November 2nd

We had the opportunity to talk more today with SKP about our schedule. He has a big project he wants us to work on while we are here. The project is to compile a report of sorts outlining figures and statistics about West Bengal. Much of the research has already been completed so most of our work will just be compilation of facts into a report. We are happy to be able to serve SKP in this way.

I also had the chance to sit and chat for awhile with Chiradeep (I will refer to him as CD from now on). He is the accountant here in the NF office. He is 32 years old. He has been working with the organization for over 6 years. A little less than 2 years ago he got married. He and his wife live downstairs on the ground floor of the building we are living in. They are a fun couple and we are looking forward to spending time with them in the weeks and months to come. They have graciously volunteered to take us shopping in the vegetable and meat markets so we don’t get charged an enormous “skin tax” and to show us where we can buy shirts that are big enough for me. That will be great, since I have not been able to find any on my own.

My chat with CD today was enlightening. I had the opportunity to talk about his home life a bit. Currently, his wife does not have a job. She has taken teaching courses and has applied at a few local schools but has not been contacted as of yet. So they obviously live on just his salary. I found out today that his salary for the year is about what my roundtrip plane fare was ($1500). That is what they live on. We talked about children some. He said they would like to have kids, but know that there is no way they could afford to feed a child. Not to mention their living conditions. They live in a room with a bathroom and a kitchen. A room. That is it. The twin bed that they share takes up half of the area of the room. The kitchen is about 3x3 feet. In the current location, there is no room for children. The upside to the room is that the rent is minimal because NF owns the room. If they moved to somewhere that they had room for children, the rent would drain what little funds they have so that they would not be able to afford it.

On top of all that, CD has a congenital heart condition. He has medication that he must take every day to thin his blood, he must have blood drawn every once in awhile, he must regularly visit a physician, and he must make a trip to the hospital every so often as well. All of these are added expenses that they just cannot afford. Thankfully, CD has some family members that have generously helped provide for his medical needs. Currently, he has not had to borrow money in order to pay his medical bills.

Amazingly enough, he and his wife are joyful, happy people. They both are constantly smiling, brightening the lives of all they come in contact with. They are content with their lives. They feel blessed by God. They are grateful for His provisions. Whereas most of us would bemoan our situations, they rejoice. I hope that we will be able to encourage them and help them as much as they have already inspired us. They truly are making the most of what God has given them. Sharing with others. Loving others. Caring for the poor and the needy. Seeking the lost and trying to help them. They are truly examples of Christ. It is not at all about what they don’t have, it is only what they do have: the love of Christ, that matters to them. Praise the Lord for their example to us.