Day 1 – 14th August
We landed at Chennai airport, South India, at 3.30am local time and were greeted by, what felt like, the 28 degree heat of a greenhouse, a friendly face sent by our host to point us to our connecting flight, and a cup of the local Chai – a refreshing drink of hot, sweet tea – just what I needed.
A few hours later we were on the streets of Hyderabad, being driven expertly by our driver, who was making full use of every inch of the road, dodging in and out of six lanes of motorbikes, Tuk-Tuks (3-wheel taxis), the odd brave pedestrian and cows feeding on the central reservation (no joke!). Yep, India certainly seems different to the UK.
After a quick snack in a roadside café, where our two white faces were the source of much amusement, it was on to the train and a 4 hour journey before finally arriving at the residence of the Bishop of Dornakal, from the Church of South India. We were applauded by lines of children and showered with garlands of flowers.
Day 2 – 15th August
Today is Independence Day for India and so we were part of flag-raising celebrations accompanied by their National Anthem. At one of the larger festivities we were treated to an excellent cultural programme. This provided the opportunity to see some children from the deaf school perform – two boys dancing dressed as girls!? Then an athletic display from the deaf lads doing human pyramid stacks – it was so good, I forgot to take a photo. In India deaf children have separate schools and a different syllabus, despite their obvious capabilities to perform on equal terms with their mainstream peers.
From this event we rushed off to Khammam, a 45 minute drive away, past more tooting taxis and lumbering cows, arriving at St Mary’s Polio Centre, where 70 disabled children live, 8 to a room, sleeping on a mat on the concrete floor, with a small locker to keep their belongings.
Day 3 – 16th August
Had productive meetings with the Centre staff. It looks feasible for a Wheels for the World trip to come here next year.
Visited the school on-site for pupils with severe learning disabilities. Two teachers, untrained, do what they can for the pupils, none of whom have verbal communication. At least these children are in school. We heard that some parents of children with learning disabilities chain up their children or keep them in a cage!!
On the positive side, we heard about a former student from the Polio centre who didn’t finish his schooling but had a good business brain. He started repairing bikes, then progressed to hiring them out which made him more money. He is now a big businessman selling Real estate.
Day 4 – 17th August
Visited the neighbouring school where the pupils with Polio are also educated. In each classroom I typically saw 40 – 70 pupils sitting quietly behind desks, boys separate from girls while being taught from a blackboard by the teacher.
In the evening we were treated to a ‘Cultural Programme’ of dancing and singing at the Polio Centre – and it was good to see some of the children with Polio were included. Towards the end of the evening we were given 5 minutes to think of a song to do in front of the children! Singing is not my strong point but I think our version of “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” went down ok!
Day 5 – 18th August
Visited a former Polio student, who is now a teacher at a local school. Anoorada is a wheelchair user and gets to work by rickshaw bicycle which takes her 10 minutes to clamber into. Unfortunately, if her driver doesn’t show up, she can’t get to work!
In the afternoon we visited a Pastor who is planning to build a hostel and school for disabled children. He has two twin girls with learning disabilities and had a real ‘heart’ for disabled children.
Leaving the Bishop behind, we continue our journey to Chennai by overnight train.
Day 6 – 19th August
Arrived in Chennai after 11 hour train journey through the night. Taken by car to meet our host, Paul Renganathan, Director of World Bible School (WBS) and Pastor of the Church of Christ in Chennai. We met him at the grounds of a potential school planned for 2009 which would include fee-paying students and poor and disabled children. We met with over 100 disabled people plus 250 others and talked to them about disability from a Biblical perspective and then handed out Bibles to the children and 5 new handcycles to some of the disabled people.
Day 7 – 20th August
Visited 3 Sunday church services where we again spoke from the Bible to the people about how God sees disabled people.
In the afternoon we visited an orphanage and talked and shared with the children there.
Day 8 – 21st August
Hectic day today. Saw and prayed with patients at the Faith Hospital run by WBS then saw the computer college and potential wheelchair distribution site. At lunchtime we met with some contacts who could be potential partners in the work of disability ministry.
We visited the place where they make the handcycles – could this be a positive add-on to a Wheels for the World distribution?
We finished off the day by meeting World Vision India who are interested in linking up with Integr8 to look at some disability training in some communities.
Day 9 – 22nd August
Met more children in an orphanage and talked and prayed with them. Their orphanage is based in a slum area with a lot of idol worship going on locally. We were privileged to meet some of the local people, including a man who is walking again after suffering badly from an electrocution, and were invited into some of the people’s homes to pray with them.
The day and our visit to India ended with us giving a talk about disability from the Bible at an evening gospel meeting.
Day 10 – 23rd August
Woke up at 4.30am to begin long journey home – eventually arriving safely at Heathrow 16 hours later.
