6.11.2010
Life
Kelly and i had the honor of going to the centers that Dr. Praibha started. there are two of them about 45 minuets apart and they are about 5 hours away from Tezpur. this place was the saddest place i have been to. i enjoyed playing with the kids and working with the for a bit but when i went to physical therapy i almost cried. one of the girls named Devi has a lot of problems. i do not remember them all but she cannot function at all. she has a hard time moving her arms and they tried to stretch them. she cried so much to the point she was not even making a noise it was so bad. i sat there and i was tearing up and the lady asked me what i think would be best to help her and i told her i had no idea. it was hard. we also had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Menio who is the principle of Lotus school. she has little money and gives so much up for the kids. about 50% are poor and do not pay to go to school and the other ones do pay. there about 150 students and maybe 10 teachers. She is a wonderful person to say the least.
An Indian education
Not much happened the past two days other than washing cloths, eating mangos and dinner at Confucius both of which may have given me the tummy troubles. I went to the bathroom five times from 3:00 in the morning until about 6:00. Lesson learned: Spicy food + diarrhea = very bad mornings. We finally made it to Tezpur. The bus ride here was a joy ride. Thankfully it was cool because of the rains. Downside was the driver used the horn constantly (for about 5 hours straight) to the point I was about to walk up and rip the horn out and shove it down his esophagus. Needless to say diarrhea, stress, and bus horns do not make for great travel. ( i had my burbons and sprite to keep me at ease) We made it to Tezpur safely and we toured the hospital and learned how it works and all that jazz. Tuesday Kelly and I were able to meet with the Headmaster at Emmanuel Christian School (which is near the hospital). We met with him and asked him a lot of questions. He was a wonderful guy. We enjoyed him a lot. We learned a lot about the school and some common problems or happenings in government schools. We were unable to sit in on a class but we met with the assistant headmistress and three teachers. We asked them all many questions. It was interesting. The Headmaster worked for 13 years in a tea plantation then started a tribal school and is now working with ECS. He is about to complete his one year with ECS (oky side note as I am writing this Connor and I just heard about 20 gun shots that sounded very close to us. I heard no one screaming so hopefully it was target practice at 10:00 at night? This is not a comforting bedtime noise). Anyways, the school was good and bad. We learned a lot and they were very nice but working here in the future would not be possible. We had to get special permission to see the students. But it was interesting to say the least.
Not much happened the past two days other than washing cloths, eating mangos and dinner at Confucius both of which may have given me the tummy troubles. I went to the bathroom five times from 3:00 in the morning until about 6:00. Lesson learned: Spicy food + diarrhea = very bad mornings. We finally made it to Tezpur. The bus ride here was a joy ride. Thankfully it was cool because of the rains. Downside was the driver used the horn constantly (for about 5 hours straight) to the point I was about to walk up and rip the horn out and shove it down his esophagus. Needless to say diarrhea, stress, and bus horns do not make for great travel. ( i had my burbons and sprite to keep me at ease) We made it to Tezpur safely and we toured the hospital and learned how it works and all that jazz. Tuesday Kelly and I were able to meet with the Headmaster at Emmanuel Christian School (which is near the hospital). We met with him and asked him a lot of questions. He was a wonderful guy. We enjoyed him a lot. We learned a lot about the school and some common problems or happenings in government schools. We were unable to sit in on a class but we met with the assistant headmistress and three teachers. We asked them all many questions. It was interesting. The Headmaster worked for 13 years in a tea plantation then started a tribal school and is now working with ECS. He is about to complete his one year with ECS (oky side note as I am writing this Connor and I just heard about 20 gun shots that sounded very close to us. I heard no one screaming so hopefully it was target practice at 10:00 at night? This is not a comforting bedtime noise). Anyways, the school was good and bad. We learned a lot and they were very nice but working here in the future would not be possible. We had to get special permission to see the students. But it was interesting to say the least.
The Worms are coming to get me!
Friday: today is the day of training. Because brian had nowhere for me to go he was going to take me to training. So I wake up and Connor tells me that the yare not going to the Cousins village because it is too wet. So he came along with us. We get to the training center and we immediately find out that the “training” is in Assamese and Hindi. None of which Connor and I understand. In a nut shell we learned about Hindu people turning to Christ and taking the faith of Christianity but for government and cultural purposes they are Hindu Christians. Here in India if you are a “Christian” that means you wear western cloths, usually rich, and you abandon your culture and you are really not a “Christian” in our American term. I also found out that in India they have special laws for
Muslims, Hindus and Christians. I do not know the specifics or how it works yet. I will learn it soon I hope. We took part in worship that has to do with an Hindu ceremony that they replace the meaning to work towards the bible. In a way it is sort of like communion. You have a vase that has mango leaves and a coconut on the top of it. this stands for completeness with Christ the coconut represents us for we are rough and dirty, brown and not very good looking. The base of the vase is surrounded by the strings of orange flowers that I think are marigolds. Then there are a few different types of flowers that represent how we are fragile and fade quickly. Then there is incense that represents our fragrant prayers and lives toward God. Then there is a Conch that is a trumpet for call to worship and a lamp that symbolizes Christ’s light. The coconut is taken during the ceremony and crake open to reveal the white clean inside that is represented of Christ making us clean us clean and the water from the coconut symbolizes the blood he shed for us. Towards the end of the ceremony you take the dish of sandalwood paste and you take your ring finger and dip it in the paste and make a mark on the person next to you. This symbolizes our union with Christ in each other and the bond the blood has made for us. It also lets others know that you have taken Puja (the word for Worship). With this in the center of the eyes one also looks from with in or the inner eye focusing on the spiritual aspect of life not just the material.
Saturday: today we were able to attend a class that Brian Petterson and Swami taught (in English) over reaching Hindu people without telling them to get ride of their culture. It was very enlightening. I learned so much to the point that all my past mission trips seem pointless. He told us a Hindi woman fell in love with Jesus and wanted to commit to him fully but could not because she did not want the worms to come after her. Many Christians teach that one must be buried in a coffin here and Hindu people always cremate for that is their custom. Because she was told that she would have to be buried in a coffin when she dies she would not commit to Jesus. This was so horrible. I wanna just hit that person in the face and be like “READ YOUR FREAKING BIBLE THAT IS NOT BIBLICAL” I personally want to believe that because this woman seemed to have really wanted to know Jesus maybe she accepted him in her heart and did not tell the stupid guy who wanted her to get eaten by worms. Just to kind of help get the point a long they told us another story of a Christian woman who was working in India wanted a baby really bad but had troubles. She finally had a baby after a lot of prayer and trying. When she went to the hospital the woman working asked her if she wanted an abortion. Of course the Christian woman was taken back and said no and did not question as to why she would dare ask that. So eventually she had two more children and the same woman asked her if she wanted an abortion both times and on the third time the woman asked “why do you ask if I want to abort my children” and the Woman doctor explained “all of you western women are having all of these illegitimate children. None of you are married and you just sleep around with random men” the woman did not know that American women wear rings on their finger as a symbol for marriage for in India women have a red mark on the line of their hair in the middle of the forehead to show they are married and wear the dot in the middle. Wearing a ring to symbolize marriage and wearing a red line and dot are both not biblical. I had a Civ moment. I was thinking how the Europeans went to Africa and even India and they colonized the countries, used up their resources, and stole their culture from them. I was thinking how as Christian Missionaries we are just doing the same thing. Well some. The main goal of ours has been to reach them in a culturally relative way. To not often them but share the good news and help them to use it in their lives. So why do we seem to think that people must lose their culture in order to follow God?
Muslims, Hindus and Christians. I do not know the specifics or how it works yet. I will learn it soon I hope. We took part in worship that has to do with an Hindu ceremony that they replace the meaning to work towards the bible. In a way it is sort of like communion. You have a vase that has mango leaves and a coconut on the top of it. this stands for completeness with Christ the coconut represents us for we are rough and dirty, brown and not very good looking. The base of the vase is surrounded by the strings of orange flowers that I think are marigolds. Then there are a few different types of flowers that represent how we are fragile and fade quickly. Then there is incense that represents our fragrant prayers and lives toward God. Then there is a Conch that is a trumpet for call to worship and a lamp that symbolizes Christ’s light. The coconut is taken during the ceremony and crake open to reveal the white clean inside that is represented of Christ making us clean us clean and the water from the coconut symbolizes the blood he shed for us. Towards the end of the ceremony you take the dish of sandalwood paste and you take your ring finger and dip it in the paste and make a mark on the person next to you. This symbolizes our union with Christ in each other and the bond the blood has made for us. It also lets others know that you have taken Puja (the word for Worship). With this in the center of the eyes one also looks from with in or the inner eye focusing on the spiritual aspect of life not just the material.
Saturday: today we were able to attend a class that Brian Petterson and Swami taught (in English) over reaching Hindu people without telling them to get ride of their culture. It was very enlightening. I learned so much to the point that all my past mission trips seem pointless. He told us a Hindi woman fell in love with Jesus and wanted to commit to him fully but could not because she did not want the worms to come after her. Many Christians teach that one must be buried in a coffin here and Hindu people always cremate for that is their custom. Because she was told that she would have to be buried in a coffin when she dies she would not commit to Jesus. This was so horrible. I wanna just hit that person in the face and be like “READ YOUR FREAKING BIBLE THAT IS NOT BIBLICAL” I personally want to believe that because this woman seemed to have really wanted to know Jesus maybe she accepted him in her heart and did not tell the stupid guy who wanted her to get eaten by worms. Just to kind of help get the point a long they told us another story of a Christian woman who was working in India wanted a baby really bad but had troubles. She finally had a baby after a lot of prayer and trying. When she went to the hospital the woman working asked her if she wanted an abortion. Of course the Christian woman was taken back and said no and did not question as to why she would dare ask that. So eventually she had two more children and the same woman asked her if she wanted an abortion both times and on the third time the woman asked “why do you ask if I want to abort my children” and the Woman doctor explained “all of you western women are having all of these illegitimate children. None of you are married and you just sleep around with random men” the woman did not know that American women wear rings on their finger as a symbol for marriage for in India women have a red mark on the line of their hair in the middle of the forehead to show they are married and wear the dot in the middle. Wearing a ring to symbolize marriage and wearing a red line and dot are both not biblical. I had a Civ moment. I was thinking how the Europeans went to Africa and even India and they colonized the countries, used up their resources, and stole their culture from them. I was thinking how as Christian Missionaries we are just doing the same thing. Well some. The main goal of ours has been to reach them in a culturally relative way. To not often them but share the good news and help them to use it in their lives. So why do we seem to think that people must lose their culture in order to follow God?
6.05.2010
Bury my heart at Shillong
Bury my heart at Shillong
Sunday: not much happened it was a day of rest for us. We did however go to the Indian version of KFC and it was oky then we went to the theater to see The Prince of Persia. First of all jake Gyllenhall does not make a good Persian. Secondly the writing of this movie was so bad it was funny.
Monday: Today Dr. Rudobock and I were to meet Jessica to go to some place and talk about mirco loans the next morning. The plan was to go the day before stay the night get up the next morning to meet with some guy. I was kinda along for the trip because I had nothing better to do and Brian had nothing form me to do. So we wake up and find out from Brian that we are to meet the driver outside CBCNEI (the place we are staying at) at exactly 12:30. Knowing nationals and their way of keeping time I did not expect them to be one time. So Rich and I go eat lunch and we go back and get everything ready and we are waiting outside CBCNEI. Lets just say I love nationals don’t get me wrong. But exactly an hour and thirty minuets later our driver arrives. So we get in and head to pick up a girl that works for the company who is in charge of this trip. What should have taken about twenty minuets to her enclave was about forty-five minuets including the turning around he had to do because he passed her place. Not only is our national driver good at being late he has a bit of a speeding issue. We are driving in the hill that is so curvy that you go on one curve you hit another then another and another. Imagine driving through the mountain passes of Colorado at breakneck speed dodging truck, animals, small children and what ever happened to be one the road. Needless to say I was ready to get out of the vehicle. BUT it was well worth it because I have found the place I want to live for the rest of my life. Shillong, . This place is called the Scotland of the east. Apparently the British used to inhabit this area with offices and stuff. But here it is beautiful. The streets do not have trash all over them, you cannot see the sewage, the air is clean and the best part is IT IS COLD! This is the first in India where I wanted to wear a jacket. Needless to say I will bury my heart here.
Tuesday: I woke up expecting to have hot water to take a shower like our hotel people said we would. Unfortunately it was another cold shower for us. We got up and had breakfast and went to our meeting. We met our driver outside our hotel and he was the coolest guy ever. He was about 5 foot 6 inches and has the voice of a elf. But he is from Nepal and can speak 7 different languages. We met with Mr. Decruz the founder/owner of SoFMEAD a micro-loan lending place. The meeting started at 10:30 and did not end until about 1:30. But they fed us so I was good! We then, sadly, had to leave Shillong… I decided my future wife and I will be living there. So I will be back. The drive back took 3 hours when really it should only be about 2 hours.
Wednesday: Today Connor and I planned to meet our friend from the village who goes to school in Guwahati. So Connor called him and made plans to meet him exactly at Guwahati Baptist church at one. So we are sitting on the side of the road under a tree getting wet from the rain waiting. Connor and I decided we would give him thirty minuets to get there. So we waited, waited, and waited and he was a no show. But we were the a feast for all the eyes of nationals walking by. One old guy with a silly yellow umbrella stood and stared at us for at lest 5 minuets and we stared at him back and he finally left. We then decided to just go and hang out in the city. We went to Dona Planet 9 a shopping mall) with Diane and Ginny and we ate at Pizza Hut (our favorite place to eat at.) so after we ate Connor and I went shopping and every store we went into the guys working would stand maybe a foot away and watch us talk and shop. So we did not stay long. One of the stores we went into the guy stood really close to connor and I and connor started talking to him. one of the questions he asked him was “ what size shirt do you wear” I was embarrassed and awked out. So we left. We went into this store that had tons of odd t-shirts and I was looking through them for a Beatles shirt and I found this shirt that said “I survived india” and I said “Connor this shirt is just for you “ as I turned around saying this I realized Connor left the store and I was by myself with a bunch of nationals. They all stared at me laughing. Connor and I then went to Big Bazzar (Walmart of india) and got some traditional Indian shirts. While we were looking one of the guys working decided to help me out. So he brought me several shirts that are long and huge. The first one was maroon striped and could fit myself and about 7 of my friends inside comfortably. I tried to explain to him I was not that big and I did not like the color red. He still brought me about 5 different ones where the bottom of the shirt hit my knees and they were to big and the colors were odd. So we left and sat outside waiting for Diane and Ginny to come by and we met our friend Jitu. As Connor and I were sitting in front of big Bazaar he just started talking to us. So we took him to Café Coffee day and got him a drink and tried talking to him. his English was oky we had the hardest time figuring out what he was saying. But it was a good surprise. One thing I noticed was that he had a bunch of burn marks on his hands and his foot. So I was really worried about him. as much as I could gather was that he wants to learn English and go to the states (a common goal of all Indians) and he is in school and his class are at night I think. He was real nice and informative but his English was so hard to understand. So pray from him. we are planning to met with him this Saturday and I hope that we get to so we can find out more about him.
Thursday: Today was the day the Newspaper said we would have a monsoon. It rained quite a lot. Rich and I went and had a day together because we had to go to a meeting with some guys from CBCNEI. Sadly I got so sick I was projectile vomiting to the point I could not even hold water. I have been in pain I just wanna cry I think I mentioned my mother a few times. I have no idea if I got a bug or if I got food poisoning. Just kidding I was not sick but this is how I felt during the meeting. I sat for two straight hours listening to a guy with a very thick Assamese accent and I could hardly understand him or the intentions of this meeting. I was intimidated and sick out of my mind from boredom. Thankfully God knew how to keep me entertained because there were two lizards in the room hanging out by the window so I watched them the entire time praying and cheering them on to get the flies. We then ate a Silk Route, which is the best Tai place I have ever eaten at! It was wonderful and spicy and so good! There was not enough to fill me up but I had Ice cream from New Zealand, which made me happy. I also found that my reverse culture shock has hit me early. I ended up sitting outside for quite some time watching the rain pour. I feel so useless here because there are so many people in need and I have to sit in a air conditioned room eating cookies and drinking chi while they are out there huddling in the rain on the streets with nothing to keep them warm. I know I cannot solve India’s problems but I have had such a hard time dealing with the poverty here. I have always felt a need to help people who are not able to enjoy the comforts of life. When we are on the streets and a kid comes up looking so ragged and poor and they touch me asking for money I have to look away and avoid looking at them in the eyes because I know that if I just give them ten rupees it wont do much and they could be working for someone and they wont even get the money to be feed and it makes me want to start crying my heart out that there is nothing I can do. Most of them will not take anything but money so that means they are hired to beg. then while connor and I went out walking I saw something I will never forget. I saw a man who was laying on the road with no arms and no legs. Someone left him there laying on the street with something that resembled shorts and no shirt on the dirty, muddy ground with a silver bowl in front of him left to beg for money. When I saw this man my heart dropped like a thousand pounds of solid rock into the bottom of the sea. I could not talk because I was so heart broken that someone has to resort to this. I know that someone is using him to gain money but this is still horrible for any human being to resort to this
Sunday: not much happened it was a day of rest for us. We did however go to the Indian version of KFC and it was oky then we went to the theater to see The Prince of Persia. First of all jake Gyllenhall does not make a good Persian. Secondly the writing of this movie was so bad it was funny.
Monday: Today Dr. Rudobock and I were to meet Jessica to go to some place and talk about mirco loans the next morning. The plan was to go the day before stay the night get up the next morning to meet with some guy. I was kinda along for the trip because I had nothing better to do and Brian had nothing form me to do. So we wake up and find out from Brian that we are to meet the driver outside CBCNEI (the place we are staying at) at exactly 12:30. Knowing nationals and their way of keeping time I did not expect them to be one time. So Rich and I go eat lunch and we go back and get everything ready and we are waiting outside CBCNEI. Lets just say I love nationals don’t get me wrong. But exactly an hour and thirty minuets later our driver arrives. So we get in and head to pick up a girl that works for the company who is in charge of this trip. What should have taken about twenty minuets to her enclave was about forty-five minuets including the turning around he had to do because he passed her place. Not only is our national driver good at being late he has a bit of a speeding issue. We are driving in the hill that is so curvy that you go on one curve you hit another then another and another. Imagine driving through the mountain passes of Colorado at breakneck speed dodging truck, animals, small children and what ever happened to be one the road. Needless to say I was ready to get out of the vehicle. BUT it was well worth it because I have found the place I want to live for the rest of my life. Shillong, . This place is called the Scotland of the east. Apparently the British used to inhabit this area with offices and stuff. But here it is beautiful. The streets do not have trash all over them, you cannot see the sewage, the air is clean and the best part is IT IS COLD! This is the first in India where I wanted to wear a jacket. Needless to say I will bury my heart here.
Tuesday: I woke up expecting to have hot water to take a shower like our hotel people said we would. Unfortunately it was another cold shower for us. We got up and had breakfast and went to our meeting. We met our driver outside our hotel and he was the coolest guy ever. He was about 5 foot 6 inches and has the voice of a elf. But he is from Nepal and can speak 7 different languages. We met with Mr. Decruz the founder/owner of SoFMEAD a micro-loan lending place. The meeting started at 10:30 and did not end until about 1:30. But they fed us so I was good! We then, sadly, had to leave Shillong… I decided my future wife and I will be living there. So I will be back. The drive back took 3 hours when really it should only be about 2 hours.
Wednesday: Today Connor and I planned to meet our friend from the village who goes to school in Guwahati. So Connor called him and made plans to meet him exactly at Guwahati Baptist church at one. So we are sitting on the side of the road under a tree getting wet from the rain waiting. Connor and I decided we would give him thirty minuets to get there. So we waited, waited, and waited and he was a no show. But we were the a feast for all the eyes of nationals walking by. One old guy with a silly yellow umbrella stood and stared at us for at lest 5 minuets and we stared at him back and he finally left. We then decided to just go and hang out in the city. We went to Dona Planet 9 a shopping mall) with Diane and Ginny and we ate at Pizza Hut (our favorite place to eat at.) so after we ate Connor and I went shopping and every store we went into the guys working would stand maybe a foot away and watch us talk and shop. So we did not stay long. One of the stores we went into the guy stood really close to connor and I and connor started talking to him. one of the questions he asked him was “ what size shirt do you wear” I was embarrassed and awked out. So we left. We went into this store that had tons of odd t-shirts and I was looking through them for a Beatles shirt and I found this shirt that said “I survived india” and I said “Connor this shirt is just for you “ as I turned around saying this I realized Connor left the store and I was by myself with a bunch of nationals. They all stared at me laughing. Connor and I then went to Big Bazzar (Walmart of india) and got some traditional Indian shirts. While we were looking one of the guys working decided to help me out. So he brought me several shirts that are long and huge. The first one was maroon striped and could fit myself and about 7 of my friends inside comfortably. I tried to explain to him I was not that big and I did not like the color red. He still brought me about 5 different ones where the bottom of the shirt hit my knees and they were to big and the colors were odd. So we left and sat outside waiting for Diane and Ginny to come by and we met our friend Jitu. As Connor and I were sitting in front of big Bazaar he just started talking to us. So we took him to Café Coffee day and got him a drink and tried talking to him. his English was oky we had the hardest time figuring out what he was saying. But it was a good surprise. One thing I noticed was that he had a bunch of burn marks on his hands and his foot. So I was really worried about him. as much as I could gather was that he wants to learn English and go to the states (a common goal of all Indians) and he is in school and his class are at night I think. He was real nice and informative but his English was so hard to understand. So pray from him. we are planning to met with him this Saturday and I hope that we get to so we can find out more about him.
Thursday: Today was the day the Newspaper said we would have a monsoon. It rained quite a lot. Rich and I went and had a day together because we had to go to a meeting with some guys from CBCNEI. Sadly I got so sick I was projectile vomiting to the point I could not even hold water. I have been in pain I just wanna cry I think I mentioned my mother a few times. I have no idea if I got a bug or if I got food poisoning. Just kidding I was not sick but this is how I felt during the meeting. I sat for two straight hours listening to a guy with a very thick Assamese accent and I could hardly understand him or the intentions of this meeting. I was intimidated and sick out of my mind from boredom. Thankfully God knew how to keep me entertained because there were two lizards in the room hanging out by the window so I watched them the entire time praying and cheering them on to get the flies. We then ate a Silk Route, which is the best Tai place I have ever eaten at! It was wonderful and spicy and so good! There was not enough to fill me up but I had Ice cream from New Zealand, which made me happy. I also found that my reverse culture shock has hit me early. I ended up sitting outside for quite some time watching the rain pour. I feel so useless here because there are so many people in need and I have to sit in a air conditioned room eating cookies and drinking chi while they are out there huddling in the rain on the streets with nothing to keep them warm. I know I cannot solve India’s problems but I have had such a hard time dealing with the poverty here. I have always felt a need to help people who are not able to enjoy the comforts of life. When we are on the streets and a kid comes up looking so ragged and poor and they touch me asking for money I have to look away and avoid looking at them in the eyes because I know that if I just give them ten rupees it wont do much and they could be working for someone and they wont even get the money to be feed and it makes me want to start crying my heart out that there is nothing I can do. Most of them will not take anything but money so that means they are hired to beg. then while connor and I went out walking I saw something I will never forget. I saw a man who was laying on the road with no arms and no legs. Someone left him there laying on the street with something that resembled shorts and no shirt on the dirty, muddy ground with a silver bowl in front of him left to beg for money. When I saw this man my heart dropped like a thousand pounds of solid rock into the bottom of the sea. I could not talk because I was so heart broken that someone has to resort to this. I know that someone is using him to gain money but this is still horrible for any human being to resort to this
5.30.2010
When life gives you lemons make sour lemon water
This morning I woke up way too early as usual because the sun rises at 4;30 and there was a monster in our air conditioner. apparently some birds decided it was cool to use our air conditioner as a nest and had some sort of wrestling match in it at 4:30 in the morning. If we could get to them they would be dead birds. We then waited and waited for the driver and translators to get here so we could go to the villages. India time is very interesting because we meant to leave at 8:30 am but we ended up leaving around 10:30 am. We went to another village and had chi (it was so good). We talked to a guy that was a retired principle at a local school one of the ladies tht lived there she was either the wife of the retired principles son or daughter I was not sure but she had on some mud stuff on her face because she had a fever. She told us that she works at a Christian school called San Francis. She spoke good English and said that she taught math at this school. She was very nice and served us chai. We then went to another part of the village and sat by the road talking to people fro m the village and asked them questions. We then started to talk to and elder of the village about the foundations of Christianity. He said that he believed in one god and in sacrifice so we tried to present the gospel and start house church in their home. But we had people come up and distract everyone and a doctor that knew English came and talked to us and ruined everything because the people would not pay attention. We ended up leaving and going to lunch. Lunch was at the same stall we ate at yesterday and today the special was fish. They severed us a small bit of rice that was fishy and some actual fish in a sauce that was so grow I wanted to vomit. So lunch yet again was not good. We went back to the village and brian wanted us to all go to the circus that they prepared for us and he was going to go back and talk to the guy about the gospel. The circus was wild. The four of us sat there clenching our teeth and surprised at what they could do. A bigger guy took a metal ring and squeezed his head and feet first into it and moved it over his body without using his hands, then a sixty year old man balanced a cup of water over his head while squeezing through a metal ring and laying down on the table from the standing position without spilling the water. There were several more acts that were very impressive and we were shocked at what thy could do. They then showed us around their village. A lady showed us her blankets and stuff tat she made and I talked to some of the kids. They taught me how to count to ten in assamese and I taught them how to count to ten in English and Spanish. They did not figure out the Spanish as well as the English. They also kept asking to shake my hand it was crazy. Then one of the guys who was in the show took us to his house and showed us his drums he was making and he gave Connor and I a poster about his circus. We think he wanted us to take it to America so people would ask for them to come over or he said he was going to America we were not sure what he was saying. We then told them we had to go as they kept finding more things for us to see. One guy insisted that I took a picture of his mango tree. We left and endured the scariest ride I have ever been one. Our driver apparently really wanted to go back as fast as possible because we flew through the streets of villages dodging cows, goats, sheep, ducks, and people. It was crazy. I decided his driving was a combination of Frogger and Chicken. We would dodge things and we would be going head on to traffic and then quickly get in our lane. It was intense. One time we were going really fast with the people in the other lane having their brights on and we stopped really quick and we looked in front of us and there was a big drop off. Connor and I looked at each other and saw fear in each other’s eyes. We then came across a huge truck that was stopped in the middle of the road and was stuck in the ditch. So we waited and waited for traffic police to come and get things moving. Eventually we made it home. We got back and had group time then Connor and I ate at Foods which is the best place to eat in Pan bazaar. The room is dark with only a few colored lights and all over the walls are Beatles posters. It was heaven on earth! The food is good as well. It was a great cap off to the night as they played a Beatles song and a Simon and Garfunkle song. I was in love with that place.
Celebrity
Today was our first time to go to the Kai village, this was also their first time to see a white person. The Kai people were very welcoming and treated us like celebrities. It was very overwhelming. Anywhere we went they would immediately grab chairs and benches for us to sit down. We would sit and talk with tem about their village life and we recorded everything would could get from them. It was overwhelming at times because it felt like the whole village was surrounding you and anytime you look up at least 10 people are staring at you or more. They wanted to show us their homes so we followed various people and the entire town followed suite. The first house we visited had three rooms on it. there was the cooking room and then two rooms that had beds in them. They showed us their beds that were made of bamboo and I eventually was forced to sit on one by a villager and it was kinds hard but seemed comfortable. There was not a lot in their houses and they were made from bamboo and mud. All of the houses seemed to be built very well and they all looked about the same. We then tried to leave as they kept insisting that we stay and learn more. So we had fresh coconut water that tasted like sour grapes that I forced down. We have been focusing on Luke 10 when we go the villages and when we do church planting here so we drank it thankfully. We then left to go eat lunch, which was one of the nastiest places we have ever eaten at. It was a stand that was by the road and eating with us were flies, roaches and spiders. The food was not too bad but I was hot, sweaty and not sure if the food I was eating was beneficial to my health. But I ate most of it anyways. Sitting there I was thinking to myself “I WANT PIZZA HUT TONIGHT”. We then went to the house of one of our translators and they served us “lemonade” and chai. The lemonade tasted like lemon juice, water and salt. Another thing I forgot to mention was we had a driver that was hired to take us to the villages that are about 2 hours away from Guwahati. Our driver I was very nice but his driving it chaotic. He would drive as fast as he could then when something would get in the way (like a stupid cow or goat sometimes the occasional duck) we would stop on a dine. It was nauseating and nerve-racking. I clenched my teeth the entire way hone. We finally made it back and we had to move from Steve and Jans house to CBCNEI and I asked the Rudobocks if Pizza Hut sounded good for dinner and they said it was the best idea I have ever had. India Pizza Hut it not exactly the same but between five of us we finished two large family size pizzas. It was glorious!
5.25.2010
Heart of Darkness
Today was the day we had planned to go to the temple. We had some orientation at India time (those of you who know Indian know what I mean). Then we ate lunch and headed toward the temple. Brian our fearless leader warned us this temple was full of darkness and here is some of the history behind the temple. This temple is built on Nilachal hill and is believe to be an ancient ‘khasi’ sacrificial sire that is dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya. It is one of the oldest center of Shakti worship and tantric Hinduism. The original 10th century temple is believe to have been destroyed by Muslim converts but was rebuilt by King Naranarayana of Koch Bihar in 1665. The shikara or spire of the temple is in the shape of a beehive.
As we rode the bus to this hill it was crowded and hot! We then made it to the bottom of the hill and got a small vehicle to drive us up the hill. We then got to the top and had to climb up more to the actually spot. As we ascended to the top near the temple I immediately felt a horrible feeling inside that told me to go back and not go near this place. it is hard to explain this feeling but I could feel the darkness of the temple and I was not even inside it yet. We then made it to the inside of the temple area and it was so sad to see all the people there gathering to make a sacrifice to a false god. The looks on peoples faces was uncomfortable and uneasy. We walked around in pairs and looked at the grounds around the temple. It was so uncomfortable and dark. It was the first time I have ever felt scared to this degree. I walked near the entrance where the poorer pope go to enter the temple. It looked like they were cattle getting ready to go in for slaughter as they sat behind metal bars leading to the temple I was overwhelmed with this place. I then sat on the steps that went up a hill and started yarp-ing. As soon as I finished connor came up to where I was and we stood talking. While we talked a national guy came up to us and started talking to us. This was the first time we had someone come talk to us! It was so exciting! Immediately as they started talking I had a peace inside me that was comforting and awesome. It was father comforting me while I was in this palce. I learned that our new national friend just finished school and is working in Deli. He said they were there to see his sister-in-lw and brother get married. It was day one of three. I was able to meet several of his friends, sisters, mother, father, his sister to be and his brother! I am sure I also met his grandmother she looked old enough to be. They seemed to love us a lot. Two white boys in a temple who would have known! They asked to take our pictures with them and we got one of them as well. They invited us to their place but I did not get their number because I would shocked they waned to talk to us and I was kinda scared to give nay information out they had to go because his sister to be and brother had to go one with their marriage stuff. Brian then showed us the pool they use to cleanse them selves with. All of this kinda reminded me of the Catholics from civ… civ moment. We then walked around a bit and watched the kids laying in water that my mother would have spanked me to death for ever thinking tot go in. it was so dirty and nasty one would think they would need to be cleansed from the cleaning water! Irony??? We then saw our friends on the other side and waved at them. We hard them say “no take a picture of the Americans first” while they were dipping their feet in the cleansing water! I had a celebrity moment. We then decided it was time to go because it was about to rain. We then walked out and left. We rode the bus back and it was crowded and ht. we ate at a place called R-omas it was SO good! I had some chicken curry that was so good! It was also very spicy and I started sweating! It was so worth it! we then made it back home tin the rain. Yarp for rain cause it cools it off here!
As we rode the bus to this hill it was crowded and hot! We then made it to the bottom of the hill and got a small vehicle to drive us up the hill. We then got to the top and had to climb up more to the actually spot. As we ascended to the top near the temple I immediately felt a horrible feeling inside that told me to go back and not go near this place. it is hard to explain this feeling but I could feel the darkness of the temple and I was not even inside it yet. We then made it to the inside of the temple area and it was so sad to see all the people there gathering to make a sacrifice to a false god. The looks on peoples faces was uncomfortable and uneasy. We walked around in pairs and looked at the grounds around the temple. It was so uncomfortable and dark. It was the first time I have ever felt scared to this degree. I walked near the entrance where the poorer pope go to enter the temple. It looked like they were cattle getting ready to go in for slaughter as they sat behind metal bars leading to the temple I was overwhelmed with this place. I then sat on the steps that went up a hill and started yarp-ing. As soon as I finished connor came up to where I was and we stood talking. While we talked a national guy came up to us and started talking to us. This was the first time we had someone come talk to us! It was so exciting! Immediately as they started talking I had a peace inside me that was comforting and awesome. It was father comforting me while I was in this palce. I learned that our new national friend just finished school and is working in Deli. He said they were there to see his sister-in-lw and brother get married. It was day one of three. I was able to meet several of his friends, sisters, mother, father, his sister to be and his brother! I am sure I also met his grandmother she looked old enough to be. They seemed to love us a lot. Two white boys in a temple who would have known! They asked to take our pictures with them and we got one of them as well. They invited us to their place but I did not get their number because I would shocked they waned to talk to us and I was kinda scared to give nay information out they had to go because his sister to be and brother had to go one with their marriage stuff. Brian then showed us the pool they use to cleanse them selves with. All of this kinda reminded me of the Catholics from civ… civ moment. We then walked around a bit and watched the kids laying in water that my mother would have spanked me to death for ever thinking tot go in. it was so dirty and nasty one would think they would need to be cleansed from the cleaning water! Irony??? We then saw our friends on the other side and waved at them. We hard them say “no take a picture of the Americans first” while they were dipping their feet in the cleansing water! I had a celebrity moment. We then decided it was time to go because it was about to rain. We then walked out and left. We rode the bus back and it was crowded and ht. we ate at a place called R-omas it was SO good! I had some chicken curry that was so good! It was also very spicy and I started sweating! It was so worth it! we then made it back home tin the rain. Yarp for rain cause it cools it off here!
Yarp-ing
This morning Connor and I yarp-ed down the streets. Through this we found that we both view life very differently. Such as while walking down the street he saw the hospital and I saw the Nun who was dressed in full white. How he missed the nun I haven’t the slightest clue. We also encountered more peopling looking at us or “stink eyes” as I like to say than I would if I ran completely naked on campus. It also did not help that it was hot and my shirt was soaked from the top to bottom with sweat minus a few spots. Needless to say I was hot and we yarp-ed for some rain! We then went and changed into not so sweaty cloths and met the rudobocks for lunch. This is when I was hot and tired and connor attempted to throw me in the sewer system. I told him when it floods I am making him drink the dirty street water that also has sewage in it. we then went and ate lunch and enjoyed some good assamese food. We then went back for more training. I forgot to mention the training but we have been doing a lot of training. That night we went on a search to find out if the one and only new subway store was open. All of our friends that work here for the company have been craving western food and said they wanted subway! So we looked and it was not open yet. Instead we went to a Punjabi place to eat at and it was the best food I have ever put in my mouth. It was the first place we ate at the waiter actually tried to help us with ordering and gave us good service. He was so nice. We asked him if he had any Punjaibi music and his face lit up and he played some cool Punjaibi music. We then went to an ice cream parlor that the girls who live here that work for the company like to go to. At this ice cream shop they sell ice cream from New Zealand. Only in India would I eat ice cream from New Zealand.
Guwahati hottie
I felt this was fitting for Guwahati is so hot. Temperature not looks. But we made it to the Rubado house and enjoyed some wonderful cool air-conditioning. Brian took u out to the city of Guwahati and we traveled around to see the sights and we ate at a restaurant and had some nice assamesse Chinese style food. It was so good I ate it all. We then went to the house and did some training and we had house church and all four of us almost slept through the entire meeting. We then went to sleep and slept all night. The next morning at roughly four in the morning Connor and I woke up to crows and dogs. We wanted to take a gun to each one as we did not get enough sleep to adjust to the time change. We then slowly got up and around and we met with Brian. We went to Big Bazzar, which is their version of walmart. It was interesting to say the least. They had four levels and each one was full of stuff. We also went to Coffee Day which is their version of starbucks. It was not as good as American coffee but it was the only “good” coffee I had this trip. I kinda forgot what all happened this day but that was the highlights.
You say goodbye I say hello
As hard as it was to leave everyone I am glad I am able to take this trip. For my first plane ride I must say I am on the fence with this form of traveling. The first flight was sketchty and messy. I was so happy I got the seat with goldfish crackers and some unknown substance in the barf bag. The second flight was much better. I sat by a girl from Minneapolis who was headed towards Dublin to take a photography class over there. I was kind of jealous. We then made it to Amsterdam and had a 4-hour layover and we toured the airport. Nothing eventful happened. We then flew from Amsterdam to Deli and this was the most stressful plan ride of them all. Most of the passengers were nationals and one national woman behind me kept hitting my seat waking me up and I was tired and irritable and wanted to punch her in the face. Needless to say I did not hurt anyone and I got some sleep. We then made it to Deli and it was midnight and we looked for the guy who was supposed to have a sign saying OBU but he was no where to be found. So we paid for our own taxi and hoped that he took us to the right hotel. We then found ourselves at the hotel star and checked in and had 5 hours to sleep until we had to get up for our next flight. We met our contact at the airport and took a nice sweaty trip through and around Guwahaiti . we saw some cows, goats, dogs, and a truck that had a ton of gravel tipped over spilling gravel all over the road. India’s road system in very interesting. The constant beeping of car horns provides a sense of sonar as one is traveling down each road. These constant horns are very annoying but at least you know when some one is about to hit you. I think I like India, I say that because I have not had any goo substantial amount of sleep from Wednesday night until tonight and I am enduring jet lag. Hopefully this all makes sense. When I get some rest and I can think clearly I will inform you all more of what is happening.
3.31.2010
The Start
This Summer i will be taking a trip to SouthEast Asia. My good friend Connor and i are going to spend two months learning the culture and understanding it. The theme for my trip is a Beatles song called Within You Without You. I chose this song because the Beatles have some inspirations from their trip to this part tied in with the songs lyrics, composition and the instruments used. The lyrics can also be interpreted quite well with what i'd like to experience from this trip.
Examples: "we were talking about the space between us all and the people who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion never glimpse the truth then it's too late when they pass away we were talking about the love we all could share when we find it" my desire is to be able to spread a love that many people have never encountered and help them break out from the walls of society and traditions.
Prayer, support and encouragement for my friend and i would be greatly appreciated as we go out and explore this new world.
H.L.Williams
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