I hope to get all the children in to Don Bosco soon. So far we have gotten 4 in and this week we planned to bring 4-5 more in on Saturday. It is quite funny how everyone is trying to help me here. People seemed to want to be helpful, but it always end up to be more work. Every week, I would take a 45 minute crowded bus ride to Don Bosco and an hour even more crowded bus ride back to speak with Father Myppan so we are understanding each other. However, they suggested (asked) that I call them instead so that I don’t waste time traveling. This week, I decided to call and set an appointment time to bring the children in. Well, to make a long story short, I can’t understand what the person on the other end of the phone line is saying and he or she can’t understand me. So in the end, I will have to take the bus there to make the appointment to be sure Father Myppan will be there on Saturday when we bring the children in. I have also learned that to be certain of anything here, I need to see their eyes when I am speaking with them to determine if they have understood what I wanted for them to do or what I need from them.

I am now on instant coffee so for those who knows how much I love my lattes you understand how much I am suffering each day…lol. Supposedly, suffering is good for the souls. At least, that is what people tell me. Well, I will gladly trade all the sufferings for one good latte machiato…because that is also good for the soul.

Each week, I spend anywhere from 4 to 10 hours hours in the slums teaching the children, talking with the families, and learning about their lives. The children and families are living in very poor conditions. I figured if anyone is making a living sorting trash and living in a landfill has met the definition of being very poor. Many of the families I have met live in a tiny shack made from bamboo and plastics. The floors are a mixture of cardboard and plastic sheets to keep the water out, but often not very successful when it rains too long or too hard. These tiny shacks about the square footage size of a full size bed (8×6 square feet) normally house 5-7 people, adults and children.

In India, the Hindi word for naughty is “budmas” and they use the word, “cheater” to describe an Indian man who is a bad person, abusive, a drunk, and unfaithful to his wife and family. There are many “cheaters” in India and many in the slums are “cheaters”.

For children living in this environment, I would define them as being very poor and being at-risked. However, if a child has two parents regardless of their living conditions, many people in India and the government don’t considered them poor enough or at-risked enough to qualify for assistance since the “cheater” father and mother can go find jobs to care for the family. For them, they don’t view a child living in an impoverish environment with a father who drinks and is abusive as being poor enough to help. At least, that has been my experience working with many of the Indians here in Kolkata.

I wish everyone is having a wonderful day. As for me, yesterday was a busy and frustrating day. We took the children to Don Bosco only to hear that they may not get accepted because they do not have addresses and other documents. I am not sure how we will be able to get all the children in if any now. They need to have a counselor letter from child welfare and a letter of request from someone who thinks they are at risk if they remain on the streets. Anyway, the Sisters of Charity will provide us with letters of request so all we need is to have these families go to child welfare to get the counselor letters.

The first photo is an outdoor market in Kadamtala on the way to visit the slum in Howrah. The child is one we hope to sponsor in a year or two when she is a little older and qualifies to get admitted into Don Bosco.

I hope God is listening and will help these children to get the documents they need. And I hope the director at Don Bosco has a soft heart and will help these children get in. Worse comes to worse, I can always extend my stay until they I can help them get the proper paper works. July and August will not be something I would look forward to experience since June will be bad enough.

Well, take care and I hope everyone is enjoying good coffee wherever you are. My 2 kilos of dark French roast coffee I brought with me is now down to two weeks supply. June will be a miserable month without good coffee in the morning.

Thank you for the help and support and wishing everyone a pleasant and wonderful day.