Welcome to Kolkata!

What can I say but 'good grief!' After a fairly smooth and comfortable flight on the first leg we then embarked on a chaotic transfer through Mumbai airport having lost count of the times we were scanned, patted down and asked to present our passports.  I've done long haul flights many times before but not had such a time difference to contend with so when we finally arrived at Kolkata airport I wasn't sure what day it was let alone what time! :-)

Hectic drive through the city

Sleep deprivation is an interesting thing as by rights having now been awake for over 40 hours , whilst my body was protesting a bit , my mind was wide awake.  Then following a warm welcoming committee at about 5.30am local time, we were bundled into the two BMS Guest House vehicles and then led on a rollercoaster of a journey lasting approximately 40 minutes which involved weaving chaotically through a haze of early morning dust, traffic  and the noise of early morning in Kolkata. Horn blasting seems to be a given by all vehicles and by the time we arrived at the BMS Resource Centre,which would now be our home for the next two weeks, both mind and body were singing from the same hymn sheet so to speak and fully awake!

I must add though that whilst a bit scary at times the journey was quite frankly amazing and I can't wait to experience it again! What an introduction!

Have now had three hours sleep following a very welcome breakfast and will shortly be meeting up with the rest of the team as we are off to explore!

My words can't do it justice but already I can sense this place is special.

Please continue to pray for all of us and I will write again soon! Missing family and home but have a feeling this will be a life changing trip.

Love Steph xx

P.S Excuse any typos or spelling mistakes as am still a bit jetlagged etc 

2 more sleeps!

I still have all my packing to do and will get this done tomorrow and then hopefully manage to get some sleep tomorrow night before the early 4.00am start on Friday  morning!


I'll write soon when I have something more interesting to share!

I am very excited and feel very blessed to be going.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Steph xx

8 more sleeps

Like the title says - 8 more sleeps! It feels a bit surreal that this time next week we will be about to go! 

I've been brushing up on some Bengali phrases, looking at YouTube videos of the region but still really have no idea what to expect which I suppose is part of the magic of going ! 

Please pray for all of us as we prepare emotionally and physically for this trip. Getting very excited but am also feeling just a little bit sick which I've been told is perfectly natural! :-)

Not long now!

Not sure where the time is going and it is going... scarily fast.
16 sleeps to go as my children would have said when they were little.
Any words of wisdom would be welcome from any of you who have been to India before!

In just under three weeks I will be jetting off with seven of my work colleagues on a BMS staff team to India.

Despite classing myself as reasonably well travelled I do admit to having a few conflicting feelings regarding this trip. Whilst I am naturally excited, I will also admit to feeling a little nervous about the inevitable culture shock as well as trying to keep myself healthy. There are also the challenges of working as a team in a totally different environment from the one we have left behind!

Having said that I feel incredibly privileged to have be given this opportunity. As a keen amateur photographer 
( emphasis on the amateur) I will also attempt to capture some of our experiences so that they can be shared with others.

My prayer is that we as individuals and as a team grow closer to God and closer to each other through what we experience on this trip and I also hope that we can make a difference, even if it is a small difference, simply by having gone. Please pray for all of us and I sincerely thank you in advance for all your encouragements as I think I for one will need them!

This is my first ever blog so please bear with me!

The sights, sounds and smells of India await me!

Love Steph xx