the boys were a little disapopointed not to be invited. We will miss her ideas and especially her energy!!
The weather is getting warmer here, that is likely around 20 during the day. It is very nice. It is also getting very dry and the water shortage is becoming somewhat of a problem. Many people here in our community do not have access to good water. They have to fill containers at wherever they can find some coming from the mountain. We are fortunate here to be able to buy water and fill our tanks. there is a water tap just down the road from us and we see many little carts going down the hill with water jugs in them. They ride the little carts down the hill and have to push it up!! The Canadians all like to take pictures of them! The people here are hoping for rain to come early this year.
While Harmony has been here she has organized some extra school work for Autumn and Andrew especially in the area of writing. So if you are interested they will be adding little blogs to our Heartwarmers blog. They also are doing some computer fun stuff like doing reports, and some math games. Andrew is doing a report on Cheetahs and has really enjoyed that. I wonder if Ray and I will be able to keep up to it but we do plan to try!!
This is becoming way too long so will close for this week. I will take this opportunity to thank each of you who sent gifts with Wilf and Laura and with Bob. WE could not feel more loved!! Everyday as we use the things that have been given we think of you and are so thankful. Love and Blessings, Ellen

Andrew and Sristi 

Autumn with her little sister Sristi... 

Here are some pictures of us with sweet baby Sristi- our next door neighbour, and the "baby sister" to Autumn and Andrew! 

Andrews food.

This is what i eat in India: rice and dahl, banana, meat, apple, pappaya and tomatoes! my favorit food is tomatoes!

Outside our window... 

Well, sort of like home...minus the layers of mountains hiding behind the wheat! 

A recent sunset... 

This is where we live!!!! 

Happy Birthday Mom! 

The Nepalese heartbreakers....Anjena and Angita....tooooooo cute. 

Egg Toss! 

A Tug-O-War Victory!!! (It's like it was the World Cup or something!) 

Autumn's food

Let me tell you about the food In India . I like to eat rice, dahl, curry, papaya and bananas, especially fried rice. Auntie Harm thinks that papaya tastes like dirt. I don't like tofu and dried fish with chillies and the eyes are inside of it. I don't really miss anything from home except my friends and family. AUTUMN

TIME FLIES

TIME FLIES

 

Well, I bet you’re saying that’s sure a novel title for a report! My father turned over the 91^st leaf of time on good ole Robbie Burns’ birthday (for those of you non-Scots, that was January 25). I remember Dad’s comment a dozen years ago, “I am 80+ years old and I have no idea how I got here.” I remember an intellectual dissertation by Robbie Zacharias, in which he confessed that “time” is one concept he does not comprehend. I am also reminded a favourite prayer line of my Dad: “Lord, please remind us that life is short but eternity is long.”

 

Another man of considerable experience and wisdom put it this way: “Time is like a roll of TP. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes!”

 

On January 1, Ellen and I gave the year’s edition of “Our Daily Bread” to each of our staff here at Silver Oak School. Just like it were crafted for me (and likely you), our morning devotion (January 31) was entitled, TIME FLIES. If you are following the monthly version of ODB, you likely didn’t read these comments by David Roper.

 

Many metaphors are used in literature to describe life’s brevity. It is a dream, a swift runner, a mist, a puff of smoke, a shadow, a gesture I the air, a sentence written in the sand, a bird flying in one window of a house and out another. Another symbolic description was suggested by a friend of mine who said that the short dash between the dates of birth and death on tombstones represents the brief span of life.

 

When we were children, time loitered. But as we get closer to the end of our lives, time moves with increasing swiftness, like water swirling down a drain. In childhood we measured our age in small increments. “I’m 6½,” we would say, for it seemed to take so long to get older. Now we have no time for such childishness. Who claims to 63½?”

 

Ouch! For those who know me, that’s a little too personal for comfort!

 

And, an often distributed plaque states:

Only one life.

‘Twill soon be past.

Only what’s done for Christ

Will last.

Meet My Friend

Let me tell you about my friend ARUN. ARUN is from Nepal. He is 10 years old. He is cool because he's a monkey when he climbs trees. He is GREAT!
-Andrew

The blogging children...

Hello, everyone. Well, Autumn and Andrew are now official bloggers! As a part of their writing homework, they will be doing some weekly entries on the blog. So check in on Mondays to see what the Canadian Mizo kids are up to! Here are their first two entries. Feel free to leave a comment! :)

Awesome Anjali

Let me tell you about my friend Anjali. She is 7 years old. She has 2 younger sisters and an older brother, Arun. She is in class 2. She is Nepali. We like to play dolls together. We tie our babies to our backs, just like the mothers do to their babies . We like to climb trees and go exploring, just like monkeys! We are always pushing people on the school swings. Anjali is my best friend!
-Autumn

If you want to see some pictures...

Hey, this is Harmony writing! I've snapped a number of pics during my week or so here, so if you are interested you can view them here

A Canadian visit!

 Wilf and Laura got to spend some time with us recently, her are some of Laura's reflections:

Frozen Land:  We are back to the frozen land of Canada.  We were glad to get home before the storm on December 30^th.  But it has been mighty cold since we have been back.  Thanks to the many who told me they asked to have winter wait till we got back.  It is much appreciated J.  We had a great time on our trip.  We enjoyed beautiful weather the whole time, met many wonderful people and saw a totally different way of living.  It makes you stop and wonder why we have so much or even need so much.  It made me realize the hectic life of Canadians is something I wish I could change.  Really, you can get just as much done at a slower pace!

Our time in India was relaxing; most of the time you had no choice, because most things in India take time.  One day Ellen and I wanted to make gingerbread men, but, no ground ginger; so the next day (because you can’t just run to the grocery store, a trip to town is min 4 hrs) we went and bought some fresh ginger root, grated it, dried it in her little oven then borrowed a mortar and pestle (an old axle from something) and pounded and sieved it until we had ground ginger.  Then we had no molasses so we used sugar cane rock candy and melted it down until we had something similar.  So we got the cookies made, and got them in the oven, six at a time, because Ellen’s oven is just a small toaster oven. Electricity there is interesting.  It is supposed to be 220 volts but it is seldom that high. We were lucky that day, because the electricity was coming in between 160 and 180 which worked well to bake.  Other days it comes in at 110-120, so cooking is nearly impossible, but it didn’t really matter.  It was all fun.  

We spent a week with them in Shillong, walking around and visiting places they used to live, the school where Ray taught, the church they were married in and much more.  It was great to watch them interact with the people they knew from 30 years ago.  As they have here, Ray and Ellen have touched the lives of many people over there.

Ray, Ellen, Autumn and Andrew are all doing fine.  They have adjusted well to their environment.  Ellen has spent much of the last few months figuring out how to cook, get to the market, do laundry the Indian way.  She is very good at it now and quite comfortable with it.  The kids jumped right into school and have been learning to write the Hindi language, speak Mizo and keep up with Canadian studies.  They have lots of friends and seem to be adjusting well.  Ray is busy as he always is.  While we were there he spent a lot of time fighting with his computers. (Sound familiar?)  You think it is frustrating here taking them to the shop; just try it there.  He was also busy organizing teachers and classes. Before we got there he was teaching full days at the school, English and Bible classes and some English at the University in Aizawl.  So he is busy,  but really enjoying it.  It was great to see them doing so well in their new home land.

Autumn kept saying “When you come next year Laura…”

Thanks to the rest of the staff, and Melissa and Jill, for taking on extra work so I could be gone.  Thanks to everyone who fed my kids or just checked to see how they were doing.  It has been a good experience.

 ~Laura