I hope everyone had a nice time over the holidays and wish everyone a great year ahead.

 

Today my story in Rourkela begins on my last full day here before going back to Kolkata. After I get up and go to the Convent kitchen my breakfast is waiting for me along with a few Sisters waiting to sit with me. I want you to know that not only on this trip but as well as every other trip that I have made to Rourkela the Daughters of the Cross Sisters look after me like I am part of their family with no exceptions and that is with everything that I do in Rourkela….

 

One thing for sure… I am never allowed to eat alone. Today when I sit down to eat there are 3 other Sisters sitting with me at the table. The funny part is I am the only one eating as the Sisters have eaten hours ago…They just sit with me and make sure everything is ok. I may be part of their family this past week but I am also their guest..

 

In India being a guest means that you always come first and always get the best of whatever it is while others may go without.

 

When I sit at the table one Sister may be talking to me while another Sister may be getting me some hot toast to put on a dish , while the Sister next to me is taking the cover off the bowl of my food. When the cover comes off the bowl the Sisters look at me and smile .. It’s again 3 eggs!

 

The Sisters put the eggs on the hot toast, and I have dropped eggs on toast along with my packaged oatmeal with bananas in it.. I’m telling you it was not just good …It was very very good …

 

After breakfast I meet Sister Floria, the head Sister of the Provincial, outside saying a prayer at the big Crucifix just outside the Convent front door to the side of the building. It’s a very pretty area with flowers that will all bloom in the springtime. I too say a prayer and tell Sister this all looks very pretty. Someone has done a nice job. Especially at night with the pretty lights. She said yes, it is beautiful….

 

Today I will make 3 visits with all the sweets and drinks that Sister Anna Mary and I had bought yesterday at the Super Max bakery.

 

Our first stop is to say goodbye to the Didi’s of St Joseph Convent and Schools. You must be wondering what Didi means ?

 

Think of it like this: In India I am called Uncle by everyone out of respect for me being an older man. An older woman would be called Auntie by everyone. So now we come to Didi…A Didi is an affectionate term meaning “Older Sister”. and it is often used to show respect to an elder female sibling or a close female friend.

 

The Didi’s at St Joseph assist the Sisters and the school with any help that is needed. They all work hard and do a great job. I am very proud to say that I have known some of the Didi’s for many years and we have become friends. When I send boxes of donations it is the Didi’s and the Sisters who always help me unpack everything and get it to the proper places..

 

So at the end of each visit I like to sponsor a nice dinner for everyone to say a big Thank You to all the Didi’s…..Everyone was very Happy and full of smiles…

My Second stop is to my friend Sister Prava Moms and Dads house. Sister Prava grew up in Rourkela and now she is a Daughter of the Cross Sister here in Rourkela. I could never pass a Sisters house without stopping by to say hello. Sister Prava is a very hard working Sister. This year she helped me at the Hostel dinner for the children serving the meal.

 

When Sister Anna Mary and I came to Sister Pravas family house.. The Mom and Dad were happy to see us…Our visit was short, but I got to meet Sister Pravas Brother, his wife and their little boys along with her Mom and Dad. We brought everyone a nice chocolate cake from Super Max bakery….It was a very nice visit seeing everyone again just to catch up and say hello.

 

The third and last visit was to visit Sister Anna Mary’s family. Sister’s Niece Anupama has the same birth date that I have Oct 19th and we always celebrate together with her entire family when I am in Rourkela no matter what the date may be.

 

It’s been 5 long years since our last celebration. Sister Anna Mary’s family, just like all of us here, has had their ups and downs since the last time I had visited them in 2019. Since that time the world along with both our families have gone through a lot. More so than I even want to think about , let alone write about today.

 

So today, I will only write about the good news with Sister Anna Mary’s family in the last 5 years.

 

This is the good news …In 5 years there are 2 additions to Sister Anna Mary’s family..Two beautiful little girls …Anaya & Aryana. What BEAUTIFUL children they are…..

 

Anaya was born July 20, 2020 and Aryana was born on August 15, 2023 India’s Independence Day. So when I met them this year they were 4 1/2 and 1 1/2 years old ….

 

When Sister Anna Mary and I arrived at the house everyone was very happy to see me again and I was very happy to see them. It makes me laugh as I write this, the two little girls just look at me and get next to their Mother Anupama as they were a little afraid of me. After I sat down, in a few minutes the children warmed up to me.

 

Anupama always stays with the Indian custom of washing and drying my hands to welcome me to her home , only this year she had help with little Anaya helping her. It was just beautiful !

 

After I am officially welcomed to the home we sit and talk for a few minutes. Then Anupama goes to the hallway and brings in the Bicycle and Tricycle into the living room that Sister Anna Mary and I had bought just the other day for the 2 children at the Tata Bicycle and Rickshaw Company.

 

At first the children needed a little help getting on the bikes as this was all new to them. But after a few minutes they could not stop sitting on them and trying to pedal the bikes. Anaya loved the bell on her bike. She would just sit on the bike and ring the bell over and over again. She loved it !

 

Aryana would sit on her bike and just smile at everyone in the room, like she was the coolest girl in the world. Everyone in the room loved watching both of the children on the bicycles. I do not know who had the biggest smiles , kids on the bikes or the Adults watching them.

 

After talking and watching both children it was time to cut the Anupama & Ray Birthday cake.

 

Anupama did the honors this year with the help of both of her girls. Everyone had a piece of Birthday Cake with a nice drink along with chips.

 

It was a nice time with Anupama and her family for a few hours, on the last night of my trip to Rourkela.

 

When it was time to say goodbye to everyone because it was late Sister Anna Mary called her friend Rajendra to come and pick us up with his Atul (auto rickshaw ) …

 

When we arrive back at the Convent it’s very dark outside and the lights are on at the pretty Crucifix.

 

It was a very nice night in Rourkela everyone had a nice time.

 

Thanks for all your Help & Support

 

Ray O