aakankshaS, Aarti, aaryaT, Abi, ajay.gang. akhila, alan.fly, alfredo, amritaS, anagha, Aneri, anilaV, aninditaS, anishaA, anjuM, ankitaG, ankitaT, antaraT, anupamaA, anushaK, aparajitaG, apoorvaK, apurvaD, arshiaK, ashikaM,
biancaP, biniS,
Candice, Carissa, Carl, Charmaine, claudette, Cynara,
Dasyl, deepaSom, devenC, divyaD, durga,
Evarist, geetaC, gautami,
Habiba, hima, ishaS,
jahnaviDS, jillannA, joseLuis, juliaJ, JyotsnaM,
ketakiS, Kezzy, kiera, kimM,
leaC, lizannF,
maherraK, manasviB, manasviS, manavikaP, maneeshaP, mariaSh, marisaD, mayuri, meeraA, melanie, michelleF, Mishka,
namrataS, nanda, nanditaP, navya, nehaB, nishi, Oscar,
PatR, Poonam, preranaMan,
Rakhee, rashmiR, renitaF, renukaR, rheaC, rheaPD, richikaP, roshanBala, roshniM, rosieD, ruchiP, rutujaP,
Sakshi, salim, saloniB, saloniD, Sanchari, shalmaliK, shalmaliS, sharvareeJ, Shireen, shonali, Shrada, shriyaP, Siddheshwari, siddhiA, smritiA, snehaK, soniaJ, subashini, sujataS, swapneilP, swethaA,
tanyaM, tess, Thaiza, Trinolda,
Urvija, utshaM,
Valerie, veera , vibhs,
wendyC, yashwardhan,
zaver, zeniaA,
My dear
Catching up with breaking news from my side!!
IT’S FINALLY ON !! And the enthusiastic group set off on Sunday, 27th .
The 10 day, 2012 SSL manual work rural camp is on!
We went through a long process of searching for a suitable place and meeting with difficulties about timing and work and other obstacles.
Then there was my health that was not too good… so my own taking the camp was uncertain.
We almost called it off!
However, little by little things began to fall into place….like they always do!
One of our staff members (Prof. Aggie Menezes) who has had some experience of camps and related activities, graciously volunteered to take it. A suitable place was found and all is in order..
I myself did not join them when they left. I had to go for two check-ups with doctors this week. Done that. Medication continues for a back pain and that persistent cough for two more weeks.
I shall probably join the camp on Saturday/Sunday.
I am looking forward to it, really! And yes, I shall be careful and control my irresistible urge to show-off and overwork! In the over-concerned mood they are in just now I will be lucky if they allow me to brush my own teeth!!
The campsite is a 50 acre farm at Mahad about 175 kms from Mumbai. Manual work is inside the farm and there is the possibility of visiting the Katkari villages around with the nuns who work and run projects in that area.
Here’s a picture of a part of the farm.
Thick green hills in the near background (a river skirts two sides of the farm), rice fields and mango trees and cattle and poultry and other farm things.
In the picture, symbolically sticking its shoulders and head way above the green thick foliage of trees around it, is a possibly near dead tree making a statement to the world about perseverance and survival and thrusting for the skies however bent and twisted one might have become because of challenges one might have had to face right through life.
We can learn so much from trees about how best to optimise our own living. And there will be lots of learning and growing up for all of the campers during these 10 days at Mahad.
The preparations for the camp went off fairly well: registration/orientation/Bus bookings/ getting the tools ready/kitchen utensils and accessories/electric wirings, bulbs, fittings/ provisions/medical supplies.. and loads of other big and small things.
Water and electricity and staying conditions there are good so less worry for me.
And the support and encouragement from there (Bro. Samuel particularly) is really comforting.
Regardless of all that, I shall intensify my prayers and keep my fingers crossed until camp is over and everyone has returned safe and sound and tanned…….and much enriched because of the experience!
Otherwise the college has just begun the Diwali vacations. The last of the term exams are over
and the college precincts are getting to be strangely quiet and empty… like a seasonal autumn in academia.
Thankfully there are other things to do for all of us and life will continue as graciously as we want it to.
I continue looking forward…
You do that to… and many blessings to you on all of your horizons!
Take care. Lots of love, Terry