Perungalam 2017

These are snaps of our visit this year, Summer 2017. Though we were well prepared to do fishing, we did not catch any fish this year. And we took lesser snaps than last year. So, few snaps shared by the previous director, Rev. Mathews of the Retreat Centre is included (the first four).

This time we missed the boat and had to hire a local speed boat. I hope you noticed the Jharkhand origin jhola in the boat. 

That's the boat we arrived in . . . 

The boat arriving for our return journey . . .

Perungalam 2016

Last year, during our summer vacations, my dad suggested us to spend couple of days at the Marthoma Retreat Centre in Perungalam, Kollam District, Kerala. The experience was too good that we decided to spend couple of days at the Dhyanatheeram this year too. 

I had thought of putting up few snaps of our visit to this place last year itself, which never materialised. So, better late than never. 

Waiting for the boat. It is cheaper to get the public transport boat from Ashtamudi Vallakkadavu boat jetty

You can see the boat approaching . . . 

Getting ready to board the boat along with the regular commuters

Scenery from the boat

Approaching the retreat centre

The view of the backwaters from the balcony of our room

A selfie with the pet emu of the retreat centre

A view of the entrance from the inside

Children's play area . . .

Arpit enjoying a merry go round with Ammachy

The highlight of the trip - hooking a pearl spot fish (karimeen), the local delicacy,
This made the children look forward to another trip the following year

Marthoma Church, Ranchi visits NJH

Yesterday, we were blessed to have more than 50 members of the St. Thomas Marthoma Church visit us. Below are few of the snaps from the visit.

Rev. Joseph Ayrookuzhy gave leadership to the visit. 

Front of the outpatient department

Registration

Taking a walk across the campus

Inside the outpatient department

Dinesh and our son, Shalom celebrated their birthdays with the visitors cutting cakes . . . 

At last, we all had lunch together

I wish I had taken more photographs. Before the visit to the hospital, the group had worship in the Mennonite Chapel. 

It was quite a tedious journey for all the visitors considering into fact that the road from Ranchi to Satbarwa has become all the more worse after the rains. 

Visitors at NJH . . .

Over the last week, we had quite a crowd at NJH.

It was amazing as we got a church group to come over to NJH and see for themselves what we were doing. I'm not very sure if there has been quite this large a group from a church come over before.

The Parish Mission of the Marthoma Church, Kolkota under the leadership of Rev. Issac  arrived at NJH via Ranchi and left on Sunday, the 18th March.

It was amazing that the train arrived on time. We had been planning for a late arrival. Since the train was on time, we got time to visit the St. Thomas School, Ranchi. It was quite an encouraging time that we had at the school which is being taken to new heights under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Ayrookuzhy.

The front of the school with the Mar Thoma Church, Ranchi

Meeting Rev. Joseph

The visitors

After spending about one hour at the school, we were on our way to NJH. I had planned to take them to a rural church in the region. I selected a church under the Bihar Mennonite Mandali. The members of the team were amazed at the faith of the fledgling church in Boddha, a remote area of Latehar district near Chandwa.

Proposed railway route between Lohardaga and Chandwa.
Once this becomes operational, Ranchi would be easily accessible by rail from NJH

Walking to the village

Mennonite Church, Bodha

With the believers of Bodha church

After lunch at Chandwa, we reached NJH by around 5 in the evening.


The team had a quite hectic time at NJH.


In between, we also had a very quick visit from Pastor Clive and his wife, Joy from New Zealand. They were kind enough to visit us along with Mrs. Margaret, our Regional Director, who happened to visit us on Saturday last. We are thankful to the wonderful family for the visit . . .

Mrs Margaret, Regional Director along with Pastor Clive and Mrs Joy

The team at NJH. Almost all the snaps were taken by Adv. Chacko Mathai

We at NJH have been encouraged by the visit from all of you.