B
angladesh News
Monthly update 55
June 2015
Mission Partner joint sending with Church of Scotland, CMS,
CWM and Methodist Church
Community Health Advisor
Church of Bangladesh Social Development Programme
(CBSDP)
Address
Flat 5N Quamroon Noor Apartments
9/1 Sir Sayed Ahmed Road
Block A Mohammadpur
Dhaka 1207
Bangladesh
patjamison30@gmail.com
‘A time to weep and a time to laugh’
Hello Everyone
This month the weather feels like it’s getting hotter day by day and unfortunately there are still several more
months of the very hot humid weather to cope with. I was reminded however recently by a friend that the
hot weather will pass and we can then look forward to a lovely warm (not hot) spell followed by a much
cooler winter. This made me think how seasons continue regardless. The book of Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us
‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens’ and verse 4 ‘a time to
weep and a time to laugh.’ I know the scripture is not speaking specifically about the seasons throughout
the year however I relate these verses to my situation at the moment in Bangladesh.
My time has come to begin a series of farewells to a land I have grown to love immensely and for people I
care for dearly. It’s a country where I feel I wish I could do so much more, however with 160 million
inhabitants of whom approximately 15 million live in the capital of Dhaka I really have tried to do what I
can and will have to leave it all up to others to continue. It is
however now my time to weep.
Around this time of the year all over the country the very popular
fruits of litchis, mangoes and jackfruit are in season. I adore the
first two however even though I have tried to acquire a taste for
jackfruit, which is the country’s national fruit, I just cannot. I
thought of how different these fruits are not just in terms of size
but of texture and taste. Like us all we are all made very diverse, we
feel and act differently and all have various abilities.
The one thing I have struggled with over the past five years is not
being able to speak even half-decent Bangla. Many friends have arrived several years after me and they now
speak great Bangla. I have just had to accept I am obviously not good at foreign languages and although it
has at times been a battle I have tried to overcome, it’s one I didn’t conquer. Most of the time I have been
fortunate to have someone translate for me at trainings or I have just managed somehow to speak sufficient
Bangla for the person to understand, albeit at times really frustrating. I have however been encouraged by
so many who have been really pleased when I speak even a little of their Mother tongue.
I started my first term in a rural area and a few weeks ago I returned there to review and assess some staff
with a colleague and at the same time say farewell to other colleagues, friends, someone I employed,
children and the local community people. In Jobarpar there was much weeping. I was humbled by how I
was described by people, overwhelmed by their kindness,
encouraged by what has been achieved and pleased by what I
seen and heard.
I adore working with children and, as I have not been blessed
with my own children, I was overjoyed when I knew in 2009 I
would be surrounded by approximately 150 of them in the
compound I was to live from 2010. Every Saturday afternoon I
attended the Girls Brigade (GB) Company in the girls’ hostel
organised by the Christa Sevika Sangha Sisterhood in Jobarpar.
At my farewell the girls performed dances, sang songs and
recited poetry. I was delighted to be asked by four girls now in
class five (the last year of primary school here) to join them in
singing and doing the actions of ‘Our God is a Great Big God.’ This was the first song I taught the GB
Company and class one in the school I also attended every Tuesday for almost three years. These four girls
were in class one when I taught the song and now they are almost ready to leave primary school. I’m so
impressed and glad they have remembered it.
Everywhere you go in this land you are surrounded by people. For me I always seem to be surrounded by
children or the elderly. Many of the older generation ask for things which we are unable to provide such as
medicine to take away the weakness or paralysis they have from a stroke or give them better eyesight. If
only it was as simple as that and if it was I would be passing out pills every day. I just loved the little lady in
the next photograph who lives in an area we attended while in the village a few weeks ago. She reminded me
of so many who have to cope in this land alone as she has no sons only daughters who now live with their
husbands’ families. She fears for her future and who will care for her when she is unable to be independent.
This is something I can empathise with having no children at all of my own.
I took the opportunity on my way back from Jobarpar to visit James
my driver’s village and see some of his family. James is an only son so
he helps his parents financially and is a great young man. To get to
his home we needed to walk a bit, get a boat across the river
(something I will definitely not miss) then another walk. On the way
from the boat I stopped at a local shop/tea stall where lots of people
were watching television. The
young men were ordered by the
shopkeeper to get up and give me a
seat. As I sat down a young woman
handed me a beautiful naked baby
girl to hold. Of course I did not
refuse however quickly covered
her. Often children frown or cry
when they see a foreigner as after all we do look very different but not
this little girl. She is a healthy, happy baby and I am privileged to have
had the opportunity to hold and cuddle her.
The last ten days of June there has been such torrential rain and as much
as it’s great to be cooler many areas have been flooded. Lots of people
have to cope in homes that are covered in water, some schools have had
to close and many crops are ruined. I passed an area of Dhaka and
saw how some families, many of them rickshaw drivers or people
who are beggars, have their homes on the side streets. This photo
were taken just as the torrential rain began so it will be much
worse for them now, as many are completely flooded.
Ten people have died in a landslide in the south-west of the
country in the Cox’s Bazaar area, a place of beauty with one of the
world’s longest beaches and the Bandarbans area where I have
visited on two occasions. This region is one of only two areas in the
country with hills and many tribal people make their homes in these hill tracts. Many more have been cut
off as most of the roads are either impassable or much too dangerous to travel by any means.
As I have shared this month about many areas of the land I love, I have laughed at the fun times I had with
the children, I have wept as I say so many goodbyes and for situations I am unable to control. I have
however a sense of joy having known so many wonderful people. I have helped a few, enjoyed so many and
will continue to remember them all. This is not my last letter from Bangladesh as I still have several months
before I leave and I have so much I want to share. I just can’t however leave everything until September.
Thanks for
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The love shown to me by so many people in various ways this month and always (Bangladeshi
people are tops for hospitality)
Gifts received from CBSDP Jobarpar, Sisters of Christa Sevika Sangha and the girls hostel
Safety and kindness of people as I have travelled to and from rural areas by road, boat and ferry
Being able to make such wonderful friends from many countries and although I have had to say
goodbye to many of them this month as many return home I hope one day to be able to visit at least
some of them
People have offered me the use of their cars for my time at home later this year
My furlough time is almost full of engagement dates and I so happy to be able share my news with
all in North and South of Ireland and in Great Britain
Prayers for
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Pat
The families of those killed in the landslide and many families displaced or effected by the floods
throughout the land especially those in slums, camps or living on the streets
Trainings we have planned for early July and safe travel for those attending
Travel safety as so many people travel in the next few weeks to celebrate Eid with family and friends