Adventures on Earth

2009-04-18T21:57:00.005+10:00

It’s been nearly 12 months in India now, and a long time since I last wrote to you. Why?

It's because I've been dealing with more than the 'challenge' of working with the poor in Sewa Ashram, been occupied with more than life here and its day-to-day needs.

Here in the Ashram, apart from seeing the first-hand reality of destitution, I've had an opportunity to look at and explore a whole lot of documentaries, books, and conversations that have challenged the very foundation of my world-view, and have caused me to see the bigger picture of reality, to step back and view the earth in a different way.

I’ve seen more than 20 enlightening documentaries that make it clear how deeply our modern way of life can’t be sustained any more and how deeply we are lost in energy, environmental and economic turbulences.

The following lists just some of many other documentaries that help to give a solid reality check of our life and to empower us to deal with it.

1. The Story of Stuff
2. A Crude Awakening
3. What a Way to Go – Life at the End of Empire
4. An Inconvenient Truth
5. The End of Suburbia*
6. The Freedom of Choice*

7. Crude Impact
8. Century of the Self
9. 11th Hour
10. Life and Debt*
11. The Crash Course
12. The Power of Community
13. Zeitgeist*
14. Ancient Futures
15. Freedom To Fascism
16. Why We Fight*
17. The Corporation
18. Outfoxed
19. We Feed the World*
20. Louder than Words
21. The Power of Nightmares
22. Koyaanisqatsi
23. The Future of Food
24. The World According to Monsanto
25. Darwin’s Nightmare

I think it is important for everybody to see the realities of this world. They mirror back to us – ourselves, and our way of life – to help us to wake up and stand up to really make a difference. If you are interested, I can easily send you some copies [I recommend that you watch at least the first three, starting with "The Story of Stuff" (it’s only 20 mins) and then number 2 and 3. I also highly recommend that you watch the ones marked with a *]. I really would like to hear your feedback!!

The more we understand the connection between issues like climate change, our oil dependency, overpopulation, food production, exploitation, the economic crisis, environmental crisis etc. – the more it becomes our role to respond to it. Add to that the realisation that most of humanity drag their sleeping souls through the mud of the earth, and you start to see more clearly the root causes of all this. Add to that an ever widening perspective of who God is and who we really are, and a picture emerges that we cannot ignore: We must say something, do something! This kind of information can’t just go un-acted upon. It is a big neon-flashing arrow that points me in a clear direction of how to spend my short but valuable time on Earth.

I can feel a strong pull, an urgency to actually find solutions and to put things into practice. I am convinced that there are clear lifestyle changes that we must make, and big changes in the ways we relate to other people. We need to ‘get real’, become more honest with each other. We need to see difficult relationships as an opportunity or exercise, not something to try to soften up or run away from. We must begin to love our enemies – which includes enemies of our opinion. We have to stop looking for earthy ‘fruit’ (results, recognition, power, possessions etc), and start looking far beyond that.

With a worldly perspective, we shy away from anything that might cause discomfort, pain, death to ourselves --- and our souls' heartbeat doesn't stand a chance. We are hesitant like any junkie to enter into the deaddiction process because it may hurt. And it requires faith to know that on the other side of a little pain is real gain. That only through dying (the death of our ego) can eternal life be found. And the world is the perfect place to learn this: it's a training field where we are given free will – choice. The choice to follow God’s will or ours.

We have a few options, and the freedom to choose our response. We can ignore it and hope it goes away and attempt to stay in our “comfort zone” or bubble for as long as possible. Or we could go the other way and despair because we know that things may get harder and our comforts cannot continue forever. We can also find another way that neither ignores or despairs, seek actively for the better way that I believe is still there waiting to be found. And will be found if we let ourselves become sensitive to the little arrow that is pointing in the right direction. Sensitive to the small voice within our soul that has become drowned out by all the other stuff that clamours for our attention.

I believe that we are meant to find it – and I believe that we are meant to find it TOGETHER!

A post-Christmas story for you...

2008-12-28T15:21:00.004+11:00

This 20min video is really worth a look....
you can watch it online or download it from the website.
Happy Christmas!

I want REAL life

2008-12-19T16:43:00.000+11:00

You know that feeling inside when you really WANT something. For example material things, like when I was a kid and it seemed like my world would end if I didn't get a particular life-like doll for Christmas, the passion inside of me wanting that doll was so strong! Or in the more recent past when I've wanted a degree or a nice house to rent or this new dress or that man. And then there's money - how much time and energy have I spent in pursute of getting a salary, sometimes motivated by wanting stuff, or wanting to go here or there (e.g. India) etc.... And there's a drive behind it all, which is why it usually happens! I strive for the goal, I do what is required to reach it!

There's a part in the bible where Jesus talks about a man who knew there was treasure in a field and so he sold everything he had to go and get it.

If only I had the same passion about God and Truth. About searching the inner depths of my soul that are infinite! About living not as a being only in this world, but as a soul in the world beyond - that is what deep down my heart longs for. And the beautiful thing is that God and Truth can be found! They're not airy-fairy ideas that cannot be grasped. They're the 'real' in reality.

Another analagy I heard was of a farmer who, as his plants begin to grow, he pulls off the flowers and the stems from the ground to decorate his house with, and thus never sees any fruit.

Like this farmer, we are so concerned with our earthly, outward, bodily existence, ignorant to the fact that if we allow the stuff to grow and mature, something of more value happens inside of us.

For me, it seems that the world and all its distractions and enticements is designed to take my interest, my passion, my energy elsewhere. Even being involved in 'spiritual' groups like churches or being here at the ashram can all be a big fat distraction or blockage rather than a conduit to going the WAY, the right path, or as Jesus would say, the narrow road.

Some kind of death

2008-10-11T15:31:00.004+11:00

It is beginning to hit me, now that I am honestly looking at my life and trying to clearly also see the state that the world is in, that Christ's example (that I somehow thought I was following while I called myself a Christian), is far more challenging and radical and self-denying than I understood it to be before.

To love my enemy would give my pride a battering. To ask God only for my daily bread and to be satisfied with that would be shattering to my materialistic urges. To consider the billions who suffer injustices (and to shine the spotlight at my own contribution to this) would be painful. To realise at what a fast pace we are destroying the earth/milking it of its resources and to stop being complacent about it - that takes some energy! To be conscious like Jesus was conscious! To live without need of success, reward, results, glory, fame, money, power... in essence, to die to my own wants and instead live for others and for God.

Wow... now I have to decide if I am serious about living that way. If I'm not, then I am not comfortable just living with the knowledge that "God loves me" if I cannot love Him in return and, like Jesus did, demonstrate that love through the life I lead. In fact, I think I would have to crawl into a hole, because now it would devour my soul to live on in denial.

Us

2008-10-05T14:40:00.006+11:00

Sorry, no news for a while.... What to write when there's so much to say?

Well, we fumble through the first steps of building a team, a community. We sit around in a circle and talk about truth and honesty, about revealing to one another what is in our heart. How we can't build something solid on superficial relationships, or dishonest ones.

How often are our relationships truly honest? How brave are we to speak the truth (in love) to our brother? Even the small things that I hide - the fears, the pains, the disagreement etc. all add up and create a darkness that separates us and condemns us to superficiality.

I don't think I can be satisfied with this. I need a deeper connection with others, just as I need a deeper life with God that is demonstrated, not just bla bla. I need to be brave and push aside the fears of rejection, even ridicule, and I need to speak the truth that is in my heart! I need to be willing for what I say to be examined by others and to be corrected if it's found wanting.

So, I am challenged to exercise this heart muscle more and more. To humble myself, to speak without fear. To be honest with others - which means first to be honest with myself!

Inner Disarmament

2008-08-08T21:14:00.002+10:00

I saw a headline today "Dalai Lama Calls For 'Inner Disarmament’" and was immediately struck deeply by this simple phrase.

I began to write something about the thoughts that come up for me: but perhaps it's better to leave the statement be and offer it to you as only that.

If you want to hear my thoughts, please ask, but sometimes it's more useful to see how our own heart reacts before we hear what someone else thinks.

Erin.

Monsoon

2008-08-08T18:30:00.008+10:00

The Lok Nayak Experience

2008-07-31T21:50:00.003+10:00

I went with Lenka to Lok Nayak Hospital in Delhi this week, and though I knew that the several trips to the hospital per week for her are hectic and mentally and physically tiring, you really can't appreciate it until you experience it. I had been dropped at St Stephens Hospital with Rasheed who had to have a hearing test: however there was no audiologist there, so it was a futile visit. So we took a rather exciting rickshaw ride through Old Delhi to Lok Nayak Hospital to meet Lenka.

We got there just as Lenka was negotiating security at the emergency entrance: because of the recent bomb blasts (that targeted hospitals) in Ahmedabad, police security is high and they are checking all cars for bombs. Once inside and parking where security was not happy for us to park, we went in to collect one of our patients who had broken his hip, and had a cast on his leg. This meant using an old trolley that made more noise than a jet plane and was heavy and difficult to manouvre. We got him in the car.

Next we had to go and check on a patient of ours on the 7th floor, who was to be discharged. But the doctor has decided to keep him for another week. Whilst in the ward the nurses direct us to another destitute patient, who has an amputation and facial injuries (from a run-in with a train), who we have also agreed to take on discharge.

Next, we go to search out yet another patient who the social worker had called us about, hoping we could take him. It turns out that he is not an admitted patient at all, but rather a man lying in the corridor, covered in flies and smelling of old blood and pus. He was refused admission - now, we are asked to take him, and so we arrange another trolley and get him onto it. It strikes me as strange that we are taking him at their request but noone offers to help us to move him and we even have to pay a deposit for the trolley...??? Now it is apparent that his right foot is badly swollen and there is blood oozing out, the smell is horrible, I'm amazed this guy isn't screaming in pain.

So we take him to emergency - and no-one wants to touch him. We lift up his trouser leg to reveal a large hideous wound with maggots squirming in it. The doctor says to take him to the ortho ward and they will determine whether to admit him. He says there are so many patients like this anyway and they can't admit everyone. (By-the-way a big factor in refusing people for admission is if they have no one accompanying them to look after them - our patients have attendants stay with them from the Ashram).

An hour later and we're driving him to the Ashram, for the first time I think that the garbage dump at the bipass doesn't smell so bad.

If we hadn't have intervened he probably would have ended up dying in the corridor or the security guards might have dumped him out on the road to die there. It is a wonder why he ended up in such a state: he had 800 rupees on him, it seems that he could have sought medical care when the wound was only small, but for some reason he didn't and he ended up lying in that corridor.

As with many experiences here, I come away from it with my head buzzing with questions that really don't have any easy answers.

2008-07-31T21:47:00.004+10:00

Please take a look at the Sewa Ashram website to read our latest newsletter. There is also a downloadable slide-show movie that Uwe created

Good news...

2008-07-03T17:15:00.007+10:00

A necessary update for those of you who followed my bug eradication progress last year: Within a week of arriving here I started getting symptoms again, started rolling my eyes, am I destined to be bug-ridden for life?

Well after consultation with a gastroenterologist and an endoscopy, I was told that I have Celiac Disease, which could have been the problem all along. In fact it explains a whole plethora of things, such as my problems with absorbing iron and low immune system. So now I am on a gluten-free diet (no more chapati's), and hoping to feel 100% at some time in the near future...

Who would have thought it could turn out to be such a struggle? Favourite meals now off-limits and I've become emotional, hyper-sensitive, grumpy.....I read somewhere that for some people going off wheat can be like going off an illicit drug, so I'm falling back on that for an explanation of my irrational depressive symptoms!

I'm sorry I've posted only one photo and that was a puppy, not even a person...I haven't been taking many photos and I like it that way for now.

I'll write something more when I'm less of a nervous wreck :)

How many men does it take to catch a snake?

2008-06-24T22:21:00.007+10:00

There is a 2m snake in the basement of one of the guest rooms, slithering between piles of blankets. I counted around 15 men dealing with the situation (OK, so mostly on-lookers), a few with big sticks in hand...the numbers have dwindled now, but the snake is still there, in slightly uncomfortable proximity to my room. The snake has been around for a couple of days, eyeing off the 7 puppies that were born a week ago. It's nearly a month now, and I've become familiar with the money management now, Kaye is leaving in about a week.

I guess as you can see by the previous post that I've been thinking a lot about ... well lots of stuff, and thanks to 'Social Justice for Dummies' I can have a meaningful discussion about peak oil, hehe. A nice article that I've come across that deals with poverty, globalisation, and root causes of many problems we are faced with is "Towards an economics of happiness" , it has plenty of food for thought, I encourage you to read it if you can.

Thoughts - a change in perspective

2008-06-14T14:37:00.006+10:00

In conversation with another volunteer, Lenka, yesterday, I was challenged by some thoughts that I would like to share. I have so often thanked God for the fact I was born in Australia, can enjoy such amazing beauty and, really, material wealth, without much effort (without any, in fact). How lucky/blessed/fortunate am I! Thank God for His Love! He loves me enough to place all of this at my feet!

But hang on a minute. Does that mean that God loves this person any less?: This person who was born into a society where they are perpetually on the back foot, live in dirty, cramped conditions, are not able to access education or government benefits, have been displaced from their self-sustaining life and land for the benefit of the global economy? Even - and here's a thought- for my benefit?

So has the 'blessing' come from God or from the system that simultaneously exploits/treads upon one whilst showering the other with wealth?

What is the real consequence of God's Love: Love that is not given to one and withheld from the next, but is rather given freely to all? Perhaps being a recipient of the 'blessing ' of God's Love looks more like a change deep in the heart than nice outward circumstances. Perhaps it demands the response of opening up to a better Way - of living, loving, of treating our neighbour, our enemy and our planet.

one week

2008-06-05T13:07:00.003+10:00

Coming out of the airport at 2.30am I was greeted by 2 familiar faces: Raju-driver and Murari - a youngster with juvenile arthritis who walks like an old man...and also lights up the world when he smiles. From there was the drive out to the ashram, through Delhi and out the other side, past the big garbage dump and towards the border. Past sleeping bodies to a lovely room with mangos and a note from Kaye.

The week has passed and to be honest I don't have the energy to write about it much, except that it's been challenging/exciting to 'fit in' again, difficult to get my head around being here and being confronted again with things that I had packed away somewhere within!

So I'll tell you about today: I spent some time going over the accounts I had been responsible for the last few days...only 17 rupees out :). I drove for the first time, a little Maruti Omni 5 seater, into Narela and back. My inner crazy driver was unleashed, it was rather exhilarating and I felt good to have accomplished the drive (I don't think I even reached 60km/h mind you). And no one (human or animal) was killed or injured! I then had a Hindi class with about 6 teachers over a cup of chai, I think they thoroughly enjoyed testing me and laughing at me, I actually feel like I've started to grasp something.

E.

back again, back again, jiggidy jog

2008-05-21T19:31:00.002+10:00

नमस्ते ,

Welcome back to my blog :)

After nearly a year I'm returning to India, specifically to Sewa Ashram near Delhi, flying away on Wednesday (28/5). I've just had a fantastic time traveling and catching up with friends (old and new) here in Oz, and am now flopping with exhaustion on my parents' couch.

I'll keep those who are interested updated with posts and photos when I'm inspired to do so!

E.

End & Beginning

2007-06-09T11:01:00.000+10:00

Back in Lithgow.

It hasn't stopped raining since I arrived! It's oh-so-nice to be with my family again, to eat lots of fresh veges, sleep cozily under blankets.... the silence is a little unsettling, as is the overwhelming confrontation with 'western' society -- the absolute ostentation of a Coles supermarket (so many varieties of mayonnaise...), a house with so many things, clean streets, no one begging, no obvious poverty. I think it will take time to get used to it - but in a way I hope that I don't get too used to it and comfortable again.

Anyway, thank you, whoever you are reading this, for thinking of me, for your prayers, for being a good friend back in Australia, or in India, for entering into my journey in some way, somewhere, at some time: and being an important part of it.

What to do now? I start work again in July, before that I hope to spend time with the family and make it up to Newcastle for a short time before heading back to Dubbo.

It sounds cliched, but this trip has really been a life altering experience.

I think there's nothing more to say!

Erin.

Near-final thoughts

2007-05-26T21:17:00.000+10:00

Ahh, so the end of this trip is nigh...you probably know by now I have mixed feelings as I come home - sadness and joy, but I guess life brings both. I'm greatly looking forward to seeing Mum, Dad, Em, Josh & Joel -- all of us together for a fleeting moment before we go our separate ways again. I know it will be a special time (& mum's turning 50...). Also seeing everyone again in oz, lots to catch up on, some quality time to be had!

And then there's here - sad to leave, in 3 months Sewa Ashram has somehow seeped into my bones, and a new future vision of a village really stirs something within and makes me want to be a part of it. Sadness to say goodbye to people who I know may be dead by the end of the year, or who I may never see again. And the really great 'foreigners' around me - Kaye, Ton, Daniel, Nino & Trish ---all who are open to talk and share, to impart something of real value into my life. Ahh and there's the kids, big eyes, laughing, grizzling, "didi!", bare bummed, cheeky... the mental boys - Pintu, sonu, personal space?! The TB walla's, labouring to breathe yet able to smile, the many other patients, some familiar, some I haven't seen before...some who sit there smiling and laughing, or perhaps deep in thought, who's pasts I cannot comprehend and when I learn about them it wrenches something inside. Joy to know that the people working here do have a vision for the truth -- to see people fit in to long term community, to find a place on this planet where they belong and are loved and can in turn love others. They are not committed to a 'project' but rather to people.

And then there's India -- hmm there is definately something overall seductive about the place - perhaps it is partly to do with the fact that as a foreigner here I am so free --- many people 'escape' from their other reality here. The whole place is overwelming, colourful, dirty, smelly (good and bad), there is something everyday that makes you laugh in wonder/shock/horror, always something that would never be 'acceptable' at home, but is not even blinked at here. The heat, the DUST! The fruit --- mmmmm --- rock melon, watermelon, papaya, juicy and sweet. The wildlife - cows, dogs, lizards and squirrels.

The world is certainly looking different to me now - there's things I'm starting to face that were so easy to be 'blissfully ignorant' of. There are 'beliefs' that have been challenged and many old ways of thinking 'flattened' - time to start again? Perhaps coming home will be a bigger step than coming to India was ;)

I went into Delhi today and booked my ticket on the posh Rajdhani Express to Mumbai. I'll take that on Monday, get there Tuesday and fly out Wednesday night...arriving back in Sydney on Thursday afternoon (take a breath...). Might see you soon.

Erin.

Let go

2007-05-13T15:18:00.000+10:00

drink up, baby down
mmm, are you in or are you out
leave your things behind
'cause it's all going off without you
excuse me, too busy you're writing your tragedy
these mishaps
you bubble wrap
when you've no idea what you're like

so let go, jump in
oh well, whatcha waiting for
it's alright
'cause there's beauty in the breakdown
so let go, just get in
oh, it's so amazing here
it's alright
'cause there's beauty in the breakdown

it gains the more it gives
and then it rises with the fall
so hand me that remote
can't you see that all that stuff's a sideshow

such boundless pleasure
we've no time for later now
you can't await your own arrival
you've 20 seconds to comply

(LET GO - FROU FROU)

Jesus said: "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"

If there's one thing I'm learning here is that I need to "let go" --- of the tight grip I have on my life; of my ambition, my hopes, etc... and it is only in letting go of myself -- that I will truly live (and be able to really love others?). The concept of losing to gain is something against the grain of my humanness, I think. Maybe there is beauty to be found in the 'breakdown'. It certainly does seem a hard path, but a rewarding one. Perhaps I'll really understand this one day!

Some thoughts :) e.

Trevor

2007-05-09T00:38:00.000+10:00

Let me introduce you to Trevor - the travelling gnome. He arrived with some cherry ripes and tim tams (thank you thank you thank you!!). He may be Gnomad Vincent's (of Catholic Healthcare Fame) well travelled cousin. Anyway his adventures continued here with me...you might like to check out his myspace here. He had a lot of fun, I can assure you!

There are a whole lot more kids around here at the moment, cute and cuddly of course...one family here with 8 children are now building a house with the help of the Ashram -- their previous home (?shack) was falling down around them and inadequate for such a big family. The littlest ones seem quite undernourished (the one year old is in the picture)... always grizzling and always on the hip of one of her 'big' sisters. She's already an aunt to another little boy.

The exercises have been taken over by a wonderful man, Gireish, who is blind and very good at yoga. They even have story time while they stretch in the evenings!

My work with the medical records/filing is going well, I have 'outsourced' the database to Luke in Dubbo who has really saved the day by offering to do it (I was really getting out of my depth).

Time is going by fast - tommorrow it will be 4 weeks before my flight out of here. I have mixed feelings about leaving -- I've felt so sad recently when patients have left, I'm sure I'll be devastated when I have to say goodbye to everyone!

Flowers

2007-04-21T14:08:00.000+10:00

While posting these pictures a random song came into my head that we sung in the primary school choir: "For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies , For this love which from our birth, over and around us lies: Lord of all to Thee we raise, this our grateful hymn of praise."

Self absorbtion and a romantic moment

2007-04-19T21:15:00.000+10:00

I've sat down to write something here so many times but been either distracted or unable to express things or tired or .... so I hope it works this time. Since the last post I'm sure a lot has happened here at the Ashram; also to me physically, spiritually, emotionally. On the physical note: I think that Delhi doesn't like me - I seem to battle with sickness constantly with a few days in between bouts to recover, though this time I am starting to feel good again, more easily able to smile and laugh, which is always a good sign! Another reason for being slack with posting here has been my constant attachment to a computer screen lately (I easily tire of it), as I'm attempting to create an Access database for the patient records here - kind of a daunting task as I'm daily discovering things I should do differently ... so - enough moaning and groaning! Overall I am discovering joy every day in being here. As I have said before, there are so many smiles and eyes to appreciate - along with amazing flowers and the many miscommunications that you just have to laugh about. Yesterday I think I had the most romantically (?) dramatic moment of my life when one of the guys here offered me food from his plate (after I had already eaten my fill). When I refused his persistance he dramatically put the plate down and stormed off, saying something in Hindi that was roughly translated by Helicopter as "If you not eat, I no eat!". The same boy had spent 5 or so hours with me in a surgical waiting room last week which was interesting as our ability to communicate with each other was not good - but he brought me chips and fanta, perhaps I should bring him back home with me ;)
Something that has happened that is kinda sad, is that Jake and Jessica have moved on, which really makes for a different ashram ... I'm certainly missing them.
Send me some coolness from back home if you can, it's hotting up here and will only get hotter! I had a serious trickle (perhaps stream is a better word?) of sweat down the legs today at the post office, reminded me of a homevisit in Mudgee in the middle of summer... I will add some more photos for your viewing pleasure later ... (not of me sweating).
Love to everyone, Erin.

Life

2007-04-04T19:17:00.000+10:00

Prakesh died yesterday.
He was picked up on Sunday lying stretched out on the roadside. As Ton approached he raised his hand - he was brought to the Ashram. The day before he died I had the privilege of having some kind of communication with him - exchanged smiles, a touch - and I want you to see his beautiful face: I took this photo for the file that day. He seemed happy and comfortable - surrounded by love and care.
Yesterday he was wrapped in white cloth & covered in flowers, placed in the Mandir in front of the altar.
What struck me was that this man could have died alone - probably would have if he had been passed by for another day. He may have never smiled this beautiful smile again. But he didn't die alone. He was surrounded by a community who noticed him, who wrapped him up and celebrated his life on this Earth and his onward journey to the next. There were drums and singing and flowers. A simple message spoken about compassion - about the joy and suffering that comes with it.

PS. Credit for the latter 2 photos goes to Gunni, my friend from Iceland & Sunny Guesthouse who dropped by for a few days :) (thanks!).

Smiles

2007-03-18T12:37:00.000+11:00

Weeks have gone by in this amazing oasis of sorts... well it's certainly a refuge from the city - the pollution, the misery, the apparent lack of 'heart' that is exposed and obvious to those who are left to despair and death on the street. It's incredible how many people find themselves with a limb ripped off from a train accident on their first day in the big city - they are ignorant of the dangers when they set out to find a better life, to send some money to their poor families back home. From there they may be refused admission to the hospital or given substandard care, discharged early...or perhaps they never make it that far in the first place.
I was inspired to finally write something here again because today was really a great day. I guess that feeling comes from the fact that I achieved some tangible things today, working with other volunteers and the patients..and I saw lots of smiles too. We made a whole bunch of guys walk back and forward in the field, for 6 mins to see how far they could walk. They made me do it alone at the end....quite a spectacle to people passing by! Later we brought out the weights that I had made by filling plastic water bottles with dirt - more smiles - and that is where I couldn't resist pulling out the camera! So I have put here a few photos of some of my new friends, some of whom relished the show-off value of lifting weights that may have been too heavy for them - but at least they're getting into it! If you want to see some really great photos and read some of the stories of the people here, please pay a visit to Jake & Jessica's blog, they are a lovely couple from the USA who are volunteering here, they are refreshingly honest, have wonderful hearts, and are great to spend time & work with.
Thank you to all my friends and family for your thoughts & prayers - my life is really filled with you amazing people who are such an encouragement to me....Erin.

Sewa means Service

2007-03-11T01:01:00.000+11:00

The first thing that struck me here was the peacefulness & greenness of the place - after the urban, crazy sprawl of Delhi itself. The ashram is basically made up of buildings around the walls surrounding vege & flower patches as well as a little pond, trees and meandering pathways. I don' t know how many patients are here at present, but there are 2 wards of TB guys (about 10 each?) plus another by the clinic and then a whole lot of them sleeping under a big round shelter. I'm slowly getting to know more and more of them, with the language difference being a barrier...but there's other ways to communicate! My role here is really an OT/Physio one, so my brain is working overtime in working out what I can do to fulfill that with the limited experience/training that I've had!! But thankfully OT's are great problem solvers ;)

So...all the patients are men, there are a mix of problems - lots of different complications from TB and also people who were severely burned, have amputations, and other trauma that they are rehabilitating from... I guess part of the idea here is that people stay on an open ended admission (not like the push to get them out ASAP that I'm used to!) so they can stay for a long time and get well emotionally as well...as most have come from the lowest of the low situations on the street. Hearing some of their stories is heart-wrenching. One small boy was taken in by a hospital after being found left to die on the street with severely burned legs (? perhaps his parents did this?) then the hospital didn't know where to send him so they sent him here. He's sweet, I think he has autism which may be why he has been rejected by his family. He really is loved here, another patient has taken him under his wing and washes him, feeds him, walks him etc.. which is really nice to watch.. He has also given me a few hugs :).
This morning they had a morning meeting in the 'chapel' type area and I saw them carrying something in on a stretcher. A man here had died last night, an old guy who I had seen on a bed outside the clinic. He had an appointment today to get tested for cancer....they had wrapped him in a white sheet and tied it up, and there were nice flowers on him...they sung songs in Hindi and read the lords prayer. I think this happens a lot.
This afternoon I ran (for the 3rd time) an exercise group..it's so funny, I am just making up exercises to do on the spot for half an hour...one old man was standing in front of me and was just hilarious!! Well a lot of the people here are also a bit crazy, which makes it fun!
So I'm just slowly trying to establish the exercise group as a routine thing and also trying to work out how to get some (lazy) individuals moving again and using their lungs etc.. There's one guy who is sooooo skinny, I massaged his legs the other day and there's nothing there. He really needs to get nourished and also walking - he walked a long way today which was great.
So it's kinda like Lourdes in that there's the grumpy old men, the lazy ones, the whiny ones, the peaceful, steady ones, the funny ones, the stubborn ones, the mental ones...but I've got to say I love them all and it's great fun to try to motivate them and also to try to win them over :)
So week 1 ends today and I am finding purpose here...so many thoughts in my head about so many things - the people that have nothing and noone in this world (the ones dying right now, alone); my own beliefs & reactions; my future (Andrew - don't say a word!)...

A week of early mornings & banana porridges at Sunny Guesthouse, New Delhi

2007-03-03T03:05:00.000+11:00

When thinking of adding something more to this blog, I realise there is so much to say about Delhi...so again I'll just describe some observations, some experiences, perhaps somewhat disjointedly, so bare with me here...
I've seen my first elephant here - wandering down the street along with the traffic, got a great pic of it with a bus...the ingredients list on something I bought (yummy dried tamarind that reminds me of 'sour worms') ended with "etc."..... I have just seen way too many men turning from the wall doing up their flies, men here have the (?luxury) of peeing whenever and wherever they want to, and I'm often afforded the joy of seeing it....of course there is poverty, disability, sadness, scammers, children, wealth, dirt, street sweepers, hotels, shops, dogs, monkeys....so much beauty - as with everywhere in India - beautiful women who smile and the world lights up, I was eagerly invited to sit with 2 girls on a bus who work in a call centre here, they were so pleased to make a new friend!....Wandering the streets of Old Delhi with Gunni from Iceland - we drunk chai at a dead end (we got a little lost) and chatted with a local family, were caught in a sudden shower, saw monuments, caught the (amazing) metro & local buses. Gunni took photos of a mouse on the bench behind me as we ate at a local restaurant and cockroaches fell into our food (no English - the menu was a taster plate)....We went and saw some classical dancing and a guy playing a guitar/sitar hybrid at the Ravi Shankar Institute, in memory of George Harrison. We went with Francesco (exuberant Italian who is learning Indian classical song & sitar) and Colin & Angela (Lovely south African couple - Angela learning Orissa gypsy dancing) all from the guesthouse...been eating at a local restaurant that has the most authentic retro feel (because it's not contrived...it's like a time warp) a stretched sounding tape playing disjointed but ambient music wafting as you eat amazing curries & naan & lassi...

I should mention the workshop on on disability & development that I've attended for the entire week! It's been really fun, meeting various Indian people with an interest in the area, learning about what's happening with universal design in Delhi/India and today visiting the Indian equivalent of the Spastic Centre and a slum area. Have made some friends who will have me to visit sometime!

The adventure continues tomorrow as I go to Sewa Ashram (the web address is www.sewa-ashram.org if you're interested in knowing about it) - they are eager for me to come as they need someone to help with a therapy program, so I'm excited to be going and really do hope that I can offer my skills to them for a while....stay tuned for an update on that! Much love to you...E.

Goodbye Heywan...

2007-02-23T17:23:00.000+11:00

Feeling a bit sad and homesick today, saw Heywan off in the taxi last night and found myself alone again, wondering where I would be staying here in Delhi for the next week as everything appears full...
Anyway to fill you in, back in Rishikesh we had some more good times...went white water rafting on the Ganges (what amazing views....), had a swim in the freezing cold water, very...invigorating! We also got a ride up winding roads (the road signs discoraging drinking/speeding are cute....like "Drinking Whisky - Driving Risky" and "Speed is a knife that cuts life"...) to a temple with views of the distant snow-capped himalayas and then did the 3 hour (very steep) walk back down the mountain and to our 'home'. Am starting to see lots of monkeys now...one of them approached Heywan and tapped her bag (she had food), so we ran away! Then a cow decided to headbutt me in the backside (quite violently!) a few times, I'm glad it had short horns :) We really loved Rishikesh, it's hard to be back in the big city - the hassling here by men on the street is neverending!!
I have a great opportunity to volunteer at a conference here on Disability & Development next week, so am looking forward to that. And I wandered a bit this morning and found a little guesthouse that may be a bit dingy but at least has a room (with hot water...), so praise God for that!
Something that has been a constant challenge here is facing the poverty that is so obvious, and having people often approaching you for money. I like giving some fruit - sometime's it's been thrown back in my face (?) but usually it's appreciated. It's so easy to get annoyed and just keep turning people away, and it really makes you think a lot about how much you really unconditionally love people....especially when there are so many scammers here it's easy to become rude and dismissive to everyone. I've got a long way to go! Anyway I'm being personally challenged about it...and the wealth that I have - am I willing to share it with others who need it? And how should I do that? - Lots to think & pray about.
There was a bombing on a train outside New Delhi on Sunday, we only realised once we arrived here on Tuesday and read the paper...there were so many police at the station when we arrived, checking bags of people coming in, so I guess that's why. It's strange to be so near to a 'terror' attack, when in Australia we are so isolated from it and easily forget about it.

Heywan - I had such a wonderful time with you and will treasure the memories forever :) hope it's not too hard to go back to work! Will miss your beautiful company.
Lots of love to everyone and plenty of hugs and kisses... Erin.

25 in Laxman Juhla - Rishikesh

2007-02-18T01:15:00.000+11:00

I hope you like the new pics :) after a bus ride that went for 7 hours longer than we expected...that's India for you....we're now experiencing life Rishikesh-style, spent my birthday ambling around, across the footbridge over the Ganges, over to town for a rooftop massage (I didn't know my body could stretch so much...) and back to sit on the small beach and watch the sunset - beautiful! Sitting in the bottom of the hotel we can hear people singing somewhere, woo-hooing and clapping! Last night we met some people in the street and had some chai with them & chatted, then had such a peaceful sleep, finally away from the maddening crowds, looking forward to another one tonight after a coffee on the other side of the river.... We'll go looking for some waterfalls tommorrow.

Lightning in the desert

2007-02-15T22:45:00.000+11:00

Back online again...IT was great to hear Heywan's voice in the corridor when she arrived in Mumbai a little over a week ago! Since then we have embarked on a few adventures:
Udaipur was our start in Rajasthan, it was fun to get lost in the streets (you know you've wandered off the track when there's no more tourists) and to explore the big palace and go for a boat ride...we met a lovely mother & daughter from Oz, Nikki & Rebecca, who travelled with us to Jaisalmer (land of the curly moustache and turban). Here we went on a 3 day camel safari that turned out to be quite an experience!! The first night a big storm rolled in, and we spent the night huddled under a (holey) tarp with pouring rain and lightening crashing, on top of a sand dune! I have to say though I was wet I was certainly cosy between Heywan (somehow sleeping soundly) on one side and one of the camel drivers (shivering) on the other. I didn't sleep at all and was having weird hallucinations that we were in a big cave in the early hours of the morning!! Anyway the next night we had a beautiful clear sky and slept under the stars after talking around the campfire. I was amazed at my ability to be comfortable with the camels, seeing as i'm not really an animal person, but it was so fun to get them to trot along and to steer them towards a distant tree or village. From there we took a marathon journey to Jaipur, the first part was in a sleeper which was fine, but after that we had a 7 hour trip on hard wooden seats (not nice on our sore camel bums) and the train would stop for ages in random places for no apparent reason! In Jaipur we stayed in a room that was cosey but leaked with the rain - it was nice to finally have a dry night last night! We also had a tour of a fort -- the guide was a dud, but the people we met (Dawood from Canada & Patrick from Scotland) made it worthwhile. From there we've come to Agra, and spent most of today lazing around the grounds of the Taj Mahal, which is truly a magnificent sight. Yesterday a (pedal power) rickshaw driver let us have a go of his rickshaw --at the price of being taken to a local shop. Today at the Taj I literally had men lining up to have their photo with me... it may be nice attention but it does err on the creepy & irritating side.

Poor Heywan has had to cope with me being overtired (and probably irritable) for most of the last week, not to mention my stomach problems getting worse...I went to a doctor in Jaipur (cost me around 10 cents for the consult!) and picked up my drugs and so far am much better :)

Tonight we're catching an overnight bus to Haridwar in the north, and from there will go somewhere else to get close to the himalayas... Hope everyone back home is well. love Erin.

ACT

2007-02-03T15:20:00.000+11:00

Well I've been a week with the people from the Association for Christian Thoughtfullness, and in a short time have had the opportunity to see a few of the things they do here in Mumbai as well as meeting some lovely people! STaying in a real house has been great, and with all these people looking out for me too! I went to a slum area, Bhandup, to see a pre-school happening in a church in the upstairs of a building. The kids were sweet, singing songs in English (it's good for them to start learning English early to help at school), and Rachel who I went with was lovely. ACT works with many local churches (that are in the slum areas etc.) to carry out it's programs. Another one is a women's self help group where they make cards with pressed flowers for income generation. They also have school programs (eg sex-ed/selfesteem...reminds me of Auslife in Australia a little) and HIV/AIDS support groups and house to house awareness. That's just a small idea of what they do, and I've only seen a limited amount due to being here a short time. IT's good to see the "urban" side of this kind of work after seeing the rural side. Also in my time here there was a prayer meeting in this house, which was great, nice to meet some more people and to pray with them etc. (am always happy for prayer re: what am I doing here, God???!). The couple living here (Ibey & Shinu) are lovely, and have been very helpful & welcoming. Shinu & I went for a walk to the Bandra fort on the sea the other night which was great. I'm hoping to visit again before I leave.
Heywan is arriving tonight!!! I'm very excited. We're flying to Udaipur (in Rajasthan in the north) on Tuesday morning, and then going from there to the desert and the taj mahal and the himalayas etc.!!! Will certainly update you when I can. love erin.

Jamkhed - CRHP

2007-01-29T23:38:00.000+11:00

As promised - a speil (very simplistic) about the course I've just finished :)
The course was on Primary Health Care (which I appreciate may not mean much to you), at the Comprehensive Rural Health Project in Jamkhed. The project was started in the 70's by Dr's Raj & Mabelle Arole, who wanted to reach the poorest of the poor. After trying the curative approach and realising that the poorest people still could not access their services (and that people were still dying of preventable diseases), they decided to take a different approach, which in a nutshell centres around village health workers (women) who are empowered with knowledge/skills/self-esteem and are able to look after the basic health needs of their villages, and educate people on nutrition, safe deliveries, prevention of disease etc. Another important part has been the role of mens and women's groups in the villages, who come together to learn about (and do something about) agriculture/income generation etc. They also have a hospital in Jamkhed, where Dr Shoba Arole conducts most of the emergency surgery as well as elective. The involved villages now don't need to access the hospital except in emergencies or when in need of such care (e.g. now women's pregnancies/labours are looked after in the village unless there are problems requiring a ceasarian.)
What they have seen happen in the villages that have become part of the project (the villagers take ownership of it) is a great improvement in sanitation/access to clean water, drastically improved health (almost eliminated childhood deaths), the empowerment of women (many were treated like dogs...girl babies were not wanted), and the break-down of caste barriers that are so engrained in much of the Indian psyche.
That is a very simplistic description of the project itself. I was there with 19 other Aussie women, and we learned through hearing Dr Arole and others speak - their passion for the project (and for people) was obvious. We also heard from many village women (many of them village health workers) - their stories were mostly heart breaking, they had been treated terribly in their pasts, but the hope that had come through their empowerment was evident). We went on a trip to a tribal area also and heard more stories as we met with the women there.
It's all hard to put into words in a short space, but the whole thing had a huge impact on me personally, to see a program that is running based on community support and participation, and something that is truly holistic - that recognises that everything is interrelated. And to meet people who are so passionate about making change and about people that they have dedicated their lives to the cause and to the people. It is very different to projects that just focus on one thing but perhaps bring about no social change in the process (so what's the point....?). There is a lot for me to ponder...

The post script is that I have now come back to the big city (Mumbai) - what a shock! From green fields back to pollution and traffic and PEOPLE! I am meeting with people from the Association for Christian Thoughtfullness and am staying with a lovely young couple, Ibey & Shinu. More on that later :) love Erin.

Impressions of India :)

2007-01-21T00:01:00.001+11:00

Namaste!

I only have a short time, so I thought I'd just write out a few 'impressions' so far of India...I will write more about the actual experience of doing this course in Jamkhed later on when I can waffle on about it (on the blog page) ;) I'll send this to everyone as well as trying to post onto the blog page because I can't access it directly here.

All of a sudden I am a giant! Being one of the tall ones in most situations is a novelty....I met a woman who is 9 months pregnant and 50kg....very sweet tea (somehow I can stomach it here)...people carrying things on their heads...trucks & bullock carts overflowing with sugarcane...I love the trucks (goods carriers)! So colourful, I've taken way too many photos of them.....Disco dancing on a roof in the tribal area....amazing women - immaculately dressed in colourful saris and dripping with bangles and jewelry....sorghum & sugar cane fields...a house in a tribal village - walking past the cows in the house to get to the kitchen...wild pigs, dogs, goats, cows etc - the dogs sleeping on the busy roads...so many smells - some nice and some just make you want to puke (floral, dusty, sewrage,cattle, exhaust fumes)...CURRY & chapati....amazing food....too much to take in on bus trips (you are constantly confronted with something new)...A pile of dung higher than me -- used for 'bio gas' which I saw demonstrated with a gas stove..."hello, hello, what is your name?"....lime soda...the crows - one of them can say my name....singing songs at devotions in Marathi (local language)...men wearing white - and fluro pink turbans...the unbelievably cute children (that one's for Amy)...and probably the one that sticks in my mind is hearing the story of a woman with AIDS who has been taken in by the program here --the absolute joy and hope that shone from her eyes as she told her story --from ostracism to being loved unconditionally. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful woman, glowing with life despite the apparent circumstance.

Anyway there's a taste of what I"m seeing here. The things I am learning about are really cemented by hearing the stories of the women here, but I will tell you more about the actual project I am seeing here later.

Love to all :) Erin.

Mumbai

2007-01-06T22:02:00.000+11:00

I'm safe and sound in Mumbai... what a crazy place! The taxi ride from the airport (at midnight) was hair-raising to say the least, can't imagine doing it in peak hour. The shock of being here hit me hard in the taxi, I was unable to find my friend at the airport, so I had to go it alone. The smells, sights, feelings were a little overwelming . Familiar faces at the hotel helped...
Today has been fantastic! Just wandering the city, it's not intimidating at all. We're off to Pune early in the morning, and then meeting the rest of the group and going to Jamkhed (doing Primary Health Care course there). I''ll try to add something over the next 3 weeks, but don't hold your breath!

Welcome to my blog

2006-12-24T17:11:00.000+11:00

Hi to all my friends!
I'm leaving on a plane on 5th Jan, 2007 at 10am, bound for Mumbai, India. I hope to add a post every now and again so you can keep updated on my adventures....Merry Christmas....erin.

PS you should be able to post a comment without logging in if you select 'other' or 'anonymous' :)