A day of the Expected and Unexpected

The day started early as three of us left for Agra to see the Taj Mahal.  I tried to get on line before we left, but I had a weak signal and it did not happen.  Greg, Alice and Ken headed off for Agra.  The trip is always interesting as you see the phenomenal variety of “life on the road” in India.  We watched, talked and enjoyed the ride.

 A development that was not really expected at this time is that Greg’s wife ended up with a gall bladder attack that necessitated surgery.  It started on Sunday and by Monday she was in surgery.  Fortunately we have cell phone coverage that allows contact and a measure of support from a distance.  While on the road to Agra Greg and Amy were able to talk for a while.  Pray for them during these days.

 The road trip continued without incident and so it would seem that all was well.

 Back in Delhi a little of the unexpected was happening.  Carol went to request her car and was told there were no arrangements made for her.  She insisted that there were and so the conversation went.  Finally they made a connection – “Oh for Mr. Kenneth!”  The car was made available and she headed off to the airport to pick-up Chris and Beckah who were coming from Thailand.

 Back in Agra the arrangements were all made to go into the grounds of the Taj Mahal.  While walking to the gate Ken’s phone rang.  Carol was at the airport and there was no plane arriving from Thailand.  What am I supposed to do?  Back in Agra Ken sent a text message to Chris and soon his phone rang.  “Where are you, Chris?”  “We are still in Thailand.  Didn’t you get my message?”  Unfortunately I had not been able to get on line.

 We decided that she would come on a later plane that day.  I told her I would be there to meet her.  She was now to arrive at 10:55 p.m.  I called the number through which Carol had called me.  It happened to be the phone of the man at an Airtel Wireless booth.  Carol was still there and I was able to tell her what was happening.

 The tour of the Taj Mahal was wonderful.  It was followed by a good meal and then some opportunity to shop for some of the beautiful creations made from marble and precious and semi-precious stones.  We toured a factory and saw how they make the beautiful marble work.  It was close to 4:00 p.m. and we had a four hour drive back to Delhi so we started for home.

Back in Delhi they had done some shopping and roaming around the streets of our hotel.  Finally Carol and Arlene were just ready to go out for a bite to eat and to find a container to leave some things at the hotel when we pulled up arriving back.

It was good to catch up on the day we each had had and then there was opportunity for a little rest before taking off to the airport again.  This time Chris and Beckah were on the plane and we found our car and headed back to the hotel arriving around 12:20 a.m.

I went to the desk and asked for their room only to be told that they did not make the reservation.  What to do?  The Inn was full.  Greg had an extra single bed in his room.  We woke him up and Ken moved in with him.  they put a cot in our room and Carol, Chris and Beckah shared that room.

Even in the midst of the unexpected, we had a great day!

A Great Day in Delhi

Have you been to the main bazaar in Delhi?  It is a wonderful place to explore.  You will find one quaint shop after another as you roam the allies and small streets of this interesting part of Delhi.  There is so much of "life on the street" in this part of town.  We began the day by walking through a portion of this bazaar.

One of the exciting things to do in this type of a walk is crossing the several lane road that is one of the main streets in this area.  It means a tart out into the traffic and a willingness to keep going and trusting the traffic that they will not hit you.  It took a little doing but we each made it across and then we continued our walk to the bazaar.

We rode bicycle rickshaws back to our hotel and then proceed by car to our next destination.  Kahn market gave us opportunity to eat at the "Big Chill" restaurant.  Quite an experience.  Then after some shopping we were off to some further sites and activities.

We explored the Kuta Binar and the surrounding grounds of this Historic Site.  It was constructed between 1100 and 1350.  Just think.  It was completed about 100 years before Columbus.  The Indian government is hard at work seeking to restore the things that may be restored even as they maintain the historicity of the site itself.

We made a few more stops and found our self in the thick of Delhi evening traffic.  With it all we headed back to the hotel, but not until after seeing the India Gate at nighttime.  Truly a beautiful sight.

On the Way

Hi from Newark International Airport.

Five of our eventual group of seven members are now together.  We will be on the plane within two hours.  Things are going well.  Let me introduce our group.

Arlene Miller is from Elizabethtown, PA.  She coordinates the SPICE Program in North America.  There is always a place for more sponsors if you are interested.  

Alice Andrews comes from Ada, Michigan.  She is a doctor who is no longer active in a practice.  Her travels have taken her many places, but never to India.

Greg Starr comes from Elizabethtown, PA.  He is on his second international trip and first to India.

In a few days Chris and Bekah Sharp will join us in Delhi.  They are presently in Thailand.

The other two of us are Ken and Carol Hoke.  We help to coordinate the trip and make it happen as smoothly as possible along with our hosts in various parts of India.

The next leg of our journey will be a fourteen hour flight Newark to New Delhi.  It really isn't so bad, at least we seem to be taking these flights around twice a year.

Pray with us as we go.  We will keep you posted as we go.

Blessings to all who read our posts.

Orissa Final Schedule

November Travel to India / Pastor's Vision Trip

Nov 1              Begin our travel from various points to India, leaving from Newark, NJ

Nov 2              Arrive in New Delhi and head to our lodging 

Nov 3 & 4       Getting adjusted to our host country and the wonderful sites of Delhi and her environs.

Nov 5              On to Orissa and our hosts from the Orissa 

Nov 6              Program in Cuttack, Orissa

Nov 7              Programs with the local Staff 

Nov 8              Travel north to SPICE Hostel.  Evening program with Hostel children.   

Nov 9              Travel to local village to meet people in the village.  

Nov 10            Travel back to Cuttack.  Opportunity to explore Cuttack.

Nov 11            C and R to Bhubaneswar for return to Delhi.  Others will explore Bhubaneswar and on to Puri where we will stay for the night.

Nov 12            Exploration of Puri – the place called "The Gate Way to Heaven" by Hindus and on to Konark – the sun temple, and then back to Cuttack

Nov 13            Flight back to Delhi 

Nov 14            In Delhi and then return flight to the USA 

Nov 15            Arrival back to Newark.  Following customs the group disperses to their various home destinations.

Back tro India - Orissa 08

Plans are coming together for us to head back to India this November.  We are taking a group with us.  Originally the plan was to take a larger group to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Brethren in Christ Church in Orissa.  Unfortunately, the distress in this state made it so that these activities and celebrations were canceled.

We do have a nice group - seven in all - who are still making the trip to Orissa.  We will be flying into Delhi and after several days will head on to Orissa.  The people there are planning for some very nice opportunities for us to be involved in their lives and for us to be of mutual support to each other.

I will seek to give updates of our travels and trust you may join with us as we go through these posts.  

Blessings to all who read this blog.  Ken

I am part of the Appreciative Inquiry Process for MCC. I used a resource today to create this word cloud using words people are using to describe the mission of MCC. 

 http://wordle.net/  Check out Wordle!

Facebook | My Photos - Profile Pictures

Facebook | My Photos - Profile Pictures

Our son, Steve and his wife, Julie, just had their first baby, Alliyah Grace Hoke. She arrived Saturday, 8/23/08, and it was great to go to Philly to visit her.