Feb 20 - 21 Kharang, Wamawlien, Mawlat

Sunday 20 was easygoing. Gail preached at Kharang about 2 miles from where we were staying at the AMCV in Korbar. Church is in the afternoon, so our big event for the morning was sending Lindy off in the big yellow taxi to Mawlat to preach there – about a two hour toot of 20 miles. Gail and I were quite pleased to witness a child dedication for two families conducted by the very fine Rev. Nangroi, who had spent some time at the UUA in Boston. Gail noticed 7 restless boys in a pew in the middle, so launched her William Ellory Channing sermon with a tale about a boy named William who was told he was naughty. Khlan translated with charm. She had the kids hooked, and the rest also: Rev. Darihun (suppressing her maternity leave again, there for the closing prayer) said Gail was 'brilliant'. We spent the afternoon and evening meal with Darihun, Nangroi, and one of the families of the newly dedicated children.
Next day we took off in the Big Yellow Taxi (SHG owned Land Cruiser) for Wahmawlein, partner church to Wayland MA, where we enjoyed an enthusiastic sung welcome by the children in the school, a tour guided by young Blesstar Kshias, who came with us from AMCV to his home town, and a local teacher, and spectacular scenery. Blesstar showed me the soccer field funded by the Wayland church and dug by hand. The steep slopes on either side of this ridge village meant that a flat space was at a premium and heavy machinery couldn't navigate. We had tea courtesy of the SHG store and met Nangroi's father.






We moved on to Mawlat where the slopes were if anything steeper, and a large church nested above the brood of school rooms, two stories in front, 4 in back. The Head Teacher, Recover Sawian, was most gracious, and his staff served a lovely lunch






in the adjacent house. The 60 family church was expanding the school to tenth level with the generous help of their partner church, Mount Vernon (VA, NJ?). We learned that the people of the village climbed down for two hours a day to work the fields around Umngot (Ngot river), and climbed back at the end of the day.