Oma

If children are a gift from God, then so are parents.

Sheba and I have been blessed with two remarkable sets of parents.

We had the joy of a fortnight with one of them: Oma

Born in 1937. Experienced the ravages of WW2 as a girl younger to what Asha is today. Away from her parents for 3 years between the ages of 6 and 9 as the allied bombers smashed German cities to bits.

Saw the Soviets come in and loot whatever was left of the rubble. Went to school being taught the gods of Marx and Engels and Darwin. Was not allowed to study further than 8th standard because she did not join the "Free German Youth" (the propagandaist Communist youth party - which everyone had to join in order to get ahead in the 'German Democratic Republic').

Oma (Christa Roesli Fischer as she was known then) left East Germany at 18 - and once free of the Marxists (like so many of her generation - which is why the 'wall' went up) - she wanted to travel the world.

Travel she did - England, France, Spain (picking up the languages on the way). And many other countries too.

But not as she expected.

God met her in Spain. Oma rediscovered the faith that had cooled a bit since her teenage decision to follow Jesus. And follow Him she did from then on. Through 2 years in Turkey - and then out to India. There she met Ray Eicher - and hence the next gen of Eichers in India.


This year marks 50 years of Oma's living out Jesus to others. We are just so grateful for what God has done through our remarkable mother (and Asha n Enoch's amazing grannie)!

We had a rich time of celebration during Oma's time with us last month. Cookies and cakes were baked. Meal times were enjoyed with gusto. Songs were sung and special outings were made. Asha's birthday added more pomp and circumstance to the many lovely times that we had together.

Bro Jolly's mother with Oma - two amazing ladies!

Our kids just could not get enough of her. All day long it was "Oma, Oma" from all quarters.

I think back on how much I missed out on having grandparents around in my growing-up years. I only met Oma's father once - and her mother a few times before they died. My dad's parents lived longer - and I was studying in the US while they were still alive so I was able to spend a few Christmasses with them in my college years.

But what a joy to have Oma here with us.


One of the great gifts Oma brought with her is her joy of living. She loves to be alive. To experience beauty. To appreciate things. To delight in people.

Instead of being tired and despondent. Instead of counting her sorrows and fears, Oma presses on with joy. This conscious joy despite a whole new set of issues to deal with - as she said this time: "getting old is not easy - there are so many things uncertain."

Our dear Opa could not join us - due to having to supervise urgent repairs on their house Shanti Kunj in Mussoorie. So Oma did double duty - with the loving not only confined to daylight hours.

But to sleep too!


Guts nachtle, schlaft gut!