Catch up from yesterday

Yea, sorry for the quick post yesterday. Gets to about 11pm here and I'm shot! Combination of the heat all day, smoke and smog in your throat and nose (!), working hard all day from early til late and lots and lots of travel..... Hey ho!

Yesterday was another busy one. Here's the headlines:

Morning: Met with a good friend of ours who is returning to his Mum's house in a small remote village in between Chennai and Bangalore. His Mum and 2 sisters live there - Dad died recently and so is 'head of the house' working in Bangalore and earning for the family.

This guy (don't want to mention his name etc) is a really good friend of ours and one of the guys who Raj led to faith and has discipled. I hope he can come to the UK next year. He is honestly one of the humblest, most servant hearted guys I know. This guy works for another good friend of ours but the business is folding (long story) and our friend is as good as out of a job. He''ll get another job as he is a real worker.....

Currently 70% of this guys salary goes home as 2 months ago his families village had bad monsoon rain and the house was demolished. His family are living in a goat barn at the moment and want to build a stronger house and have nothing. All the Mum's money goes on kids education etc. So, we thought, rather that fund/support this guy individually we would use some of the money we were given before we left to fund some of the build of the house which, in turn will mean he and family have more 'spare' cash month by month (as they will not be having to save loads each month to buy a house. Total cost of the house....wait for it....£1000 for a superb house in this village which I am told is massively poorer than the slums in the City.

We have done lots of research and 50% of the money we were given will pay for the walls and a tin roof which is a brilliant start. They will then find the funds for the rest as they have to get special tin for the roof to reflect the sun - it's the hottest part of India and so to get this good roof means no dehydration problems etc.

Because we know this guy well and trust him 100% we know this will happen and I have asked him for some pics of the before and afters for us, I had hoped to go to his family to give the money to them and explain who has given it but felt that wouldn't be the best way to do things. We will keep in touch with how the family do through this friend. Many thanks again for the cash. What a privilege it is to give eh?? What will £500 do in the UK and those that gave before went have housed a family of 4 for life!!

Lunchtime: Met with Raj and 2 Aussies called Edward and Vicky that Raj had been asked to show round Bangalore.They are in Bangalore for 4 days having only got together in January 08 (known each other for 9 years) and then got married 4 weeks ago! For their honeymoon they are travelling to 9 countries to see where they want to settle and work for the future. Possibly giving up homes and jobs etc. Talk about surf the waves eh??!! Really nice couple who I think we will stay in touch with in the future.

The other lady in the pic is their Indian contact. Mum of a girl who Ed and Vicky know in Aus??

Afternoon: Spent all afternoon with Nadu (Raj's worker). Talking to him about how he would start to write reports, keep the office in order, do the accounts, keep inventories all all the climbing kit etc etc. We have now worked with nandu to have a semi regular working week (something that just doesn't happen out here) so he can start to plan and know what he is doing.

If Nandu follows this (and I am sure he will) you won't believe the difference this will make to how the Trust functions I feel as at present very little is recorded or reported.

Evening: Chilled and cooked the kids sausages and mash and tommy sauce - yum!!! Sweet potatoes are great!