Training Photos - Coonoor India

Are you ready for a story?

The India Sunday School Union generates revenue, in part, form growing tea leaves on their property and selling to a local tea company. Here is a woman picking the tea leaves.

Amy amongst the tea plants.

Andrew's, very small, fan club.

.

Andrew was invited to preach at the ecumenical chapel on Sunday morning. When told that the preacher usually takes 1/2 hour he stretched things out to 18 minutes! Also asked to preside at Holy Communion where he could do 'whatever he wanted'; pretty much stuck to the Anglican Eucharistic prayer with a Godly Play twist. Generated an idea for a Godly Play(ish) Eucharistic Prayer.

Coonoor India, January 16-18

Well that was quite an experience! The default position for Godly Play trainers is one trainer per 12 participants over 3 days; and so on average around 24 participants per training for 2 trainers. For some time we had been told that there would be around 25 participants for this inaugural India training event. But just before arriving we were informed that there were up to 50 people coming and would that be alright?! Well clearly it would have to be alright and so we put our heads together and devised a plan. It involved breaking into two groups, creative time allocations, a lot of moving about, and 12 hour days for the trainers. But we made it happen and today we accredited 44 newly trained Godly Play practitioners for India.

The group photo

It was hard work, but it was also a delightful 3 days of storytelling, wondering and learning. We are confident that under the auspices of The India Sunday School Union and with the enthusiasm of these new Godly Players that Godly Play has a bright future in this part of the world.

And what a delight it is to be in India. One of our first tasks was to go to a local shop and deck ourselves out in Indian garb. As such Amy is now the owner of a couple of of Kurta and Salwar's and Andrew some Kurta as well. (If by chance you are Indian and reading this please forgive us if we have mis-identified!)

Blending in

And the food! Hot and spicy 3 times a day but our stomachs are bearing up and we have experienced many a culinary delight. Of particular note was a visit to a local tandoori stand- aptly named The Tandoori Hut. There we had an Egg Paratha which was one of the most delicious things we had ever tasted - absolutely exquisite. Upon returning to Toronto Andrew will make it a priority to find somewhere in the region that makes this very thing. 

The Tandoori Hut

Special thanks to Ajit Prasadam, the Executive Director of The ISSU, and to his wife Daisy - Ajit is the one with the vest and tie and Daisy the one with the red hair. We have been so well treated here, and, perhaps not surprisingly, we have fallen in love with India and Indians. As  it is with Godly Play we will be back to train some more and to train trainers. On the one hand we can't wait, on the other hand we look forward to the day when Godly Play India stands alone.

Tomorrow Andrew preaches at the local church. After that some welcome vacation time in various parts of India. Stay tuned. 

Coonoor India, January 14

We have arrived in Coonoor, the home of St Andrew Centre, the training facility for the India Sunday School Union - http://www.issuho.org/Pages/StAndrewCentre.aspx 

The drive here from Combiatore, the closest airport, was spectacular. We climbed and climbed into the Nilgiri Hills, also known as the Blue Mountains, which evokes both Southern Ontario and Australia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiri_mountains 

Our home for the next 6 days is a lovely cottage set on the grounds. We were greeted with garlands and refreshments and were quite moved by the hospitality shown. But what we needed more than anything, after back-to-back overnight flights, was sleep. And sleep we did. Except now it is bedtime and I, Andrew, am wide awake!

Tomorrow we set up for the training and then Thursday through Sunday a Godly Play Core Accreditation for 46.

The Nilgiri Hills

Greeted with garlands.

Our cottage home.

Johannesburg January 9-12 and Dubai January 13

Johannesburg

It was back to Benoni for another Core Training. Amy and I were here at St Dunstan's Cathedral for the first Godly Play Core Training in South Africa in July of 2012. At that time we put together a GP space using small chairs as shelves for the few stories Joan had made, This time we had more stories, brand new shelves and a second room!

Joan and the new shelves!

Building the circle.

As a parting gift each church represented got some 'people of God' made by Stan and Joan.

We had a successful training and accredited 24 new Godly Play practitioners for South Africa.

Sunday morning Andrew had the honour of preaching at the Cathedral. We celebrated The Baptism of our Lord and the sermon, among other things, focussed on the affirmation to be found in baptism when we, like Jesus at his baptism, are pronounced 'beloved'. The liturgy, however, had other things in mind with a strong penitential bent - a confession, the penitential section of The Great Litany, and the prayer of humble access! Reminded again that there are more messages on the average Sunday than those spoken from the pulpit.

Dubai

Travelling from South Africa to India we had a layover in Dubai. There we experienced the gracious hospitality of one of Andrew's parishioners. Phil is an architect who lives and works in Dubai much of the time. It was a delight to be welcomed by him and to have a personal guide for our brief stay.

After a nap and a shower we headed out to explore. 

Amy and Phil on the 'Creek'.

Amy with her new friend.

At the Gold Market. Guess who left with some bling?! (Hint, not the guys in the picture.)

As it turns out the tallest structure in the world is no longer The CN Tower; it is The Burgh Kalifa in Dubai. We ventured towards the top but as it turns out the observation deck is not at, or near, the top. So Torontonians we can celebrate that we still have the world's highest observation deck!

Andrew at the top.

What is without debate, however, is that Dubai has the world's largest shopping mall. Complete with an aquarium.

 And also complete with some of our travel money!

On top of the world

And it's off to India for more training.

Mafeking January 7-8

On arriving in Johannesburg we were picked up by Joan and her husband Stan for the 3 1/2 hour drive to Mafeking. (Joan is our Godly Play person in SA and Stan has been ably assisting with the building of shelves and materials. Stan will also be trained this coming weekend as an accredited GP practitioner.)

Mafeking is known by many schoolchildren occupants of the former British Empire due to the brave defense of the town by a small force against vastly superior enemy forces.   Notably it was the occasion for Colonel, later Lord, Baden Powell to make his name. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Mafeking

Obviously the siege and the Boer Anglo War in general is remembered differently by Afrikaners.  It has been interesting and educational to hear of this perspective from our South African friends.

Our purpose in Mafeking, or Maheking it's African name, was to introduce participants to Godly Play and to deliver some training on the spirituality of children in general. The 30 or so participants work with a German Lutheran NGO and work with children in homes, in after-school  programmes, and for many, in church. Their first language is Tswana and while many of them spoke good English much of our content - especially Andrew's! - was translated. We were especially inspired by the singing. Back home it is common to take a break from learning with a stretch or a with a walk around the room; here they sing and dance. And what singing and dancing!

A focal shelf in Mafeking!

In the picture below we are being sent on our way in song.

We will take away many memories from this short experience, the most imminent and ubiquitous of which are the many mosquito bites covering our bodies! Back to Johannesburg for our next Core Training.

Durban January 3-6

Sunday morning I, Andrew, was a guest at St John the Baptist Anglican Church in Durban South Africa. This was a special day in which the congregation welcomed a new Rector and his family. I was struck by the spirit of hopefulness and optimism in the air and the very real sense of accomplishment on the part of parish leaders who were clearly anticipating a new and renewed period of effective ministry. I was also struck by the reality that the way forward won't be without its challenges; the new Rector will disappoint some parishioners and others will disappoint him. But for today, all good!

And the worship was heavenly. There was much apologising that the organist and choir were on a break - and I'm sure the organist is a very fine organist and the choir of sound voice - but I found the music inspiring and moving. In the absence of the aforementioned the congregation would break into a-capella Zulu singing, including at the end of the sermon! The rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful had me practically weeping.

Sunday afternoon, across the street at the Methodist Church, we graduated 17 new accredited Godly Play practitioners. This was a quality group of individuals who will no doubt be instrumental in growing Godly Play in South Africa. Special thanks to Joan Truby who organised this training and will be heartened by the addition of many keen colleagues. Joan has laboured long and hard, and often alone, to see Godly Play established in this part of the world. And thanks also to The Rev'd Brenda Timmer who also helped organise and graciously hosted the event.

Special thanks also to Leigh and Stephen who generously invited us into their home during the training. Good food, drink, conversation, and company made the evenings a delight. 

Sunday night we checked into a hotel and are spending Monday on the beach. Our apologies to friends in Canada but today it is hot and sunny and we enjoyed a frolic in the Indian Ocean.

Tomorrow we fly to Johannesburg and then drive to Mahikeng for more training.

Wine and Sand

January 1-3

We spent New Year's Day on a road trip through the wine region of the Western Cape and the winding roads of the coast. Great wine, beautiful views.

Many thanks to our gracious and kind hosts Tallis and Sue. They helped make our time in Cape Town both memorable and comfortable. We will be back!

Thursday morning we woke bright and early to head to the airport for our flight to Durban. Having arrived we headed to the Pinetown Methodist Church to set up for the Godly Play Core Training; which included a trip to the beach for sand for the desert bags!

Friday the training began. 18 participants including Anglicans, Methodists, Reformed and Lutheran. Also of note a number of participants for whom English is a second language - Afrikaans and Kwa Zulu being their first. A rainbow training in a rainbow nation!