Note: Now in Kolkata airport. Journey going smoothly.
Our last day in Providence and we expected it to be different.
But, how different?
For the 8.30 assembly we made our way in the morning
sunshine to the hall and to the Providence prayer. As usual all different
groups move to the designated trades. All our lads had completed their tasks by
the end of trade time and had beautiful objects to bring home. Those in
savoury-cooking and confectionery had expertise and recipes to bring with them
and to try out. Saying Goodbye to
their instructors was the first round of farewells of the
day.
After the 10.30 assembly, classes commenced. Classes
this morning were shorter than usual to enable the kids to put on their
entertainment for us. Each class came in for 15 minutes. The Sir presented a
photo of the group to each child and also a gift that we sourced here – a woolly
hat for the boys and leggings for the girls. All the girls, we noted, wore
leggings for the cold. The 15 mins was used to take photos and play a word game,
a story and some even had a game of Beggar-my-Neighbour. As each class left
there was a sincere Goodbye , but
not a final goodbye. KG was the last class to come in before lunch and for them
it wastheir final goodbye. (They go home each day at 12.) Thus it was
special. Would we ever see these kids again with their enthusiasm and smiles? In
that language, they are fluent.
Our lunchtime was extra long. We were told not to appear back up
in Providence till 2 pm. They needed to set up the hall.
The hall had been transformed- all the boards gone,
matting on the floor, colourful drapes over bookcases and Providence posters on
the walls. We were greeted by the children as we walked in as a group with our
Abbey India Project t-shirts. (Thanks to Joe Hourigan, Main St, Tipp). All the
various classes contributed songs or dance, some traditional and some modern.
No matter what song was sung, all the other kids even from Class 1 joined in.
Kids here have a sharp ear and pick up songs and airs quickly. The standard was
exceptional. It surprised us all. We even had a fashion show of traditional
dress from north-east India. The models, male and female, strutted the catwalk
with typical disinterested look on their faces – not in the slightest bit
self-conscious. In all, it was a 1 hour programme and it was choreographed with
precision. Then, the final farewell part preceded by a rousing rendering of
the Providence anthem. Each kid from Class 1 to Class 11 stood as erect as
soldiers and
gave it their heart. Each kid came up and met each sir individually with a Goodbye and Thank
You and Come back again. It took
a while for all 250 to come and it was very emotional. And nothing wrong with
the showing of that emotion on both sides. A strong bond builds up over the two
weeks.
When all had dispersed Br Steve brought us up to where
providence began in 1999. Then we just referred to it as ‘Br Steve’s school’.It
amazing to think how it has grown from such a small beginning to what it is now.
That’s Providence for you!
‘sending out ripples with no logical end’.
At 5.30 we met as a team and shared our experiences of
the day within our closed group. Journals needed to brought up to date with the
insights and image of the day.
There were so many. At our closing
Prayer Ceremony we dwelt on the image of Light. The central candle was
the vision of Edmund Rice, we drew from it in our preparation. Here, we shared
that light with the kids in Providence. We hope we have been part of his work of
doing something for those on the margins. It was a reflective period. Br Steve’s
message to us asked each one of us to recall our dealings with the kids and to
reflect on what we had done. It was a fitting waqy to mark the end of our
project work in Providence.
Tonight, we shared dinner with the Brothers in the Scholasticate.
We have come to know them over the last two weeks. They have hosted us while
they have been dealing with exams in St Edmunds College. We are grateful to
them.
Tomorrow, we leave at noon for Guwhaiti where we stay overnight.
On Sunday morning we depart Guwhaiti for Calcutta and then by Emirates to
Dublin. Our target is to be at the Abbey gates at 3,40 on Monday evening. We’ll
be tired and suffering from body-clock malfunction. A few days will have us back
near normal.
The next entry dealing with our trek home will be posted on
Tuesday.
Thank you to all who have followed us. Hope it gives some insight
into our experience.
“Lord,
bless all those people who helped us in Providence.
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