09 Oct Kolkata to Pakur India, the heart of the orphan – Photographing for Alex and Sunita Sam of Everett Mission in Pakur India – Capturing Grace on a 16 flight, 5 week journey throughout Asia
The 5 hour train ride from Kolkata to Pakur allowed ample time to catch up with sister Jodi, sharing stories from mine and Carissa’s journey thus far in India. My favorite photo is the one Carissa took of Jodi and I exchanging stories. The problem was, both of us are sharing and neither is listening, that did little to dampen our mutual storytelling as the train rocked along the rails. ?
Oct 9th, From my travel journal – Kolkata to Pakur
Photographing for Alex and Sunita Sam of Everett Mission in Pakur India – Capturing Grace on a 16 flight, 5 week journey throughout Asia
For weeks, sister Jodi and I had been looking forward to touring Mother Theresa’s House together in Kolkata India. Two canceled flights turned our plans into a quick, early morning selfie, with the image of Mother Theresa looking on. Our 630am train departure for Pakur with Alex Sam left us with no other options.
The 5 hour train ride from Kolkata to Pakur allowed ample time to catch up with Jodi, sharing stories from mine and Carissa’s journey thus far in India. My favorite photo is the one Carissa took of Jodi and I exchanging stories. The problem was, both of us are sharing and neither is listening, that did little to dampen our mutual storytelling as the train rocked along the rails. ?
During my/our time of sharing with my sister Jodi (who is also the International Director of Orphan Sunday) she put something in perspective for me, something she is so gifted at doing.
I was explaining how joyous yet hard it is on the heart to go from one intensive experience of love and acceptance to another. At each of the nine homes that Carissa and I had been welcomed into thus far on our journey through Cambodia and India, we experienced love and kindness beyond measure. People who quickly became our family, feeding us with food for the body and soul. This amazing experience always had a tearful conclusion within a couple of days, only to have a simultaneous entry into the next home where we were again loved on with abandon. My story was offered without complaint, just the awe of what the heart and head can process and our physical exhaustion from trying.
In this moment (?) of listening on Jodi’s part her comment was insightful, “you know Ronnie, elements of what you described is the life of an orphan EVERYDAY. People drop in, they love and they promise but then they say goodbye… only to have the roller coaster of emotions repeat everyday. That continual opening and closing of the heart leaves scars that take a lifetime to heal”.
The train rocked on as we sipped cups of Masala tea, enjoying the sights and sounds of India as we headed to Pakur to photograph for Alex and Sunita Sam of Everett Mission. I am so excited to share next what God is doing through the lives of Alex and Sunita to help others in India and around the world.
You are going to want order the book of Alex’s life story… On the Wide Roads of Mumbai
https://www.amazon.com/
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