3. Report - 5/11/21 - With the pastor couple

The next morning in the pastor couple's house: We are well looked after - especially 20-year-old Adarsh, who ran away from home. I feel sorry for him because Umar, the pastor's wife, doesn't stop talking to his conscience properly in the local language. Above all, she tries to make him understand how his parents feel. In between I ask her for understanding for his attempt to free himself from the pressure of his parents. The pastor also seems to understand the young adventurer's experience. Again and again I pay attention to how everything feels in my own stomach and notice that the inner "self" is able to keep a pleasant distance.

After breakfast, I take heart and ask Wasan and Umar if they would lay their hands on me to bless me. Umar encourages Wasan to put on his solemn robe for it; she doesn't want to donate the blessing herself. But Adarsh ​​surprises us: He would also like to have his hands on and the pastor to pray for him.

Suddenly the boy doesn't stop surprising us. In this household, some things no longer work. For example, the refrigerator has been standing empty and unused in a corner for 8 months - it is broken. And apparently the couple doesn't have enough money to pay for the repairs.

Adarsh ​​knows about mechanics and looks at the problem. We hold up the refrigerator and put the plug - without an extension cable - into the socket. Then the cooling unit starts up - what a promising hum. Only the extension cord had stopped working. Since there is no other in the house, Adarsh ​​cuts out a piece of the broken extension and integrates it into the refrigerator cord. I can't see how he feels about it, but I'm really happy for him that he can show what he "can" do. I realize that I had reduced him very much to his "weird ideas" and put myself way above him.

And that's not all: Some clothes are laying in the water in the washing machine since a long time. Adarsh ​​pulls the machine forward, looks at the problem from behind, and asks Wasan for tools. He starts cleaning a hose.

There has been no running water in the house for a long time. There is still a working tap outside in front of the house. I run back and forth with a large vessel and fill up large tubs in the bathroom.

Half an hour later, Adarsh ​​also solved the problem with the washing machine: the waste water hose was blocked. Umar says the machine was inoperable for 10 months. Inwardly, I smile warmly: The pastor couple yesterday did a generous and trusting work of mercy on me and Adarsh ​​and welcomed us into their home. Now they are receiving unexpected help from Adarsh's manual dexterity: After 8 or 10 months, the refrigerator and washing machine will work again - their trust has been properly rewarded.

But the next surprise follows: Adarsh ​​decides to return home.

I'm surprised inside and would probably have fought more for my runaway. But the values ​​are different here. And secretly I admire the preacher couple because their haunted, pressing words have produced the desired fruit.

Adarsh ​​doesn't seem to be entirely convinced of this turn of events himself, but I offer him my smartphone so that he can contact his family. He has one condition: when he comes back, his father shouldn't discuss the "subject".

First he discusses this with friends over the phone. Then a problem arises: He probably doesn't have enough money left for the bus trip back to Kerala.

 The pastor couple solves the problem as follows: They push the 500 rupee note that I gave them as a donation at the end of breakfast across the table to Adarsh. - I cannot complain about a lack of exemplary learning opportunities here in this House.

Talking to his people on the phone takes a long time. It becomes clear to me that my part in this story is done and I signal my departure to the pastor couple.

When Adarsh ​​has settled the most important things on the phone and he withdraws for a while, the rest of us say goodbye.