India talkie 2

I am sitting in a small cyber cafe above a sari shop in the middle of Bangalore. The girls are off shopping led by a very enthusiastic Irfana. We are now 3 days into the conference and there has been many things to captivate us. I think the hardest thing for everyone to get used to is the uncertainty about when things begin and end. The sessions have tended to be led from the front by  older Christian leaders but very few youth. We are becoming aware that the style and flavour of the conference has an inprint of the legacy of Western Mission and it's values, something for us all to chew over!!!  My view is that we cannot expect these young people to share our values even if we perceive the things they do as negative ( ie. singing 60's choruses with actions). We don't want to repeat colonialism all over again! Sure things can be improved (as they can in the west) but not on our terms. Partnership and friendship can bring trust and the ability to take learn, give and recieve from one another. What I cannot miss here is the quality and passion of Christians from all over south Asia. I have been inspired by so many conversations. I want to flag up one I had with Dr Lalita Edwards who is a CMS Mission Partner among the AID's community in Puna. Dr Lalita shared about the eunach community here in India. Around the streets you can see these transexuals dressed immaculately with flowing long hair and a certain style and charisma going up to people asking for money.  They are a community who are both put down and feared by most people and of course the church has little to do with them in the main.  Dr Lalita explained how families will often give a daughter to a Hindu Goddess of Sex in the temple where she will become a temple prostitute. As she gets older she is replaced by younger girls and is released. She  often continues with Prostitution and of course AID's then becomes a reality. However families may also offer a son to the Godess. The boys are castrated and serve in the temple. When they are too old they to will be released too and so join the eunach community. People revere this community in some ways and often the eunachs are invited to dance at weddings or bless newly weds. People are also more likely to give money to eunachs as opposed to Beggers as they fear being cursed by them. Lalita went on that because the church will not accept them, some who have come to faith have started meeting among themselves in an emerging church community. One Church leader from Bangalore is actively involved in this work.  I have much more I could share on this but time at this sitting is running out. .... Check out Jonny's website for a current photo Gallery and other thoughts about our trip. My time as run out for now. We are heading for a coffee bar outresch in town so I am sure there will be more to blog about.... Watch this space.

Comments

[Daniel]

I remember watching something on TV about eunach's being used to work as debt collectors, as they have a softer approach, but are able to handle themselves if they have too. Have you seen any in this work?