Trip to Thrissur

With our train leaving at 6:15 it was a rather early taxi ride to the Bangalore train station.  We found our 2nd class seats ok, and then said to each other that we now appreciate Ukrainian trains...
With 10 hours ahead of us, we entertained oursleves with reading, sleeping and playign cards.  The scenery along the way was mainly small towns and farms.  It was interesting to see the different crops, including rice paddies, which I had never seen before.  There were also a few interesting rock formations and mountains we went past or over.

We arrived at 15:15 and it wasnt hard to find the other white fave who was meeting us.  After a short taxi ride we arrived at Rehoboth.
Phyllis Treasure greeted us -- she has been working there for 53 years and was the person who first planted the seed in my heart 20 years ago when I was 11.
After a cup of tea, we were taken for a tour, which started with the Bible School.  This has been going for about 8 years and now has about 80 students.  They were preparing for a sports day by making a cricket pitch and slashing grass.  Jon joined them for their daily game of volleyball before we headed back to the house for dinner -- curry and rice!
Every evening they have prayers at 7:30 and if there are visitors it is a bit more special.  As we arrived the girls were all sitting on the floor and singing.  It sounded beautiful.  We were invited to sit at the front, and introduced and then presented a beautiful fresh lei to wear.  Jon taught them a few songs, I shared why we had come, they prayed and then no one wanted to leave so Jon did some more songs with them.
We then had a good chat with Phyllis and Sarah over a cup of tea before a much needed sleep.
Next day we were down for breakfast at 8, which was a flat rice bread/crepe called "up em" with short sweet bananas.  Tasted yummy.
We then went back to the Bible school were we spent the morning in 2 different classes talking to them about our journey, listening to some of their testimonies, singing etc.  We then finished off there taking an assembly for the whole school, again with a few songs and both Jon & I sharing.
Back down to the house for lunch -- curry and rice, before we went to the primary school for the afternoon.  Jon took a year 2-3 class for music, then I took a year 4-5 class for sport.  We then got shown around the rest of the school and met most of the teachers.

Going back to the house we lay down for a rest and promptly fell asleep.
We then spent about an hour at the orphanage playing with the children and seeing around.
Then dinner and prayers with the older girls.  Which was again a few songs, I shared a story and Jon prayed for them.  We then only had time for a cup of tea and farewells to everyone before we were driven to the train station to get our overnight train.
Such an inspiring trip, to be able to fulfill the dream that God placed in my heart 20 years ago and also just to hear the testimony and witness the faith of how God is at work in that place.  It was very encouraging to hear their big dreams and visions.  We want to keep in touch and partner with them in prayer and any other ways that may be possible.

Trip to Thrissur