Last Days in India
Feburary 19, 2008 email #29
I am writing this as I sit in the PII Board meeting, watching the men (there is one woman, but she is not in attendance) from all over Maharastra State making decisions about Prakash and its’ future.  They don’t come from all over India because of the language barrier.  It is hard to believe it is a country with more than 22+ major languages and 400 or so dialects. The languages are as different as English and Chinese.  English truly is the only unifying language.  It takes commitment, to ride all night on a train or bus just to get to Nagpur.  No one flies!!!!  Thankfully, they are dedicated men of God who want for Prakash to flourish.  Only thing is---they still do not know about cell phone etiquette. I guess some us don’t either!

Now it is our next to last day and I will continue this email.  Life at Prakash is at full steam ahead, BUSY, BUSY. A poisonous snake was found and killed on the new Soccer field today.  I’m glad it wasn’t there on Sports Day.  All of a sudden, it has turned dreadfully hot!!!  I mean HOT!!!! Maybe that is what brought the snake out???  Thank goodness we only have a day or so left.  It is hard to believe the change can happen so quickly. 

Before we left home, Loren made a connection with a guy (a former missionary kid) who makes a water filter that requires no electricity.  We brought one with us.  God has truly worked some miracles! As we were having a casual conversation with a man from the Hindu extended family he offered to import all the filters for us.  WOW!  This was a huge concern IF we were going to be able to make an impact on a number of villages, not just one or two.  Today we put our first prototype in a village and gave them clean drinking water for the first time in history.  The cost of each unit is a mere $150 installed and will change a village forever.  Dr. Suresh is handling all the details for us, because he is Prakash’s main contact with the villages.  His Vet-Med ministry has been very rewarding.  If we can just get this project funded we will be able to manufacture the containers for the filters and water here at Prakash using the students which will also give these students some practical training.

Abhay went out to the little Hindu lady’s new little house.  I thought you might like to see the results.  Isn’t she clever??  I thought she did a great job.

Sunday, I took all the girls OUT to lunch.  It was the first time many of them had ever eaten in a restaurant.  There was a play yard as part of the “Hotel” (any place that serves food is called a Hotel) and the girls went wild.  You would have thought they were much younger, but truly they are not very mature compared to our teenagers.  Even using a cloth napkin was an experience, not being quite sure what to do with it.  They watch every move I made. but I am soooooo glad I was able to give them this special treat.  Funniest thing happen while we were on the bus, they asked, “Nani, can we touch your hair?” Before I came, none of them had ever seen a blue eyed, light haired person.  “Sure you can.” So I had many little fingers going all through my hair all the way back to RGI.  During this last week the girls are feverishly making some jewelry for me to take home.  This is one of their courses and they have even sold a few pieces.  Maybe this will turn out to be a way for RGI to make some income???

Another project we would love to have funded for RGI, is to buy some desks.  Right now the girls all sit on a carpet/rug for most classes.  We found a desk/chair combination for $20 each, and we only need 32 at the present.

God has made this a most productive trip and we are so thankful for all we have been able to accomplish.  I will be packing my computer in the morning, so this will be my last email until I get back to Georgia and the good ole’ USA.  What a wonderful time we have had together.

Thank you once more for all your replies.

Salaam (Peace be with you) from India. 

http://www.prakash4india.org
Sylvia H. Eckhardt
Prakash for India

Valentine’s Day in India
Feburary 14, 2008 email #28
Happy Valentine’s Day---I don’t think so!!!  Loren and must have eaten something that didn’t like us so we spent the whole day in bed and keeping the “throne” warm.  We are much better tonight.  Thankfully, this is really the only time we have been this kind of sick.  Nupi and Suresh came by with two red roses and a card.  It was so sweet of them and it did help to cheer us up. Oh, there is something I meant to tell you and simply forgot with all the activities that happened at the end of Demme and Bob’s visit.  Remember, Loren’s cleaning spree??? Well, as the guys were cleaning out the go-downs (storage garages) they made a pile of OLD deteriorated wood---doors with terrible dry rot, drawers, boxes, doors casings and poles---just plain junk.  Purely by chance? NO! but surly by God’s divine intervention a little---and I mean little---Hindu lady spied the pile through our gate and asked the House Father, Ahbay, whose home is near the gate, if she could have some of the wood to build a house.  Ahbay came to us and Loren said, “I want to meet with her before I say yes or no.” So after several attempts and doggedness on her part we finally had an opportunity to hear her story.  Loren had a nagging feeling that things were not as they should be with her and didn’t want to cause a predicament by giving the wood.  What a pitiful life she has had---beyond our imagination.  Her husband has run off with another woman, thankfully this stopped the beatings that left her unconscious.  Now that he was gone she is the sole support for her two small girls. By some miracle she found out about some government land where she could have “squatter’s rights” and she herself had put a thatch hut on the plot to secure the land.  Out of her MONTHLY income of 800 rps (approx. $21) she was paying 500rps in rent.  As I sat and listened to her tale, a sob escaped and I could no longer hold back the tears, neither could Demme.  We had no qualms about giving her the wood when she assured us that her husband would not steal it from her.  Loren arranged for a 5-wheeler to come and pick up the TWO LOADS. She was going to walk each piece the five or so miles to the plot. Not only did she get the pile she had seen from the gate but materials for a roof, more fairly good doors and a couple of windows.  All stuff that is not useable for Prakash any longer.  I am sure some of the staff, were eyeing the pile with craving, but with heartfelt gratitude we thank God for His bringing this dear little lady into our lives.  She was so inundated with emotion that as she climbed upon top of the load her whole body shook with sobbing.  I understand that while we were on our trip north she alone has completed her new little home.  We have encouraged our House Father to go out and take some photos for us.  It probably would not be wise for us to go out and inspect for ourselves, as there has already been questions from her neighbors about this school and their generosity. 

We are on the “short-chain” ( a navy term for counting the days until we return home.) The projects that need to be finished make every day super busy and I am also trying to take a lot of pictures that will tell the story of Prakash.  There several big projects that are truly becoming necessities where funding is needed.  Pictures are worth a thousand words.

I will try to get at least one more email written before we leave India.

http://www.prakash4india.org
Sylvia H. Eckhardt
Prakash for India

The Taj Mahal of India
February 10, 2008 email #27
A trip north with Bob and Demme was a wonderful interlude from the stress and pressures of life at Prakash.  Loren had not been to New Delhi or Agra since 1989 so he was excited about seeing all the tourist sites again.  Many changes have happened in that length of time---like a charge of $20 per person for foreigners ($00.25 for Indians) to tour the Taj Mahal. 911 has caused many of these changes.  India is CHANGE and India is ADJUST!!! You can no longer fly into Agra, so it is a 7-hour car trip from Delhi to Agra.  By doing this Bob had a chance to take tons of photos and recover some of his loss. All the way to Agra and back on the theoretical highway, plodding along, were many camel trains carrying enormous loads of cotton.  Down in Nagpur area you rarely see a camel.
Yes, I took this picture with my little old Kodak.  Isn’t it great???
I have to say, it still thrills me each time I see this awesome Taj Mahal, a “Wonder of the World.” God was so good with the weather, it was cold and a trifle windy, but that is more desirable than heat and we were not deterred one bit from enjoying the beauty of the magnificent architectural wonder of love.  Don’t you just love the hairdo??? As an added bonus, our guide was an Indian National Soccer player, a center back, I think.  Bob and he really connected and Bob ended up giving him a treasured National Federation Soccer Patch.  The historical sites of India are many and are now well kept, breathtaking and awe-inspiring, but to be honest I think Demme enjoyed the Gypsy Market (Dilli Haat) the best.  Shopping is always fun for women

By gathering all the goodies that the hotels gave, today I was able to give each of the girls four cherished items.  They were completely overwhelmed.  Not one of them has ever been in a real hotel so getting this kind of treasure was like Christmas. In addition, only one of them had even seen a photo of the Taj Mahal, so I took my computer and showed them pictures. Of coarse, it could not end with just those pictures so I showed photos of the girls putting on the Valentine’s Day event.  It was so cute to see their reactions while seeing their own photo.

Now we are on the count down to our leaving.  Each of the executive staff has, with great relish, presented a list of things they would love to have completed before we leave. I can see Loren drooping at the thought!!! There will be no time now for chitchat, only priorities

http://www.prakash4india.org
Sylvia H. Eckhardt
Prakash for India

Bob and Demme in India
Feburary 8, 2008 email #26
There was a flurry of events as the last days with Bob and Demme, here at Prakash, wound down. Having a village tour was a must. (Bob was always in the front seat as we traveled by car and has promised never to complain about Atlanta drivers or traffic again---we'll see!!!) So with a picnic lunch in hand we started out to see, The Farm where Self-Reliant training is taught, the "Veggie Tales" village, Rupali's village to see her small school, the orphanage (they doled out 400 pieces of candy for the kids---stampede) and ended with my favorite village of Nandagomuck. This is 200+ year-old village of unusual cow dung huts, winding paths, goats, and chickens, cows, farmers and people watchers of "bright" skin. One of the old farmers that Loren has befriended proudly gave us a tour. We loved it even though sometimes the pungent odor of decay and human waste stunned our senses. Oh well, as long as I don't step in it, I am OK! We are pleased to say there are several alumni of Prakash from this village. All in all it was a LONG hard day, but well worth the effort.

One of the very impactful and interesting things to Bob and Demme were the church services. We attended two and then had dinner in a staff home where unbelievable stories of being raised in an orphanage were told. Many of our staff were brought up in orphanages. As you can see it has been more than hectic trying to fit every little thing into the schedule. Overload? Perhaps. In any event, some of the most impressive time of their whole trip has been the giving of their testimonies to the students, staff and then to the pastors. No one here can believe the complete transparency of his and her life stories. In India, personal and unpleasant life experiences are kept VEYY secret. We are so grateful for Bob and Demme's ability to touch hearts and show God's loving forgiveness.

Tragedy did strike when somehow Bob lost ALL the pictures on his camera. It seems impossible, BUT it happened! Thankfully, I have taken many, many photos of them and they will have more than enough to share when they return back to Atlanta.

More about our trip North next time.
Goodnight and God Bless.

http://www.prakash4india.org
Sylvia H. Eckhardt
Prakash for India

Party Day in India
Feburary 3, 2008 email #25
The big party day arrived and the air was vibrating with excitement. The girls begged Demme and I to wear saris, so, Alishiba came to my room and put the saris on us.  I can do this, BUT not in India where each pleat has to be perfect.  I have to say, the ladies had planned the day down to the last detail.  It was pleasing to see how they had organized everything around their theme of “Unconditional Love.” Demme gave the main talk with a beautiful presentation of Christ and His love for us.  She used several visual aids, which always is good for the Indians.  In attendance were about 200 ladies for this Valentine Party, some late and a few on time. The party program included songs, games, and “Lucky Draws,” in addition to the RGI girls doing skits---"The Prodigal Son” with darling costumes including pigs and “The Cracked Pot.” The girls did the Stick Dance with brightly-colored-gorgeous-mirror-studded Rajesthani dresses. 

Of course, there is NEVER an event without a lot of food.  The catered lunch was held in the gardens of PBI and was a VEG (no meat) meal so that the 50 or so Hindu women, who attended, would not be offended.  The food was of the quality that even we could enjoy it.  The comments were, “This is the first ladies event that wasn’t BORING.” All in all it was a magnificent time of fun and fellowship. 

While the women were having their party the men were out in the fields having a Sports Day.  Bob, as I said before, is a soccer referee, so there were competition games between staff and students, staff and pastors, etc.  Bob was giving some exercises and
running skills when he took an end-over-teakettle fall.  Good thing the bullock’s cow patties had been clean off the field.  Well, maybe he wouldn’t have skinned his knees and elbow so badly if he had hit something a little softer!!!!  The fall didn’t stop him one bit though.  There were also javelin throws and races. Every once in a while, as we ladies were in the Auditorium doing our thing, we would hear loud, exuberant shouts and cheers. I don’t think many of these people have ever had so much just plain fun.  The men were served the same meal AFTER the women had finished.  Then they completed their day with a big volleyball tournament.  Loren with Bob (in his referee uniform)

To be sure, everyone would love for this to become a “tradition.” The next morning we met with staff to overview the entire event and see what was good and what we would carry out differently---IF we were ever to do it again?  This kind of training is not cultural, because they don’t tend to think future.  The lack of future planning in their lives is a true hindrance.  But, they were thrilled with the outcome of the day, as they saw what good planning could produce.
Goodnight dear friends, and again thank you for all your encouraging emails. 

http://www.prakash4india.org
Sylvia H. Eckhardt
Prakash for India