A break

It is the last weekend before the end of term. I have been tidying and getting ready for teen-group today. There is one more week to go before the summer holidays and more than ever do I feel the need for a break.
Yet, there is so much to do. At half past seven this morning a local believer came by to ask for a loan. She wants to buy a goat-kid and raise it so that in nine months time she can have more kids (goats) and start moving out of poverty.
The way out of dependency is long and filled with risks; a goat is so easy to steal, and so easy for her husband or son to sell if they need a little money. It has to be cared for almost like a child and all of that just so that the family has a little more food - in nine months time.
Twenty five years ago some poor families were given a piece of land to live on. It wasn't clear to everybody who the land belonged to or what right they had to be there – or perhaps it was - but today, these families live on land that is worth millions of taka and yet remain poor because they can't come to an agreement with the legal owner - a church - about who has the Right to the land.
Twenty five years ago it was a good gift that someone gave these poor families, today they are no better of because somewhere during these years they decided they wanted all the land for themselves; and the church decided it wanted it back.
I know these two aren't related, except for that they are part of poverty, but it is with fear and trembling that I give a loan (US$ 10, GB£ 5 or DKK 50) to someone so that she can buy a goat. Not that I doubt her intentions, not that I doubt her need, but I sincerely doubt that poverty will concede defeat and give her the break she so sorely needs.
May God have mercy upon her.

Surrender

This morning I read an email informing us that one potential teacher candidate wasn’t going to come teach at LAMB School. I felt like giving up and wondered whether I had misunderstood God’s plan for us. I was wondering about times when I hadn’t searched God’s will as it seemed like He was telling us O Levels weren’t going to happen. As I entered the school grounds, I surrendered it and our future into God’s hands and prayed for the students who had been hoping to do their O Levels here. Before lunch one person offered to teach two subjects and suggested another teacher for a third. I still don’t know how God will provide someone to teach Physics, Chemistry and Biology but I know it is in His hands. Thank you God and thank you readers for your prayers.

Reasons why

His opening remark yesterday was, “If you raise the monthly fee, I can’t pay it.” My reply was, “That sounds like blackmail.” I calmed down after that and started to listen.

By some mistake the finance department had charged a fee this parent wasn’t supposed to pay – probably my mistake. I assured him the mistake would be corrected and he was greatly relieved. He then went on to tell me about how he no longer was able to buy meat or even eggs for his children, how he hadn’t been able to buy them any fruit this season and how – having taken an advance to pay the older brother’s school fees at a different school meant he wouldn’t get any money this month. The extra fee we had charged meant his advance wasn’t going to be paid back until next month.

As I listened I went through regret, shame and then joy. Regret and shame at my initial reaction and then joy; Here is a father, who has put all his money into the education of his children, whose wife endures living in a lean-to up against her brother’s brick house so that they can send their children to school. Now the oldest daughter has her tenth grade diploma, the oldest son is a star ninth grader in another private school and the youngest is possibly the best in grade 1 at LAMB School.

What a privilege and joy that we can be a part of helping this family by educating one of their children.

Garu gari

It has been years since I last saw a real live ox cart in Bangladesh. This one, unlike more modern versions, has wooden wheels as opposed to car wheels and is pulled by cows rather than by water buffaloes. When this specimen passed by on the road where I live I had to get my camera and take a picture of what is fast becoming an extinct means of transportation.