Started the day early with a great breakfast. Lots of different tastes. I am glad that the food does not allow piglrims to completely miss the Indian foods, but there is enough familiar food to ensure no one goes hungry.
Berenice, Mark from Riverview and I headed out to the Don Bosci Ashalayaam which is a new service area for us and found a wonderful organisation being adminisitered by inspired leaders, giving abandoned railway children love and family experience.
Young children are given the opportunity to come to the shelters where they are, over time and as trust builds, given an education and a trade. When they leave at the age of 18, they can have emmased a sizable sum, they can be further assisted in housing, employment, land and marriage.
The trades that are taught at the main centre included carpendary, Welding, Driving, Tailoring and Baking while skills beading, book binding and card art
We returned via 2 more of the shelters in suburbs closer to train stations - these teach air conditioning, knitting and beauty parlour skills.
We hope to send 8 pilgrims and 2 staff to the main rehabilitation centre to assist where possible, and learn ourselves of the work that his being done there.
After lunch back at the hotel (another sensational meal!) we walked as a group though the streets to the Mother House where we spent the afternoon visiting Mother Terasa's tomb, a Museum that is dedicated to her life and the seeing and learning about the current Sisters of Mercy.
The walk itself was 40 mins each way and was fascinating, allowing us to experience some of the street culture.
After dinner we listened to an Australian, Rod who runs a clinic on Kolkata Railway station and in a number of villages. He was an inspiring man with a great message and we hope to assist him while we are here. The vitamins, toothpaste etc that we brought are for his project.
Our day finished with reflection and journaling.
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