The Saga of Water in India Continues
January 10, 2008 email #17
Murphy’s law is plaguing us---if something can go wrong it will.  The saga is much bigger and longer story than I can tell in detail.  I am sending more pictures this time just to show a little of the situation.  We were without water for bathing (us too) and washing of clothes, BUT the students didn’t realize that the mandate meant the lawn and trees also had to go without water!!!  They seem to always take you so literally, that it is hard to cover all the bases in your directives.  We are going on the fourth day now.  The patch worked, but replacing the 24’ piece of pipe has been a nightmare.

In town, Loren found a place where he could purchase a replacement piece of pipe, but it took two hours of tea and talking before the Jain man would sell it to him.  Relationship building is more important than time.  Loren really prayed for protection from dysentery with each sip, because we simply can’t drink tea in shops.  This man basically would NOT consider doing business with Loren if he refused to drink his tea.  After getting the 24’ pipe, getting it back to Prakash was a trick.  Finally, they did but then could find NO place to thread a 24’ piece of piping.  So they had to cut a two-foot piece and take it to the shop. 
(I am on the motorcycle going there) The shop is only about 10 feet wide and 12 feet long (photo included).  Of coarse, the electricity went off while the work was being done and we had to take the piece of pipe about 10 miles away to another shop that had electricity.  Can you imagine trying to get the threading to match up????  Back to campus and the process of getting the pipes to line up and the flanges threaded on.  Loren kept saying, “Guys, you are making it too tight and you have no room for the flanges or any play in aligning the pipes.” You guessed it!!!  It was too long.  (Loren helping with the arc welding equipment) So they cut it and welded it back together.  It was still a little too long!  They forced it and in the process cracked one of the flanges. (Loosing the flange)

Oh please God, give us wisdom and patience!!!!  So we still have a leak.  I think Loren has now decided to replace the whole mess, all the way to the well.  I am writing like I know all about these things.  Believe me, I don’t and especially not the way it is done here in India.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.  This saga is still a long way from being finished.

I had my first session with the girls since their holiday.  Oh my, what fun.  There were tons of questions about how we celebrate Christmas and New Years in America.  I asked, “What did you do differently at home this holiday, that is a direct result of being at RGI?” Amazing answers!!  Personal devotion time and body cleanliness were at the top of the list.  Also several of them took their Starting Point books home and sat with friends and family explaining the great new knowledge they had gained from this study.  It simply thrilled my heart to hear their testimonies.  All of them stated that others noticed the change in them.  Tears came when I said, “I understand there was a “Flower Fairy” here while you were gone?” Not one of them had ever had a gift of flowers.  They were overwhelmed and could not believe that they were so loved as to receive a gift.  Gift giving is NOT a part of Christmas or even their lifestyle.

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