At the beginning of 2007, Sheila and Tom Holyer visited a rural part of Andhra Pradesh, a state in S.E India, to see the start of a school building for children from the Scheduled castes (previously called the ‘Untouchables’). The project was initiated by Dr. Sam Karra who spent most of 2006 living, working and worshipping in Beaconsfield. In January 2008, we decided to return to see how things were progressing and to spend more time in the rural villages meeting the people who lived there.

After a 30 hour journey from Beaconsfield, we arrived in Hyderabad and were met by Dr. Sam. We spent one day recovering, then we were on an 8 hour car journey with Sam travelling east to Guntur – one of the larger towns in the area (pop. c 3 million). The ride immediately brought back memories of our previous trip with incessant horns honking and in towns finding space to move amongst lorries, buses, cars, 3 wheel taxis, cycle taxis, motor bikes and scooters, bicycles, bullock carts, cows (which are sacred), herds of buffalo, goats and of course, hundreds of people in many coloured clothes, plus an occasional whiff of curry and spices mingled with a few more basic smells!! It certainly produced a vibrant atmosphere. The countryside was dominated by rice paddy fields, some being prepared by bullock drawn ploughs and gangs of women doing the backbreaking job of planting rice.

After a night’s rest in Guntur we had the inevitable wait for our car (we were now on Indian time!) and then drove a further 2 hours to the villages where we were met in style with a local band and given garlands. By this time Sheila had already been dressed in a sari and had flowers in her hair!! We paraded along the road on one side of a turgid stream to a footbridge comprising of two concrete planks laid across a twenty foot wide stream. We then walked the plank(s) without mishap and proceeded to an area where a service was being held and where we were asked to hand out 100 blankets (kindly donated by Joan Winterbotham of Beaconsfield URC) to the poorest villagers. Awaiting us on a raised dais were 2 plastic ‘royal’ thrones in red and gold!! We took our seats and listened to number of songs/hymns followed by a sermon and then it was our turn to give speeches, followed by the distribution of the blankets. Many of the recipients looked very old and frail, but probably were only in their fifties or sixties. All were extremely grateful. The children were amazing as they sat quietly throughout the whole ceremony.

This ceremony was repeated the following evening in another village with a further 100 blankets distributed.

We had the opportunity to see how and where they lived and it was very basic. Water for a village of several hundred people was turned on for just 1 hour per day so you would see them all queuing up with many pots to collect the water for washing, drinking and cooking for the next day. Most families lived in single room mud huts with palm leaf roofs. Cooking was mostly done outside except in the rainy/cyclone season. The single room accommodated at least 4 people. Any possessions were kept off the ground because of various pests such as rats. Despite the poverty, there was a basic sense of cleanliness and they were very proud to show you where they lived. Most had no electricity, but there seemed to be a transportable system of access to electricity obtained by shinning up an electricity post and tapping into the wires. HSE is not found in their language!!

One of the reasons for going to visit was to see the progress of the school building and we were very pleased to see the first phase of 6 classrooms almost completed and the plan is to start with up to 200 pupils in June 2008. Presently we are raising funds for the basic school furniture and equipment. If anyone wants more information or wishes to help, please contact Sheila and Tom (01494-676373).

At the beginning of 2007 Tom and Sheila from St Michael’s, and their two daughters, Ronnie and Suzanne had a fantastic, memorable trip to India. In Hyderabad they were met by Dr. Sam Karra, who attended St Michael’s for several months in 2006, and it was through his vision and his registered charity, Sharon International Ministries, that Tom and Sheila got involved in a project for helping the poor in India. This was to help build a school in a rural part of S. India. With help from some people in Beaconsfield, land was purchased, school plans drawn up and the beginnings of a local school has begun to take shape. It was to the official opening of this project that Tom and Sheila had been invited to take part.

This is Sheila and Tom’s account of the trip:

Two days after arriving, together with Sam’s family and crammed into a small MPV we headed into the night for a hair raising eight-hour journey to Guntur. The following day Charles Martin, Pastor of the Beaconsfield URC and Trevor Austin (well known for his brass band and musical associations) joined us as we made our final journey to Gullipalli. We were by now four hours late but India was already beginning to take effect and we were learning to “Go with the Flow”. We arrived at dusk, but red, green and yellow lights were strung aloft to guide our path and people and palms lined the route. When we alighted, huge garlands of flowers were hung round our necks and an Indian band resounded (which made Trevor feel at home). It was so overwhelming and deafening, I heard Suzanne say to Ronnie – “I think we are going to be sacrificed!” What a welcome it was. We shall never forget it.

People were arriving in droves, on lorries, tractors or walking from all the nearby villages. We had been warned that Indians love ceremonies and this was no exception with two hours of speeches, singing and preaching from Charles and Trevor. By the time all these events had taken place, it was just a small matter of feeding all 2,000 plus. All were fed and without much fuss – cauldrons of rice on open fires with a curry sauce with no washing up as everyone tucks in with their right hand. The children meanwhile were on the stage with Ronnie and Suzanne learning the “Hokey Cokey” and we feel sure that this will be incorporated into future Indian Ceremonies.

The next morning we went to Sam’s church where his father is the pastor of a group of four evangelical churches. All sat on the floor with women on one side, men on the other and the children mainly gathered round the band. There was a lot of singing, clapping, prayer and preaching by Charles and Trevor. Afterwards we met several of the congregation who asked us to pray for them. A very humbling experience.

After lunch we went to Sam’s rural village. The people come from the Scheduled Caste that was known as the “untouchables” and though they are now Christians the stigma still remains. They live a very basic life in simple huts with palm-thatched roofs. Though poor, we found a very happy, simple, welcoming community. They have a lot to teach us about being content with what we have.

Tom and Sheila

return to top of this page