We've had an interesting journey so far. Our flight out of Pearson was delayed about 4 hours, which meant that we missed our connecting flight, and had to take 2 other flights, to get here (so 3 planes in total). We went about 8 hours from Toronto to Frankfurt, then about 5.5 from Frankfurt to Dubai, then another 6 hours from Dubai to Kolkata ... I think ... It was all very confusing. In total it was probably about a day and a half of travel. Driving to the Shaws place, Hilary threw up in the car. Victoria cried in a restaurant during lunch ... these 2 troopers are staying in the same room ... sharing a bed. 

We had a terrific time on the retreat!! Our theme was 'Walking in Freedom', and Monique shared a really good message about transforming like a butterfly, and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. We started out with music, then the message, then Melody led the girls in making a butterfly craft. After lunch, Adrianna led giving a message from Isaiah 54 about God building a city with jewels, and how we are God's jewels, and he is building the city of Kolkata with us. Then the four of our team did a spa time with the ladies, doing facials, manicures, hair and make-up, and hand massages. Then we watched a movie and had a special dinner for the ladies, and they slept over.

The next day Maria, who also does ministry in Kolkata, led a message about forgiveness. We had the opportunity to write prayers about forgiveness on pieces of paper and then burn them. It was a really good time for the ladies since the have a lot of hurts in their pasts. Then after lunch we had a graduation ceremony for the ladies in the jewelry business. 

Today we went to Howrah train station, which is where Stewart's ministry is. There are a lot of people, and there are homeless children who live there. In order to survive they sniff glue, which takes away the hunger pains. A bowl of dahl and rice (a common cheap meal) costs 12 rupees, but a jar of glue costs 1.5 rupees. Sometimes the young girls have babies, then they get high, forget their babies on the tracks and the babies die. Stewart said that he doesn't expect babies to live longer than 4 or 5 years. After our tour, we went to a place where the were doing ministry with about 10 kids. Victoria led a story about the children coming to Jesus, then we taught them 'Jesus loves the little Children' and 'Telephone to Jesus'. We played some games and did a craft.

Our time here has been great, and we feel so blessed to be able to partner with the Shaw family. Please keep the ladies from the Jewelry business, the kids from the train station, and the Shaws in your prayers.