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| Selfies taken to send to the sponsored children in India. |
Various meetings with trustees of the Pickford Memorial Trust and Hearts for India Trust took place as these good people support the our Hospice for HIV children and adults, as well as our children's homes and leprosy projects whenever they can. Mary had a shopping date with Chris Copp of HFI as she was to cook a curry for their trustees and guests. I heard that it was a splendid meal! Victor gave a talk at a church in March and Chris ferried Mary and Victor over to my house in Bury St Edmunds on the evening of the bank holiday.
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| Photo taken for Sanyasi of his sponsor's grandchild. |
Victor and Mary were able to meet some of the sponsors of children and student-fee sponsors who live in Suffolk, including his former physiotherapy teacher, Margaret,who now lives near Ipswich. It was a very informal gathering. They were pleased to meet individual sponsors as well as Members of St Edmund's R C. Church's Ladies Club who have a joint sponsorship of one boy, Many of the original sponsors of Prem Nivas children, the first HIV+ children's home which opened in October 2006, are my personal friends and relations, hence the Bury St Edmunds connection. Indeed Sonia and her husband, Richard, started by buying bricks and cement for the construction of the building months before we took any children!Some of these original sponsors are now sponsoring their second child!. Mary sold some copies of her cookery recipe book and Victor handed round recent photos and drawings done by their children.
The next day had been reserved for a visit to Cambridge. Rain was forecast for most of the day but Victor wanted to go rather than wait for the next days' forecast sun. A planned walk took in the usual colleges, the river. the backs, bridges, punts and churches.Victor chose a book in the Oxfam shop of 'Cambridge in Old Photosgraphs', as my gift for his new DMC House Library.
The next morning was sunny and they visited the Abbey Gardens, the Cathedral and did some shopping to buy warm jackets for wearing in the UK and gifts for family and friends in India.
The next stop was Peterborough and points north, including overnight stays and more talks as well as office days at The Leprosy Mission. They go west to Hereford, Somerset and Devon too.
Sadly Victor and Mary are not able to visit all the sponsors and donors this time. They are, however, all remembered with grateful thanks for their support and loyalty to Brighter Future India.
