Today we attended the Tribal Awards Ceremony at St. Michael's School. Saw dances from the Santali, Boro, Orao and Mundi tribes who are part of the diocese. In addition to recognizing the work which the tribes do they also gave a literary and a social work award to two persons who exemplify those two areas. The gathering had many powerful moments. The respect among the peoples here is exemplary.

Deacon Ann spoke on behalf of the gentleman who received the social work award and gave moving thanks for his work among the tribes.

Tonight we participate in a cultural festival and then dinner at St. Michael's.

Tomorrow is the Annual Thanksgiving Service with some 3000+ persons gathering under a large tent. Some folks have traveled 3 days over very challenging roads to be here. And we moan if there is a little snow on the ground!

Todd Donatelli

On Thursday we visited St. Michael's School which is next to the diocesan center. It is a school of 3000+ students grades k-12. Being a private school, families who send their children here are mainly middle class and above. In recent years the school has created scholarships for children of the hostel at the diocesan center. The principle lead us through many classrooms and to a Physical Training Class (our P.E.). Students have PTC every day. I observed no overweight children here.

In the afternoon we were back at the hostel with the children in their various classes and the after school program. A highlight of the evening was a presentation of knitted shawls which knitters from St. Phillip's Brevard had made for each of the children who live in the hostel. While knitting the shawls the knitters prayed for the child who would receive it. Each child came forward one by one to receive their shawl. They would immediately wrap themselves in it and flash a large smile to their fellow students.

Two our our group went to a micro enterprise work supported by Episcopal Relief and Development. Sallie Hart, one of the visitors will be bloginging about this visit.

Today part of the group joined the clergy from Durgapur for a clergy retreat. We talked about prayer ministry, The Order of St. Luke and remaining fresh in our ministries. These are amazing clergy with deep passion for what they do.

The others in our group toured various neighborhoods of Durgapur.

The Companion Diocese Committee of Durgapur invited us to their regular meeting this evening. Each of us was invited to reflect both on our visit and our relationship as companions. Comments both by folks from WNC and from Durgapur were very moving. This relationship has grown over the six years to be one of mutual respect and learning. The level of works being done by this diocese in schools, new churches, health and economic support is strong. We are heartened by what we are seeing and learning from our companions here.

We continue to appreciate your prayers.

Todd Donatelli

Wednesday

We spent Tuesday morning participating in the "Founder's Day" service at St. Stephen's School. It's headmaster, Danny Thomas, was part of the first group from Durgapur to visit WNC. The school enrolls 1800 students and Founders Day marks the end of the term. The second half of the service consisted of six dances done by students of varying grade levels. The dances reflected the unique cultural aspects of the different regions of India. Wonderful choreography was enhanced by vibrant clothing reflective of the various regions. One dance enacted a common Indian wedding ceremony. Upon the conclusion of the dance done by elementary grade students, the headmaster congratulated them on being married. The young couple looked a bit worried. We were again the honored guests receiving recognition and gifts from the school.

Tuesday afternoon provided an opportunity to tour the diocesan school and compound. We observed the students in their classrooms and in the after school program. The after school program is a time for the students to dance, play cricket, soccer and other outside activities. Having never played soccer with any seriousness before this trip, the young boys insisted I learn how to do a header. I have now learned that headers are most effective when not utilizing one's nose. They have not yet invited me to play cricket.

Wednesday began with a trip to the Ashram of Rabindranath Tagore, the Bengali Nobel Prize winning poet. The arts based school includes many outside classrooms on its campus as Tagore believed we learned best when most connected to nature. The campus is filled with many beautiful works of art.

Before returning to the diocesan compound we stopped at the Amar Kutir Development Center where we were able to observe persons engaged in weaving, dying, and leather working and able to purchase items made by these persons.

We returned to the compound in time for the after school program and more dancing, soccer and cricket.

We continue to appreciate your prayer and support of this sojourn.

Todd Donatelli

Incredible India





Two hours after arriving in Dehli we traveled by bus to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, traveling 4-5 hours each way. It is the best way to see the countryside, passing by through the window, honking all the way alongside bicycles, rickshaws, autorickshaws, cars, taxis, buses and cargo trucks. We ate lunch at MacDonalds (a beef-less menu) and a nice Indian dinner with rice, chicken, fish, naan, and fresh lime soda. We saw camels, elephants, pigs, ox, cows, egrets, peacocks, snakes and their charmers, goats, monkeys in outfits on leashes and several other species of birds. Friday we went sightseeing in Dehli, including Indria Gandi's Memorial, the Lotus Temple, the Red Fort, shopping, and dinner at the headquarters of the Church of North India.



We continued on to Kolkata by plane, visited Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Mercy and then to a large market where bargaining only got you out of a percentage of the white people tax. We had dinner on an old dining railcar called Ontrack, where Bishop was friends with the cook. Sunday we woke to a quiet city and traveled south, again by bus, to attend a church service blessing the ground for a new church site in a small shrimp village. They constructed a magnificent tent for the service and we were seated in front on the stage, adorned with flowers and ribbons, as the honored guests. We presented a couple hundred sari's collected by other churches to give to the people there, and blessed and gifted 10 new wheelchairs. Dr. Mike also saw patients. This area was built up by the Diocese of Durgapur and the Epsicopal Relief and Development after a cyclone did some serious damage. Since there are now Christians in the area, Bishop Dutta expects to build a church there in the next 6 months to a year.



We then traveled south to Dinga, a coastal village where they make ships and boats. We spent several hours walking the beach as the sun melted into the smog of colors. It was the first real sleep since arriving. In true Indian fashion, we again loaded the bus and all our luggage to Durgapur. We experienced some traffic jams and saw the rest of India on the way. Thank you for your prayers, for our driver had all sorts of watching over us. Nine bumpy hours later we arrived on the campus of the Diocese of Durgapur, where the Dalias are the size of my head and the children explode with laugher, dancing, and a warm welcome. We are home, for now.



With deep love and gratitude,

Sallie

The Cathedral under construction, Feb 2011: Dicocese of Durgapur

As the largest team EVER going to India prepares, we are watching the weather channel hoping that our flight from Atlanta tomorrow evening at 6:30 pm isn't affected. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel from The Cathedral to Atlanta in the Church of the Advocate/Cathedral van, then fly from Atlanta to Frankfurt Germany, then to New Delhi, India. After 4 days in New Delhi we will fly to Calcutta and then drive 2.5 hours to the City of Durgpur in which the Bishop's compound resides.

Going on this trip are:

Shawnee Irwin, Jennifer LaForenza and Annie Fritschner, from St. Philip's, Brevard

Millie Elmore, Sallie Hart, Rosemary Sells and Todd Donatelli, Dean of the Cathedral from All Souls

Kay Covode, Carolyn Cline-Griffiths, and Anne Mitchell from Good Shepherd, Hayesville;

Tanya Blackford from Mainstay Domestic Violence Prevention agency in Henderson County and Jeanne and Mike Sabback from Charleston who have been there more than twice and who help supply and work in the Good Shepherd Clinic on the Durgapur Campus.

Dr. Mike and Jeanne, Kay, Carolyn, Anne and Annie will be a part of the Healing Team and Shawnee, Tanya, Sallie, Jennifer, Rosemary and Millie will work with the Women and Children as well as the Daughters of the King chapter and Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Christians comprise about 2% of India's population and the Church of North India has been growing under the Right Reverend Probal Kanto Dutta's leadership of providing food, housing, education, clothing, employment and social services first, then inviting folks into the mysteries of Christ. The Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, February 6th will be a celebration of 3,000+ people from all over the world, including folks who will ride a bus, walk and ride a bike for hundreds of miles in order to participate in this annual celebration.

We will keep the blog going on a daily basis (if the electricty is working) after we arrive and will upload what photos we can. Our excitement to see our old friends, make new ones, serve the Living God and learn more about ourselves GROWS! Hope you'll keep in touch.