Henry, my host, belongs to the Cricket Club, not that he plays, but uses the facilities for eating out, the
swimming pool and other extras. We enjoyed two meals in the Coffee Lounge area.
Sunday, following the service, we all went for a New Year's Day happening and birthday party for Imogen
one of the Harris girls.
This was in the home of a family who live close to a Country Park in the outer areas of Hong Kong. After
lunch, to keep us all awake we were taken out for a vigorous walk along the shore of the nearby Tolo Harbor.
Monday morning found me up early at 05.00 to reach the station at 0.600 book my luggage and get the
boarding pass. I was concerned as officially the baggage allowance was going down from 2x32 kgs to 20kg. Thankfully they
accepted my bag at 22.5 kg and asked no questions about the balance. I had come to HKG with 38.5 kgs.
The flight from HKG to Bangkok was not very full but loaded with vacationing Indians the sector Bangkok to
Chennai had barely an empty seat. The man next to me downing as many whisky and sodas as the hostess would offer him.
The local contact in Chennai is Julie Simeon, a Surrey Canadian who found faith, joined YWAM, went to
Indian and married a local Tamil man Sudhakhar.
They have a daughter, Celeste, who is 10. I have brought Christmas presents from Julies' parents in Surrey so lots of
excitement there. I am spending some time going to a Dentist to get a new upper plate made. The present troubles began by
losing another important tooth when visiting Yvonne in Oct. Getting to the dentist involves a daily rickshaw ride at 18.00 as
the Dentist teaches during the day practicing at night. A common practice of many who in effect have two jobs. They gross
acceptable incomes but in reality put in a lot of hard work to realize them.
Julie and Sudhakhar are involved in Slum relief work and other ministries of mercy. YWAM comes through
as a modern day Salvation Army. The work in the past has depended heavily on low level foreign support. 9/11 has had a
profound effect in the US drying up donations and diverting resources into more internal concerns. It is a major struggle to
encourage Indian workers to seek a support base within India learning the dynamics of building a network, feeding back
information and encouraging interest in local ministries as well as building confidence through dedicated ministry. Weaning
has always been a process involving diligence whether it be a baby or a ministry.
Sudhakhar as gone off on is motor bike driving to Hyderabad for a conference. Riding the bike a type of
therapy taking him out of the rush of phone calls and other admin chores that makes up the day in Chennai. He says it affords
opportunity to think, pray, worship and engage. A type of Sabbath!
Since the Tsunami of last year a new dimension of outreach has been added. The tragedy of the tsunami
has brought into sharper relief already existing challenges. The sea areas have been fished out with over use much as the
cod and salmon fisheries in Canada. The boats furnished by donors are smaller, there is demand for bigger trawlers to go out
even further. Land for housing is not available even when there are resources to build better homes. Many of the old homes
were right on the sea shore, had no hygiene, were of very poor quality. To replace them with modern housing is a task.
Hindustan Bible Institute (HBI)
