26 Oct 2008, Saipaul, Bihar

After a very eventful journey in which we saw half on India – a bridge was broken on the way, lines in Orissa were flooded, there was a huge agitation in Bihar and they were breaking windows and disrupting rail traffic I finally managed to reach Patna 26 hours after scheduled time. And then again the trains from there were cancelled, the buses were jam packed and there was no space at all. It was with great difficulty that I managed to reach our camp today morning.

Shall send some report when I get more time to write. Just did rounds and saw how things were in the camp and in our hospital. The work on the camp had just started when I had returned to Amritapuri for Amma’s Birthday. Now it is a community. The hospital and the medical facilities we are providing is attracting people from all over the district as well as people from other districts who have no access to such facilities, but need them all the same.

There was a child birth in our temporary hospital. There were no complications and Dr. Vishnu and our team have become quiet proficient in delivering babies!

I played badminton with the children in the camp. They did not know what the game was about but at least got the idea that they were to hit the shuttle back to the other side when it got to them.  Watched them skip – they were given new skipping ropes – I tried to show off my skipping skills but got entangled in the ropes. One boy suddenly quipped – the rope is too short for you Swami. I said, “Ah, that is true. Do you have a longer rope? No, you don’t? Well then it is better to let the children skip with this small rope,” so I escaped.
But truly I do skip! The rope was short and very light weight – that was the problem.

Some children recited some rhymes and poems – so have an appointment with them in the morning to hear more poetry recitals and to take their photos – they are fascinated by photographs! Have been promised an acrobatic display by the children.

Will write more – there is so much to write but no time now to manage all things.

I would like to thank all my family, all over the world – you have been a great support. We feel you are with us. Aum

– Nijamrita