On the 11th, having passed over the Myntang River between Sahsniang, Meghalaya and 
Kuriliya, Assam we travel over rough roads to Jirikindeng, a small village with a Catholic church and a hospital, and yes, a Unitarian church.
The building is new, dedicated a year ago, and the new dorms (hostel) are nearly complete. Unitarian students from the outlying villages of Rongkimjalin and Umkhirmi will stay there to attend either the Catholic or the state school – a
first step to a Unitarian school. Gail needed to rest and was tended by Glorice Milikpi, daughter of our host for lunch and a generous donor to the church, Mr. Basatimung. Glorice with her husband, Sakat Singh. All of the Khasi people are matrilineal. He is from Meghalaya, where they met in college. We moved on to the Rongkimjalin church – as promised, everyone in the village is Unitarian – I did a little jig!
The village was founded in 1979 by the gentleman on the right, from
members of the
Umkhirmi Unitarian Church – as the success of the farming increased the population, the village g
rew, along with the church. This building was in the most need of upgrade and expansion of any we've seen yet. One of the crops that better roads (!) has made possible, fresh delivery being paramount.
Gail consults with a church leader during an open meeting. Our friend Lyridium Mukhim
from Mukhap translates, assisted by a local man (in the cap), as the Assam Karbi are a distinct tribe with a different dialect. (See what a brave lad Sakat is?)
After dark, we continued to Umkhirmi, where we had dinner (with the best pineapple ever
for dessert) and spent the night, hostel style. After breakfast, which this proud new father helped his wife cook by 
doing the baby care, we visited the Umkhirmi church, where the village was called to the meeting by solar powered PA.
Gail addresses the meeting, bringing greetings from the U.S. which is as fine a geographical reference as most people comprehend (younger folks sometimes get 'Nashville', but more as a reference on the radio dial than a place. The congregants assemble outside as we make our way to the school.
Umkhirmi has the first Unitarian fish farm we've seen. The pond is made by damming a small stream, seeding with fingerlings from a hatchery, then draining the
pond the next year to harvest the fish. 60 % of the fish are used by the villages, and 40% go to market. We then head back to Jowai, taking a shortcut that brought us this sticky spot in the road. We all piled out and gathered sticks, the driver jacked up the back, and we shoved them under the wheel.
Sunday, Feb 13, Gail prepares to visit the Sunday School in the morning, and preach at the afternoon service. We have breakfast
with the Unitarian School caretaker, Leiki's 'second mother'. She's here with two of her 'nieces'. We are truly well cared for by everyone we meet.
Kuriliya, Assam we travel over rough roads to Jirikindeng, a small village with a Catholic church and a hospital, and yes, a Unitarian church.
The building is new, dedicated a year ago, and the new dorms (hostel) are nearly complete. Unitarian students from the outlying villages of Rongkimjalin and Umkhirmi will stay there to attend either the Catholic or the state school – a
first step to a Unitarian school. Gail needed to rest and was tended by Glorice Milikpi, daughter of our host for lunch and a generous donor to the church, Mr. Basatimung. Glorice with her husband, Sakat Singh. All of the Khasi people are matrilineal. He is from Meghalaya, where they met in college. We moved on to the Rongkimjalin church – as promised, everyone in the village is Unitarian – I did a little jig!
The village was founded in 1979 by the gentleman on the right, from
members of the
Umkhirmi Unitarian Church – as the success of the farming increased the population, the village g
rew, along with the church. This building was in the most need of upgrade and expansion of any we've seen yet. One of the crops that better roads (!) has made possible, fresh delivery being paramount.
Gail consults with a church leader during an open meeting. Our friend Lyridium Mukhim
from Mukhap translates, assisted by a local man (in the cap), as the Assam Karbi are a distinct tribe with a different dialect. (See what a brave lad Sakat is?)
After dark, we continued to Umkhirmi, where we had dinner (with the best pineapple ever
for dessert) and spent the night, hostel style. After breakfast, which this proud new father helped his wife cook by 
doing the baby care, we visited the Umkhirmi church, where the village was called to the meeting by solar powered PA.
Gail addresses the meeting, bringing greetings from the U.S. which is as fine a geographical reference as most people comprehend (younger folks sometimes get 'Nashville', but more as a reference on the radio dial than a place. The congregants assemble outside as we make our way to the school.
Umkhirmi has the first Unitarian fish farm we've seen. The pond is made by damming a small stream, seeding with fingerlings from a hatchery, then draining the
pond the next year to harvest the fish. 60 % of the fish are used by the villages, and 40% go to market. We then head back to Jowai, taking a shortcut that brought us this sticky spot in the road. We all piled out and gathered sticks, the driver jacked up the back, and we shoved them under the wheel.
Sunday, Feb 13, Gail prepares to visit the Sunday School in the morning, and preach at the afternoon service. We have breakfast
with the Unitarian School caretaker, Leiki's 'second mother'. She's here with two of her 'nieces'. We are truly well cared for by everyone we meet.
SUNDAY FEB 13 Missing post restored 8-11:
Sunday 13, am, Gail visits church school in Jowai. Helpme 
moderates a more than animated discussion about where to go and logistics for a field trip: 
they will visit the living bridge, a long hike to a gorge crossed by trained tree roots, very anceant. Rev Laloo, 3rd right and Rev. Gail, 2nd left, carefully dressed by Leiki in a sari (and sweater), meet before the service 
with some church leaders. Once again, Rev. Helpme Morhmen translates. The Jowai church is the 'Mother Church' of NEI Unitarianism, founded in 1887 by H.K.Singh. 
Dinner Sunday night with Homeland Lamar and his family. Rev. Lindy Latham, who had preached that day in Padu, was with us, and has become a good friend. Marshall Lamar, 1st on the right above, Homeland's brother, would have joined us but was called to the deathbed of a close friend. Homeland is a civil engineer and designed his elegant home.
moderates a more than animated discussion about where to go and logistics for a field trip: 
they will visit the living bridge, a long hike to a gorge crossed by trained tree roots, very anceant. Rev Laloo, 3rd right and Rev. Gail, 2nd left, carefully dressed by Leiki in a sari (and sweater), meet before the service 
with some church leaders. Once again, Rev. Helpme Morhmen translates. The Jowai church is the 'Mother Church' of NEI Unitarianism, founded in 1887 by H.K.Singh. 
Dinner Sunday night with Homeland Lamar and his family. Rev. Lindy Latham, who had preached that day in Padu, was with us, and has become a good friend. Marshall Lamar, 1st on the right above, Homeland's brother, would have joined us but was called to the deathbed of a close friend. Homeland is a civil engineer and designed his elegant home.
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