Bob and Demme arrive in India
January 31, 2008 email #23
Wednesday, bright and really early Loren and I flew to Mumbai to meet Demme and Bob Pluta.  These are friends from North Point Church in Atlanta that we met in our small group.  They felt a real desire to come to Prakash and just be of help in any way.  We met them at the hotel then toured all of the touristy sites in the city---Crawford’s Market, the Gateway to India, Victoria Train Station, the Taj Mahal Hotel, small streets for shopping, traffic, traffic and of coarse, the Cottage Industries shop. In the evening we all boarded the plane and flew to Nagpur.  Demme was going to sleep, but as women, what did we do????? TALK, TALK.  The greeting at the airport was with the traditional flower garlands (lies) and bright smiles.  They were overwhelmed and didn’t know the best part was yet to come.

Upon arriving at the gate of Prakash they were told they needed to get out of the car and walk.  Confusion showed on their faces, but as they rounded the corner and saw the fully decorated Bullock cart and bullocks with all the students lining the drive sparklers in hand and singing songs, they smiled and climbed in for the ride of their lives.  Several of the boys did a traditional Maharashtraian dance while playing tambourines leading the bullock cart all the way to the front of the building.  Bob and Demme were covered with rose petals that had been thrown.  One of the students had made an eight foot diameter SAND rug. (Shown in picture) and the pathway was made of flower petals.  More garlands were given and songs sung and just when I thought it was all over the computer class students said they had a small skit.  Out walk two boys, one with a sign LOREN and the other with a sign SYLVIA.  LOREN had a notebook (any of you who know Loren well, know he LOVES notebooks). He was looking over the students and writing in his notebook, and then Sylvia would check things off, be listening and picking up papers saying, “Jala doo!!! or Petoo!! These are the Hindi and Marathi words for BURN IT!!!  I am constantly picking up papers, the students will run over and take them out of my hands, BUT instead of putting them in the trash they will stick them under a rock.  So learning the words for “burn it” was an important first language lesson.  Also, SYLVIA would flip her hair---I thought I would die laughing.  They catch every little action you do.  I know I constantly put my fingers in my THICK hair and lift it because my head gets so hot, but who knew how closely I was being watched.  It makes me realize how much living each moment in a Christ like way is extremely important.  Then the BOB and DEMME boys arrive with their signs.  Naturally, DEMME is the one pulling the suitcase. SYLVIA and LOREN hug them.  The boys truly had no idea exactly what Bob and Demme were going to be doing here, but they did know there was to be a Sports Day, so they acted all that out.  Then BOB and DEMME leave and LOREN and SYLVIA get on their knees and thank the Lord for bring BOB and DEMME to help at Prakash.  It was toooooo charming. 

By now it is 10:30 PM and straight away dinner is to be served.  I know Bob and Demme are ready to drop, but they were good sports and enjoyed a time with executive staff. 
Even though our Indian beds are hard as rocks, I don’t think they cared a bit.  Just give me a bed!!!

I will write more about their trip in following emails.  They have already been an enormous encouragement to the Loren and Sylvia---without the signs. 

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