"trash bin man"

When i first moved into Kiran's house, i didn't sleep great as i adjusted to the ambient noise. There was a dog that liked to bark in the middle of the night - and i was convinced it was right by my window - and i thought many times about throwing things at the dog, or chasing it away or killing it (you're allowed to have violent thoughts towards dogs when they wake you up at 3AM). i would also hear this horrible loud, high pitched, ear-piercing whistle every morning...and i hated it. it was always loud, but sometimes it seemed like it was right outside the window. and it would wake me up so i wasn't in the best of moods...and would have fantasies about finding that whistle, ripping out of whatever mouth was blowing it so dang loud at 6AM and smashing it, or throwing it...or something like that (as you can maybe tell, i'm not what you call a "morning person"). i still hear the whistle some mornings, but not everyday...and i don't have nearly the hatred i used to have (although its not my favorite part of the morning!)

a few weeks ago, Kiran said, "if you hear the trash bin man, wake me up" and we learned that the whistle is the signal to take out the trash. Today, i actually saw the trash bin man. He rides around on a bike cart, and collects people's trash...and he blows a really obnoxious whistle to let you know he's there to pick up your trash. (i'll be honest, i like the American system of trash pick up better...put the trash out the night before...and it disappears - no whistle!)

trash is really different here in k-town than in america. sometimes i say, "all of Kolkata is my trash can" - cause you hardly ever see a trash can...but you can feel free to throw trash anywhere you happen to be when the thing in your hand stops being useful and becomes trash. . it took me at least a month, before i was willing to throw my trash in the street (i hate litter)- but there just aren't trash cans...so eventually i gave in (it was a grease soaked food wrapper that did me in). people come by every morning and sweep up all the trash on the roads and take it away.

yesterday i was walking down the street, and there was a girl chasing her pet monkey...not a sight you see everyday - a run away monkey. so, i stepped on his rope...and the monkey was captured again...just another day, walking down the streets of Kolkata!

on a much different note, Asha didn't go back to freeset yesterday. her mom wouldn't let her. Tomorrow there is a meeting scheduled with Kristen, Asha, and Carey (the "head" of Freeset) to work on a way to help Asha continue to more forward in freedom, even with her mother's clear, strong objection. Its a long messing process...bringing hope, and freedom...and life transformation...so, we continue to pray...and i know many of you are praying as well - so i'll keep making the needs known.