FInal day and final reflections ( Friday 14 February)

Yesterday, just before sundown, Anu took us for a walk through a beautiful park and then along by the Hooghly river. This was such a lovely place and there were lots of couples and families strolling along the riverside. As the sun set over the Hooghly, it was a good time to unwind a little and reflect on the last two weeks.

There were signs up everywhere asking people to use the rubbish bins and declaring that this was a no spitting area! Quite a contrast from the rest of Kolkata.

Kathy, me, Charlotte and Anj

Later that evening we took the four action teamers out to dinner to B-B-Que to say thank you as they have been brilliant company and such a help to us. Their family and friends have every reason to be very proud of them.

This morning having checked in and printed our boarding passes we went to see the Victoria Memorial which was built between 1906 and 1921 and dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria. It is now a museum and tourist destination. Being Valentines Day there were loads of couples and families enjoying the beautiful surroundings. As we sat on the steps leading up to the main building we became a bit of a spectacle ourselves with a number of families and couples asking to have their photos taken with us.

Following lunch we met with Benjamin Francis who gave us a gift of a Big Life mug each. He also prayed for us as a team and thanked us for what we had shared and done on the overnight visit.

Anu had invited us to join the staff for tea in the garden at 4pm and we were very touched to find a table set out with a white table cloth and eight chairs a bit like the top table at a wedding. Pizza, cakes and chai were served and the staff gave us gifts of handmade leather purses and a small bouquet of flowers each. They then sang to us and prayed for us. Kathy led us beautifully as always in an Irish blessing and it seemed a fitting way to share the last little bit of our time with them. As we mingled with the staff I realised I would never forget the love and care we had experienced here and what an asset they all are to the guest house. It was very emotional and there were quite a few tears! None of us felt that we deserved this treatment from the staff as they had been the ones who had served us for the past two weeks. Again we all felt humbled.

Farewell tea party in the garden

It was then time to leave for the airport and apart from a bit of a chaotic episode through immigration in Mumbai airport we were on our way home.

What will I take away from my time in India? Well for one I was continually surprised and humbled by the people we met. Yes Kolkata is dirty, messy, noisy and smelly in places but also vibrant, exciting, challenging and memorable and as one of my colleagues alluded to after a recent visit, a 'city of contrasts!' It was also a privilege working with an amazing group of people who made up the BMS team. We all have grown closer through this and supported each other so well.

The work of GNCEM and Big Life took on a whole new meaning because we saw it for ourselves. These people are working on the front line so to speak and having the opportunity to be part of it albeit for a very short time was such a privilege. The visit to Freeset, Connections and Kolkata City Mission again helped us to understand a little of the immense need that these people have and to admire the incredible people that give so much of their time and efforts to help them.

During my time here I had wondered why it had taken coming to India to find a more meaningful relationship with God. I now believe this is because it is so easy for your vision of God to become clouded when you are living your normal life as other things can get in the way and you become complacent.  I believe it took me coming out of my comfort zone and witnessing the many individuals and organisations we met living Christ to see God in action more clearly. Also having to rely more in His strength through some challenging times has helped me to grow in my faith.


God is as much in Grove, where I live,  as he is in India. The challenge for me is to now live Christ more in my own life and my own community.


I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Love and God Bess! Steph xx