You crackpot!

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream 'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.'
The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty in the world.'
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make us unique and special. Don't focus on your flaws, but on your differences that make life interesting and rewarding.

End of radio silence

We have now left India, and we are back in the UK. Our lives are a bit of a whirlwind still here, and we have been in 4 different places since arriving, and as a family of 4 we are living out of one suitcase.

Well, I guess before anything else is said, I should really take the opportunity to apologise to all our readers that we have been pretty busy recently, and so we have not been very (ie AT ALL!) good at updating our blog recently. We have however had quite a few people comment on the fact that there hasn't been much there recently, which is reassuring that people are actually bothering to read it!

We have had quite a few functions and goodbyes in India, and it has been generally quite an emotional time. On a couple of occasions I found myself with a tear in my eye I must confess, and even in front of patients sometimes! People have been tremendously encouraging and supportive, and have said lots of nice things to us! It is important that we remain conscious of our human failings against such a barrage of compliments and well wishes!

A couple of weeks before we left, My work place at JSK, where I was based for 3 years, had a very humbling 'goodbye' party for all our family.

The staff of JSK sang a song for us, and they gave us gifts and some kind words. They did a presentation of some of the patients we had been able to impact here in India, and they also gave me a scrap-book full of their reflections on our time in India. As well as this, we were presented with a small plaque with a picture of the leaves of a tree that was planted to commemorate the death of a young boy we had treated, along with a verse of scripture and a quote from the boy himself. It was a very special tribute for us, and a memory that I will always cherish.

the staff singing

A slide from the powerpoint that was presented

Praying for our future

A talented poem? You choose!

It was our staff retreat last weekend. It was a really great time, in an unexpectedly nice venue, that was really of hotel standard. Everyone had a really great time there.

On the Saturday night we had a talent show. I decided to write a poem. God spoke to me through the passage in Matthew's gospel chapter 25 about a year ago. The passage is commonly referred to as the parable of the 'talents'. I thought it was a fitting passage to write a poem based on for a 'talent' show!

The passage in Matthew reads as follows;
Matthew 25:14-28 It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.

My poem follows;

So many paths,
Such worn shoes.
We determine our future,
By the paths that we choose

A man of worth,
Came, stayed, went,
To each of three servants,
Some money he lent.

Such trust an honour,
Consider it privilege,
To waste it a shame,
Or perhaps sacrilege

How much do you have?
How much has been given?
But greater than this,
Does your path lead to heaven?

To some is given much,
To some less, to some little,
But its how we proceed,
That tests our mettle.

From the man who has much,
Much more should be made,
But not to be kept,
To the master repaid!

For the man who had less,
When brought to account,
Through hard work the test,
Doubled his amount

But the man who had least,
What worthless dalliance
He hid what he had,
And returned just the balance.

See its not what we have
That counts in the end,
But it's what we accomplish
With what we've been lent.

No matter how "much",
"Less" or "little" you feel,
Lift the edge of your bushel,
And let it reveal

A treasure, a jewel,
That shines from within,
Then the true path to heaven,
Our worn shoes will win.

What do you think? A bit twee?

For they know not what they do...

Many people think of the phrase "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" at this time of year. But I think a lot of people miss the full implication of this simple short sentence. It was one of the last things that Jesus said before he died, as he hung on the cross, and so I think it is of some importance.

I was about to drive home on my motorbike today when I realised I had a flat tyre. I therefore went to the local puncture repair shop (you see them every couple of hundred metres here in India) and asked the man there to fix it for me. This usually costs about 15 pence. He removed the tube, and showed me how the tube was split at the valve, and I would therefore need a new tube, at around £2. Sure I said. However he then showed me that there was also a nail through the tyre, and a second hole in the tube.

this made me highly suspicious. Two simultaneous problems concurrently causing a flat tyre - hmmm...unlikely. I picked up my old tube, and looked at the hole near the valve, which now looked to me decidedly like a knife incision. then on closer inspection of the shop, i realised that the heater for rubberising the glue they use for puncture repairs was in pieces on the bench inside. At this stage I realised that he had never been able to fix my puncture.

I therefore went on (to his surprise) to explain my findings to him in pretty passable Hindi, and proceeded to tell him that God was watching everything! He looked sheepish. I remained calm though, and paid him and left.

As I drove down the road, I was musing about the fact that God was watching everything the lad had done, and would hold him accountable. Suddenly the thought of Christ hanging from the cross with crowds around his feet mocking him came to me, and those words - "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".

What struck me was not God's forgiveness. We all know God is willing to forgive those who ask him! What struck me was the second part of the sentence - "for they know not what they do".

Arguably in the history of mankind there has never ben a greater injustice than Christ's crucifiction. Without a doubt the perpetrators were not repentant (as they mocked him) but this didn't matter to Christ.

What did strike me, was that Christ forgave these unrepentant sinners. Not because they acknowledged that he was the Christ. Not because they were repentant. Not because they went to Church, or took communion, or because they were good, or loving, or religious.

He forgave them because they did not know what they were doing.

Is ignorance an excuse then? Maybe. What did the man fixing my puncture think about ripping me off? Did he think

"here is a poor soul who I'll take advantage of"?

Just maybe he thought
" I haven't been able to make a living for several days, because my equipment is broken. I am hungry, my mother is sick and in hospital, my son is thin and hasn't had a proper meal for days. My wife deserves better".

Maybe he thought
"Here's a rich foreigner, he won't miss a couple of quid, perhaps if I just damage his valve he will buy a new tyre, and I'll be able to get my puncrure repairing machine fixed and start to make a living again".

As I drove along on my bike, I prayed a short prayer

"father forgive him, for he knows not what he is doing"

Immediately I felt better. My petty anger and resentment left me. I felt lighter. I absent-mindedly realised that wrecking my tubing wasn't going to be a stumbling block to that young man getting into heaven.

Another verse came to mind
"If you forgive their sins, they are forgiven. If you retain their sins they are retained"

Next I had to say a wee prayer for myself.
"Father forgive me for all the times that I have harboured an unforgiving heart towards others. Father forgive me for all the times I have retained another man's sins. Father forgive me, for I knew not what I was doing..."

How many people really realise "what they are doing"? How many people really realise the importance of their minute every day actions? How many people are philosophers? How many Indian peasants struggling to survive understand the complexities of God? Of the trinity? Of Christ's substitution for us on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins?

Not many? None? And nor do I. Or maybe I'm just beginning to...

"How great the fathers love for us..."


"...Father forgive them, for they know not what they do..."

Testimony of a friend

My friend emailed me this story a month or so back. I really liked it, and so I asked him if it would be OK to put it on my blog. He has agreed, and has also added the story to his own blog http://warddrennan.blogspot.com/ . He even found this picture of the actual chapel in the story.

"I didn't return to church until I was 29. In grad school near the end, I had no idea where my career was going, was under major stress and extremely tense. I had gotten dumped by my girl friend of 18 months and was feeling the pain. It was a bright sunny spring day. I was strolling through campus, full of lots of trees in full bloom, and early 20th-century limestone architecture. There was a chapel. I had another girlfriend later. She was afraid of church, and that relationship had ended quickly a few months ago. I suggested to her back then that we go in the chapel, but she refused. So now alone, on a quiet campus, it was 23 or 24 degrees C (75F), soft breeze, cumulus clouds dotting the baby blue sky. I said,

"She didn't want to, but I'm going in".

I approached it cautiously, was anyone going to see me? was it open? was anyone inside? I opened the door and stepped into complete calm, tranquil, extraordinary peace. I looked around at the charming little chapel with Oak pews and trim. I was actually in awe of how lovely it was and had forgotten about life outside. Among seats for maybe 100, I stood in solitude. There was a kneeling place next to the entrance where it was written something like "May all who pass here kneel and pray". I hemmed and hawed about it. Yes, no, should I do it? Would someone walk in? Somehow it was hard to do something like kneel and pray. I'd be giving in, somehow losing my pride. But after looking at that kneeling place and contemplating it 3 or 4 times, I did it. I kneeled and quietly prayed. I stood up free. It was a new world. Like drinking fresh mountain spring water after hiking in a desert, parched. What a fantastic change of mood. My worries were gone, the tension lifted, and I was filled with joy again.

Yeah, church is good."

Thanks Ward!

Church Bulletins

These sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services;

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow..

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double door at the side entrance.

I want to be...

Once upon a hill, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said:
"I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean.
"I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"

The third little tree looked down into the valley below.
"I don't want to leave the hill at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.

The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said,
"This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.
"Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said,
"This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.
"Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree."I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up.
"Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoicedwhen the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.
"What happened?" The once tall tree wondered.
"All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.

But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.
"I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered.
The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood.
"This manger is beautiful" she said.
And suddenly the first tree knewhe was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said,
"Peace."
The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beam was yanked from the forgotten woodpile.She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her.She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

Keep your fork - and not the three pronged variety!

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and was given 3 months to live. As she began getting her things 'in order', she called her pastor and asked for him to come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she wanted read, and what dress she wanted to be buried in. She also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible in her left hand. Everything was in order and as the pastor was preparing to leave, the woman suddenly remembered one final request that was very important to her.

'Please Pastor, just one more thing,' she said excitedly.

'Sure, what is it?' came the pastor's reply.

'This is very important to me,' the woman continued ... 'I want to be buried holding a fork in my right hand.'

The pastor gazed at the woman, at a loss for words.

'That surprises you, doesn't it?' the woman asked. The pastor replied 'Well to be quite honest, I am puzzled by the request'.

The woman explained. 'You see, Pastor, in all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I remember that when the dishes were being cleared after the main course, someone would inevitably lean over to me and say, 'Keep your fork' ... it was my favorite part of the meal because I knew that something better was coming, like velvety chocolate cake or deep dish apple pie. Something wonderful to end the meal!'

The pastor listened intently and a smile came upon his face.

The woman continued, 'So, I just want people to see me there with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder ... 'What's with the fork'... then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your Fork ... the best is yet to come'.

The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye.

At the funeral, every one that walked by the woman's casket saw her wearing a beautiful dress with her favorite Bible held in her left hand and a fork held in her right hand.

During his message, the pastor told the people about the conversation that he had with the woman shortly before she died. He explained the fork and what it symbolized to her.

So the next time you reach for your fork, let it remind you, oh so gently, that the best is yet to come...

What keeps you going?

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Tennis player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983.

From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed:

"Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?

To this Arthur Ashe replied:
"The world over -- 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, when I was holding a cup I never asked GOD 'Why me?'. And today in pain I should not be asking GOD 'Why me?'"

"Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, Sorrow keeps you Human, Failure keeps you humble and Success keeps you glowing, but only Faith & Attitude Keeps you going..."

The Adam's Family Home-coming

As we come closer to completing our time here, and we think more and more of coming 'home' to the UK, it seems that more and more of you have also been thinking of us, and we have had a few emails asking how we are, and whether we have any prayer requests...

Oh dear, what a glib subject heading I have chosen, and how often I have cringed when I have heard the same line from someone else... all the while maintaining a forced smile!!!! It's like when people ask me "where's Eve?" I've taken to trying to come out with some witty reply, something like "she's out gathering apples" or "picking fig-leaves". It feels like that comes across better than a forced smile to me, and I think it puts people on the back foot, as they work out what I'm talking about!!??

Isn't communication a funny thing. I think that the basic problem is that inside all of us we desperately want to be understood, and to be able to understand others. We all have a child inside that is easily hurt, easily offended. We all have our protective mechanisms, and our barriers we put up.

In scripture it says that in Heaven we will "fully understand, even as we are fully understood". It is talking about a time when we will no longer only be able to perceive and relate with our bodily senses, and our gesture and voice. I think it will be nice to be able to greet one another in a spirit of full understanding and acceptance. There will be no more pretences, no more awkward silences. No forced smiles. We will all be on a level playing field, and all loved unconditionally. There will be no more hurting child inside. No more insecurity...

With reference again to the awful "Adam's Family" title above, my family are not really mine at all. I like to think of everything I have belonging to God, my wife, my children, my money, my property, my car, my job, my health, my talents, my medical degree. I think of them all as gifts from God in my care for only a short time. The story of the talents in the bible suggests that to the person who has been given much, more will be expected.

Being in India has certainly helped me to be able to count my blessings. As I look around me at the poverty and disease, the starving children, the people around me so often every day have really nothing compared to my opulent existence. We are thinking about moving back to the UK, and as we prepare, we have been looking at homes to buy on the net. When we do a quick calculation of how much money we are thinking of spending in Indian Rupees on a house it seems so wrong. It seems there is no balance to the world, and that there is really a crazy difference to the "haves", and the "have nots".

All of you in the West, whether rich or poor, fat or thin, employed or un-employed, well fed or living on baked beans on toast;

"count your blessings. Name them one by one, then you'll realise what the Lord has done". You will never suffer as I have seen people suffer.

I would like to include a small passage here from a monthly letter that my boss Andi produces each month. He is very eloquent with the written word;

"Overwhelmed. That’s what we so often feel like when we see the sheer needs of our dear friends with HIV – and their often maddeningly broken relationships.

A small 8 year old girl lies in a government hospital in a semi-coma. She has fits and has been vomiting. Her parents take turns to be with her HIV positive daughter. The two younger siblings – 4 and 1 year old are with their grandmother – but the mother needs to see them occasionally. The father drives his auto-rickshaw during the day – and then comes to spend time with his daughter. The family has been so much – and the agony of looking after their beloved little girl is heart-breaking. We had been encouraging this family to start her on anti-retroviral medication for so long – and they only started recently. It looks like it may be too late.

A woman lies in her shack – too tired and feverish to get up. Her husband – HIV positive like her - has left her and gone back to his village. Her teenaged son comes in at odd hours and is said to be stealing things at night – couldn’t care less about his mother. The two smallest kids have already ‘grown up’ - the 5 year old wanders about outside not listening to what her mother tells her. The three year old is inside crying for food. Both girls also have HIV ticking away in their small bodies.

A grown man lies at home – unable to get up because of his constant diarrhoea. His wife – HIV positive like him – finally decides that she must admit him or he will die. He is brought to JSK with virtually no pulse. During the process of admission we realise that the other relatives have never been told that his wife is also positive."...
...count your blessings...

So about us! Here goes...

...We are really becoming more and more home-sick, as our move back to the UK becomes more imminent.

Please pray for us to be able to remain focussed on the task in hand here in India for a little while longer... some of the things we are involved with follow, and you can pray for these things specifically...

Jo Has been getting involved one or two mornings a week with a pre-school in a local slum. However she is frustrated that nothing changes on the days she is not there, and she wants to meet with the leaders to instigate changes that will make the pre-school a better place long-term, even after we have left.

Jo has also has been asked to help prepare a teaching syllabus for teachers in Indian schools to improve their english. Jo has a "Teaching English as a second language" qualification. She is feeling like there aren't enough hours in the day, and also hasn't used her training in this field for 11 years, and so is almost starting from scratch. Thank God for Liz, who has recently started volunteering with the organisation preparing the syllabus, and who will be able to do a lot of the hard work.

Pray that Jo continues to do a great job of being a mum as well. It has been harder here away from friends and supports. She really is fantastic at it. Someone once commented to me that Jo's job here in India is much harder than mine. That is so true.

Leading on from that, it would be great if I was a better support to my wife!

Other things to consider for me are my two main roles in work. I continue to work for Jeevan Sahara Kendra 3 days a week, but for the past few months I have also been involved 2 days a week with a new 'health-care centre' run by oasis India. Oasis are keen to get another full-time doctor to work there, to take over after I leave.

On a more abstract note, I have started writing a book. It is a work of fiction about a family in India with HIV. It aims to discuss some of the issues involved in Indian culture and society. It probably won't be any good, but pray I get time to work on it! It will be a nice record even for me, when I return.

I am also airing the thought of starting a charity when I return! What do you think? I have seen a great need in India for charities who really struggle for decent premesis. Often the right type of premesis simply isn't available, but also, rent agreements in India are generally for 11 months only due to a law giving tennants certain rights if they are in a premesis for more than 12 months. I would like my charity to buy properties for well established fruitful charities with proper registration, and boards of trustees. I would not feel it was worth the risk of supporting charities just starting out, or those in the hands of an individual, as this would be more open to corruption and fraud.

Pray for Alistair and Freya's health. For a couple of days they have been having unexplained stomach pains, without diarrhoea or vomiting. They have not been sleeping well, and so we are all tired. Help me to know the best way to treat them medically.

In terms of coming back to the UK, please pray for that to go smoothly. We have sold our flat in Dumbarton Road!! - an end of an era fro Jo and I. I have owned that flat since I was 19, and it has been one of the things which has enabled us to come to India, with income from rent being a great help. Please pray for Alistair to get admission to the school of our choice. Please pray that we get a house with a nice garden when we het back!!!! Neither of us have ever had a garden!! For the kids this would be a great thing. At times here in India it has been too dusty and dirty, or too wet, or too hot for them to play outside here, and at times they go a bit stir-crazy cooped up in our flat!!

Pray for all our practical arrangements, flights, shipping, travel, goodbyes... etc... etc... Above all pray as you feel led by God's spirit- "All types of prayers on all occassions"!!

Know your JSK staff; Adam Black

Andi, my boss at JSK, has recently started doing a focus on a staff member each month. This month it was the turn of yours truly, and I thought I'd just add Andi's summary of my life here...

Dr. Adam Black is a general practitioner from Glasgow, Scotland who has been serving with JSK for the last 2.5 years. Having come from the ends of the earth (he grew up on the Orkney Islands) Adam is coming to the end of his 3 year commitment along with his wife Jo and their children Alistair (4) and Freya (born at Lok Hospital 2 years ago!).

Adam was challenged by the needs of people in the slums of Chennai, where he served during a medical elective. After completing his higher medical studies in general practice, Adam and Jo (a speech therapist) were led by the Lord to come to Thane.

Adam works with clinical care and counselling at the outpatient centre and with in-patients when they are admitted. He enjoys treating people who are sick with HIV as well as counselling and sharing the joy of the Lord Jesus with them. Adam has also been instrumental in helping set up the OASIS Priceless Health Centre where he currently serves 2 days a week. During these 2.5 years he has been able to learn basic Hindi and is able to interact with patients and JSK staff.

Adam and Jo are preparing to transition back to the UK in mid June, when Adam will be joining a Christian group practice in England. Please thank God for their service here & pray blessings into their next steps.

You'll be great

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself,

'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.'

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said,

'Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.'

He looked at me and said,

'Hey thanks!'

There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friendsHe said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said,

'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!'

He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke, but I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.

Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said,

'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.

' Thanks' he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began

'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach..but mostly your friends...I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.'

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

'Thankfully, I was saved.My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.'

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions.

With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

For better or for worse.

which are you?

A deep thinker and a realist went on a camping trip, set up their tent, and fell asleep. Some hours later, the realist wakes his philosopher friend.

" look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

The deep thinker replies,

"I see millions of stars."

"What does that tell you?"

The deep thinker ponders for a minute.

"Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.

Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo.

Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three.

Theologically, it's evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.

Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.What does it tell you?"

The realist is silent for a moment, then speaks.

"Practically...Someone has stolen our tent".

A BLACK CHRISTMAS

Many of you will know that Adam, myself and the kids spent Christmas in Goa this year, along with Adam's Mum, Dad, younger brother Cameron, sister Inga and Cameron's friend Andy.

On arrival at Mumbai airport we were promptly informed that our flight was overbooked and that we would have to wait 3 hours until the next one. After much debate we managed to land an upgrade to Executive Class with a free lunch and use of the Executive Lounge. Don't suppose we'll get that again in a hurry - not with 2 small kids at least!

Here Freya is enjoying the full stretch of her Executive Class seat! Just a shame the journey only lasted an hour! Personally I was most taken with the TABLECLOTHS we were given when our in-flight meal was served! (You can tell I don't get out much).

The men in the family made the most of the super-duper massage chair in the Executive lounge.

I, with my more pessimistic approach to life and Indian bureaucracy, was initially frustrated with the inefficiencies and lack of apology from Indian Airlines. However, Adam's Mum was right all along in suspecting that God might be in it! Had we made the first flight we would not have met up with Cameron's friend Andy. He was meant to be meeting us at the airport having come straight from London that morning. With his London flight significantly delayed he would have arrived to find us gone and also to discover that his flight was not, as we thought, the same one as ours anyway! Instead we were all still at the airport and Adam was able to help sort out a new ticket for Andy on the same flight as us. Lesson learned. God was in control and we all got quite a good deal in the end (even if it did take 10 hrs door to door -about the same as driving to Goa as it turns out!).

After an eventful journey we finally arrived at an airport that was displaying more 'Christmas Cheer' than anywhere else in Thane! It's hard to know who was more excited by the Christmas tree, the kids or yours truly. . .

Home For A Week

Leoney Resort, Small Vagator. I'd definitely recommend it. Significantly more luxurious than other places we've stayed in India but well worth the treat for Chrismas! We had no complaints and thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. The kids (that includes Adam, Cameron and Andy) really enjoyed the swimming pool. Alistair was in up to 4 times a day and learned to swim really well without his armbands! One time we got back from a day out, climbed out of the car and before we knew it Alistair was in the pool, clothes and all. The problem was easily solved - he just took all is clothes off and continued swimming!! Our 'cottage' is on the far left. It included a four poster bed which was a bit of a treat too.

The said swimming pool with Inga and Alistair enjoying a dip and Andy and Alistair doing some acrobatics (of which there was a lot!). The children's pool at the edge was perfect for the kids to muck around in without needing too much supervision. Adam and Freya are realxing in the background.

Small Vagator beach just 10 minutes walk from where we were staying.

Panaji (Panjim)

"Most travellers bypass Panaji on their way to the beaches, but this is a grave mistake. With the narrow winding streets of its old Portuguese quarter . . . (it) is one of India's smallest and most pleasant state capitals" Lonely Planet, South India, 2005

Goa is a former portuguese colony with a distinct character, quite different to Maharastra State where we live. Of course it is a huge tourist destination now too, so the place feels very different. It was nice to be a tourist and blend in with the travellers for a week, enjoying different food and clothes. (But also useful to pull out the Hindi card when needed - mostly to avoid a rip off (!) but also to enjoy conversation with the locals).

On Christmas Eve we decided to see Panaji for ourselves. We only had a taster, but enjoyed wandering the streets a little bit. The Portuguese influence is very apparent in the architecture, street names, doorways . . .

Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Originally consecrated in 1541 and once visited by Portuguese sailors as a first stop, thanking God for a safe crossing. English, Portuguese and Konkani mass is held here every day.

"Mummy, Mummy, Santa Claus!"

Really quite bizarre, but Alistair was certainly very excited to see (several, very skinny) Santa Claus' on the streets of Panaji! He managed free gifts from at least 2 of them, including these Santa hats.

Christmas fever taking over on Christmas Eve - men selling Santa hats on the central reservation!

With Roman Catholicism a major religion in Goa, Christmas is celebrated by many. I'm not sure if this is the way to do it (?!) but it made me feel more festive and put a smile on my face on a hot and sticky Christmas Eve far removed from my childhood memories (Jim Reeves, open fire, stockings. . .)

Christmas Eve Curry

Do I need to say anything?! Adam and Andy amusing themselves while waiting for our Christmas Eve meal at the 'Delhi Darbar' in Panaji. This restaurant was recommended to Morag by her dentist in Edinburgh and was indeed a great choice!

Curries all round, enjoyed by all, including Ali and Freya. The atmosphere was great with the place nicely decorated for Christmas and a full house. We were lucky to get a seat when we did as the queues had formed by the time we left.

A truly Goan Christmas!!
The doorman at the restaurant and Santa Claus (again). The question is, who wins the prize for the best moustache?!

Christmas morning

Our own living Christmas tree, complete with decorations, beside the swimming pool. There was also a huge nativity scene in which Baby Jesus (who looked about 16 but heh) was placed at midnight on Christmas Eve and the lights put on.

My own very happy memories of waking on Christmas morning to find a stocking at the end of my bed were re-lived through Alistair and Freya this year. Especially Alistair who really understood and was excited by it all. Freya was just excited but had no idea why!!
I feel compelled to add that, when asked the question "Who do we remember at Christmas?" Alistair did say 'Baby Jesus' and, despite all the brainwashing to the contrary, did not say Santa Claus (Phew).

But heh, 'Granny Santa Claus' can't do any harm!

I really like this photo of the Black men on our porch enjoying the vibe on Christmas morning. A bit early for some but we were all happy!

Christmas Afternoon

After a late 'brunch' at what became our favourite haunt, and a relaxed start to the afternoon, we wandered down to Small Vagator beach. Being in a cove it is more picturesque and interesting than some of the Goan beaches. Although quite rocky underfoot all (except myself I'm ashamed to say) went into the sea and had a great time. Ali and Freya also enjoyed the sealife, including crabs and a small octopus! Not a bad way to spend Christmas afternoon.

Sunset on an Indian Christmas

A fantastic day, topped by a beautiful sunset and a lovely meal at 'Le bluebird', a French restaurant serving all the things we can't get in Thane - blue cheese, steak, good wine, lovely desserts . . . now I'm dreaming.