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!

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!

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.