Life in the fast lane

Things are moving pretty fast in the lives of the Eichers.

Tomorrow we will be welcoming 23 folks from all over north India for the week-long training of trainers in HIV care through Churches. We are doing this training at the request of the Christian AIDS/HIV National Alliance (CANA). They have asked members of their 13 regional networks in North India to come and be trained here - and then go back and share what they learned. The opportunity for us to share what we know is amazing.

Yesterday night we got a call from Siliguri, West Bengal. A group of 3 from Sikkim were about to get on the train. They will arrive tomorrow evening in Thane. 2 nights and 2 full days in the train. But they are coming. And coming to learn. The stakes for us to really share our hearts out are high.

Tonight we had a meeting with 12 teachers and other volunteers for the JSK VBS. We plan to hold a 5 day children's programme for many of the children from our HIV affected families - and their neighbours. We have 80+ names of kids already - all sanctioned by their parents / guardians. The opportunity to serve the little ones is so great! Our own capacity to do so is also so limited - but that forces us to depend more on God.

Earlier today we had the interesting experience of hosting an educational legend in Mumbai. Dr. Pinto stopped by to meet us, courtesy of our old Borivili-days friend Marshal. He sat with Sheba and myself in the little doctor's cubicle where Sheba sees so many people with HIV. His mind was so amazed at what can be done in the field of health care. I asked him how many schools they are now running - Dr. Pinto said "110 all over India." Sheba asked when he was going to start one in Thane - and he replied that there was one on the way. When we asked where - he called an assistant who found out - "it will be in a place called 'Manpada.'" We all laughed. Manpada is where we are right now.

In between we celebrated Daniel's birthday - and also the birthday of Joash Pravin - who is volunteering with us for some time. Today was the last day of a 3 day exposure visit by John T. George - a 1st year med student from CMC Vellore. We did a small evaluation for him and sent him off. Late at night we stopped off at Lok Hospital to pray with Susan, Joash's mother who is suffering from severe abdominal pain. Later still we had supper. We live in a lovely apparment - but only have water for 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours at night. Since we were not back before 10 PM - which meant we were not able to fill up for tomorrow. Now to get the morning dose...

Life at full throttle. We are grateful for God's mercy upon us in so many ways!