The early morning prayer

chapel

TU Thomas achen took me to the room I was to stay for the night. We spent some time talking about the old days in Vashi. It was nice to recall those days when I was growing up.

I bid goodbye to achen and retired to my room. Had to get up early to keep the promise of attending the morning prayer.


The next morning I was up and ready by around 5:40 am. Reached the Balikagram building which was a 2 minute walk from where I was. I had to knock a couple times on the gate for one of the sisters to let me in. When I went in and up to the chapel, I saw that the girls were already up and well into the morning prayer.



Morning prayer

I watched them and together with them and the sisters participated in the prayers. Again I was amazed by the way these children participated in the Malayalam even though it was not their native tongue.


I then spoke to the sisters for some time, who spoke about the amazing ways that God had been guiding the Balikagram each day. One particular story of a non Christian lady helping them with resources for the daily sustenance of the home, was striking and amazing, as much for God's providence as for the wonderful relationship this little group of sisters had been able to establish with the wider community in Pune.


Reading the Bible

How beautifully they sing Malayalam!

They broke into a song. What beautiful voices! How well they sing! and that too - in Malayalam. And not a single one is a Malayalee! yet their singing will put many Malayalees to shame! (Forgive my amateur videography.) 

 

 

And then in English too!

 

First glimpses of the little ones

I reached the Balikagram late in the night. I was with Fr. T.U. Thomas who knew me since our times in Vashi from more than  a decade ago. Since it was late, I did not want to disturb the girls and told achen I will meet them in the morning.

But achen was kind enough to call the sisters to see if I can meet them that night. And what followed was more than what I had expected:



Balikagram children

The kids had finished their dinner and were already in the bedrooms. But when called, all of them came back to the dining hall. I saw the first glimpses of the cheerful, chirpy little ones as they walked enthusiastically into the hall. The youngest looked like perhaps 3, while the oldest in the Balikagram is in college I was told. (They were about 50 children there.) The younger ones were the ones who came to meet me that night. They were in their playful moods, teasing one another, talking animatedly, till the sister there called them to attention.
Then everyone was silent and listening to what was up.

I was introduced by one of the sisters as someone who came to meet them. I had my camera with me and was busy clicking away.  I think they liked that I spoke to them in Hindi, something which the staff there did well, but they had their Mallu touch to the Hindi, so they sounded different :) They greeted me in


one voice, then sang a couple of beautiful songs in Malayalam. I asked them what time they get up for prayer. "5:30 am" they shouted back. I told them I will make every effort to join them the next day. Then we said goodbye.

I met a mother and daughter who had migrated to Australia who were visiting the Balikagram. The daughter had come to stay at the Balikagram for a few days after her studies when she got some time to spare. "What a nice way to spend your time, and get to know some of God's great miracles firsthand" I thought. Wish more people spend their time this way.