2011-08-05: Kolkata Daily Digest – Faversham Baptist Church

06.30 This is the @favbap Team in Kolkata visiting @BMSWorldMission partners. It’s our last full day in the city. Day 13. #
Later we will be going out with Big Life Ministries again. Before that we will lead staff prayers, meet Pastor Asis, and pack. #
08.15 More washing done. Now to prepare a bit for BMS staff prayers. #
10.30 It was good to spend time with the staff on our last day, worshipping and praying together. #
We’ve left some shortbread for them to share out as a thank you. #
Some of the Team have some last minute shopping to do, others are getting odd jobs done. We are all getting packed . . . #
. . . as we have a busy afternoon and evening. Pastor Benjamin is downstairs leading a Pastor’s training session. #
10.50 Pastor Asis has just popped in for a quick chat. #
11.25 Right, I must now pack the case! #
13.00 Lunch time. #
13.40 Waiting for the guys from Big Life. We’ll be going out with them again this afternoon to a village in South 24 Parganas (I think). #
14.20 Still waiting for the Big Life Team (who are still eating). Just been talking with the Secretary of the Bengal Baptist Union. #
14.40 And we’re off at al last! #
14.50 Working our way through typical heavy Kolkata traffic. Steve has been whisked off on the back of a motorbike. #
15.00 Just passed Steve. He hasn’t fallen off yet. #
15.30 The journey continues. They are resurfacing the road here. Not a traffic cone in sight. #
15.50 We are now in a much more rural area. Very green. Narrow roads. Debbie is worried about the excessive amount of bindweed. #
Goats, sheep, lambs, chickens, ducks, dogs, cows, geese. All in the road. Very slow progress. #
16.10 We have arrived. #
16.35 Playing games with the villagers. #
Now the Big Life evangelist is preaching. There must be a couple of hundred people here. #
17.10 Just off now to visit some homes. #
18.20 In two groups the Team has been welcomed into the homes of villagers, drinking chai and talking. #
Now we’ve regrouped at the car and are about to embark on the journey back to BMS. #
18.35 Not a good start to the journey. We can’t cross the train track so we’re taking another (very narrow and bumpy) route. #
19.00 It’s very busy in Baruipur tonight. #
19.15 Just passed a Hindu procession with much chanting, flowers and bells. #
19.35 Coming back into the city now. #
19.50 Sitting in traffic. #
20.00 Two very near misses in the car. Driving at night in Kolkata is not for the fainthearted. #
20.15 Arriving back at BMS. #
20.40 Final Team Time coming up . . . last few hours in India, reflections and resolutions. #
21.25 We need to be up at 5am tomorrow morning ready for the long journey home. The team is winding down and heading for bed. #