Back from the Mountains

Over the past 5 days we have travelled into the mountains of Southern Orissa. What an incredible experience. I can't show you any pictures...no way to post them...but let me tell you it has been something. I have seen so much. Villages of people that simply want us to touch them and their children, houses made of grass huts with wireless telephone service. People - the Bondo people who are this indigenous tribe we are attempting to plant a church within. People of great faith.

We stayed at a children's hostel. And we discovered that the director for a number of years has wanted to get married...but could not. No money. Our team went together and made it happen. We were able to help a pastor and leader...get married. What a rewarding thing to do. Then I and another team member and his daughter went together and for just 10,000 rupees or a total of 200.00 or so we are going to supply running water to this group home. What fun. A little bit of money that will make a world of difference in the lives of these boys and their teachers.

Anyways as I can I will post more. I am looking forward now to getting home. I miss my wife and children, my church, my friends. The people I love.

See you all Wednesday.

Doug

Back on

We flew the other day from Delhi to Cuttack. I have got to say that the most incredible part of this trip in terms of fear has not been the flights. They have been great. It is the car travel. It is absolutely unbelievable. Unlike anything I have ever seen. The day after we arrived in Cuttack we drove 14 hours to cover 180 or so kilometers. Little roads through the mountains with barely a guardrail to be had. The drivers take the corners at full throttle. It is unreal. The passing is wild. And the type of vehicles you see is interesting.

Today we spent most of our time traveling and then with a Church in the far south end of Orissa. Alan spoke, John Reitz did the ordination sermon, I brought greetings. It was incredible. We drove up and this poor village of people greeted us with painted rocks lining the driveway. They placed flower wreaths around our necks, sang for us and led us to the Church...which is nothing more than a canvas on sticks. We then had the service and went to the home of the district pastor. Had lunch there...again served by the people. All the people from the village ate after we did.

We also met the wife of a man who was a pastor but 15 days after their marriage her was martyred. Killed by Moaists while visiting a church about 4 hours away. There is incredible persecution here. In someplaces we can go out of the vehicles as we travel...in others we can't. And its not that we are at risk...it is the people who live there who are at risk after we would leave.

I am amazed at the faith and hope of people. People who have far less than I do. What an experience. God is good even in the midst of horrendous pain and suffering and poverty.

A Great Day In Delhi & Agra

Yesterday as it snowed in Lancaster County I spent the day traveling to see the Taj Mahal in Agra. What an experience. I don’t know what was most impacting. I mean the Taj is incredible and to think it was built in the early 1600’s. It is perfectly symmetrical, over 20,000 workers spent 22 years developing the Taj Mahal and it’s surrounding gates and gardens. And all built by the King, as a grave for his third wife who died in childbirth. Quite an astonishing sight.

But the drive up was unbelievable. We saw every imaginable mode of transportation. Rickshaw, auto rickshaw, camels, cars, Water Buffalo, horse drawn buggies, people on motorcycles and mopeds. We saw one family on a motorcycle – five people. Buses, tractors, bulldozers, skid loaders and cars and trucks. All using the same road, at the same time. Then when we are coming home there is a wedding party going on in the middle of the road. And apparently that is fairly normal.

The other shocking thing is both the odors and the poverty. The odors come from so many people living in a tight space, with so many animals. Cows, monkeys, goats all live right in the normal vicinity of people. Plus there are places of open sewage, etc. Beyond that the poverty is overwhelming. We saw people living in little huts build out of manure, grass, and whatever else. They use cow patties for heat. The water they drink is where people bath, and it is all happening right alongside the major road we traveled. And the weird thing is that there will be a McDonalds right down the street from all this.

One of the people I am traveling with – Allan Robinsons who is the pastor at Carlisle Church decided to try snake charming. He seemed to enjoy that. Me…I wasn’t going near it.

It has been a wonderful time. I am missing my family and my home much. It's funny...I feel ready to go home. However we now embark on the purpose of the trip. Today I fly to Orissa to see our churches there and the Bondo people.

I love you all at home.

Shoes being shined

For lunch today we went to a restaurant that serves "western" food. That was great. I had goat for dinner tonight. But anyways I came out and these two boys wanted to polish my shoes. I paid them 10 rupee's or less than 25 cents. They did a great job...and apparantly I paid double the standard rate. The poverty is unbelievable.

Great Day Today

We had a great day today. We visited a set of ruined temples. Originally they were Hindu and then the Muslims came and took them over but removed the faces from all the Hindu art and pillars. The Muslims considered the art to be graven images. We then went to a Bahai temple. Built in 1985 absolutely incredible. Gorgeous. The Bahai allow you to worship your God in their temple. Probably that is what I find most suprising how open people are here to people of faith. It's a regular conversation...are you Christian or what? Very interesting. Anyways here is a picture of this Bahai temple. Also feel free to email me: douginindia2006@yahoo.com.

Travelling in New Delhi

While in New Delhi, we travel around in small vans or if we are going just a short distance we will travel in what is called a rickshaw. Here is a picture. It is tight with four of us. But fun. Oh to get to drive one…

First Full Day

Yesterday was all about getting use to the time change and slightly adjusted to where we are…India. It is incredible to be here. The people are so friendly and kind. Whatever we need, or at least think we need…they get for us. Most of what we did yesterday was sightsee and shop. It is not until we go to Cuttack on Monday(Sunday EST) that we begin to interact with the Churches over here. So we went and saw a Sundial Clock. We went shopping in the Afternoon. One of the people I am traveling with was sized for a hand made suit. It cost between 7000 & 28,000 rupees which is about 170 to 600 dollars US for an incredible suit. Then in the evening we went to an Indian Culture show. It reminded me of the New Holland Farm Show. It was that kind of atmosphere without the rides. Lot’s of stuff for sale, people doing different shows, that kind of thing. One guy was blowing fire. It was pretty cool. And that was the day. Oh, I saw a McDonalds, a Pizza Hut and a Citibank. I used my Wachovia ATM card to get money and the internet café I am using has high speed broadband. Unbelievable the way the world is connected. And one other neat thing…I met a guy on the street who asked where I was from. When I told him Pennsylvania he asked if Lancaster. His brother moved there years ago. So that was pretty cool.

I miss everyone back home. Lot’s of love.

I"m on my way

I left Washington Dulles yesterday at 6:50pm. We arrived in London, England about 2:05am(PA Time). It was about 7:00am here. Its kind of neat to be in London for a few hours. I got 20 pounds out of an ATM just to see British Pounds and had breakfast in a Pub that was packed with people drinking at 7:00am. But the food was great. I thoroughly enjoyed the flight from Washington to London. Smooth, and the service was outstanding. It was a lot of fun. I almost look forward to the next leg of our journey. We will leave London for Delhi at about 6:45am(Thursday - PA TIME) and arrive in Delhi at about 2:15pm(Thursday-PA TIME). I will post again when I can. Here's a picture of me in London at the Airport.

Got My Passport & Visa

It's done. Everything I need to travel to India (Passport & VISA) has been recieved. I went to Washington yesterday and applied for the Indian VISA and by the close of business they handed it to me. If you show up by noon they will have the document for you between 4:30 & 5:30pm. I went with a friend and we had a wonderful time for a couple of hours walking around DC talking. Enjoyed lunch in an authentic Chinese restuarant. So it was good.

Almost ready

I went yesterday to get my final shots and vaccinations for the trip. It's kind of funny...I will be traveling with all kinds of medicines for who knows what. Between the vaccinations and other stuff I will be taking 2 or 3 different pills a day. But better to be safe than to not and be sorry.

I continue to work on getting my Canadian Passport. I should have it by tomorrow. I applied at the end of December. The web page says they will have it done in 20 working days. That passed sometime last week. Still nothing. I had to send in new pictures which I overnighted to them. Still nothing. Finally last night I was told to call today and if it was not in production, they would push farther. I guess the people you talk to have nothing to do with the people who look over the documents and send the passport. It has been frustrating.

On Friday I will go to Washington, DC. to get my VISA for the trip. I am told that one day is all it takes. So I should have that by the time Friday comes to an end.
I am continuing to be nervous about flying and I am going to really miss my family. Its not so much the length of time away as it is the distance from home. It just feels different to be that far away, unable to communicate with any guaranteed regularity. Oh well.