Bangladesh Adventure

 And so we leave.... this land of the hazy skies, red sun, palm trees, rice fields, and brown people.... good bye to Bangladesh. We come home with many memories tucked away that we will pull out from time to time and smile over.  We leave Cherith and Travis’ there to finish what they are there to do. We leave the dear members and friends that have become a part of Cheriths heart family. We leave the prayer calls, and mosques, and places of idol worship that are all over the country. We leave that to a God who knows better than we how to reach their hearts and turn them away from that empty religion of rules and vain repetitions. The truth is there in that country too. We leave the poor and sick that come the gate of the missionary seeking help, knowing God is faithful in giving direction for knowing who to help and how to help. With money or just a kind caring word. And we come home. Leaving a small part of our hearts behind.  Thank you Cherith... thank you Travis’.... fo...

Up fairly early and after a quick breakfast, headed out for the Square Hospital where we were getting our tests done. We went by CNG which is like an easy bike but is gas peered rather than battery operated. Never ceases to amaze me how they can possibly drive the way they do and it actually all works. We didn’t see one accident the whole time we were in the country. But if you would put Americans driving in those conditions....ummm.... no way it would work. Neither did I ever see one working traffic light or any stop signs whatsoever. They wouldn’t have used them if they would have been there. Testing went ok other than it just takes so long to do anything here. So much paperwork and then that all gets entered into the computer and the people for the most part are not skilled in typing. At least not here they aren’t. So it just takes so much time. We got there about 8:15 and left around 10:30. Here it’s a nasal swab in one nostril and then a throat swab. Wasn’t the most comfortable te...

Today’s the day for the long drive back to Dhaka. Left the house soon after 7. Feels sad to be leaving here knowing that it’s very likely we will never be back. But it’s so nice to be able to picture where cherith lives now. Even though they will soon be moving to a different house.  The trip was pretty good except for the first couple hours, there were a couple of the crew who were not feeling well. Had breakfast of eggs and ruti at a little restaurant along the road. Ruti is    Another kind of fried tortilla like dough. Very tasty. The line for the ferry was not nearly as long this time and we even got on a nice big one. Ate lunch at a KFC when we got to Dhaka around 1:30. On to the flat where we just chilled for a bit and then our family went out just as it was starting to rain and hailed two rickshaws. Was that ever quite a rickshaw ride!! They were trying to keep up with each other and it started to pour rain just as we got off and had to wait for quite a long time u...

So it’s worship day again. Which means open the gate at 8:30 and let the children come in the yard and play until 9 or so when it’s time for SS. Usually it’s a flannel graph story and a few songs. Today was quiz day. Every few weeks they give a quiz on the last few weeks’ lessons. If they can answer most of the questions, they get a prize. They all write their answers down on paper. There’s much shuffling and whispering... you have to watch pretty closely cause they don’t seem to have much conscience against cheating!! We had bought shrimp last night and so had grilled shrimp kabobs, potatoes, and salad for lunch. Yum.  Had some quiet time and then it was time for church.    Out the gate we wait for one or two easy bikes to come along and they drop us off at the path that goes down to the little tin church. After the service, we went over to Shantos where we helped Shati roll out and fry many little balls of dough. Much the same idea as fry bread but smaller pieces. It’s ...

 Shortly after 9 we all piled into the trusty Hyundai van armed with water bottles, sandwiches, oranges, and lemon bars.... after an hour or more of rough bumpy roads and more of the fantastic scenery of Bangladesh, we arrived at the river where we were to get a boat to take us across to the mangrove forest of Bangladesh. This is an extremely dense forest of mangrove trees and thick vegetation. Home of spotted deer, crocodiles, monkeys, and supposedly Bengal tigers. They have built up a boardwalk through part of the forest so that one gets an eerie sense of quiet danger lurking as you walk through places where tigers and seemingly cannibals live. Monkeys are around and alert for anything they perceive as food. The only crocs we saw were in cages. But back to our arrival... we found a place to park the van, and almost immediately Travis was surrounded by about 45 men. They came from all over, here and there and out of nowhere it seemed. One was holding an umbrella over him, and they...

 Today we left after an early lunch, and honked, bumped, and lurched our way through what seemed to me must be the heart and soul of Bangladesh. Green lush rice fields, drying jute, colorfully dressed people, and dusty palm trees flood the countryside. Past brick factories, and schools and lots of market places. And into country where by the looks and stares and shouts, a person wonders if a white person has ever before traveled back here. We come to a stop alongside a cactus fence, and crawl out of the vehicle checking to make sure all limbs and body parts are still attached to us. Then down the narrow brick path into the yard of a dear brother and sister who are eagerly waiting for us. We take off our sandals and sit down on the mat under the awning of the porch. They have a little hut i will call it with two beds inside. Maybe some type of cupboard or dresser, and that is just about all. This porch hangs over the front side of the hut and provides sleeping shelter for the childr...

 Monday and Tuesday Miss Cheri had school with her class. Merv was with Travis at the gate with the people all morning. Looking at eyes, handing out formula, giving skin ointments... the rest of us just lived here. Laundry, cleaning, playing, cooking....  Monday after school, we loaded up and headed to Golpolgang where Kelly and Lanae Friesen live. They had invited us for supper. An hours drive in and out of traffic and people.... the house there is beautiful I thought. The yard is mostly brick with some yard for a garden and flowers. Big trees. I thought it was just so pretty there. But the downside is that they live right up beside a very busy road. So it’s noisy and dusty. Had an enjoyable evening there. They have a boy just Nicholas’ age and did they ever play together!!! But oh my the drive home after dark..... that made my heart jumó into my throat numerous times! Some vehicles with no lights, some with brights on blinding you, lots of people, many rickshaws and very few...

 Sunday’s here are quite unlike our sundays at home. Since Friday is the worship day, Sunday is the start of a new week. Miss Cheri had school and Travis has his day where people come to the gate for help. He gives formula to babies who need it and people who need cataract surgery come for an evaluation and maybe a referral?? Not exactly sure. There is not much starvation in this country but there are many cleft palates/ lips. Also eye problems. As a church we help with cataract surgeries. Also the cleft lips etc. But I think trav sees mostly eye problems. He and merv also left to go check out a poor ladies situation to see if maybe there was some help they could give her.  Cheryl and I went for a little fabric to get my blouse and shirt to wear under a sari. Probably in the states we think of that type of dress as a religious thing and would maybe think we as Christians should stay away from it...  at least that was sorta my vague impression. Here it seems it’s more cult...

 Felt like we slept a bit later this morning. Still woke up during the night and took a bit to get back to sleep.  After breakfast, some of us headed to the market here in Khulna. Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. Over a million people. We took fabric over to the tailor. Got measured and he will make us some dresses and also some of the type of clothing our sisters wear here. A three piece set, these consist of a pair of ankle length pants, a long blouse/ shirt, and a orna, or shawl that covers the front of the blouse and drapes over the shoulders. It’s pretty important in this culture for a woman to be covered. It takes a lot of fabric. But fabric is cheap and so is the tailor. Each set of clothes probably cost 6-8 dollars for both fabric and the sewing. And there is much much fabric. Stacks and stacks. Sometime take a look at the men’s shirts and pants in your house and notice how many of them are made in Bangladesh. It’s a big part of their livelihood. We ate ...

 I am going to attempt to paint a word picture.... Merv talked of the girl we went to see yesterday morning. Her stepdad has asked for help for medical problems in the past. Not for himself but for his family.  They have realized, but do not have solid proof that some of that money he received was not used for what he claimed it was. Or the medical problem was not nearly as severe as described... so anyway he has been after Travis again about his stepdaughter whom he married off a while ago. She’s 15, has been one of the children who came to SS here and the neighbor children all know she’s their age. They have claimed now lately that she’s 19. In fact have a document stating that “fact”. She had an appendectomy probably 6 months ago or so. Ever since she has had pain off and on over on her left side. Apparently it’s gotten worse and now she NEEDS to go to the hospital. Travis and the other missionary men here, felt pretty strongly that this was not a genuine need. He was just ...

 It was truly an experience in itself to get from Dhaka to Khulna. It's 160 miles. We left at 7 in the morning and got here around 4- 4:30. It took maybe close to an hour to get to the river.... theres a wide river that runs through Bangladesh that requires a ferry to get across. Think many many vehicles all fighting for the front spot and only room enough on each ferry for a certain number.... maybe a dozen cars, and several busses and a few big trucks. We waited in line for 2 1/2 hours in the sun, sometimes in the van with a non working a/c. It was a test of patience in one way, but in another, it was all part of the experience. It makes a person so disgusted when here alongside your vehicle comes some car or pickup who thinks they can actually squeeze through that space. They honk and nose in and inch along and if you give them an inch off the bumper in front of you, they will get in there!! But Trav drives with the best of them. "Pinch off or be pinched off" is his mo...

(Entry by Erika) Last night, after a supper of delicious baked honey garlic carrots, grilled chicken, and potatoes at Daniel and Amber’s flat, I crashed in the room me and Cheri are staying in. I fell asleep at 7:30 after a very long nap-less day. Cheri woke me up at 6:30 but folks had been awake since 3:30 due to messed up jet-lagged systems. We walked until we saw a bunch of rickshaws, men watching us expectantly. Me and Cheri and Nicco squished in, and off we bumped. We stopped a short distance from the Kawan Bazaar, a huge, noisy market. We pushed our way through the crowd, smells never smelled before wafting their way to our nostrils, causing Nicholas to hold his nose in disgust. Men shouted around us, rickshaws rang their bells, buses and cars and cngs constantly honking. Bangalis squatted beside heaping baskets of vegetables, the next man over selling chickens. We stopped at a little street restaurant and got dal and naan, dim curry, and spicy fried eggs. Then we came back to th...

 Well... it feels somewhat surreal that we are actually here!!! We had uneventful but tiring travels. Arrived in Dhaka safe and sound about 5:00 on Tuesday morning, Bangladesh time. Came here to the guest flat and had breakfast. Showers were a big priority for most of us! Lounged, Merv napped, then shortly after 10 headed out on foot to the clinic they run here. Daniel and Amber hold a clinic three days a week for women and children.  Give out meds for minor issues. They also refer cleft palate/ lip problems to hospitals for help. CSI helps pay for surgery. Then to the Farm Market for some dresses/ pants/ fabric  I did not bring long dresses cause our original plan was to be here in the cool season and then leggings would have worked to cover the legs and ankles. Now it’s getting quite warm and leggings are just too hot. So I will get a couple dresses made for while we are here. Lunch of naan and chicken and cokes... o yes a stop for cha tea.  First impressions: NOIS...