'Kaleidoscope of sights and sound' (From Gazette Series)

'Kaleidoscope of sights and sound'

A GROUP of Christians from several churches in Wotton-under-Edge has returned from a trip to Dornakal, South India. Members were representing the diocese of Gloucester which is partnered with the area around Dornakal in Andra Pradesh. The group's aim was to assist at the Pam Shriver School for Deaf Children. Sue Marsland, from Wotton United Church, wrote the following account of the experience:

THE BISHOP'S compound in Dornakal is almost the size of a small village with seven hostels for children, three schools, a hospital and Bible college - all clustered around Epiphany Cathedral.

It was instantly apparent the hostel repairs were incomplete, and plans had to be changed - the bishop soon found work for idle hands.

The team was split into five groups and dispatched to the 'out-stations'- we bid each other farewell and set off into the unknown.

But three days later we all bubbled with excitement as we shared our experiences.

We had been greeted with banners, flowers, music and more kindness than we deserved.

We had all shared in worship in small churches decorated with tinsel and flowers and bursting with the vibrant colours of the women's saris.

Work days then took on a pattern. Some did decorating at the Pam Shriver School for Deaf Children, which has made a link with Blue Coat Primary School in Wotton, while others led assemblies and did craft work with the children.

Wearing their pristine pink uniforms with neat glossy black hair, the children greeted us with hand signals and radiant smiles.

Games time was a noisy, joyful time as we introduced them to the games our children play: hopscotch, tag, tunnel ball and basketball - the boys were already skilful cricketers.

At the end of our stay we gave them all a party with hats, gifts and goodie bags and we played games they had never seen before like Pass the Parcel.

Despite their audio difficulties we were deafened by their exuberance.

Our accommodation was basic (an understatement) but we adapted and compromised. We were served plenty of good nourishing food but just how many ways can you serve rice?!

There are not enough words to sum up our memories but here are a few: hooting trains, honking motorbikes, white cows, black pigs, chickens, bicycles, yellow autoricks, swaying bullock carts, children singing, fragrant flowers, beaming smiles, red hair ribbons, chattering monkeys, buzzing mosquitoes and dark power cuts.

India is a rich kaleidoscope of sights and sounds which is unforgettable. The people we met have very little but they gave us their all in terms of generous hospitality and kindness.

We hope that we were able to encourage and inspire the leaders and teachers in the small corner of the Dornakal Diocese we saw, but the team felt that we received far more than we gave.

To be continued next week