UK team visited Baduria

: A clergy team visited us from Wirksworth in the United Kingdom. The team comprised of Canon David Truby from the Church of England, Rev. C. Veitch from URC and Rev. Steve Benet and his wife from the Methodist Church UK.
They visited Baduria to experience th e diversity of our diocese to get a first hand feel of a remote village and experience how tribal Christians worship. They also distributed two rickshaw vans to very needy persons selected by the local congregation.
At Baduria we were amazed by the welcome of the local congregation. The drums began to beat as we got off our jeep. Women dressed in colourful tribal costumes swayed relentlessly to the melodious songs in santhali and the rythmn of the drums being beaten by a blind man. Even our visitors could not resist the impulse to join in a few dance steps as they walked all around the village. They were mesmerized by the surroundings by the time they finally reached the partly finished church building. By then there was a gathering of more than 300 people.
Here they were further amazed as their feet were washed and they acknowledged and exchanged greetings in santhali.
The congregation members shared their annual traumas of being affected by floods, watching their houses and cattles being washed away. They shared that they trusted that God had and will never leave them. They began building the Church building as a symbol of their resistance of bad times. They believe that surely this will help them overcome their insecurities.
They thanked the visitors for their support in empowering two of their very needy congregation members.
Rev. Truby and Rev. S. Benet, too moved for words, presented a collection of photos of how they raised funds for the rickshaws and they went ahead and handed over the rickshaws to two persons who were gleaming with joy. If one looked closely you could see the numerous dreams the eyes had begun to see. They were also given two automatic torches to help them in the night.
After lunch as we walked back, there was silence as each of us were touched by what we had seen and experienced. None of the team members had experienced such peace and welcome which made each one of us – which made each one of us richer in God’s love.
The next day was a speedy visit to Kochpara for the inauguration of the St. Thomas Church. Here Rev. S. Benet gave the message and Canon David Truby blessed and dedicated the Church building to God’s worship.
Here too the team enjoyed the lunch which included fried fish eaten in the scene surrounded by nature. In Kochpara there was a congregation of about 200 odd people.