The tired trio travel to Travancore

It’s time for the annual visit to see the wonderful work that our Indian partners are doing. This year the team is three of us – Edmund, Jute and Kath. Jute you will know; Kath is one of our faithful Strathaven supporters who has come to see the work here first hand.

Edmund came first, arriving on Tuesday and going with Philip for a few days in the Cochin area where Philip’s family live – celebrating Philip’s silver wedding anniversary with them, and seeing some of the tourist sights. It was a new part of India for him, and a very enjoyable prelude to the main purpose of the visit.

Then he was joined in the early hours of Saturday by Jute and Kath. We gave them a gentle introduction to India, with a visit to the palace in Nedumangad. Edmund had tried to visit it several times, but it had always been closed, but today – success – it was open. We spent a very enjoyable hour looking round, learning a bit about local history and culture.

Then today we visited Thanal House, where Salini, Valsala and Sanil look after 22 women who have been rescued from a life of destitution on the streets. Many of them have serious psychiatric issues. The number has reduced as Salini has been successful in reuniting a number of them with their families. But not all families want their relatives back – one had been reduced to prostitution before Salini rescued her; the family were ashamed of her, and would have nothing to do with her. Another’s family came for her, but she refused to go back to her abusive husband.

As it was a Sunday, the day started with a lovely service – all the women came and took part as much as they were able. Then there was lunch – chicken curry – and the chance to talk about how things are going. We were particularly interested in the progress made on the new toilet/washing block. The septic tanks are being lined, but there is more work to do – there is some more plumbing required, an area of floor needs to be raised so that a step meets regulations, partitions need to be higher so as to provide enough privacy, and internal doors are needed on the stalls. But they are getting there; we have been promised an estimate of the cost of finishing the work by tomorrow evening.

As the day cooled, the ladies came outside into the secure area in front of the home – sitting and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, doing exercises, playiog badminton. It was a great end to a great day.

But not quite the end. On the way back we dropped in on Shyni, Salini’s sister, who lives very close to Kalathara. She had been living in Odisha (Orissa) for several years, and it was great to catch up with her latest news – including two more children! And to give her news of Ron – he may have not been to India for more than a decade, but he has clearly made a lasting impression.

Tomorrow it’s off to see Pastor Wilson at the Neyyar Dam – a lovely spot. But now it’s time for bed.

And in case you are wondering about Tranancore – that is the old name for the southern part of Kerala, where we are.