March 1986

Dear Saints

Greetings in Jesus' name from Nagpur.

It is too beautiful a day to feel anything but glad. From my window I can see the trees moving in the breeze. A few flowers: Roses, hollyhocks and one unknown yellow plant nestled among them give the odd spot of color. Patches of lazy floating clouds are bumping into one another building up to a thunderhead. Tonight it might rain: the pitter - patter of rain drops falling on the roof is as good a lullaby as any. Occasionally I wake up with my room brilliantly lit up by a flash of lighting and I wonder if St. Gabriel has come to pick me up for the homeward journey.

My window not only gives me visual access to the trees and shrubs and flowers but also to the playground just beyond them. It is an access which I especially cherish during the late afternoons when almost all the kids are home and, making use of the free time they have till the bell calls them to "general clean-up" and studies, fill the playground with laughter and that commotion which accompanies any bunch of happy kids at play.

Right now I see the odd kid walking by my window dragging dried up flowers along, the first casualties of the approaching summer. From now on till the rainy season gardening is just a matter of keeping things alive ... Yet it is amazing that after the first drops of rain the earth again abounds with greenery and blooms and, seemingly forgetting all the hardships and despair, laughs up into a grey threatening sky - which has become its friend.

Maybe we should learn from that. Maybe we should learn that the dark threatening things which, seemingly, have the power to hurt and to bring us to the edge of despair – are really our friends, are sent for our refreshing ... All this to say that for a while it looked as if I might be refused an extension to my visa and would have to leave India within 7-10 days upon getting such a notice. I, of course, do believe that "the heavens do reign" and that prayer changes things. But at the same time I wouldn’t think much of the farmer who prays for a good crop and does nothing to bring it about, nor of the man who sets his mustache on fire and then sits down and prays for rain.

Like Nehemiah of old I pray for favor in the sight of the Man in Power and then do my best to secure that favor. I am delighted to say that I have many many Indian friends who are praying and are trying to help. Through the help of some of these friends, I was able to meet the minister of Finance and Protocol who has granted me the three months extension and promised to look into the rest i.e. a residential permit or citizenship.

The team from Abbottsford has come and gone. The school is too big and the task force was too small and limited in their period of stay, but they helped in various ways and we are grateful for their coming. When I asked the staff whom they would want in case I can not stay, they, without reservation or hesitation, said, "Owen Black". His desire to accomplish something and his interest in the work made a good impression on the kids. So of course did the other people who come along.

Life around our place is governed, to a large degree, by the academic year and right now - the exams are again just around the corner ... That I still have a happy, laughing, playing bunch of kids is solely due to most people's "to-cross-a-bridge-when-they-get-there" attitude which my kids, to a lesser or greater degree, adhere to.

Due to the kindness of a number of friends, represented individually or in groups, we now have a metal box for each one of the kids. We purchased about 75 towels, got bedding for all the kids but pray for one extra blanket each for next winter. Our women, the wives of the boys, are knitting sweaters for the coming winter, for the kids. World Vision's parting gift to us was knitting machine for which, like for all things, we are grateful. We have so far 28 new cycles and a number of school bags.

The task force brought, besides clothing and tools a number of other very useful items. By the time this letter gets to you we should have the big hall plastered and put the concrete slab on the school building. We completed a water tower, a rabbit hutch and an addition to my place. Now we are working on a cycle stand. Work wise it was definitely a fruitful time. We also received the news that the money for the printing of the Mawchi N. T. and a short booklet is available. Now we have to figure out the best way of getting that to the press. I am tired of thinking about it all ...

The supper bell is about to go off at any minute and I do want to bring this to an end WHILE IT IS YET TODAY ...

The computer is a marvelous thing and I but wish that the rambling of an illiterate could be corrected too but - let us not get too perfect ...

(Remember the definition of a perfectionist? “Somebody who takes great pains and – gives it to others ... ).

The other thing he computer can't do is EXPERIENCE gratefulness. I can and do except I always find trouble in EXPRESSING it. So, forgive me when I simply say THANX! MANY, MANY THANX for your kindness towards is expressed so exquisitely through your prayers and financial help.

In His Great Love

Frank & Kids!