Skip to main content

Good news lately

From Barbara:
Its been a long time since I've "blogged." Life as an international school teacher is often not as "exotic" as you might think - sometimes its just a pain! Teaching in an under-resourced/under-developed country often makes for more work in getting or making what you need.  Bureaucracy is often staggering, and things that one used to take for granted, take more time and effort to get accomplished. Then there's the time spent just traveling - things are not "down the road."  Finally, there's the worry that what I write about now just is not as important as when I wrote regularly to our mission supporters.  Am I griping?  Well, yes a bit, but mostly I am trying to explain why I just do not write as much as I used to.  Well, last week I received an email from Ken and Frieda McRae in India, that deserved a report - such good news!  A little background - last December I blogged about our latest trip to India. Here's some of what I reported:

The next stop was Shishya School and Orphanage in Dehra Dun. The boys instantly recognized Coleman as  “the boy who taught dancing” when a mission group that Barb and Coleman led visited there in 2010. The boys were sprucing up the grounds in preparation for the visit of the state governor – a very big honor.  Founders Frieda and Ken McRae appreciated the school supplies we brought, but even more were grateful for our contribution towards the surgery for Josh, who will get a glass eye to replace the one calcified since birth. Josh happily remembered the softball games led by the guys of our mission group! Josh is hoping to go to college to study law – and we feel this articulate, confident young man will do just that. Although some of the cost for his surgery will be covered by growing social organizations in India, there is still a need for travel and lodging fees during his recuperation. You can visit the website of the school at shishyasociety.org and make a donation if you feel called to help, or let us know and we can put you in touch with the McRaes by email. 

In the mundane busy-ness of the following year, I completely forgot about the fact that Josh would be graduating from high school studies and might have his surgery. But this is what I received last week from Ken McRae, and I thought those of you who met Josh would like to know:

I am so glad to be writing you this letter with good news about Josh! After waiting these years as it is suggested that only after the age of 18 should false eyes be fit! I am attaching photos with this letter so that you can see what a wonderful change has been made  possible through your very generous  donation! The new looks have reallly been a big blessing to him and has allowed him to go to college looking "good"! He is now comfortable with the false eye which moves with the other eye to some extent. Most people wre not aware of the difference unless they are told. Due to this handicap Josh was able to benefit from a provision for certain seats for those who are in some way handicapped. Normally he would not have had such an opportunity as many apply for this college which is well known for Hotel Management. 

Josh was able to get into a very good training to learn Hotel Management. It was not what encouraged him for as I thought that with his amazing ability to remember things and to talk, that he would have a good opportunity to serve through that profession as no one speaks or helps the poor caught in legal problems. Anyway he was able to get a good oppotunity to go to a Hotel Management training which is what he really wanted. He has now the challenge to be who he is and not be bowled over by other students who are very much more wealthy. As he struggles in the outside he needs our prayers so that he emerges being who he is and not pretending to be someone else so that he is accepted. This is a four year course and one which is well recognized.

Even when we let the world take us and our attention away, God is faithful. And in His good time, he puts people together to do good and then to celebrate.  Join me in celebrating for Josh and his good fortune, and pray for his success in the next stage of his journey.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

EUA: tanto estrago em tão pouco tempo

 As part of my effort to learn about Portugal, both the country and the language, I'm subscribing to the centrist newspaper, O Publico .  There are plenty of newspapers: conservative tabloids, and socialist and communist-sponsored daily papers; I find O Publico to be most sober, with consistently interesting columnists and opinion pieces, in addition to some local (Porto) news, with just enough sporting news to keep me chatting with the taxi driver.   Today's opinion piece sums up, I think, European pundits' view of the U.S. government.  As the title puts it: so much damage in so little time.  I shudder at the rank incompetence and corrupt behavior, demonstrating a cynical attitude toward public service, showing indeed that the cruelty is the point. What scandal, what damage will be the tipping point to collapse this government?   And what will it take to recover from the damage?  Who will be able to trust the US government again, ever?   Only ni...

Riding the Bus often

From 201010 Saudi scenes It is ironic that this land of cheap gasoline has so much group transport -- buses. From 201010 Saudi scenes Our housing compound has a Toyota-Coaster bus that takes some to/from school (we usually go earlier and return later, on a similar bus that the school provides). Driver Yahya takes residents on the 90-minute trip down to the Big City shopping every Thursday morning. The above picture shows our group one Thursday, usually going to Ikea or the new Lulu's Hypermarket , or the Dhahran Mall. Coleman rides a different bus every day to and from school -- usually 100 minutes there, 80 minutes back.  His bus is evidently an old tourist bus, usually comfortable but a bit dusty.  The air-conditioning usually works too well.  I've ridden it with him several times, to attend business meetings at the district office. From 201010 Saudi scenes There he is, at 5:45am every morning, at the start of the bus run. Fortunately only about 20 stu...

Fleeing Trump, Americans go to Portugal

  Fleeing Trump, Americans go into exile in Portugal. “I'm afraid to go back” Not only minorities feel threatened by the Trump administration. Three couples, a mother and an academic tell us why they chose to live in Portugal. Some say: the American dream is over.      The above is today's headline article in our favorite trusted newspaper in Portugal, O Publico .  It's a centrist newspaper, owned by a big supermarket corporation.  Let's combine this with the recent news that Portugal's Air Force is now shifting away from its planned purchase of F-35 jets.  Even though Trump has not even mentioned Portugal in his various diatribes against former allies, Portugal and the rest of Europe are reeling from the attacks.  We hope it has the ironic effect of freeing Europe from American dominance and improving the chances for centrist leadership (against Trump-like parties that have been gaining prominence).  The original text follows: Em fuga de Tru...