December 1983

Dear Saints and Aints

Greetings in Jesus' name from Nagpur

The Bible states somewhere that at the creation of the world the morning stars sang together for joy. Though by no means stars and, if luminaries, then certainly not above the category of “glow worms'', we do understand the joy that emanates from “creative efforts''. The rainy season past the dreadful clouds above and the even more dreadful much from below gone we are busy again with pickaxes and shovels, hammer and nails, sandpaper and brushes and a host of other assorted tools of the various trades; digging, holes, filling others, laying bricks, plastering walls, sawing, hammering, painting, plowing, reaping ... It must have been an awful lazy person who invented the myth that God designed work as a punishment. My kids, never mind how much they groan and moan when they have to do a little bit of work and, never mind how much they jump for joy whey I tell them that they can stop for the day, they are seldom happier than when they work ...

When the rains stopped around the first week of October we got ourselves organized and decided what we needed before the next rainy season. Since we are short on cash - a chronic disease - we decided to do those things first which cost the least or, preferably, no money ...

Last rainy season somebody asked me what to pray for and I told him we had no toilet and only two umbrellas between 45 of us. He prayed - for more umbrellas ... But  believing that the goodness of God will provide more than just a few umbrellas we got a 15 ‘x 10’x7’ deep septic tank pit dug - a modest token of our faith in a future toilet block. Though having dug the foundation for dormitory, but not having funds to do anything with it, we set it aside and dug the foundation for the first part of the farm complex; it is a hall 18' x 84' which should serve as a store room and also will be the home of some Jersey cows should the bank come through with the loan ... By the time this letter reaches you we’ll have started that building. Then, in anticipation of receiving a Rs.30.000 towards our irrigation system we bought a 5 hp water pump, got a 4' x 4' x 5’ water tank made and built a 9' tower on which to place it. We also built a retaining wall around the first well.

The reception in honor of Pancham and newly wedded wife Karanu, decided us to give the place a much needed "facelift". We also purchased a generator, 1.5 kw to counter the frequent power failures and put a small shed next to Rekya's place to house it. We wired it into the different rooms. We got the kitchen/store room/office block plastered, put grilles on all the windows, made shelves and big tables for the kitchen. Whitewashed the inside of what­ ever could be whitewashed and put in a new gate. The kids painted everything - and themselves and, only by the fact they moved about could the painters be distinguished from the things painted ... I did the wiring in the clinic and the new building and - got shocks from things that were connected to - noth­ing. Lights went on when you plugged in the kettle and in general I could make it do anything except - sing "Silent Night" ... All this, of course, went on with the commotion that usually accompanies all our "creative efforts". I almost jabbed my right eye out, some nails got missed - to the detriment of walls and furniture. Others, that should have been missed, got hit - to the detriment of the one who was wielding the hammer. Parts and bits of kids that got in "the way of progress" got slightly messed up. But - we had a great time.

While we were at it, the kids decided I needed a new bed since the old one, a "wedding” of two archaeological finds" broke down about once a night ... To move from a prenatal curl" to a "luxurious stretch" was always fraught with dangers. Should the "let down" occur by about 4 am I was hard pressed to actually know what was part of me and what was part of the bed ...

Apart from some "minor structural damages" to the kids due to our building and renovating efforts, we had some kids come down the mumps, two little fellows, not reacting to my "cold water and aspirin" treatment were sent to the hospital for a few days; one fellow got a thorough check up because “he felt funny" - but was not up to laughing... I received a series of rather painful penicillin shots to counteract tonsillitis and some rather deep infections on my right leg. An infection on one of my toes was the result of missing a kid and "contacting" the door frame instead ... Otherwise things are well on the Funny Farm.

Our rejoicing is however not only because we see our creative efforts taking shape but also because the coming to fruition of the "recreative efforts” of God in the life of Lekharam who, after two years of struggling within himself, accepted the Lord and requested baptism ...

During all these goings on, and especially while working with little kids, who looked everywhere but at me, and my hand, outstretched for the screwdriver or some other tool frequently remained empty - at least till I dropped a hammer close to his toe ... I realized, that's what serving God is all about, just putting into His outstretched hand the tool He requires at that moment and, when we pay attention to what He is doing, it will not be too difficult to know what that tool might be ...

Our weather is gorgeous and just cool enough to hate to get up in the morning and a little bit of hot bathing water a welcome commodity. We had a good crop of Maize and are in the process of harvesting Jowar, a grain used by poor people to make chapattis. Bujya, the man presently in charge of the farming aspect is busy getting the fields ready for sowing wheat and a variety of pulses. We have one crop of lentils coming up in about another six weeks.

Must close! Thank you again for all your love, care and concern for us and for the many gifts we have received. The PAOC office passes all your gifts on to us without deductions and with admirable speed. I am well taken care of. We are getting ready for Christmas and I am practicing to make sweets. So far we had no rejects...

Much love to you all

St. Francis and saintlets.