Getting back in the swing of strikes

I’ve been wanting to send an update for some time but have been having trouble with the email; sorry for the delay. In our last email, we mentioned that there would be a strike happening. Here is an update. The strikes mean that everything closes down – everything, that is, except the hospitals, pharmacies, and the milk man! Apparently, with medicines and milk humanity can survive! The strike lasted 11 days with one 4-hour reprieve and one 12-hour reprieve. The first reprieve came on a Saturday. While we were heading to meet with our small church group, it seemed like everyone else in the world was headed to market. Everybody was looking for fresh vegetables and fruit, but there was little to be had. I was thankful that the Sabbath rest from all such concerns kept me from being a part of the crowds fighting for fresh produce.

Nearly our entire small group came to church instead of going to market. We were surprised and pleased. The one who chose to go to market instead told me later she wasn’t able to get a single thing—there was nothing left. When we returned from church, there wasn’t a shred of fresh food left, except a few onion skins or corn husks to show where something had been. We were not concerned as we knew God would supply all our needs. We had plenty of dry goods—flour, pasta, dried beans, etc. The next reprieve came on the following Wednesday when the market, banks, and other businesses were open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. But interestingly enough, on the very day the roads into the hills were opened, the main supply city in the plains was closed down due to a strike. That meant supply trucks didn’t come. Many people suspected it was not coincidental but was perhaps a calculated move by those opposing the strikes in Darjeeling. I have no idea. In any case, somehow some fresh produce got into Darjeeling. Again, everybody was out shopping. We noticed that the people on the outskirts of town and in the villages fared much better than those in town. On the outskirts there were more fresh vegetables available since there wasn’t as much competition for it as there was in town. Just another reason to be thankful we live on the outskirts. We and the Wrights got some emergency food supplies for the families who meet with us on Sabbaths and delivered them right away.

For those with decent jobs and enough money, the strike was an inconvenience. For day laborers who live hand to mouth, it was an extreme hardship. For us, the inconvenience meant that toward the end we were eating our least favorite foods since we’d eaten most everything else in the house, and we were looking forward to fresh produce again. But it would be a lie to say we endured any real hardship. There has been a 10-day reprieve (by the time you receive this much more than that now) after which it was rumored the strikes would start again. That hasn’t happened yet for which we are thankful. (This is all related to the local political situation.)

As soon as the strike lifted, our teammates, the Wrights, were finally able to move into their new place. They had been staying in one of the rooms here in our landlord’s place, and we shared a kitchen and often had meals together. We miss having them close, but I know they are happy to have their own place. After living out of a suitcase throughout furlough, we know the relief of having a place of one’s own. About the same time, we were also moving, so everybody was in a state of upheaval. We moved upstairs to the apartment above our old one, so we have the same landlord. This apartment is MUCH drier than the old one, so we’re hoping Jonathan has fewer issues with sinus problems. We are very happy and comfortable here and feel so blessed.

So that’s the state of things at the moment. Of course, there is much more we could report on, but this is all for now. We sense that your prayers have a direct impact on our welfare here. Thank you for taking the time to remember us.

Jonathan and Karen