FEBRUARY 6 - 11, RUTH, GRACE, GURIA, KEZIA AND LEAH TEAMED UP WITH THE SWISS VINEYARD TEAM OF MATHEW, NOEMI AND MICAH FOR THREE DAYS OF CHILDREN'S CAMP IN THE QUEEN OF THE HILLS, DARJEELING! DEV AND HIS SON JOHN JOINED THEM FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS! WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO MY FRIEND OF OVER 33 YEARS MATHEW FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE!
THE TRAIN RIDE WAS SUPER...AIR CONDITIONED (BEST CLASS) RIDE :-) FOR ONCE, THERE WERE NO COCKROACHES IN THE COACHES AND FRESH, LAUNDRY-WASHED BED SHEETS WERE PROVIDED FOR EVERY PASSENGER
THE CHILDREN'S CAMP WAS HELD ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...THERE WERE TWO SESSIONS - 10 AM - 1 PM AND 3 PM - 5 PM. OUR GIRLS LED THE SINGING, ACTION SONG AND JOINED THE SWISS TEAM IN LEADING THE SESSIONS!
THE CHILDREN WERE TAUGHT HINDI, ENGLISH, BENGALI AND SWISS-GERMAN SONGS!
GURIA AND GRACE DANCE TO A DAYA'S SONG...
LEAH BEHAVED ALMOST PERFECT...AND TASTED HER FIRST CUPPA OF PURE DARJEELING TEA!
THE TEAM IN FRONT OF DARJEELING STATION
I HAVE ADDED THIS PHOTOGRAPH ON PURPOSE...THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD (AT NIGHT 4 DEGREE CELCIUS) BUT COME MORNING, THERE WAS SUNSHINE AND THE RAYS REFLECTED VIBRANT COLORS!
MT. KANCHUNJANGA - THE THIRD HIGHEST PEAK IN THE WORLD (PART OF THE EVEREST RANGE)...VIEWED HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM DARJEELING!
KEZIA IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL WE STAYED
PIGEONS IN THE MALL...
HOTEL VILLA EVEREST...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY DEV TO VISITORS TO DARJ!
RUTH, KEZIA, GURIA AND GRACE
DEV WITH LEAH AT THE MALL
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| THE SETTING OF THE SUN AND THE END OF OUR VISIT TO DARJEELING IT WAS A WONDERFUL VISIT AND AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS. WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE SWISS TEAM FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOPE HOME CALCUTTA FAMILY TO JOIN THEM FOR THESE FEW DAYS. AS RUTH REMARKED, THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR THEM...NEVER DID THEY IMAGING THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE THEM THIS OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT DARJEELING ON A COMFORTABLE TRAIN, STAY AT A GOOD AND COMFORTABLE HOTEL AND BE OF SOME USE TO REACH OUT TO THE CHILDREN...MOSTLY POOR NEPALI CHILDREN WITH GOD'S LOVE! |
