Bring lots and lots of spices back!'' That is what American Francis Moody's British mother-in-law had told her. ``She makes a lovely curry dinner,'' says Francis, who is in India for the first time.Francis is in Pune with a church organisation,Youth With A Mission, and is working with Catholic Charismatic Renewal in India - an organisation that meets in small prayer groups. She works in a school that trains people for missionary work, and when she heard about the visit to India, she was particularly interested. ``I was keen on coming to India,'' she says. She and 11 others in her group have spent time visiting the churches in Pune. ``I liked the St. Xavier's Church a lot,'' she says. She has met the Bishop of Pune - Bishop Valerian. ``Great guy,'' she says ``even though I don't remember his name!''The thing that struck her about Pune? ``Definitely the people! They are so warm and friendly. The church people have welcomed us into their homes and have introduced us to their families,'' she says. But Francis is clearly distressed by the poor people on the street. Declares Francis, ``It is hard for us, who come from Western countries, to see so much poverty. I mean, we do have poverty back home but it is invisible. They stick such people in some programme out of sight!''But back to the curry. ``There has been a big debate in our group about the food,'' she says laughingly, ``but I personally love the food. I've been eating a lot of Indian stuff here. My favourite has been the chhapati so far. I eat it with curry, honey, butter - anything!''
