'Houston, I think we have routine...'

Hi Everyone, hope you're all feeling well!?

It seems like we've really settled into a routine this week, which was kind of nice! Nicola's been continuing language each morning. Leaving Andy to actually practise some language with Halima (our home helper) each morning before he clears off to work.

We've both been working really hard this week. Andy's been finishing off products so they can be taken back to the UK for a bit of market and possible client feedback. Nicola has been organising Chocolate Fondue parties throughout Dhaka and getting to grips with what it takes to register a company for Fair Trade status.

On Wednesday night on the way home we saw a cow weeing across a lane of a dual carriageway in the middle of Dhaka city - no one seemed to care or own the animal, everyone was happy for it to do its business in the middle of the road.....some things are still a bit odd!!

Today (Friday) Andy gave his first Bible Study for the ecclesia which seemed to go ok. He's now preparing for his exhortation next week. It was a fun experience to speak with a translator and try to draw diagrams of how Jesus' mediation works on a whiteboard and act out scenes of confusion that he's had with Rickshaw drivers (all relevant stuff I promise!).

Nic's been away at a women's conference so I'll let her fill you in on that in a mid-week post..

Today I travelled home form the ecclesia with a brother who told me his story about how he became a Christadelphian which was recently interesting. He also showed me some of the cards he makes for sale. He's a a really good artist and helps train women basic craft skills to produce the cards. There may well be some winging their way back to the UK for you guys to buy! They really are amazing and really good designs with a variety of media.

There have been a few observations which I've picked up this week that I've wanted to tell you.

1) over 50% of the population of Bangladesh live below the poverty line, on less than a dollar a day - about 68p.
2) Russia has a slightly smaller population than Bangladesh but as a country is about 120 times bigger!!
3) there is a real shortage of jobs here - Farming is the main source of employment but Bangladesh is the third greatest garment exporter after China and Korea employing 3 million workers.
4) It is not unusual here to see people living in the central reservations of roads or on some pavements. Many, many people sleep out in the open each night with no protection.
5) In a typical slum 6 families can share one toilet - a typical family numbers about 8 people.

I don't tell you these things with any hidden agenda or to make you feel bad or guilty. They are just facts or things we have seen, and part of life in Bangladesh - things which i seemed to have pondered more this week than before.

Anywhoo, its been nice to write to you all! God bless, take care and send us an email sometime! Would be good to hear from you!

Love

Andy and Nic

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