I Was Wrong

The evening didn't begin with marigold garlands. It began with another traditional presentation of a beaded necklace with red pompons. We have quite a collection of those too!

We met with the Mary and Martha Circle. This is a group of widows. Widows are frequently mistreated and have difficulties in India. This group meets every other week to talk and pray and fellowship together. Mamma Pushpa tries to see what needs they have and tries to help them as much as possible.

They started the evening with a game. The Emcee named an occasion they have for singing a special song like birthdays, baptism, illness, etc. The first one to stand and sing the song gets prize. The prizes were small, practical items -- toothpaste and brushes, combs, rulers, erasers.

Then came a devotion. I shared with the group and Pushpa translated. Then came birthday celebration time. They were celebrating all Sept and Oct birthdays. To each of these women I got to present a new shawl. Mike told Pushpa I am an October birthday too. I wasn't going to mention it. They sang Happy Birthday, then cut the cake. This is where it got different. They cut teeny tiny pieces of cake and then all the birthday girls fed the pieces to each other.

Before we left, they gave us gifts. I received a beautiful shawl which I tried only semi-successfully to drape in Indian style. The men received a small flashlight (really bright ) plus a small zipper bag.

Then home to eat and head to bed.

Prayer request: David and Sheela's daughter Shiney is here from the US. She and her 17 mo old son Elijah have been here for just a few days. Shiney is marries to one of the minists at the same church Lito is at. She found out the day before coming here that she is pregnant. Her husband Tommy is still in the States, but scheduled to arrive this coming week with a team from his church. Anyway, Shiney is having trouble with this pregnancy with spotting and has been put to bed with bed rest. She's required IVs and mess. It has to be hard for her to be away from her husband, have a toddler, and then have to worry about a possible miscarriage. It has to be tough on her mom as well, because Sheela has us to deal with too! Davidnhad to leave town last night, so the whole load is on Sheela. Pray for all of them -- Shiney, Tommy (husband), Sheela, and David.

Addendum: Shiney has lost the baby. Surgery this evening. David's flight to meet up with the team with Shineys husband was cancelled and he can't get another. ALL the teams plans have to change. Instead of going North where Shiney and Tommy, her husband, want to work, they will come to Damoh. That will be better for Shiney. She needs Tommy right now. Satan is trying to work. Pray.

I have more to say, but electricity is so iffy, I need to get this posted and get my iPad charged while it's possible. There should be a couple new posts by day end.

Nameste.

Jacque