Letter 49. A few thoughts
30th October 2005
Dear friends,
I don’t know when I will have the chance to write the next letter, so I thought I should give you a few words now before I leave for Old Dhaka and Missionaries of Charity.
The weekend is over, as Friday and Saturday are holidays here. Sunday is working day. I have spent the weekend with Keka di (didi means older sister and is the way you address someone older than you). She was one of those I had most contact with when I first visited Bangladesh in 1999, and she has been my contact person when I stayed here for five months, and a good friend when I have come back on different occasions. I spent much time playing with her four-year old son, and meeting with the rest of her family living nearby. She lives in the main Christian area of Dhaka, surrounded by known people. I have also attended Maria’s Bengali class a couple of days again, and I feel the progress is great, I look forward to practice more with children and adults in Old Dhaka.
I left you with the expectation of getting some more developed monastic thoughts from last letter... My limited time today will not provide a well written image of everything, and it also does not exist yet, but I would like to share a few more experiences.
In Barisal I met a wonderful old woman living in the Oxford Mission compound. I first saw her for the Eucharist the first day, and wondered who this woman might be. Her skin was white, but I was not really sure she was a ” bideshi” (foreigner) as her performance was so Bengali. I came to know that she originally was from Britain, and still had her citizenship there, though she felt like adopted in Bangladesh. I later had the chance to talk with her a few times, and got to know a little of an exciting life.
Lucy came to Bangladesh as a novice, wanting to join the Sisterhood of the Epiphany. She stayed with them for years, but was eventually not accepted for life vows. She thought of applying to another community, but found that her vocation was more to be in Bangladesh working with the people there than to be a Sister, so she stayed, and has been a church worker in different churches and places in Bangladesh, especially working with young girls. She was now happy to be allowed by the bishop to retire in Bangladesh, not having to go back to Britain for the last years of her life. Though she had not taken life vows as a Sister, I was impressed how much she lived like one. Her attitudes of poverty, chastity and obedience were very visible, and her contribution to the Christian society in Bangladesh has been great.
Lucy was very happy to hear that I was exploring the religious life. She asked if I had thought of starting a Sisterhood in Bangladesh together with Bengali girls. I couldn’t say I had thought about that possibility, and after som reflection, I don’t think it is my call, but it gave me some understanding that there are still lots of possibilities for ministry in the church which I have not thought of existing. I have had the understanding that God has had a plan with my travelling this semester. But I am really curious to see what he will ask me to do with the experience. If the future will bring me to Bangladesh for a longer time, or to any other foreign country, or rather to stay in my native Norway, I don’t know. I believe there is a need for pastors, Sisters and pastor-like and Sister-like persons everywhere. Where and as what I will end up is still a great mystery.
More experiences will and revelations might come during the next few weeks.
Thoughtful greetings from Hanne.
Dear friends,
I don’t know when I will have the chance to write the next letter, so I thought I should give you a few words now before I leave for Old Dhaka and Missionaries of Charity.
The weekend is over, as Friday and Saturday are holidays here. Sunday is working day. I have spent the weekend with Keka di (didi means older sister and is the way you address someone older than you). She was one of those I had most contact with when I first visited Bangladesh in 1999, and she has been my contact person when I stayed here for five months, and a good friend when I have come back on different occasions. I spent much time playing with her four-year old son, and meeting with the rest of her family living nearby. She lives in the main Christian area of Dhaka, surrounded by known people. I have also attended Maria’s Bengali class a couple of days again, and I feel the progress is great, I look forward to practice more with children and adults in Old Dhaka.
I left you with the expectation of getting some more developed monastic thoughts from last letter... My limited time today will not provide a well written image of everything, and it also does not exist yet, but I would like to share a few more experiences.
In Barisal I met a wonderful old woman living in the Oxford Mission compound. I first saw her for the Eucharist the first day, and wondered who this woman might be. Her skin was white, but I was not really sure she was a ” bideshi” (foreigner) as her performance was so Bengali. I came to know that she originally was from Britain, and still had her citizenship there, though she felt like adopted in Bangladesh. I later had the chance to talk with her a few times, and got to know a little of an exciting life.
Lucy came to Bangladesh as a novice, wanting to join the Sisterhood of the Epiphany. She stayed with them for years, but was eventually not accepted for life vows. She thought of applying to another community, but found that her vocation was more to be in Bangladesh working with the people there than to be a Sister, so she stayed, and has been a church worker in different churches and places in Bangladesh, especially working with young girls. She was now happy to be allowed by the bishop to retire in Bangladesh, not having to go back to Britain for the last years of her life. Though she had not taken life vows as a Sister, I was impressed how much she lived like one. Her attitudes of poverty, chastity and obedience were very visible, and her contribution to the Christian society in Bangladesh has been great.
Lucy was very happy to hear that I was exploring the religious life. She asked if I had thought of starting a Sisterhood in Bangladesh together with Bengali girls. I couldn’t say I had thought about that possibility, and after som reflection, I don’t think it is my call, but it gave me some understanding that there are still lots of possibilities for ministry in the church which I have not thought of existing. I have had the understanding that God has had a plan with my travelling this semester. But I am really curious to see what he will ask me to do with the experience. If the future will bring me to Bangladesh for a longer time, or to any other foreign country, or rather to stay in my native Norway, I don’t know. I believe there is a need for pastors, Sisters and pastor-like and Sister-like persons everywhere. Where and as what I will end up is still a great mystery.
More experiences will and revelations might come during the next few weeks.
Thoughtful greetings from Hanne.
posted by Hanne at 1:05 AM
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