THURS., AUG. 28

Today was a busy fun day. mostly have my camera issues worked out, so I am roaming around the city taking pictures. I am sure that the driver, Ramu, thinks I am strange snapping pictures of all kinds of things that would be odd to him. There has been rain every night, very, very heavy. The flooding in the streets is very bad, Andy could not get to the new office facility for hours, they had to take all kinds of back roads and it was a real mess. The mosquitoes will be bad when they hatch, with all this standing water. I went shopping also, yes, I am bringing another suitcase home!!!
I just had another wild adventure. The monkeys in the trees outback were right up by the house, so I took lots of pictures. They were so much fun to watch. I think they were sometimes 3 or 4 ft. very close, and they did not seem to mind me. They are used to people. Tonight I will go to the tailor and pick up my skirt and eat I hope at a more Western place. Last night we had dinner at an Indian place, even though they said they had none spice food, they did not. Even the rice had some sort of spicy sauce. They did, however, have diet coke. Ramu went to the grocery store yesterday to try to get some pop, and bread, but the government is limiting what we can by so no coke and the bread was good, but he had to go to 2 stores. This is a police state and the new government in Bangalore is very restrictive on many things. Reba, the housekeeper and her husband would like me to bring them to America to work for me. It is very difficult to explain why I cannot do it. If you sponsor someone, you are responsible for them for 5 years and their employment, whether for you or someone else. Many dissapear into the sea of illegals. I believe that Reba would be a wonderful housekeeper for someone she is a hard worker and very clean. Her husband is a chief at a very popular place. She was very surprised to learn that I do my own cleaning, cooking and laundry. (well at least with Bob's help) To many poor people of the world, America seems like the dream place. Some of the people I have met, have tried America, and found it to be too immoral and returned to India.
The sun sets in about 10 min. it is a little dim, like cloudy and bang! it is black dark. Sun comes up very fast, as well, little dawn and suns up and it is hot and humid after the rain the night before. All for now, eating time is near!!

MON., AUG. 25 BACK AT ANDY'S

MONDAY AUG 15

WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY. THIS IS THE LAST DAY WITH THE FAMILY. TODAY, THE WOMEN WERE VERY FRIENDLY. FILOMI ASKED ME FOR RECIPES AND HOW TO MAKE DIFFERENT THINGS. SHE ALSO ASKED FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO FEED JOSHUA AND CARE FOR HIM. IT WAS SO DEAR. SHE AND HEPZI WERE IN THE KITCHEN, AND I CAME IN TO JOIN THEM. WE WERE PLAYING LITTLE BABY GAMES WITH JOHSUA. WE WERE TRYING TO GET HIME TO EAT. I WOULD CLAP AND WE ALL SAID OPEN, OPEN. THEY WERE GIVING HIM TOYS AND BEATING ON DRUM. THE PHARMACIST WAS HERE AND HE CAME IN TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I LAUGHED AND SAID IT ONLY TOOK 5 PEOPLE TO FEED ONE LITTLE BOY. I SAT ON THE ONLY BENCH IN THE KITCHEN AND WE TALKED A LONG TIME. HEPZI IS WANTING A CHRISTIAN HUSBAND AND I PRAYED WITH HER. FILOMI AND HER HUSBAND ARE PRAYING FOR WHERE GOD WANTS THEM TO GO TO MINISTER AND WE PRAYED AS WELL. THE YOUNGER WOMEN COULD SPEAK QUITEN A BIT OF ENGLISH WHEN WE WERE ALONE. IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME TO BE THERE. PASTOR CAME INTO THE KITCHEN AND SAID, NO ONE HAS EVER COME INTO THE KITCHEN. I SAID IT IS WHERE THE WOMEN ARE AND WHERE THE HEART OF THE HOME IS AND I WANTED TO BE A PART.
THE DRIVERS ARE GODLY MEN. TWO OF THE YOUNG MEN WERE BROUGHT UP BY PASTOR AND HIS FAMILY, THEY FOUND THEM IN THE STREETS, TOOK THEM IN, EDUCATED THEM AND NOW THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME DRIVING OR WORKING AROUND THE HOUSE. THESE MEN WERE HELPING THE WOMEN AND JOSHUA IS CRAZY FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY CARRY HIM OUTSIDE AND PLAY WITH HIM.
IN THE EVENINGS, PASTOR AND HIS WIFE RAJAMMAL SAT OUT ON THE PORCH. EVERYONE MOVED AWAY FROM THAT AREA, AND THEY HAD THEIR PRIVATE TIME. THEIR VOICES WERE SO GENTLE AND TENDER, EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE SAYING, YOU COULD TELL THE WARMTH AND AFFECTION.
WE HAD A FINAL MEAL TOGETHER AND THE WOMEN CAME OUT AND ATE WITH ME. PASTOR PREM CUT A CD OF THE PICTURES THEY HAD TAKEN, SO I WILL LOAD THEM AT HOME. THE WHOLE DAY, PEOPLE CAME IN AND OUT. MANY ASKED ME TO PRAY FOR THEM. ONE SITUATION WAS VERY HARD. THE WIFE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR ADVANCED NURSING TRAINING. THE CHURCH IS SENDING HER. BUT, SHE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE HER FAMILY FOR 2 YEARS. THEY ARE ASKING HER MOTHER TO COME AND STAY BUT IT IS UNCERTAIN NOW. SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO TEACH NURSING AND WOULD WORK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MUCH HIGHER WAGES. THIS WOULD CHANGE THE LIVES OF HER FAMILY BUT AT GREAT SACRIFICE. WE PRAYED TOGETHER. ONE COUPLE CAME TO SEE PASTOR, THEY HAD NO MONEY AND NO FOOD. WE PRAYED AND PASTOR WAS ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH RICE. THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS.
MY HEART WAS HEAVY AS I PREPARED TO SAY GOODBYE. THEY EACH ASKED ME TO PRAY FOR THEM AND THEN THEY SANG SONGS AND PRAYED OVER ME. I SHED MANY TEARS AS I LEFT THIS HOME FILLED WITH GOD AND MUCH LOVE.
WE DROVE A LONG HARD DRIVE. THREE PASTORS WENT WITH ME. WE STOPPED AT A GARBAGE DUMP TO HAVE TEA. SERIOUSLY, ABOUT 1 ACRE OF GARBAGE, DOGS AND GOATS EATING. ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY WAS A LITTLE HUT WITH TEA AND TREATS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I STAYED IN THE CAR AND DID NOT HAVE ANY TREATS. ABOUT 30KM FROM THE AIRPORT, WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. THEY DID HAVE A SPARE, BUT A BOLGONY SPARE. SMALLER TIRE IF YOU DID NOT KNOW. THERE IS NO OFF THE ROAD, SO WE WERE CHANGING THE TIRE IN THE ROAD. THEY WOULD NOT LET ME GET OUT AND TWO OF THE MEN STOOD BY THE CAR WHERE I WAS SITTING WHILE THE OTHER CHANGED THE TIRE. IT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF A POLITICAL RALLY, VERY CROWDED LOUD MUSIC AND CRAZY WILD PEOPLE. I WAS PRAYING A LOT, AND IT WAS GETTING CLOSE TO MY PLANE TIME. WE FINALLY STARTED AGAIN, AND THE WHOLE CAR SHOOK. WE STOPPED AGAIN AND ONE OF THE GUYS GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT ALL TIRES AND GOT BACK IN AND SAID “WHEEL ALIGNMENT” I JUST CRACKED UP. HERE WE ARE IN THE WORST ROAD IN THE WORLD, A SMALL TIRE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS THE PROBLEM. WE GOT TO THE AIRPORT ABOUT 45 MIN. BEFORE FLIGHT. THE GUY PUSHING THE WHEELCHAIR TIPPED ME OVER SIDEWAYS, BUT BEFORE I COULD TOUCH THE GROUND ALL THE GUARDS CAME AND GRABBED ME. THIS AIRPORT IS SO SMALL THAT THE SECURITY BAGGAGE CHECK WAS JUST BEFORE YOU GOT ON BOARD. THERE WERE ABOUT 10 GUARDS CHECKING ALL BAGS BUT THEY NEVER OPENED MINE.
A YOUNG MAN CAME AND SAT DOWN NEXT TO ME AND ASKED IF I HAD ENJOYED MY VISIST. HE WAS ON THE PLANE ON THURS. HE HELPED ME GET SETTLED ON THE PLANE. WHAT A RIOT. MY SEATBELT BROKE AND I WAS STUCK IN IT. THEY HAD TO TAKE HALF THE SEAT APART TO GET ME OUT. THEN I WENT TO THE BATHROOM. ICOULDN’T GET THE DOOR SHUT. THEN WHEN IT SHUT, I WAS STANDING WITH MY FACE TOUCHING THE DOOR AND MY LEGS AGAINST THE TOILET. I COULD NOT RAISE MY HANDS HARDLY. WHEN I WAS READY TO LEAVE, THE STEWARDESS HAD TO GET THE DOOR OPEN,
WHEN WE LANDED, 2 GUYS CAME TO TAKE ME AND MY BAGGAGE. THE MAN FROM THE PLANE CAME TO MAKE SURE I WAS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE HE LEFT THE AIRPORT AND HE GAVE ME HIS BUSINESS CARD IF I NEEDED HELP. VERY KIND. WELLL, THE ADVENTURE WAS NOT OVER. IT WAS RAINING HORRIBLY, ANDY WAS NOT THERE TO MEET ME AND I HAD NO WORKING PHONE. ONE OF THE GUYS SORT OF SPOKE ENGLISH AND HE LET ME USE HIS PHONE TO CALL ANDY. THE ROADS WERE FLOODED WITH 3 FEET OF WATER AND MANY ACCIDENTS. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING AND IT TOOK HIME ALMOST 3 HOURS TO GET HERE. THE TWO GUYS WOULD NOT LEAVE ME FOR A MINUTE. THERE WERE THREE DOGS HAVING A BITING DOG FIGHT. YES INSIDE THE AIRPORT. ONE MAN MISSED HIS PLANE AND STARTED SCREAMING AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF SECURITY GUARDS CAME RUNNING. MANY STRANGE PEOPLE TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF THE RAIN, SO I WAS GLAD THE MEN WOULDN’T LEAVE ME. I CAME IN AT 9 PM AND WAITED UNTIL ABOUT 10:30. NO FOOD. IT WAS AWFUL RIDE HOME AFTER MIDNIGHT, BUT SAFE AT LAST. I WAS EXHAUSTED BUT GOOD. PLEASE SCROOL DOWN AND READ THE REST OF THE WEEK.

SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER SERVICE

PRAISE GOD. WHAT A DAY IN THE LORD. ANNOINTED SERVICE THIS AM. AND NO ELEC. THIS AFTERNOON SO TERRIBLY HOT!!!!!RESTED A LITTLE AT 5 I WENT WITH PASTOR TO THE MEDICAL MISSION. OH THE POOR PEOPLE WITH MANY ILLNESS AND WOUNDS AND ALL KINDS OF MEDICAL NEEDS. THEY SET UP A GREEN TENT WHICH SAYS MEDICAL CLINIC AND THERE IS A NURSE OUTSIDE AND THE 2 DOCTORS INSIDE. THE DOCTORS WERE THE ONES I MET CELEBRATING THEIR ANNIVERSARY. EVERY SUN. THEY SET UP FREE CLINIC. TODAY THERE WERE ABOUT 60 PEOPLE TREATED. AT EACH STATION THE NURSE OR PHARMACIST OR DR. SHARES THE WORD ABOUT JESUS AND HIS SALVATION. THEN THEY TREAT THEM. EVEN THE HINDU PEOPLE LOVE THIS PASTOR AND STAND UP WHEN HE COMES. THEY ARE FEEDING ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE AND HOUSING AND EDUCATING ABOUT 300 CHILDREN. THEY WERE GIVING INJECTIONS AND HAD ME TAKING PICTURES.THEN I WENT IN TO THE SECTION WHERE THE STAFF WAS WAITING AND THEY WANTED ME TO PRAY FOR THEM. I PRAYED FOR THE LORD TO OPEN THE WOMB OF ONE OF THE NURSES TRYING TO HAVE A CHILD FOR FIVE YEARS, I BELIEVE GOD WILL DO A MIRACLE FOR THEM. THE OTHER NURSE HAS NO MONEY HER HUSBAND HAS NO JOB AND THE CHURCH IS FEEDING THEM. THEY PAID FOR HER TO GET HER NURSING CERTIFICATE AND SOON SHE CAN WORK. NOW SHE IS VOLUNTEERING AT THE CLINIC. A TINY LITTLE WOMAN AND SO SWEET. I PRAYED THAT GOD WOULD OPEN THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND PROVIDE IN MIRACULOUS WAYS. THE OTHER 2 WERE MARRIED. HE WAS IN THE INDIAN ARMY FOR 23 YEARS AND IN THE LORD'S ARMY FOR THREE. HE IS THE PHARMACIST. HIS WIFE IS A NURSE AND I PRAYED BLESSINGS AND HEALTH AND PROVISION ON THEM. SO MANY ARE GIVING SO MUCH, IN SERVICE OF THE LORD.THERE WERE SEVERAL INTERCESSORS PRAYING FOR ME AND FOR THE SERVICE. WORSHIP WAS SO POWERFUL AND SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF. THEN PASTOR GRACIOUSLY INTRODUCED ME. I SHARED WHAT GOD HAD PUT ON MY HEART EARLY ONE MORNING. I HAD SUCH A SENSE OF GOD'S LOVE AND MY LOVE FOR THESE DEAR MEN AND WOMEN, IT JUST FLOODED OUT. I DID FEEL THE ANOINTING AND GOD'S WORD WENT FORTH. I HAD TO BE BAREFOOT AND COVER MY HEAD WITH THE SCARF FROM THE SALWARTEZE, AND HOLD THE MIC. IT WAS SO HOT ONLY ONE FAN FOR THE PULPIT BUT GOD STRENGTH FLOWED INTO ME. I WAS BLESSED TO OBEY GOD AND SO HONORED TO SERVE HIM HERE. PASTOR SAID AFTERWARDS THAT IT WAS LIKE RAINING LOVE DOWN ON THE PEOPLE SO IT WAS ALL GLORY TO GOD. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING.IT WILL BE HARD TO LEAVE THIS DEAR FAMILY TOMORROW THEY HAVE SERVED ME AN SERVE THE LORD DAY AND NIGHT TRULY. MY INTERPRETER PASTOR PREM IS TOTALLY HOARSE AFTER ALL THESE DAYS WITH ME, BUT GOD GAVE HIS VOICE STRENGTH EVERYTIME HE SPOKE. PTL PTL. HE AND HIS WIFE ARE SO DEAR AND LOVING SERVANTS OF GOD. AND THEIR BABIES NAME IS JOSHUA. I TOLD THEM ABOUT OUR JOSH TONIGHT AND HOW EXTRA SPECIAL THEIR LITTLE BOY IS TO ME. WHEN WE WERE PRAISING GOD HIS ARM WAS RAISED SINGING HALLELUIA. GOD DID A VERY TENDER THING FOR ME. PRAY FOR THE DRIVER TOMORROW, AND STRENGTH FOR THE HORRIBLE ROUGH 3 HR RIDE TO AIRPORT. THEY TOO MUST LEAVE ME OUTSIDE BUT I AM ASKING GOD TO SEND HIS HS AHEAD TO MAKE THE WAY SMOOTH. I HAVE HAD DIVINE PROTECTION AND HEALTH AND STRENGTH AND I EXPECT I WILL TOMORROW AS WELL. MY PHONE STOPPED WORKING FOR SOME REASON, BUT AM TRUSTING GOD.

SATURDAY AT THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

Last night(FRI), Pastor Prem and his family invited me to join them for family prayer. It was so dear, Grandma, an auntie, the young woman that traveled with me and the baby and Pastor Prem and his dear wife. They were all seated in the floor except Pastor and I. His wife started singing praise songs, some of them sang in their dialect, and some of us in English. The presence of God was so sweet. Then we read from the scriptures, each one reading 4 verses. Eph. 4. They asked me to begin and then went around the circle. All but three had Bibles and read in their own language. Then they asked me to expound on what we had read. Ready in season and out. Then they asked me to pray and gave prayer requests. The grandmother has severe arthritis in her knees and she asked to have prayer for healing. God is so amazing and faithful, we agreed together for many things, one heart, one mind, one accord, Pastor Clarence came home and brought pizza that he had them make just for me. Vegetables, very light white sauce, and very tasty cheese thick and white. He said he told them to make it with "no spice" for his American sister. They are so kind trying to make everything pleasamt for me. I am blessed even though some things are very hard. No shower two faucets and a bucket. Then you push the water out a hole with a squeegie. Marbel floors, very slippery. Praise God for a real western toilet. Another awesome day, I rose early and had a wonderful breakfast of french toast. No spice!!!! They make it just for me. The Canadian team came about 9:30 for their Indian breakfast. They live in Canada, but most immigrated from Shri Lanka. We had praise and prayer together. These women are mighty women of prayer and the house shook with the presence of the Lord. We prayed for one another and for the Women's Conference we were going to share at. God spoke many things in the time we were praying, and we could really feel the annointing fall. We went to the church to find 500 women and about 15 young girls. Praise and worship is like nothing I have ever experienced before. Those women were dancing and praising and raising their hands. It was very powerful, many so not speak any English, so they were singing familiar praise songs in their language and in English. It over joyed my heart to join with them praising our God. Then Pastor introduced my and I spoke a few moments and then the Pastor from Canada came. She ministered for about 40 min. then we praised and worshiped more and then the next session began. The power of God was heavy and many fell under the power of Holy Spirit. Then Pastor gave an altar call and we prayed for nearly everyone. Many people were healed and annointed. It was such a privilege to be a part of what God was doing. This lasted for about 4 hours. Then the youth group and the men served a lunch. It was very beautiful food. Rice with lentl sauce and several dishes I did not recognice with brilliant orange and reds(curry and chile) very spicey, and Lamb. They brought in special gifts for me. A beautiful scripture plaque from the Women's ministry and they a lovely glass candle holder. They were so sweet and loving to us.

MORE SAT NIGHT

SORRY I SIGNED OFF ABRUPTLY. PASTOR INVITED ME TO GO WITH HIM TO THE DR.S HOUSE. THEY WERE CELEBRATING THEIR 30 ANNIVERSARY AND WE WENT TO GIVE A GIFT AND TO PRAY. sHE IS AN OB. AND HE IS PEDIATRICIAN. HE ASKED ME TO PRAY A BLESSING OVER THEM. SUDDENLY, SHE GOT A CALL AND HAD TO GO TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY C SECTION. THE NEXT THING I KNEW, THEY WERE PULLING DRUGS AND VIALS OUT OF THER REFIGERATOR, NONE AT THE HOSPITAL, SO THEY KEEP THEM AT HOME AND BRING THEM FOR SURGERY.LATER WE WENT TO THE CHURCH TO MEET AND COUNSEL WITH A YOUNG MARRIED COUPLE. MARRIED THE DAY BEFORE, AND ARRANGED MARRIAGE BY THEIR PARENTS. HE IS A BELIEVER AND SHE IS HINDU. THEIR PARENTS WOULD NOT ALLOW A MARRIAGE CEREMONY AT CHURCH BUT HE WANTED GOD'S BLESSING. PASTOR ASKED ME TO SHARE JESUS WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN. AND TO INSTRUCT THEM HOW TO HAVE A STRONG MARRIAGE AND HOW TO BUILD A GODLY RELATIONSHIP. PASTOR HAD TO INTERPRET. SHE LOOKED SO DEEPLY INTO MY EYES AS I SHARED THE GOSPEL, AND I TOLD HER SHE COULD PRAY AND ASK JESUS INTO HER HEART. SHE GOT VERY SCARD AND WAS NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. PASTOR SHARED HIS TESTIMONY AS A FORMER HINDU, AND HOW JESUS SAVED HIM. THEN HE ASKED TO TELL EACH OF THEM THEIR DUTIES AS HUSBAND AND WIFE. I SHARED THE WORD" HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES....AND WIVES RESPECT AND HONOR YOUR HUSBANDS...." THEY WERE BOTH SO SERIOUSLY LISTENING. PASTOR SHARED THAT SHE NEEDED TO FOLLOW HIM AS HER HUSBAND. SHE AGREED TO COME TO CHURCH WITH HIM, WHICH IS A MIRACLE FOR A HINDU WOMAN. WE PRAYED AND BOUND SPIRITS THAT WOULD HINDER. AND AFTER PRAYING HER EYES WERE CLEAR AND TENDER. THEN THEY ASKED ME TO LAY HANDS ON THEM AND PRAY. OH HOW GOD MOVED. IT IS SUCH A HUMBLING THING FOR ME TO BE USED OF GOD. THIS YOUNG HINDU(SOON TO BE A BELIEVER) HUGGED ME AND KISSED ME. WHAT A SWEET BLESSING. HIS MOTHER 3 BROTHERS AND A FRIEND WERE THERE AND ALL HEARD THE WORD. HIS MOTHER ASKED ME TO PRAY AND I CLAIMED HER FOR THE KINGDOM. PTL PTL PTL THEN ONE OF THE BROTHERS WANTED ME TO PRAY FOR SUCCESS IN HIS BUSINESS. I CANT TELL YOU HOW IT FELT TO BE USED OF GOD. DURING OUR VISIT 4 FAMILIES CALLED TO ARRANGE MEETING FOR THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO MEET FOR MARRIAGE. ALL BELIEVERS. PASTOR CLARENCE SAID "THIS IS HOW I DO MARRIAGE MINISTRY" THEN WE WENT UP TO THE UPPER ROOM WHERE MANY WERE GATHERED TO PRAY FOR THE SERVICE. HALLELUIAH WHAT A TIME OF INTERCESSION. MEN AND WOMEN ON THEIR KNEES AND CRYING AND WEEPING AND PRAYING. SOME WERE ON THEIR FACES AND ONE WOMAN FELL UNDER THE POWER OF HS AND PROPHYSIED OVER THE SERVICE, PASTOR AND THOSE THAT WOULD BE THERE. I JOINED AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD WAS SO STRONG. PASTOR ASKED ME TO JUMP AND I DID, PRAISE THE LORD. WE ARE LEAVING TO GO TO THE MEDICAL MISSION AND THEN I WILL PREACH TONIGHT SUNDAY!!!!!! I NEED TO WALK INTO THE CHURCH AND PREACH IN BARE FEET. I WILL BE WALKING PLACES IN BARE FEET THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT I WOULD BE PRAY FOR ANNNOINTING AND HS TO MINISTER.

SPEAKING AT TRINITY BIBLE COLLEGE ON FRI

I HAD BREAKFAST AT 7AM AND DROVE FOR 2 HOURS TO THE THE TRINITY BIBLE COLLEGE, FOR WOMEN. THERE ARE ABOUT 50 YOUNG WOMEN STUDYING THERE, MOST OF THEM WERE HINDU BACK GROUNDS. WHEN THEY RECEIVE CHRIST, THEIR FAMILY KICKS THEM OUT. THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, NO HOME, NO FAMILY, NO MONEY. THEY TRUELY ARE SACRIFICING TO BE CHRISTIANS. MANY OF THE GIRLS ARE FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE CHURCH. I SHARED AT THE CHAPEL SERVICE AND I FELT ANNOINTED. I HAD TO USE AN INTERPRETER AS SOME OF THEM DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH. THAT WAS VERY HARD AT FIRST. EITHER I SAID TOO MUCH, OR TOO LITTLE. THE LORD IMPRESSED ME IN THE NIGHT THAT I SHOULD PRAY FOR EACH OF THE WOMEN. I ASKED IF I COULD AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED. THE POWER WAS OFF AGAIN AND I WAS SWEATING SO MUCH, BUT THE WOMEN DID NOT SEEM TO MIND. WHILE I WAS PRAYING, THE BROUGHT A CHAIR FOR ME TO SIT AND THE GIRLS KNELT ON THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF ME. OH THEIR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FACES WERE SO DEAR, I WAS DEEPLY TOUCHED. I HAD A SPECIFIC WORD FOR SOME OF THEM AND I PRAYED FOR GOD TO FILL THEM WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND ANOINT THEM FOR HIS CALLING ON THEIR LIVES. I FELT GOD WAS CALLING ONE TO PREACH, ONE TO BE A TEACER, AND TWO WERE BEING CALLED OUT TO BE LEADERS IN WOMEN MINISTRY. WHEN I PRAYED FOR A COUPLE THE LORD SHOWED ME SOME DEEP NEEDS. IT WAS A VERY BLESSED TIME FOR ME. THEN WE WENT TO CLASS AND I TAUGHT MORE FROM THE WORD FOR 2 HOURS. THEN I ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS. AT FIRST THEY GIGGLED AND LAUGHED BUT THEN SOME STARTED. ONE OF THE WOMEN WANTED TO KNOW WHY AMERICANS CAME TO INDIA TO WORSHIP HINDU GOD'S AND THEN GO HOME AGAIN. SHE SAID WHY IF THEY KNOW JESUS WOULD THEY DO THAT. WHAT A SCANDEL AGAINST AMERICANS. I SAID THAT THEY MAY KNOW JESUS IN THEIR MINDS BUT NOT IN THEIR HEARTS. ALSO, I BELIEVE THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING AND TURN TO OTHER GOD'S TO TRY TO FILL THAT VOID THAT GOD HAS PUT WITH IN THEM. I ALSO BELIEVE IT IS TRENDY AND STYLISH TO DABBLE IN THESE OTHER RELIGIONS INCLUDING ISLAM. THE LORD GOD IS SO AMAZING. I DID FEEL STRENGTHENED BY THE LORD FOR THIS DAY. WE WENT TO A CHURCH AND SCHOOL WHERE THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH BEGAN IN INDIA. THE PASTOR'S WIFE MADE LUNCH FOR ME. IT WAS MASHED POTATOES AND GRAVY AND FRIED CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES, JUST LIKE HOME.......NO SPICE!!! THEY WERE VERY GRACIOUS AND KIND AND THE THEOLOGY PROFESSOR JOINED US AS WELL. THEY SENT ONE OF THE WOMEN TO TRAVEL WITH ME. SHE IS VERY DEAR, GRADUATED FROM BIBLE COLLEGE AND WITH HER MASTERS, SHE IS SERVING IN PASTOR CLARENCE'S HOME AND IN THE CHURCH. SHE HAS SUCH A SERVANT HEART. SHE DOES DISHES AND COOKS AND CLEANS ANYTHING THAT NEEDS DOING. SHE IS A WOMANS PASTOR. HEPZI IS HER NAME, AND SHE CARRIED MY BAG AND HELD MY HAND OUTSIDE ON THE ROUGH GROUND. THEY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL HAS ABOUT 70 MEN STUDYING THE WORD AND A TRADE SO THAT THEY CAN GET JOBS AND SUPPORT A FAMILY. THEY ARE ALSO STARTING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEN WE WENT ABOUT AN HOUR TO THE MOUNTAINS TO SEE A HUGE WATERFALL. THERE WERE ABOUT 5 OF THEM FALLING FROM WAY HIGH UP DOWN AND JOINING ANOTHER GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER. AT THE BOTTOM IS A LARGE POOL. PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER INDIA TO BATHE IN THE POOLFOR HEALTH REASONS. THE WATER IS RICH IN MINERALS AND HERBS, FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE FORESTS AND MOUNTAINS. AFTER THAT THE WATER IS CONSIDERED DIRTY AND SOME GARBAGE IS DUMPIN IN. SO MUCH BEAUTY, SO MUCH POVERTY AND MISERY. THERE WERE 6 MONKEYS SITTING IN A PILE OF GARBAGE EATING AWAY ON THE STREET, I COULD NOT GET MY CAMERA OUT FAST ENOUGH BUT THEY WERE AMAZING TO SEE UP CLOSE. IT WAS VERY HOT OUT THERE AND IN THE SUN I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS OUT UNTIL WE GOT BACK TO THE CAR. THE DRIVER WE HAD TODAY WAS A WILD MAN. HE THOUGHT THAT HONKING HIS HORN HARD A HUNDRED TIMES WOULD MAKE THE CARS, BUSES AND PEOPLE AND ANIMALS DISAPPEAR. HE DROVE VERY FAST.....................AND MOSTLY ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS AND BUSES COMING STRAIGHT AT US. I DID COVER MY FACE WITH MY HANDS A FEW TIMES, BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WOULDN"T MAKE IT. BUT GOD WAS FAITHFUL TO PROTECT AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WAS VERY GLAD TO BE BACK AT THE HOUSE 2 HOURS LATER. I WAS SO TIRED, WE HAD TEA AND THEN I WENT UP TO REST. A TEAM FROM CANADA IS HERE AND THEY WERE ALL GOING OUT TO SHOP AT 7PM AND TO DINNER, BUT I DECLINED, I AM SHOT, BUT VERY BLESSED. THANKYOU FOR PRAYING SO DILIGENTLY. THE LORD IS SUSTAINING AND MAKING ALL THINGS BEARABLE, AND GOOD. THEY WOMEN OF THE HOUSE MADE ME RICE PANCAKES AND TEA FOR SUPPER. THEY GAVE ME PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY AND HOT TEA. THE WOMEN NEVER EAT AT THE TABLE BUT IN THE KITCHEN, I HAVE GONE IN TO VISIT AND THANK THEM A FEW TIMES BUT THEY SEEM NERVOUS THAT THE GUEST IS IN THE KITCHEN. SO I VISIT WITH THE PASTORS AT THE TABLE AS THE GUEST. THEY LITTLE GRANDSON IS 1 YEAR AND VERY CUTE. HE CAN PUT HIS LITTLE HANDS TOGETHER AS THEY SAY PRAISE THE LORD. HE KEEPS CRAWLING UP STAIRS AND WANTS TO GO IN MY ROOM TO PLAY, SO MOST OF THE TIME THEY ARE CHASING UP AND DOWN AFTER HIM.THE WOMENS CONFERENCE IS TOMORROW AND I WILL JUST SHARE BRIEFLY AND ATTEND THE REST. OUTSIDE AND INSIDE NO AIR CONDITIONING TRUSTING GOD. THERE ARE MANY MOSQUITOES AS WE ARE IN OUT OF TOWN AREA. MUCH HARD LIVING, BUT I AM LEARNING WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE HERE IN INDIA. IT IS A BLESSING TO BE IN THEIR HOME AND SEE HOW THE FAMILY LIVES DAY TO DAY. SUNDAY I WILL SHARE IN THE MORNING SERVICE AND SUN. EVENING I WILL BE PREACHING AT THE EVENING SERVICE. I MISS YOU ALL AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE PROBABLY A WEEK OR TWO OF TALKING, AND TALKING.

FLYING TO MADURAI ON THURS., AUG. 21

THE FLIGHT WAS VERY INTERESTING, ANDY AND RAMU AND ARCHIE TOOK ME AND CALLED FOR A WHEELCHAIR, BUT THEY HAD TO LEAVE ME OUTSIDE. THE GUY TOOK ME UP TO THE COUNTER AND LEFT. MOST OF THE WORKERS CAN NOT SPEAK ENGLISH SO IT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING. THEY WANTED ME TO FILL OUT A MEDICAL FORM AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT. ONE WOMAN SAID THAT IT WAS THEIR POLICY FOR TAKING ME IN A WHEELCHAIR. THEY HAD TO TAKE THAT PAPERWORK WITH ME TO THE GATE AND TO THE AIRPLANE. IT WAS A LITTLE SCAREY, BUT ANDY STAYED AT THE AIRPORT UNTIL I WENT BACK TO THE GATE, ALTHOUGH HE HAD TO STAY OUTSIDE. THEY HAD 3 GUYS CARRY ME UP THE STAIRS TO THE BUS-------AND DOWN AGAIN AND ACROSS THE TARMACK TO THE SMALLLLLLLL AIRPLANE. I SAID I WOULD WALK UP THE STAIRS, VERY SMALL STEEP STEPS. THERE WERE ONLY 10 PEOPLE COUNTING ME. A PROP JOB. IT WAS OK UNTIL THE STEWARDESS ASKED ALL BUT 2 OF US TO MOVE FORWARD TO BALANCE THE WEIGHT. PTL WE TOOK OFF AND LANDED. THEY SERVED FOOD, SOME KIND OF STRANGE SANDWICH AND I DID NOT KNOW, BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. IT TOOK ALL MY SMALL BILLS AND I DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO PAY THE HELPER. THEY MET ME AT THE AIRPORT WITH A WHEEL CHAIR AND THE AIRPORT HERE IS VERY, VERY SMALL. NO ONE SPOKE ENGLISH AND I FINALLY GOT OUTSIDE AND A YOUNG MAN NAMED ABRAHAM MET ME. THEY LOADED ME IN A LARGE VAN THAT I COULD STAND UP IN, IT WAS OLD AND THERE WERE 2 WOMEN AND ANOTHER MAN, WHO COULD NOT SPEAK ANY ENGLISH. WE JAMMED IN AND THEN THEY SAID I SHOULD USE THE BATHROOM, NO WHERE TO GO FOR 2 1/2 HOURS, SO OUT I GOT BACK INTO THE AIRPORT. NO TOILET SEAT. FILTHY NO TOILET PAPER UGH. THEN BACK TO THE VEHICLE. THINK OF THE WORST POSSIBLE DIRT ROAD YOU HAVE EVER BEEN ON EVER IN YOUR LIFE AND THIS WOULD BE 100 TIMES WORSE. BOUNCING AWFUL FOR 3 HOURS(NOTHING EVER TAKES THE TIME THAT THEY SAY IT WILL.) THIS AREA IS LIKE PHEONIX, HOT AND DESERT LIKE, SCRUBBY TREES AND OF COURSE THE POOR VILLAGES WITH ANIMALS AND PEOPLE LIVING TOGETHER. THE HOUSE HERE IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AT ALL. THE POWER WAS OUT, IT WAS SO HOT................I WAS JUST WRECKED. THEY ARE VERY KIND, THE WOMEN DO NOT SPEAK MUCH ENGLISH AND THEY DO NOT EAT WITH THE MEN OR GUESTS AS IS THE INDIAN CUSTOM. THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME. MY ROOM IS AT THE TOP OF 2 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS AND THE BED IS WOOD FRAME WITH ABOUT AN INCH MATTRESS VERY HARD. PASTOR CLARENCE AND I HAD SOME TALKING ABOUT THE WEEKEND AND SPEAKING. IT IS 1 1/2 HR. TRAVEL TO THE BIBLE COLLEGE, NO AIR THERE, ALL DAY EVENT. HE WANTS ME TO GO TO THE MEDICAL MISSION ON SUN AFTERNOON BETWEEN SERVICES. I WAS DISMAYED BECAUSE I COULD NOT REACH ANDY OR ANYONE WHILE THE POWER WAS OUT. IT FINALLY CAME ON AT ABOUT 6PM. PRAISE GOD THANKYOU JESUS. THE WATER IS GROUND WATER AND ALL THE FOOD SO FAR IS PREPARED BY THE WOMEN AND VERY INDIAN. THEY HAVE PROVIDED BOTTLED WATER FOR ME. TONIGHT WE HAD RICE PANCAKES LIKE, MACKERAL FISH AND PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY FOR ME. THEY ARE SERVING FRESH FRUIT CUT UP AND ALL THE THINGS RECOMMENDED AGAINST. TRUSTING GOD FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH. THERE ARE FEW SCREENS ON WINDOWS, LOTS OF MISQUITOS AND STRANGE SHOWER, WITH A BUCKET UNDER. HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT YET. EVERYWHERE I AM SPEAKING, I WILL NEED AN INTERPRETER. 7AM TOMORROW BREAKFAST AND THEN TRAVEL TO BIBLE COLLEGE TO SHARE AT CHAPEL SERVICE AND FOR 2 HOURS IN THE CLASS ROOM. THERE IS A GROUP OF 7 FROM CANADA HERE AND I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE BRITISH. NONE OF THEM. THE FEMALE PASTOR IS FROM SHRI LANKA AND THE OTHERS WERE FROM ALL OVER, NOT TOO MUCH ENGLISH, I TRUELY AM IN A DIFFERENT WORLD. I AM TIRED AND A LITTLE NO A LOT NERVOUS. THEY WANT THE DR. TO PUT MEDICATED BANDAGES ON MY KNEES VERY TIGHT NOT ACE BANDAGES BUT KIND OF PLASTIC LOOKING WITH MASKING TAPE FOR ARTHRITIS TREATMENT. I THINK I WILL PASS FOR NOW

COORG-ORANGE COUNTY WEEKEND

Please excuse the different texts but I have been using different computers all the time. On Fri., Aug 15, which was Indian Independence Day (freedom from British rule). It was a long holiday weekend, so we traveled. We left at 6:30am on Fri. We had our car and driver Ramu and we planned to go to Coorg which is a city southeast about 240 kilometers(how many miles?) We had a little freeway for about 1 hour, then wow. We drove for about 6 1/2 hours on every kind of road and non-road imaginable. On the freeway, you can only go about 40 because about every 2 miles, there is a speed bump or traffic gates that you have to zigzag around. These are designed to keep the speed low, as if the people on bikes, rickshaws and 100,000 buses wouldn't slow any one down. In every town or small city there is traffic galore. As we moved further out, the roads had huge pot holes and repairs that sent us flying and bouncing. Once we left the main road, after about 2 hours we were in ever thickening jungle. Yes, I mean real jungle. We drove the final 4 1/2 hours on some dirt, some tar roads just hacked out of the jungle. Part of the way were mountain trails. There was only room barely and inching our way to pass a car coming towards us. Believe me I prayed and hung on. There were rice paddies on every flat piece of earth, and where is was too shallow, they hauled in dirt in huge pots on top of their heads. The mounds between the paddies, enabled them to walk and defined ownership. The people stood calf-high in water planting and tending the rice plants. The seeds are planted elsewhere, and when the sprouts are big enough they plant them in the wetland by hand. The water buffalo are yoked together and they walk around and around making the mud ready. yuk! I may never eat rice again. Not really, at least rice is boiled. When the rice is harvested, they lay it on the road for several days, so that cars and animals and people stomp on it and separate the kernels. At the end of the day, they have short sort of stick like brooms and they sweep it all up and put it out again the next day. Finally, they load it in ox carts, or in bowls on their heads, or in cloth wrapped around and carried on their back. Many of these people live right near the paddies in plastic stretched over some wood to make a tent. The children work the paddies along side their parents and never go to school. Some of the villiages we went throught we little more than mud holes with houses made out of narled wood, so concrete blocks, many painted very bright colors, like aqua blue, green, orange and yellow. At first, the men and women were dressed in shirts and pants and sari but the farther into the jungle, the loin clothes for the men and poor looking clothes wrapped the women. Some of the little children were naked on the bottom, no diapers. They were playing right by the road, in the mud and with chickens, and cows and oxen all around. It was unbelieveable that people live all their lives like this. It was very heart breaking and yet these people had homes and food. There were large flocks of goats in some areas, and they were just being herded right down the road, we were honking like crazy and the shepherds with very long sticks would guide them, well, most of them, to one side so we could pass. These flocks were some times 50 to 100, the shepherds were weatherbeaten old men and womem. Sometimes there were 40 or so cattle. Just about every house or hut had some kind of cow or oxen or goat. In more populated farm areas, there were milk cans being driven from the farm and later we would see big milk transports. Very little purification takes place along the way, so milk is not on our foods to eat, for sure. We saw beautiful huge clumps of bamboo trees. Maybe 40 ft. in the air and 100 ft around. The spears of bamboo out in the jungle grow very large and they do not always harvest. It must mature before it is the yellow color that we know. Otherwise, it is green and black. Men take long, long poles and carve holes to put sticks in and they stand these poles upright, balancing on chopping off the bamboo. We saw some of them doing it, amazing feet of balance. There were huge banyon trees. They are very large trees, with smoothe trunks and all over from the branches are what I thought were vines. They are really roots growing out and down to the ground. Where the root hits the ground, it grows thicker and thicker until it forms another trunk, and so the tree expands. We went to one that is 3 acres, of one tree with massive trunks. The tree is believed to be at least 200 years old. The palm trees were so thick you could hardly see the sky. Not one piece of the coconut is wasted. The furry part is peeled of and burned for fire and the shells are used for carving and of course, the inside and milk for drinking. The meat of the coconut is very soft and fresh, not like the hard stuff we get in US. We were bounced and banged and drove about 2 miles an hour in many places. No cell phone service, I mean in the jungle. We stopped in several villiages and asked directions to Orange County because we did not dare to take a wrong turn out there. It is a good thing that Ramu spoke canican dialect so he understood. As we got closer to the coffee and tea plantations there were other beautiful plants and flowers. There were, what we thought were flowering plants all around. Later we found out that they were tobacco plants. In those villiages, we saw huge piles of these leaves laying in the dirt to dry and many ox carts carrying piles on them, with the driver walking alongside the cart. In some places, they had bikes and they were loaded down with the leaves. There were hundreds of fields with tall thin spikey looking plants. Sugar cane. Many of the small cities were around cane fields and sugar cane factories. Here too, much of the harvest is done by hand cutting and seperating and carrying by cart or by human. Mayatan means sugar city. I was surprised to see that there were a number of corn fields. They were harvesting the corn, huge ears and they looked very plump and moist. They climate is cool and misty all the time just perfect for these kind of crops. I will send this out for today and blog more later. Very blessed tired and safe. PTL PTL

SUNDAY., AUG. 10, IN INDIA

Pastor Clarences son-in-law, Rueben, picked me up and took me to the largest church in India. It is called FULL GOSPEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH WORSHIP CENTRE. Pastor Paul Thangiah is the pastor. They have 16,000 members. Each service holds about 2000. This Sunday, we drove up and found several hundred people standing outside waiting to get in for the next service. It was amazing to see how much the people were hungry to worship God and hear the word. I was introduced to one of the women in leadership and she took me inside. The people were sitting on the floor knee to knee, with a tiny space in front, big enough to lay their bibles down. We walked through the crowd and up to the front of the church. Immediately, there was an altar call, and she began to pray and I to agree with her, mostly in tongues, and that was before our service began. There was a powerful presence of God. People that have cars park up to a couple of miles or walk long distances to get here. There are 2 English services, 2 in National languages and 1 that they call international. The service lasted 2 hours. When you sit on the front row, where the altar prayers are sitting your knees are just a few inches from the altar. The worship started with everyone on their feet. The music was very annointed, some of the songs we have sung at home, others were new, but giving glory and honor to God. The Holy Spirit feel almost from the first note, there was much singing in the spirit and praying in tongues throughout the worship time. There were several Prophetic words given forth and it was---wow, PTL. There were times when I could hardly stand and the whole building shook. All the songs concentrated on Jesus, His blood and glorifying God. We shared in communion and it was very moving. Pastor called out specific healings as we took the host and cup. There was one word that especially touched The woman whose husband had beaten her last night, should not dispair. Jesus was coming to her and her husband would be saved and changed very soon. There is so much need in this country, every single step you take has great social need and financial need and just desperate need. it was a powerful word to hear that Jesus was aware and coming to meet her need and the healing needs of so many others. It was an amazing experience to sense God's power and might and His very tender love with these dear brothers and sisters. Pastor Paul was preaching a message on the baptism of fire. I nearly fell over, since this is the word that God is speaking many places and exactly the thing we have been praying for and seeking God for. Church, I believe we should take heed. He went on to share several things about the baptism of fire. First comes purification: repentance, seeking God with all of our heart. Being in the word, studying and praying to know Him more. He spoke of people coming to church and sitting "like idols", not participating but watching. He spoke out several other areas of sin, including bridegrooms seeking dowery from brides parents, which is like being bribbed to marry and robbing parents. He than talked about fasting and prayer. This should be a regular part of our seeking and honoring God. This Fri. is the Independence Day for India, and the pastor has called a whole day of prayer and fasting for the nation. The whole church is joining together in prayer and fasting. Imagine the possibilities of 16,000 believers coming to fast and pray, one heart, one mind and one accord, for the salvation of how many billion people. He then spoke about the persecution that the enemy would want to bring against those He poured out His spirit on. He shared several victory scriptures but also wanting us to be aware. There was so much teaching and preaching and conviction. I could sense the move of Spirit starting to flow all through the church. He gave an altar call and they started moving chairs out so that the people could move forward. There was not an inch of space between any one as we stood and sang and worshiped. Then those at the altar began to pray in tongues and he called down fire from heaven, the Holy Spirit baptism of fire. The whole building shook with praise and prayer. This went on for maybe 35 min. I was so blessed to be a receipient of the glory of God. When the people finally began to leave, there was a throng waiting outside. This pastor is believing that all of India will be evangelized and come to salvation before he goes to heaven. Let us stand in agreement for the move of HS to take over India. They gave me a gift of annointed oil to use to annoint people and pray for the sick. What in investment of faith and trust in me and in God. After service Ruben and his wife took me to lunch and then shopping. We went to KFC. the chicken was very small, but tasted good. No potatoes or gravy, no cole slaw. some kind of spicey dip stuff, which I chose not to taste. Pastor Clarence had instructed them to take me and buy fabric and have 2 outfits sewn for me. No matter how much I protested, they wanted to bless me. We went to the real market place. Oh my I walked many blocks and almost every shop they offered to buy me a gift. We went to 2 fabric places, they spoke for me and bartered until a good price was agreed upon. They were so kind and generous, it was overwhelming. I found a small purse, which I have been searching for, since my travel bag is too heavy to carry every day. They insisted that they get it for me. I am blessed. They have 2 girls, Kathryn 6 and Julia 1 1/2. They were beautiful, dear little children. Kathryn made me a picture with paints and beads and I told her I would take it home with me and put it on my refrigerator and that I would pray for her and her family whenever I looked at it. She was very excited and her parents were very touched to think that I would pray for them. We went to their house, and apartment two flights up and no lift(elevator). God surely strengthened me beyond all I could have imagined. Thank you for all your prayers. They had people over and I shared the word that God had put on my heart with them. I also, shared some of my testimony, and what God had sent me here to share with the churches. Shija shared about the divorce rate here. It is very high, not as bad as in US but climbing. They shared about some marriage materials that their pastor had recommended that just came out and I want to get it to bring home. It is speaking about the same things that we teach in Sunday School. I know now that the materials I brought are very needed and on point, to what God is doing here. They spoke prophesy over me, powerful word, and they are praying for divine appointments to continue outside the church. (I have been speaking to the housekeeper Reba and her husband came to meet me and he treated us to lunch at the restaurant that he is chef at. We are building a relationship, they are Hindu) They bought fruit and baked goods from street vendors and we had tap water, all the things that are not recommended, but I knew I had God's protection and I shared with them. Fresh pomagranite and a croissant like roll stuffed with chopped tomatoes onions and hard boiled eggs. This was a snack and I stayed until dinner. They insisted I eat with them and it was so dear, I couldn't say no. We had very thin rice pancakes, you could see through them, and a diping dish which I cannot begin to spell. You eat with your hands and dip while you are eating. They did not grind chile peppers into the did for my sake. They showed me how they made the pancakes in a pan(sort of like a griddle) Finally, they asked me to pray for them I felt honored and blessed and used by God. There were 1000 children in SSchool every service, and a huge nursery. They have services for the beggars and they feed several thousand a week. There is also a service for the severely handicapped and they are also fed. They have started a large orphanage and the Pastor sees to it that these children go to the best schools. On school holidays, families take these children into their homes for the 2 month and other holiday. Pastor takes them shopping at Christmas for gifts and treats them each to a meal in a restaurant. He truly leads by example from a heart of love. There is intercessory prayer every day at 9am. They are hoping I will minister at a womens meeting=800 or more regularly attend. God was very good to me today, when I got home I was very tired but great. I am trying to arrange flying to another state to minister with Pastor Clarence next week.

WED AUG 13 IN INDIA

BUSY WEEK AT THE OFFICE, HAVE PRESENTATION READY FOR POWER POINT. FRI. IS INDEPENDENCE DAY IN INDIA, AND A HOLIDAY. WE WILL DRIVE FOR 5 HRS. TO THE COFFEE AND TEA PLANTATION AREA, AND STAY IN A LODGE AT A RESORT. WILL HOPE TO TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES. ON THURS. AUG 21, I WILL FLY THE ONE HOUR TRIP TO MADURAI TO BE WITH PASTOR CLARENCE AND HIS CHURCH THERE. I LEAVE AT 6AM AND RETURN MON. 25, AT 8PM. IT IS A 2 1/2 HOUR DRIVE TO HIS CITY FROM AIRPORT. I WILL STAY WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND MINISTER IN THAT CITY WITH HIM. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME. TIME IS GOING SO FAST, TODAY I WENT TO THE STITCHERS AND PICKED UP MY SARWATEZE. THEY TURNED OUT VERY NICE. WE WATCHED THE STITCHER HEM THE ONE TOP AND IT WAS DONE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. THEY USE TREADLE MACHINES AND THEIR FEET ARE FLYING. THE TINY LITTLE HAND STITCHES ARE HARDLY VISIBLE, IT COST $40 TO HAVE TWO TOPS AND PANTS SEWN AND LINED. IT WAS VERY FUN EXPERIENCE, EXCEPT HAVING FINAL FITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MALL HALLWAY. THEIR WHOLE SHOP IS SMALLER THAN MY GUEST BATHROOM AND 3 SEWERS WERE IN THERE WITH MATERIALS AND SEWING MACHINES. WE HAD MCDONALDS FOR LUNCH. NO BEEF, JUST CHICKEN OR FISH. THE FRIES TASTED BETTER THAN HOME(PROBABLY OLIVE OIL NOT WHAT EVER WE USE) NO SILVERWARE, NO NAPKINS AND SLOW ON THE DELIVERY, BUT STILL THE ONLY FAST FOOD EXCEPT PIZZA HUT OR DOMINOS. WEIRD SEEING THESE HERE. MISSING ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT SO MUCH ACTION HERE ALL THE TIME MAKES TIME GO EVEN FASTER. WILL MISS ANDY WHEN I GET HOME, HARD TO LEAVE HIM HERE, BUT I HAVE LOVED OUR TIME TOGETHER.

SAT. AUG 9, IN INDIA

We slept in and then went on a day of shopping. I wanted to do several things but Andy suggested that I choose one thing and then see what happens. I was perplexed, but I will explain later. No one eats breakfast and lunch is between 1;30 AN 3:oo. I eat grainola bars, because I am starving. Remember dinner is not until 8-10. The restaurants do not even open until 7 for evening meals. This is hard for me to get used to. We stopped for lunch and then went to commercial street, to the shops. We went to the silk shop. Up to the 3rd floor. They send a guard and a servant to operate the lift which is hidden so I did not have to take the stairs. There are doormen to open the doors at almost every shop. The silk shop was an amazing place. You sit down in front of a wide granite counter and a gentleman comes to wait on you. I wanted to have a sawartese made. This is the outfit with long top and pants underneath and a stole around the neck, called a dupada. There are thousands of fabrics, from floor to ceiling. Silks, and satins, embroidered and beaded, plain and extremely ornate. Some weigh ten pounds just for the top, there is so much brocade and beading on them. Some of the fabrics are very sheer and lacey. He starts bringing out fabrics and placing them in front of you on the counter. The fabric for the sawartese is joined together. The front of the top and the arms are on one piece joined to another piece that is the back and the pants(usually a different but coordinating color, or a different fabric) then comes the dupada fabric. It us usually embroidered or embellished, often chiffon, and very pretty, maybe 4 ft long. There was every color, shade and hue imaginable. When you think you like one of them, a lovely graceful young woman came out and we go in front of a long, wide mirror, and she drapes the fabric over you so you can see what it will look like. There were so many choices, my head was spinning , but I finally found 2. Then the “stitcher” comes. You stand up and he measures every inch and another helper writes everything down. He will buy the lining material and design and stitch the whole out fit for 1000 ruppies, about $40. We can pick them up on thurs. we go to his shop for final fitting and pickup. I sure hope there is some kind of fitting room. It took us about 20 min. to drive 100ft, the traffic is much worse on Sat. that’s why Andy said that you can not plan many things because you never know how long it will take to travel there. The customer service is awesome, the clerk was devoted only to me and it took a long time to select fabric and all. Then I had the silk Andy had given me for Mother’s day, and I wanted it to be made into a jacket. We had to go to a “stitcher” that specialized in suit making and tailoring. Niki had 2 suits for work made at this shop and so we went there. The tailor(as I call him) measured the fabric and examined it carefully to make sure it was suitable. He measured me with an assistant writing it all out. Then I described in great detail what I wanted and how I wanted it to look. Then he drew sort of a picture with some desighn elements and I approved. I will go back for 2 fittings for this. The suit material was something to see as well. Andy will have a suit made there. Nikki had 2 womens suit coat and matching skirts made and the detail on the jackets was impressive. The buttons were small and covered in fabric and the button holes were without flaw. The cut of one of the jackets was very stylish and both fit her beautifully. I hope mine comes out as nice. It took us over an hour to travel to this shop. We went to one other shop and I found some things there as well. Then home to get ready for the evening. We had a formal invitation to a concert, given by the Ubhayakers. It was held at an auditiorium that was shaped like a violin. It was in the center of a large garden filled with flowers and exotic plants. This couple are in their 80’s and they own and run the cultural center in Bangalore. They had a son who died at 30, she was a singer and when he died she stopped singing. Her love for music and the arts never faded. Now they see that these opportunities are available to all. They have sponsored many young people to get into the music and art field and they have classes for no charge at the center and bring in performers to teach and perform. They also feed over 1,000 bedridden elderly every day. If elderly do not have family that will take care of them, they are on the street. They provide care and food for them. The concert invited many wealthy people as a fund raiser to continue the work now and after they are gone.
The concert was 3 hours. First there was the lighting of the lamp. A tall stand with 4 candles. This represented bringing light into the darkness(what a reminder of the true Light that Jesus brings into our lives. Then, this young man was introduced. He climbed on a low platform, surrounded by four other young men. There were two instruments that looked like medium rounded banjos, but with very long handles. The base sat on the floor and the men sat by that with the arms going way up on the long, 4-5 foot handle with strings. Then there was a very low silver looking drum and on the other side there was a wooden box that had a lung type apparatus that had a similar sound as a accordion. The singer tuned the sitars and they made long low resonating sounds and the drum made very unique sounds as well. Periodically the wooden box would sound. He introduced his song as one about a new marriage. Then he began to sing and this went on uninterrupted for 1 ½ hours. The voice was long low moans and sounds, I thought it was saying words, telling a story, and I thought it would be more interesting if I could understand the story. Come to find out, there were long low moans, notes and hand movements, not words. These sounds were to imply the emotion this bridegroom was feeling. It was quite beautiful and strange all at the same time. But after the 1 ½ hour, we were ready to leave. There was a short intermission and we ducked out. The place was very nice and in the center of the lobby was a large flower made out of hundreds of other flowers on the floor. I got some good pictures. We then went to have dinner at 9. We went to a place called the Olive beach. We sat in sand on beach furniture, surrounded by plastic water pools. There were real olive trees living and surrounded by Christmas lights. It was like being at a beach party. The waiters were dressed in formal beach wear. There was a lot of sea food dishes, but I had mushroom chicken with garlic mashed potatoes . Everyone in our party had something different. One had egg plant lasgna. It looked very strange, the others has halibut, this is a very common fish. Many dishes are throw backs to British rule. There were again many servers. Everytime you put something down, they are removing or serving more. The one thing that I find annoying is, that they are constantly rearranging your silverware. They server wears white gloves and moves the silver around, putting the fork on top of the tablespoon. There has been only one place that did not seem to bring a fresh bottle of water to the table. The health literature says not to drink from abottle that is not sealed and that you see them open at your table. The long lunches and dinners would work out for all of my lady friends. It is almost breakfast to bed eating and talking.

FRIDAY AUG, 8 IN INDIA

Wonderful weather. Sunny and not so hot and humid. Coming to the end of the monsoon season, and the weather should be very pleasant. It is weird to see people with jackets and stocking hats, it is in the 80’s still. Busy day at the office and writing up a power point presentation. I am learning a great deal about the culture and what the many differences are. In US, everything is hurry, hurry. Here it is a totally different pace. We leave for the office at 10 or 11. People greet on another and ask about the family and what is going on.. Then the office boy, Raju, comes around offering tea and water or whatever. He comes back wearing white gloves and serving in long cutaway coat.
Reba, the housekeeper, is very nice. She is a cleaning machine. I can hardly get out of bed and she is in making it, and cleaning my room. She does laundry every day, that is if the water is working. The city water runs out often, except this is the rainy season, so that should not be happening. The water issue is ongoing. There are too huge underground tanks that the water company fills when the city water is out. I do not understand where that water is coming from, but these huge trucks come in and fill the tanks on call. There is also a pump connected to the first and second floor. The laundry is located on the second floor and when they do not have water up there, no washing can be done. The water trucks cannot drive on the narrow road leading to our house, except at night when there is no traffic. They came at 10:30 at night to deliver. The driver, who spoke no English, wanted to know if we had a tool to open the tanks. They were out there for about an hour, only to find out that the tank was full. Then about 11:30 a repair guy comes and starts fiddling with the electricity wires outside. The landlady came out and started yelling that nothing was wrong, but the apartment up stairs had no water---no showers and no toilet flushing. Bill could come downstairs to use the guest room, but what a pain. Early the next morning different repair people came—plumbers and they put in a new pump, which we said was the trouble all the time. Whenever the pump ram, the fuse blew. On one of the pictures you can see the many wires hanging loose from the pole, in is a wonderment to me that anything runs. Electricity is off frequently and backup generators are everywhere. In the office the lights go out for a few minutes and everyone just keeps on talking or whatever without a pause, until the power comes back on. At the house, the ceiling fans are connected to the generator, a few lights, and of course the tv. Sometimes it is out for a few minutes, and sometimes all day.
We went to a place called the Leela. It is a beautiful palace, now a restaurant. Really, there are many restaurants in it, and it is a hotel as well. There is a gorgeous drive with flowers and plants and then massive marble and granite stairs and lobby. There is a doorman and several servants in exotic costumes to help you out of the car. The entry into the building is framed with maybe 10 foot arched doors and then you go into a palace. There are flowing, silky curtains marble floors and elephant carved tables and beautiful chairs all around, some surrounded by silk curtains for privacy. We choose the Asian restaurant. Everything was so beautiful. There were 4 waiters serving our table in long tails. The women hostess and greeters were dressed in pretty oriental clothing. One waiter poor the water, home to another puts your napkin in your lap, another takes the order. They all serve the food and move your plates and silverware around. We had things that I did not know existed but delicious. Andy orders for me and he did a great job. Again, many courses, and about 3 ½ hours of eating. We had many noodle, things and chicken in several forms. The vegetables were very unique combinations. Of course there was rice, burned garlic butter with chicken. It was so good. We had mushroom soup for a starter. Just about all the places we eat have more than one dish with mushrooms. The mushrooms are common here and they use all kinds to make dishes. There are mushroom gravies and sauces and dishes with mushrooms ground and just mushrooms, fried, stuffed and so on. I love them and am enjoying so many choices. We had luscious desserts chocolate with raspberries and a lemon sorbet with several layers of thin crust and a custard pineapple glaze puddings. Everything is served with panache and flair. Great fun. The hotel is very expensive, and Andy said that the big wheels from the states, as well as rich notables stay here. They have had several conferences and special events here, what a special treat. The palace is light up from the outside and oooooo…. to see. We sat in the lobby for awhile, soaking up the ambiance. The doorman calls our drivers name out, Ramu, and he drives up to get us. They have a footman with a plush stool to step up on to get into the car. I truly felt like a princess. Home to sleep and see what tomorrow brings.FRIDAY AUG, 8 IN INDIA

Wonderful weather. Sunny and not so hot and humid. Coming to the end of the monsoon season, and the weather should be very pleasant. It is weird to see people with jackets and stocking hats, it is in the 80’s still. Busy day at the office and writing up a power point presentation. I am learning a great deal about the culture and what the many differences are. In US, everything is hurry, hurry. Here it is a totally different pace. We leave for the office at 10 or 11. People greet on another and ask about the family and what is going on.. Then the office boy, Raju, comes around offering tea and water or whatever. He comes back wearing white gloves and serving in long cutaway coat.
Reba, the housekeeper, is very nice. She is a cleaning machine. I can hardly get out of bed and she is in making it, and cleaning my room. She does laundry every day, that is if the water is working. The city water runs out often, except this is the rainy season, so that should not be happening. The water issue is ongoing. There are too huge underground tanks that the water company fills when the city water is out. I do not understand where that water is coming from, but these huge trucks come in and fill the tanks on call. There is also a pump connected to the first and second floor. The laundry is located on the second floor and when they do not have water up there, no washing can be done. The water trucks cannot drive on the narrow road leading to our house, except at night when there is no traffic. They came at 10:30 at night to deliver. The driver, who spoke no English, wanted to know if we had a tool to open the tanks. They were out there for about an hour, only to find out that the tank was full. Then about 11:30 a repair guy comes and starts fiddling with the electricity wires outside. The landlady came out and started yelling that nothing was wrong, but the apartment up stairs had no water---no showers and no toilet flushing. Bill could come downstairs to use the guest room, but what a pain. Early the next morning different repair people came—plumbers and they put in a new pump, which we said was the trouble all the time. Whenever the pump ram, the fuse blew. On one of the pictures you can see the many wires hanging loose from the pole, in is a wonderment to me that anything runs. Electricity is off frequently and backup generators are everywhere. In the office the lights go out for a few minutes and everyone just keeps on talking or whatever without a pause, until the power comes back on. At the house, the ceiling fans are connected to the generator, a few lights, and of course the tv. Sometimes it is out for a few minutes, and sometimes all day.
We went to a place called the Leela. It is a beautiful palace, now a restaurant. Really, there are many restaurants in it, and it is a hotel as well. There is a gorgeous drive with flowers and plants and then massive marble and granite stairs and lobby. There is a doorman and several servants in exotic costumes to help you out of the car. The entry into the building is framed with maybe 10 foot arched doors and then you go into a palace. There are flowing, silky curtains marble floors and elephant carved tables and beautiful chairs all around, some surrounded by silk curtains for privacy. We choose the Asian restaurant. Everything was so beautiful. There were 4 waiters serving our table in long tails. The women hostess and greeters were dressed in pretty oriental clothing. One waiter poor the water, home to another puts your napkin in your lap, another takes the order. They all serve the food and move your plates and silverware around. We had things that I did not know existed but delicious. Andy orders for me and he did a great job. Again, many courses, and about 3 ½ hours of eating. We had many noodle, things and chicken in several forms. The vegetables were very unique combinations. Of course there was rice, burned garlic butter with chicken. It was so good. We had mushroom soup for a starter. Just about all the places we eat have more than one dish with mushrooms. The mushrooms are common here and they use all kinds to make dishes. There are mushroom gravies and sauces and dishes with mushrooms ground and just mushrooms, fried, stuffed and so on. I love them and am enjoying so many choices. We had luscious desserts chocolate with raspberries and a lemon sorbet with several layers of thin crust and a custard pineapple glaze puddings. Everything is served with panache and flair. Great fun. The hotel is very expensive, and Andy said that the big wheels from the states, as well as rich notables stay here. They have had several conferences and special events here, what a special treat. The palace is light up from the outside and oooooo…. to see. We sat in the lobby for awhile, soaking up the ambiance. The doorman calls our drivers name out, Ramu, and he drives up to get us. They have a footman with a plush stool to step up on to get into the car. I truly felt like a princess. Home to sleep and see what tomorrow brings.

THURS.,AUG. 7, IN INDIA
We are at the office again today, meeting and planning program. Anuj came in and we all had lunch. The food court has about 7,000 people trying to get food so we ordered in. Guess what? Dominos pizza. Kentucky fried chicken also delivers. We had pepperoni pizza on thin crust. It tasted just like at home, except the tomatoe sauce was milder. It is extremely weird sitting in India office eating Dominos pizza. Good time. Anuj has a sense of humor similar to Bob’s and he teases Andy a lot. He has come in several times to see if I am comfortable and if I need anything. He called for a diet pop (a special order) for me. There is an office boy that comes in, in white gloves to bring coffee, tea or water throughout the day. I think that Americans will miss this service when they are back home. A lot of services are done for them. They do practice a sort of tea time at 3pm. Hot tea and snacks. I like the tea very much, with milk and lemon. Andy keeps grainola bars, and we eat them for breakfast. They are quite large as big around as my hand and he likes the peanut butter ones. They are very coarse, full of all kinds of grains and seeds, and would not necessarily be my choice. Protein is the hardest thing to keep up in diet and this is a good source. Besides, this is all there is. The electricity has been off and on all day. It goes dark for a few moment and then the generator kicks in. No one even notices now, except for me, and any new people. The bathrooms at the house and in the office are very interesting, when you flush, so much water and pressure that it seems like the whole room is going down. Keeps things clean and unplugged!!! All paper products are very coarse and rough, kleenix, paper towels and toilet paper are all kind of like the paper towels in school bathrooms. I will have my eyes checked I think today. I am a little nervous. The ex-pats(Americans or anyone not for India) assure me it is just fine. We’ll see. I am very much enjoying meeting all kinds of different people here. Aju says, and he is right, that Americans are extremely curious and want to know all kinds of things. First, we ask if it would be offensive to ask a question(politically correct) and once we feel comfortable, we bring out a grocery store full of questions. See, it is not just me!!! He said to consider anything I asked to be non-offensive. I have realized that everything I feel so compelled to ask or act in is related to me. What can I do, what do I think , how do I act. As I shared that revelation with Anuj, he said that only Americans and not so much Europeans come at things in that way. The Indian culture is what is good for the group and how is it affecting the group and they get easily worn out of people always saying what can I do. Because it is always relating to the I. I felt good that I was sensitive to that fact on my own. It is hard not to think in that way though, and I am not necessarily convinced that it is purely selfish. He is very kind. He said that he felt that he and andy were raised in very similar fashion after they talked and compared how they grew up. His parents were strict, but not harsh. He could not get away with much. Sometimes he was jealous of other kids, who could get away with this or that or seem to do whatever they wanted. Now, as an adult, he realizes that his parents had his best in mind and now he is glad that many of these things kept him from getting into bad things and his education and present place have been influenced for the good, as was Andy’s. Andy whole heartedly agreed. Be encouraged all you parents out their. I asked if he would do the same when he has children and he said yes. He and his wife will greatly appreciate the grandparents help and advice raising their children(not and American way of thinking). I am beginning to be able to understand people better when they speak to me. I tend to make motions with my hands and talk a little louder when I do not understand or if I am not sure they are getting me. I think this may look strange to them so I am trying to figure out when to do it. The people in the Technology section are very educated some (according to Andy) are brilliant. Even so, many are very poor living in very wretched situations, but much better off than before. This disparity is hard to comprehend.

WED., AUG . 6 IN INDIA
I STAYED HOME TODAY, MAKING PHONE CALLS AND BLOGGING AND EMAILING. ELECTRICITY OUT MOST OF THE DAY BUT VERY COOL BREEZES. I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME INDIVIDUAL TIME WITH PEOPLE AND I AM GETTING IT. REBA AND I HAD A NICE CHAT. I WAS GOING TO MAKE CHICKEN FOR DINNER BUT I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO START THE COOK TOP WITHOUT THE ELECTRIC STARTER. SO ANDY LIT IT WITH A MATCH WHEN HE GOT HOME AND WE HAD CHICKEN AND PASTA. THERE ARE MONKEYS IN THE TREES AND VERY EXOTIC BIRDS IN THE TREES AROUND THE HOUSE. OF COURSE, THE ROOSTER IS CROWING MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, IT IS A REAL “HOOT” TO HEAR HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. MANY OF THE HOTELS AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES HAVE CONCRETE WALLS A LITTLE SHORTER THAN ME, WITH AWFUL LOOKING SHARP PIECES OF GLASS STICKING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE WALL. I THOUGHT THAT THE GLASS WAS TO KEEP ROBBERS OUT, NOT SO. IT IS TO KEEP THE MONKEYS FROM SITTING THE THE WALLS AND POOPING. THEY ARE ALSO CAUSING TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE WALKING BY AND DISTRACTING THE DRIVERS. BELIEVE ME YOU DO NOT WANT TO DISTRACT ANYONE IN ANYTHING MOVING IN TRAFFIC. THERE ARE SOME VINES EVERYWHERE AROUND THE STREET WE LIVE ON. MGDRIVE (MAHAT MAGHANDI). THE FLOWERS ARE BRIGHT FUSHA AND PINK AND ANDY THINKS THEY ARE BOKENVILLIA(NOT SURE HOW TO SPELL THE NAME, BUT TRY IT SOUNDED OUT). I AM LOOKING FOR A BOOK ABOUT WILD LIFE AND BIRDS AND TREES AND PLANTS. AMID ALL THE GARBAGE AND DEBRIS ARE THE MOST AMAZING FLOWERS AND COLORFUL PLANTS. THERE IS A HEAVY ARMY PRESENCE ALL AROUND THE CITY. THERE WERE RECENT ELECTIONS AND A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT. OFF THE PATIO ARE LARGE PALM TREES. COCANUTS ARE COMMON ALL ALONG THE STREETS FOR SALE. BANANAS ARE ALSO VERY COMMON STREET MARKET ITEMS. I LIKE VERY RIPE BANANAS, BUTMANY ARE VERY BROWN, I WOULD NOT BUY EVEN BANANAS WITH THICK PEALS OFF THE STREET—NOT SAFE. SO FAR NO MONKEYS HAVE JUMPED ON THE PORCH, AT LEAST NOT IN THE DAY TIME. YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL PUTTING ANY CLOTHES OUT TO DRY AS THE MONKEYS STEAL THEM AND TAKE THEM INTO THE TREES. THERE ARE LITTLE GEIKOS THAT LIVE ALL OVER THE TREES AND GROUNDS, SOMETIMES THEY GET IN THE HOUSE BUT THEY EAT INSECTS SO ARE SORT OF WELCOMED. THAT’S NICE, BUT I DO NOT WANT THEM RESIDING WITH ME. THERE ARE MANY VARIETIES OF BUTTERFLIES, FLYING AROUND ALL THE FLOWERING TREES AND BUSHES. WHITE AND YELLOW AND ORANGE. NONE THAT I RECOGNIZED FROM MINNESOTA. N OW I NEED TO LOOK UP BUTTERFLIES. CONNECTED WITH PASTOR CLARENCE BY PHONE. HE IS IN ANOTHER CITY DOING RADIO BROADCASTS. HE PREACHED THREE MESSAGES AND HE WAS VERY EXCITED THAT THEY WILL GO OUT TO 130 DIFFERENT NATIONS. HE INVITED ME TO COME WHERE HE IS BY TRAIN, TRAVEL ALL NIGHT, BUT IT IS VERY HARD TRAVEL. OPEN SIDES, BENCH SEATS EVERYONE TOGETHER, NO AIR CONDITIONING AND ONE BATHROOM. I WOULD FLY IN AND DRIVE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BETTER CHOICE. I HAVE CONTACTS HERE AND PLAN TO MEET PASTOR RUEBEN FRI AND MAKE PLANS HERE.
NIKI, OUR HOUSEMATE IS SO BRAVE. THE COMPANY HERE IS BIG ON TEAM BUILDING AND THEY PLAN ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES. THE LATEST FOR H.R. IS TO GO OUT IN THE BOONIES TO JUNGLE SIGHT CAMPING FOR 2 DAYS. NO BATHROOM(TAKE A SHOVEL) NO HOUSE, SLEEPING IN A HAMMOCK. NOT SURE ABOUT FOOD, DRIVE 4-5 HOURS ON A BUS. YEOW!!!!!!!! SHE TOOK LOTS OF MOSQUITO REPELLANT AND SUN SCREEN. SHE IS IN HER 60’S AND GAME FOR ANYTHING. SHE HAS BEEN HERE A YEAR AND HAS TRAVELED ALL OVER AND LOVED IT ALL. ANDY AND I ARE NOT CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A GOOD TEAM BLDG. EVENT, FOR THE AMERICANS.
IT IS CRAZY, I WAS JUST WATCHING FRIENDS ON TV. THE PROGRAM IS SPOKEN IN HINDI WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES. THE NEWS IS ON SOME FORM OR OTHER 24 HOURS A DAY IN EVERY LANGUAGE IMAGINABLE. MOST OF THE MOVIES ARE VERY OLD BUT NEW TO THEM. THE ADVERTISEMENTS ARE MUCH LONGER, MAKING A TWO HOUR MOVIE LAST 3 OR MORE HOURS. THEY ARE FUN TO WATCH AND TRY TO GUESS WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, AS MOST ARE IN HINDE, EVEN ON ENGLISH TV.
MY CAMERA BATTERIES ARE DEAD AGAIN---I MAY JUST BY 20 DISPOSABLE CAMERAS AND USE THEM. I WANTED TO GO OUT, BUT I DO NOT HAVE A DOOR KEY AND DON’T WANT TO ACCIDENTALLY BE LOCKED OUT. MAYBE I AM BEING KEPT SAFE. THE RESTAURANTS DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 7PM TO SERVE DINNER. MOST OF THE TIME ANDY AND THE GROUP WORK UNTIL 6 AND GET HOME 7-7:30, THEN THEY HAVE CALLS FROM THE US UNTIL 8 OR 9 AND THEN HAVE FOOD. THERE ARE A FEW DELIVERY PLACES BUT THEY DON’T COME IF IT IS RAINING, THEY ARE USUALLY ON MOPEDS BALANCING THE FOOD. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS CONSTANT ACTIVITY LIFE IS AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE. WE ATE DINNER FOR OVER 3 HOURS AND I MUST ADMIT I WAS GETTING KIND OF FIDGITY . THE LATEST MOVIE IN THEATERS IS BATMAN, THEY DO NOT START UNTIL 10PM AND THAT ONE LASTS FOR 2HRS 40 MIN. ONE THEATER SHOWS IT IN ENGLISH ANOTHER IN HINDI AND ANOTHER IN A DIFFERENT DIALECT, ALL IN SUBTITLES.
CLOSING FOR TODAY

Tues. Aug. 5 India
Rested well, kind of with the new time zone. Went to the office with Andy and met with the head of corporate communications. His name is Anuj, pronounced Anoooj. We went to lunch on 100 Foot Road(no one knows why they call it that, but they do. Went to a little hole in the wall restaurant called 100 Foot. These food places literally look like a small rickety doorway, but when you walk through, it opens up to quite a large place. They make use of every single inch, in the front entry way is a shop with all kinds of interesting merchandise. There were wooden carved pieces,(not exactly sure of what they were) and pillow shams in very bright colors and embroidery, several shapes: triangles, rectangles , and squares. The fabric is sort of sheer, gauzey over bright fabric underneath. They also had table coverings, quite pretty runners and napkins and placemats. The embroidery was elaborate, yet delicate. Most things cost 650 rupees. One American dollar equals about 40 rupees. Can you do the math? The food was excellent, I had chicken princess. Grilled chicken over garlic mashed potatoes. Bottled water, is everywhere. I asked for a diet coke, they always open it at the table and then pour it, but before I noticed, the server put a piece of lemon in with his fingers. The things that I will be presenting, to the teams will be in the communication realm, but more importantly we hope to foster improved relationships between US workers and Indian workers. Anuj made this example, he needed to rent a home or an apartment. He looked for about 3 months. It was not that the places were unavailable, but he would not rent until he felt he made a connection with a landlord that he felt comfortable with. He would rather go without a place than rent from someone he did not like or feel good about. The same holds true in business. They begin by wanting to like the other workers(US) and wanting to please, but they are more interested in the relationships. They will forgo economic gain if the relationship is not good and eventually the business will fail. They want to know about you and your family first and then get to the business. Americans seem to be able to do business with people we do not like or respect, with little relationship, just the business. I cannot come in as a pushy American, saying let me tell you how you should do it, but rather build relationships through better more effective communication and understanding of the cultural and personal difference. They see this as a way to build bridges between the employees here and the employees in US,, even though they may not ever see each other face to face. I believe Americans need to see things a bit differently, if they are going to succeed. Not come and say this is what we want, this is how you will do it, and when to do it. Neither, should the Indian branch say that is not the Indian way. It is very interesting and far more complex than I thought. We are developing a program which I will present next week or the week after.
There is a family-mother and small children 3, 4, or 5 that do tricks and acrobatics at the big intersection near the house. They then beg for money. The woman that lives at the house is trying to figure out what she can do to help those little ones out. They will never go to school, this will be their life. When they are grown up they will run some kind of shill that will bring in money. The area in which they work is controlled by a large chain of command. Whatever money they make goes to the leaders and then they give out fairly?????? Of course, I want to fix it, change it, stop it, take some kind of action. I asked what we could do and why the mother doesn’t try to get a better life, education, safety even for her children. The Indian workers told me that she does not feel any need to change things, this is their life and that’s how it is. School is offered, including free lunch, but most do not see that education will really change their lives. They are scratching to survive every day and do not have the luxury of waiting 12 o15 years in education that might get a little more money. It is very hard to see this poverty and misery and not want to change it. There seems to be a reconciliation with things as they are. The driver that drives us to the office, walks 15 miles to and from work every day. I asked why the company did not buy him a motorbike so he could get back and forth and they just looked at me like I had lost my mind. Why would we do that? We do not provide other employees with transportation. If we gave him money for a bike, he may use it for more needed things. Or in 3 or 4 months he may have a need and sell it. Besides he walks that far for a good job. Awhile ago, he was ill and Niki(the Amer. Woman at the house who is director of Human Resourses) to drink lots of water to help his cough. He said “Madam the water at home is not good.” She was able to give him a gallon of water to take home, and she felt so badly at saying such a normal thing to him, not realizing it was impossible for him to do. There are no easy answers even for situations that seem simple on the surface.
One the way to work, 10,000 cars, rickshaw cabs(pulled by mopeds) bikes, motor bikes, people and cows, are competing for the roads. There is a village of people living now alongside the road. They are refugees from other areas. The government approved and now they have corrugated metal sides and roofs , sort of leaning together for shelter. I can’t imagine why they came here, but there is more opportunity for jobs or at least begging. They are grateful for some shelter from the rain and grueling sun, so their lives are better. I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed and I do not want to exactly become used to this or turn away, without any care.
Andy and his group from US are helping the driver and the housekeeper, so you start where you can. The housekeeper works 8 hours every day and she cleans and does laundry. The place is immaculate, top to bottom. They said she could not speak or understand English very well. Her name is Reba and she is a very pretty woman, about 40. She makes my bed every day as soon as I get out. I do not even have a chance to pull up the covers and she is in there. I guess it is insulting to her to do her work. She irons like my auntie used to. Crisp and clean and light starch(does anyone iron in Amer. any more?) She and I had a good deal of conversation. She has a son who lives in Calcutta with his grandmother, so he can go to school. She has no money to go and see him, or to send for him often. She asked if her husbanhed could come in and meet me. He was very nice, neatly dressed, he is a chef. He is able to drive her to work and pick her up on their moped. The ride ½ hr each way. Niki had given her a bag of clothes and they were going to balance it on the moped. You see whole families riding on the moped, hanging off and sitting sideways. She and her husband are looking for someone to sponsor them to come to the US. The electricity was off most of the day yesterday. The air conditioning is not on the back-up generator, but the ceiling fans and some lights are. The electricity goes off frequently, it is irregular at best, it is rainy season and things are wet a good deal of the time, and there is a 25% greater demand with same out puit. Off the elec. Tower outside there are about 40 wired and bundles of wires just hanging off the pole. No box or anything, just hanging there. Anyway, I was sweating and wiping my forehead, she thought I had a headache and she brought me some medicine. It was a bottle of tums. I explained that it was not for pain exactly and I motioned when you eat and have pain in your chest you take 2, and then you feel better. She said something like acid and I said yes. We communicated! But really we were building relationship. It is very strange to be referred to as Madam all the time. When we left for the office, she said good day madam and good day man.
We went to dinner at a very top notch Italian rest. To get in, the driver drove sideways up the sidewalk to let us out. The van is very high and I can’t quite reach to get in. we could not find a little step stool, so we are using a big cooking pot from the kitchen. What a funny sight that must be to see a driver run out and put a pot out and help this little lady out or in the vehicle. Anyway, it works, American ingenuity at its best. I had lasagna and others had spaghetti. To get inside, this very posh place, we had to kind of jump over this bottomless pit(open sewer) onto badly cracked sidewalk with all kinds of garbage and rubble on it. Then you go up a few crooked steeps and into very elegant setting. I think that walls fall down or are knocked down and the rubble is left on the spot. It is everywhere. To ge into the office bldg. we have to go through three security check points. At the last one, the guards search under the cars for bombs. There have been about 19 bombings, small gelitan type but dangerous. No one has claimed responsibility yet. Pray for our safety. It is good that there is so much security
It is very scarrey as we are driving, vendors and beggars are running up and pounding on the window
Selling everything from newspapers, jewelry, pots and pans, rugs, food. The instruction is no eye contact. I keep thinking they are going to get squished and/or run over. I guess it rarely happens. If you are in an accident jump out of vehicle and run into crowd fast. For some reason they beat up everyone in the vehicle. Last night, one of the managers was in a car behind an accident. A car and a rickshaw taxi were involved. When that happens all the taxis stop and run to the taxi to protect the driver from the crowd. Naturally it is quite a traffic jam and for several hours nothing moves.
On the way in we pass and air force hospital. The front of the first building is nicely painted white and blue, but as you drive past the walled compound, you can see gernies with patients on them being pushed outside from bldg to bldg. the rest of the hospital wards in the other bldgs. Look very tough and rough. Windows are open, no air. This would be one of the better places as it is military. If you are ill and need antibiodics you go to the pharmacy and the chemist(pharmacist) will give you something. I broke my glasses, they do not have any cheaters off the rack, so I will have my eyes checked and get glasses that would be up to $200 or more in US for about $15. Ii takes 2 days. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Andy got 2 pair of designer glasses for about $50. Goodnight.

ARRIVING IN INDIA

The flight from London to India was 10 hours. We each had our little cubbies on British Airways. This time some olf the crew were Indian. All the messages were spoken in English and Hindi, and another Indian dialect. The food choices were very exotic, some were Indian dishes with curry and spices. They smelled very good but I did not want to be on board for 10 hrs. and eat something that did'mt agree. I had chicken with mushroom rozoto. Starter was grilled scallops and salad with olive oil and chile vinegar. I did not like it. Rozota is kind of a rice pasta with a scrumptous muschroom sauce. All kinds of rolls and breads. Lemon sorbet and chocolates and then rich chocolate kind of a mousse. This whole event takes about 2 hours. In between they are serving berverages-water, wine and chanpaigne or pop. They bring a hot towel before and after with a hint of lemon water to freshen up. Very fun and killed a good deal of time. Just 8 hours to go. We had a car and driver from the hotel, silver mercedes and the driver wore long tails, much better than the bus ride to the hotel from air port coming in. Video screen tips every which way so you can see sitting up or laying down. The selection of movies was very good, several family oriented. The thing I enjoyed most however, was the moving map so that I could follow along as we went. For you geography buffs get out your maps or go on line if interested. It was displayed in several languages and it was very interesting to see what some of the cities were named on that language. One the Arabic maps many of the cities, like Tel Avive were not shown at all.. So here goes:about 5,800 miles from London: flew over or near: Vienna Istanbul, Bucharest, Constanta and across the Black Sea. North of Ankara, over Islamabad, i could see Damascus and Behruit(every lang. had Behruit) We flew over severl mt. ranges and there were light up the sky lightening and thunder storms and slightly rough(we were at 35,000, so we did'get bumped too much. We flew over the Zagross mts. nearTehran and Kewait, Abudabe and Dubai. Passsst Karachi anlong the NW curve of India to Mombai(Bombay) and Indori. Flew over the Gulf of Omen and Gulf of Khambhas over Lake Namak(which appeared to be a large valley not water) over Pine and Lahire, Pakislam, and Almaty, Sukkora, and Dahmada and then Bangalore. I made my bed and slept quite a bit then breakfast. Smoothies and fresh juice, sweet rolls and fresh fruit, all kinds of muffins and breads and jelllies and jams. Very tastey. Andy told me to be sure and use the restroom before getting off the plane. Now I know why. It was 4 am. when we landed at the new airport. Before you would land on tarmak, walk down flight of stairs, get on a bus and ride to terminal. We walked down gangway. Great. There were maybe 2o people to help with luggage. We engaged one and went throu;gh immigration(we had to fill out landing card with info. so they can keep track of us while in country) We waited for luggage on elevators. All of the people push the luggage cart right up to the converyor and had no room to walk up to get luggage. 2 workers had to lift Andy's biggest bags. Then he led us to customs. We had nothing to declare, but suddenly we were pushed to customs agent. They had put a chalk mark on one of Andy's bags that had a computer in it. There were fierce looking soldiers with machine guns and rifles. Andy had to explain that he was working here and needed the computer for work. We both had to sign other forms, all the while, they were giving us the bad eye. Then when we went out to meet the people picking us up an armed guard followed us. We read that there is a big crackdown in US on computers brought in and the guards in us can confiscate them as well. At last friendly faces. Two men Anju and Archy picked us up. Prononced Anooj. I was greeted with a dozen longstemmed peach colored roses a sign of honor and welcome. Very, very special to me The ride is about 40 min at 4am and 1-2 hrs during any other time. The greeted Andy with a kiss on each cheek and shook hands with me. What a highway, pot holes so big that the whole front end would fall in to the wheel wells. You just weave around them. The city was quiet as we drove in, very strange looking bldgs. Every possible inch of land was filled with shops and stores or business and housing. We saw many beggars on the roadside and people selling all kinds of stuff run up to the car, the order is no eye contact and they will run away. There were areas where garbage was in the streets and people were digging through it, finding food and stuff to sell. There was a water buffalo walking along the side of the road grazing before everything gets busy. We finally arrived at the house. Gated community well on block anyway. It is surrounded by appartments and to our standards very poor rambshackle houses. There were probably 100 or more dogs running loose as we drove, mostly the surrounding people feed them but they look very grizzly and mean. The house is surrounded by beautiful flowering trees and shrubs, very exotic looking. In the yard is a mango tree with large green fuit, pear shaped only bigger. The monkies come and eat them before they get ripe though. Will take pictures and display them as soon as Andy shows me how. There is a patio with benches in the shade and patios or porches on the house. The windows are leaded glass in very ornate designs. The stairs are beautifully polished red stone and then doors are very large and heavy wood. Bill the managing director lives upstairs. Niki and woman in her 60's and director of HR lives down stairs as do Andy and I. We each have our own bedroom with bathroom. When you enter you walk into a very lovely cool living room. 16x16 highly polished marble tiles, white walls, leather furniture oriental rugs in some of the rooms. There were orange curtains, silk and beige sheers that shut out the afternoon sun. On the rod iron curtain rods are long sandlewood wreaths, a symbol of wellcome. They have a very delicate smeel. There is cable tv. 90 channels, but only a few in English. It is totally crazy watching programs in foreign language and costume. There is a large dinning room with a heavy wood table and chairs, seats 12. A nice kitchen 2 refrigerators(one is on the back up generator, as electricity goes out at will. Everything was immaculate and clean. Floors and furniture shined and polished daily. Every room was very clean, the bedding is silk and two tone gold and embroidered. There are built in wood closests-four in each room. The kitchen has many cupboard. glass panels in the doors. A stove which I have not figured out yet a toaster looking thing and a microwave. Non of the appliances look quite like ours. There is a long hall and all the bedrooms are off that. There is a huge office with windows all around, big wooden chairs and oriental rugs on the floor. The windows look out on the porch and over the courtyard. That is where I am sitting today. There is a house behind us, the owner is a farmer and he has a farm outside of town. He misses the farm so he brings some animals here with him. One is a large, loud rooster that starts crowing about 2:30am. Some imus and do not know what else. Strange. In my room I can't hear anything, the walls are very thick and doors are heavy. I am very well pleased with accomidations. They only icky things is there are moth balls in every drain, kitchen, bathroom sinks and shower drains to keep coclroaches away. At Andy's office on the 3rd floor it is the same. I keep the bathroom door closed in my room, I hate the smelll. They told me I would not even notice in a few days. Took a nap then went out for lunch. The car and driver came and picked us up and took us to a Chinese place. What a riot. Andy said he would only take me safe places to eat and it was very nice. There were only a few things I did not recognize or eat. Then we went to the grocery store. People every inch, about 80million people in this city. Cars, buses and rickshaws driven by motorskooters. Andy said that you have to barter everytime you get in and until he knew what was fair to pay, he got stung. More just aiming the vehicles at the road, avoiding holes, people, bikes and people selling in traffic and it is not even rush hour yet. We went to the phone store to get my phone and I waited in the car with the driver, you just pull up on sidewalk or sideways on the street, wherever you can get your car off the road. I counted over 100 people going into that phone store in 10 min. Then on to the supermarket. We dropped Andy off at the main door, then we went to park. Because we were only getting a few things he wanted to park and wait. No way. Every 4 feet was a guy in a red shirt, blowing a whistle and motioning you up. Before we knew it we were winding up a long parking ramp. We were in the van and every curve of the ramp, he had to stop and back up and pull forward and back up and pull forward. The guy with the whistles blew louder right outside the window, We went up six floors to the roof. I was a little nervous that Andy would ever find us and the driver does not speak much English. There are guards looking over this roof from above as a safety precaution. The driver called Andy on his cell and he came up. He said you can hardly move around in the store and check out is nutty. Home again. There is bottled water in the house for drinking and city water for bathing. Don't swallow the water in the shower and brush teeth with bottled water. Everyone has been very nice, long trip, very tired so I will close for now. WE arrived at 4am Sun. 5:30pm your time. You are about 10 1/2 hours behind us.

LAST DAY IN LONDON-FRI

Back in London after an adventurous train ride. The gentleman that was pushing me through the station was very nice and very humorous. The crowds were so thick a person could hardly walk around much less a wheel chair and huge luggage rack. He would yell excuse me at the top of is lungs and rarely did it matter, people turned, looked but did not move an inch. Then he yelled out I know karate and I have been in prison, out of the way. People then moved. We had a wild ride back to the hotel, rush hour again. As soon as we checked in, we ran over to catch the last double deck tour bus. It was about 3 hours, very much cooler, about 80. The sunset was beautiful from the top deck. I saw everything from up there. very high up and very wild ride. You really can see every turn and all the traffic going on down below. The wind was blowing but what a perfect view. The tour guide was a Brit and very funny. (Yes my face was amused) He had crazy stories to tell as well as the regular tour stuff. When he realized we were American he was even funnier. When we got to the area of the city where the law school and most of the lawyer offices were, he named several people who had gone there and dropped out. One was Ghandi, he left to go home and bring peace to his nation. Another noteable was Mick Jagger. He was caught between a rock and a hard place and he chose the rock. ha ha. The tower of London was something to behold, massive size for the most part standing firm. The moat has been drained but the land surrounding the castle remains. It was very deep and wide and would have kept the enemy slowed down. He had many humorous comments about the guys that had to raise and lower the draw bridge, big arms and such. The walls are 15 feet thick , very high and the gates were monsterous. The tourture tools were invented in the tour and prisons. The rack, the iron maiden, burning, eye gouging , you know all the fun stuff. Two of Henry 8 wives were beheaded here. The other rich but not royal people got beheaded, drawn and quartered or had their entrals ripped out in the public. Along the bridge road the heads were displayed on a stake until all flesh was eaten off by birds. Very gruesome. Just being interned there would have been awful. Many people were taken there and never came out. Murders were common. Big Ben can be seen away off. Very stately and regal. I saw St. Pauls church, where Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married 27 years ago in July. That was unblievable to think that it was so long ago. We saw the Hospital for the Laying Down, sponsored by Princess Di and under the protection of the King and Queen, in a very poor area of the city, Carved in stone above the name was this statement. This is a maternity hospital, and she wanted to improve the lives of women. They spoke respectfuly of her, but with unbriddled enthusasim and affection of the Queen. Westminster Abbey was very beautiful and huge. 11,000 rooms. The arch bishop of canterbury has his own palac. Very old and very large. They truly weiled power and position of influence. The church of the Knights templar was quite large. Inside the grounds was a beautiful park . C.E. Lewis visited the church and was reading all the names of the knights carved on the walls and he saw the name Jekel and Hyde and that was the source of the famous novel and movies. The thames river had many sights to see along the rivers edge.. however, the boats had liquor pouring freely, and the evening crowds seemed wild and unruley. We saw Baker Steet, Sherlock Holmes and number 10 Dowing Street, with police officers guarding the Prime Minister. The stately castles and residences were very exciting. The heart of Richard the Lion Heart was brought back and buried under one of the castles. The heritage and history is rich. The wealthy people of the world all have land here, homes or apartments. A night at the Dorchester Hotel is 17,000 pounds which is more than 18,000 us. The honeymoon sweet is more than twice that and is booked year round. Liz taylor has been there 6 times and is considered a honored honeymoon guest. The shops were amazing every level of expense you could imagine. Harrods' has made millions and he also owns two or three others. Wealth is strange however. The richest area of the city has town homes and very close individual homes. Blocks and blocks of highrise(but very old archetecture) The only real homes are the manor houses(like mansions in the country). Will close for now ...INDIA TOMORROW.

Paris

Touring Paris. Hot hot again today. We took a cab to get on the double decker tour bus. The weather was very sunny and hot, no air conditioning. We can’t figure out what the deal is, but none of the cabs or buses turn on the air no matter how hot it is. Saving gas we think or else they are all numb and do not feel the heat. We toured all of Paris. So many beautiful things to see and interesting historical value, many things I have only read in books or seen on tv. It was very moving to see the Arch of Triumph and think of all the soldiers and battles that were honored here. We started out at the Louvre the grounds are so beautiful, and the art work displayed is unbelievable. Just think all of the great masters are displayed here. Some I thought were very beautiful and some were just strange. Larger than anything we could walk through during the day. The institute of Music is a very beautiful bldg. with sculptures and a lot of gold ornamentation. The whole are of art and music and theaters was very exciting. There were artists on the sidewalk, sketching and drawing and painting. Many of their works were for sale, some very cheap, some not. The crowds of people on the streets were large and diverse, many tourists I believe like us sporting cameras and ooing and ahing at everything. We hoped off near the opera and had lunch at a little sidewalk café. They had all kinds of interesting things on the menu, we recognized a few: quiche, and pizza. Whenever we ordered water the wait people would say something unintelligible and Andy would answer “still”, this meant plain water, not mineral or bubbly water. We had pizza(how original) but it was smothered in mottzarella cheese. Except for those people waiting on us, we found the people to be very aloof and unfriendly. I have heard that about the French and do not want to take 2 days in Paris to make me an expert, but it is what we experienced. The children and teens we saw in the streets bldings and on trains, plans, and buses, were rude and did not listen to the parents and would not move or step aside no matter what. They seemed to be in a constant state of annoyance and looked at us as if we were freaks. The men were very demanding and appeared to be arrogant. After lunch, back on the bus. The city was full of sculptures of men, women, angels and rather fierce looking creatures. Many represent famous people, in one place there were seven sculptures of women representing 7 cities. The stores as we drove around names I have seen and heard of in high fashion magazines and on advertisements. Dior , Luis Vuitton , Channel The cars out front of the hotels and fancy restaurants were fiats and porches and Mercedes Benz , puegeot. Crazy in the streets they drive here like we do on the right side of the street, thousands of cars, bikes and motor bikes. It seems like everyone just aims and steps on the gas. The people just step into the streets and the motorbikes dart in and out of every square inch. It was nerve wracking watching the drivers keep it together and keep from crashing. Many places were built by or for napoleon it is so amazing that much of it still remains and is so beautiful. We saw the palace Madeline, the place concord and the place at Versailles. Such opulence and design just blows my mind much of it remains today. The palace at Versailles is having a display of royal silver from all the European royalty. Such a huge collection, much dating back to 1400’s. I t is highly ornate, craved and decorative. The palace was so beautiful.. the furniture and rugs and chandeliers were beyond description. They lived in wealth and luxury but not indoor plumbing, bathing was rare and most died very young, some by natural causes and some “not”. They lived in most debauched moral decay and many ended miserablly. Marie Antoinette had many dalliances and her own residences were elaborate and she entertained all the notables in the most lavish style possible. The people were struggling just to live and keep warm and fed. No wonder the aristocracy was so unpopular. We saw the bridge a waterloo, called the ladies bridge because so many women jumped, due to lost love and shame and misery and sometimes insanity. There is little French silver left because the king(Louie I think) had to have it melted down to pay the debt for war. The country was nearly bankrupt. The servants and advisors could hardly believe the order and it yielded several hundred thousand pounds of silver. Notre-dame cathedral was very beautiful. We did not go inside very far, but it was awesome to behold. One of my favorites was the house of invalids. After the Crimean war, there were so many maimed and injured soldiers that the King had a hospital built to care for the men. So many were never able to recover their disabilities and most ended on the streets begging. This place became sort of a veteran’s home and nursing home. The most tragic thing to me is the fact that there are still some soldiers residing there today.
The Eiffel tower was huge. It has always seemed larger than life on TV. But seeing it in person was breathtaking. We saw it during the day and lit up at night. That was a sight, it has lights strung all the way around and several large stars and when it is lit up it seems to almost reach outer space. The grounds had parks and beautiful areas to sit and just stare at it. We went down or up the Champs-Elysees (I thought it was a place, but it is a stretch of road with many beautiful shops and historical meaning. Napoleans body was carried up this road after his death in exile. I believe the arch of triumph is here, but I am overwhelmed with sights and have not had time to research exactly where I have been. Did you know that there are 2 Disney land sights in France, I did not. They are very popular tourist points in Europe. We did not go! The seine river was wider than I thought pretty clean due to active efforts to stop pollution. There were boats riding up and down giving tours along the way as well. At night the lights were so beautiful to see. I keep using the word beautiful but that’s what it all was.
Tragedy all of our pictures from Paris were lost when Andy’s memory card needed to reformat and wiped all of the pictures off. Yeow that is disappointing. But I bought postcards and a book so will have to make an album that way. We have fixed it all now. My camera batteries were dead and we could not get any anywhere for days. Ready now
Friday we had room service for breakfast. Wonderful fresh fruit, strawberries, grapes, pineapple and large bowl of yogurt, a large basket of bread, croissants and hard rolls jellies and marmalade and another basket of the most delicious sweet rolls freshly squeezed orange juice and cold Evian water. We toured around the hotel and shops. There was a choclatier on the corner. Yummy, yummy/ a lot of bitter and dark choc. Popular here. Hot chocolate served everywhere, but tooooooo hot to have. Packed up and off the Station Nord to catch the train back to London. We do not know what we did, but this time the train ride was much different. We were met at the door by people to help with the bags and a cart (trolley to us). We were helped to the platform and onto the train. Andy still had to store the luggage but someone helped him put it there. This time we had luxury seats facing each other with a lovely table between us. Staff served wine, champagne, and of course “still” water. We had a wonderful lunch of roasted chicken and potatoes and mummy chocolate desert. The scenery was so beautiful again. I enjoyed seeing everything. Andy slept off and on but mostly we watched. I did not realize there was so much farm land in use. I will be looking up some geography books on France when I get home to see what national products are. (Oh yes, Andy saws I can look all that up on internet! Who knew!) We are having a wonderful, enjoyable time together. A chance of a life time for a mom with grown kids, especially grown sons. I have not used up all my words on Andy, many are coming here. When we got to the station Panceas in London, it was very crowded, but someone met us at the train and took our luggage off and put it on the cart and wheeled me all the way through the station in a wheel chair, for which I was very grateful. Our train was delayed about an hour and half, due to security problem, when it reached Paris. The police were out in a large number and dogs and people searching the train and surrounding. We think someone was arrested, very serious times, and I am personally glad for all the security efforts. We never figured out why the trip home was so different, Andy said the tickets were the same as going, but whatever it was, we were truly grateful. Hint: do not travel by train with more than one small carryon bag that you can handle yourself. Miles of walking, immigration check point (show your passport) baggage security x-rays and lots of armed guards. People of every description, and nationality, don’t dragggggg anything you don’t need to live!!!!
There were many Muslim people everywhere we traveled. I was very surprised by this, although I am not sure why. The women from most conservative sects were dressed all in black from head to toe. I we very close to some of these women and was able to observe somethings that I have not before noticed. These women dressed in black had lovely silk scarves which were bordered in colorful beard or trim, very delicate and fine. They looked very stern and rarely smiled and did not make eye contact with anyone, not even each other. The younger woman appeared to dote on the older woman or women who were traveling with them. They brought water, tea or food, and seemed to make them more comfortable if possible. There were several families as well traveling with children. The very young girls were mostly dressed in western clothing but about 10-12 looked like they then dressed in black as well. Some families where the mother was dressed in the long robe and scarves, had teen daughters, that had their head covered but were wearing outlandish styles and had earphones and ipods. I think they were much less radically conservative. The little boys were all dressed in western style as well as the men. When t he family was together, the man (probably the father or uncle) seemed aloof and disinterested in the activity or the children. The mothers and older sisters were in charge of the children and their needs. The younger women were left to push the heavy luggage carts while the man walked ahead. This took place mostly among the dressed in black groups. The fewer conservatives seemed to talk back and forth between the husband and wife and the children jumped and daddy and played with him. I believe I wrote that there were many Muslim TV stations in London and France, even Al jazeera the station that the terrorist like Bin Loudin send their video messages on. It appears that there are large populations in this country. So many experiences, I am thankful to be here with Andy, but I do miss you all. Pam please send me an email on my email so I can communicate with you. See you all later.