Blest be the Tie That Binds

Beloved  ladies, while  we  are waiting  for   our  precious  cargo  to  arrive  at  its  intended  destination, let   me  share with you  what  has  been  happening  in  my  little   patch  of earth.

Today we  had  several visitors. First  of  all  came  Mr  Panday who  was  my  Dad 's  colleague  and  very  dear friend. Panday Uncle  is  a  Hindu but  has great  respect  and appreciation for  the  Lord. His  visit  invoked  so  many  memories  and  I  imagined  my Dad  sitting  there  next  to  him  on  the  couch.

Just  after  he  left came  a  group  of  young  people. Two  of  them  , Barun and  Benalin  are  missionaries among  college  students (like  Inter Varsity  workers) and  the other   two  are a newly  married  couple  working at  a  Christian University.

We  had  sweet  fellowship together. Mama   and  Aunt  Maya  (mother 's  widowed  sister in law) who  is  visiting  us,  dug  into  old  memories.., and recalled   anecdotes. Aunt  Maya  who  is  a  good Bible  teacher related  several short  stories  illustrating  Bible  principles  which we   all  enjoyed.
In the photo above   (seated  Mama  and Aunt  Maya)
(back row) Ameeta & Indraish, Benalin , Barun)

Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds
Our  hearts  in  Christian  love
The  fellowship of  kindred  minds
Is like to  that  above.

Aunt  Maya is  currently  living  like  a  displaced   person. She had  to  vacate  the  little  flat (apartment) in which she  was  living. Having  no  where to  go  she has stored   her  stuff in various  places including  my  store room. Her  married  son and  daughter with their  families live  in the  city. They are  all  looking   for  a  rented   apartment  close  to  their  homes because  Aunt  Maya 's  health   is  very fragile  and  she  has   several  medical  problems and  allergies. She  cannot  afford  an expensive  house too. So she  has   many  parameters  to  consider  before  renting a place. Her  son and daughter  have  opened  their   homes  to  her and she 's  lived   with  them  for  short  periods  of  time.
But  she  feels  cramped and  uncomfortable  in  their  small  apartments - their  active and  busy  lifestyle leaves her  at  a loss. They are  all  good Christians.

She  used  to  come  and  spend  short  holidays  with  us when she  was not  too  sick  and  again she  expressed   a  desire  to  come  and  live  with us  till  she  finds  an  apartment, maybe one  or  two months. She says she  feels  more   comfortable  living  with  us than her  own children , although  they  are  very kind and  caring, she  doesn' t  feel  free in  their   homes  like she  does  in  ours.

I  could  not  turn her  away, although  it  will  put  me in a  tight  spot in  various  areas. We have  dedicated  our  humble  home  as  a haven of  rest,  shelter  and  succor for people  who need it. And since  my  childhood I have seen  my  family  do  this - no  matter  how hard  it  was.
Please pray  for this and  also for Aunt  Maya  to  find  suitable housing.

These   flowers are  blooming in a  corner of the  rose  patch. Can  anyone tell  me  what they  are. We  didn 't  plant  them.

My  mother wanted me to post a

photo of  our  mangoes.

I wish  I could  send  a  basketful  to each

of  you dear  sisters.

Let  me  end  with a poem by Patience  Strong.

CHILDREN OF LIGHT

The radiance of the  hidden Christ,

illuminates  the  loving  heart.

The glory of  the  crucified lights

up the world till every part-

is lit with a celestial splendor

such as no man  can  define.

Things  prosaic shine and shimmer

with a  beauty half  divine...

Light  of  the  world , O come to us-

and make our drab  lives  glorious.

Ye are  all  the  children of  light, and the  children of  the day, we  are  not  of  the  night,

nor  of darkness.

1 Thess 5;5 (BIBLE)