Well here we are in Jaffna. We have met so many people that our heads are spinning. We have had lots of rice and curry and are on our second bottle of industrial sized mineral water. Things have certainly changed. Out of a group of 10 people 6 may be on their iPhones at any one time. Photographs are taken by the score for posterity (?).
It is great meeting up once again with our dear friends Leslie and Shanthi. Time does not diminish the strength of relationships. We Are looked after so well staying at Calvary church guest house.
The train
We arrived in Colombo 2 hours late at 5.30 in the morning and at out hotel at 7 a.m. We had to get the train at 11:50 so only had a few hours sleep.
We were hoping to travel by the 1st class air conditioned train which takes 5 hours to Jaffna, but because the plane was delayed we would have missed it. This is an amazing train which only costs £6. Our train was an express train rattled and shook us for 7 hours.
The train line has been rebuilt and a brand new station at Kokovil is 100 yards from where we are staying. We got off the train to a huge welcome got into a car and were whisked for 30 seconds to the Chuch!!
Sponsored children
We met with the 60 or so children who are currently sponsored but the are 500+ who have completed their education. Many of these have good jobs but without help would have dropped out of school many years ago.
One young man travelled from Colombo especially to see us. He was sponsored, took his ‘A’ level exams and now works for an international bank in Colombo. It is meeting people like these which makes things so worth while.
Another young lady had set up a communication shop but the advent of the mobile phone made this so she switched to selling spices and general groceries. Our hearts went out to her when we learned that she had married a womaniser and they are now divorced. Christine prayed for the lady.
One very special young lady works for an NGO and is very active in church life. She shyly showed me a photograph of a young man she is shortly to marry.
There is so much more to say but it is hard work typing on my iPhone!!!
Compassion and Justice 