The Most Holy Place

Since last time we've spent some time at the Calcutta Emmanuel School, more time at the New Market Project and I've played footy with some lads.
The school was how I remember school when I was young, except that they were sharing books, but I imagine school in the UK is quite different now. All lessons were in English. In my class of 15 to 16 year olds we studied plate tectonics, interest in the maths lesson and chemistry. The English Lit teacher had to rebuke the class for not doing their homework. They should have read Scene 3 of Act 4 of Shakespeare's Julius Ceasar. Afterwards we had a meeting to discuss the projects we will be involved in over the next week or so. From Wednesday to Friday I'm at the New Market Project taking Bible Studies with the senior kids from the slum area. Next week I'm with the Anandaloy lads.
So had my first Bible study today at New Market. Taught about the temple curtain tearing in two at the moment Jesus died. Timothy, who is the leader of the pavement clubs, takes a study here each week and he encouraged me to focus on a theme of acceptance. This study came to mind since I've done it before fairly recently, and it seemed to fit with the theme. So I was able to encourage these Untouchable kids that the barriers to approaching God had been taken away by Jesus' death and the little room in this Kolkata slum was now just like the Most Holy Place. Many seem to be genuine Christians. It was nice to teach a group of young people so eager to learn from the Bible. I'd read a passage in English and one of the kids would read the same passage in Hindi, then a teacher would translate anything I said. Today's memory verse, which they expect, was Ephesians 3:12 "In him and through faith in him we can approach God with freedom and confidence." They were most surprised that I don't own a TV, since it transpires that they all have colour tele's and DVD's and mobiles. All these kids live amongst the 171 families in the slum area. I saw one lad washing before the club at the water pump in an ally of the slum, then saw him neat and tidy in the club, then that he's selling handkerchiefs in the evening after school, and going home to watch tele. I can't quite get my head around it. Need to think of another study for tomorrow and maybe a craft activity.
Played my first game of bare foot football in the back yard of Ripon St yesterday. I was soaked in sweat with blistered feet at the end of it. They're quite good, all wannabe Ronaldo's, with the moves. I got a hatrick, no mercy shown. Was exhausted.
Advice - if you're every in Pizza Hut in India do not order the Masala Lemonade. It looks subtle in the menu but it's essentially lemonade with a table spoon of curry powder. I convinced myself on the evening that it was quite nice, I wasn't so sure in the evening following as it came back to haunt me, but at least I'm cleared out now. Sow the wind and you shall reap the whirlwind.
Everyone's back from illness and 'fully operational', getting stuck into the projects.