Monday-Wednesday 7th-9th January 2008

We have spent the past 3 days at the New Hope base. I have also spent a good portion of this time running around the city trying to buy a PA and power source to compliment the data projector we gave them (We ended up with a generator). There is nothing like Retra Vision here. All the shops that sell electrical equipment look like backstreet dodgy bros shops. Wait a minute, they ARE backstreet dodgy bros shops! I bought a DVD player which I THOUGHT was a SONY. Authentic packaging... oldest trick in the book. When I took it back; “Oh sir, you wanted ORIGINAL Sony? Why you not say? Here you go. That’ll be 7500 rupees. Thank you come again.” Also, and I’m not exaggerating, I asked to see a small amplifier. The guy pulls out a 40W guitar amp. When I asked if he had anything else, he said that this was the only one in Visakhapatnam (a city of 10 million). Of course we did find another shop which had a 50W guitar amp and again I was assured there were no other shops. THIS was the only amp in the city. So, how do you find a decent, light weight PA system here? You only have one option... PRAY! IT WORKED! Stumbled across a car audio shop that dabbles in PA on the side. He could get a nice unit with neodymium speaker magnet (very light weight) but the cost was astronomical. After a very convoluted semi-conversation, he said he could get one much cheaper, fully imported but assembled here. We’ll see!
Anyhoo, back at the base (a little slice of heaven in an otherwise completely manic society) we have spent time with the most beautiful people you could hope to meet. Selfless, humble, gentle, and grateful. The kids have all made good friends here despite the language barrier. A little girl was brought in who has lost her parents (dad died in a truck accident & mum committed suicide). She now has a whole new family here, an education, food, clothing, shelter. The guy who is in charge of all things electrical and technological (New Hope’s version of Johann) is a real genius. They are very techno savvy. Anyway, his name is Biku, 22 yrs old and was found begging at the railway station when he was 5. No future, no hope, lowest caste, beggar. You get the picture. He is now learning to trade shares on the internet! HELLO! He’ll probably be a millionaire by the time he’s 30. Other railway boys are here who have lost limbs from being run over by trains, but they have such an amazing attitude – make the most of what you’ve got. Another girl, Pawani, 13, lost both her parents. Again, no hope, no future. But thanks to these brilliant people, she wants to become a doctor, and will no doubt achieve it. These kids really value their education and totally understand how blessed they are to have this opportunity. I can see why this is called “New Hope”. I’m in tears just writing this. Eliazar and Ruth are simply stunning people. I’ve never met anyone like them. In a culture that values status above all, these two remain perfectly humble and self-effacing. I think this is how Jesus would have been. Pete