Travel

Two large four wheel drive vehicles became our homes as we traveled north to West Bengal and then back to Cuttack.  There were seven of us in the one vehicle and five in the other on the first day.  The second day we picked up two more people as part of our group.  Part of the time the car with seven became a car with nine, and then later we balanced it out with eight and six.

Because of the concern related to our presence and it causing any distress among the local population in the cities where we were traveling; the foreign guest sat in the back seat and the rear benches, while Indian nationals rode in the front.  The cars all had dark glass windows so that no one could see in at who was passing by when we passed.  This has been a normal precaution here in this part of the world for the last six or more years that I have been visiting this area.

We left Cuttack around 10:00 a.m. for a 160 KM journey north.  It took us four hours to reach our destination.  Passing through the many towns we likely averaged around 10 to 12 miles per hour.  Out on the road we were lucky if we averaged 35 miles per hour on a four lane highway with a speed limit of 80 KM (50 mph).

As we drove we came upon goats, cows and water buffalo also sharing the road with us, or crossing it.  We came on vehicles coming the wrong way down the four lane highway because of the divide and curbing that made it next to impossible to turn off on that road you wanted to take on the opposite side of the highway.  Everyone just knows what is happening and seems to take it in stride.

A stop for gasoline and a stop to get out of the cars and stretch our legs were the two diversions from the multi-sensory experience of travel.

One other interesting experience in travel was to stop at a road side rest following our trip north and when we started to come south again.  We had had a great mid day meal, but most of us had not had tea.  For most Indians that is something that needs to be corrected.

We stopped at a thatch covered building along the road.  We walked down the side embankment of the road and they pulled out rope woven beds for us to sit on while our tea was being made over a wood fire.  It did not take to long and good hot team was being served to us in small plastic cups.  The only way you can hold them is to hold them around the top rim of the cup above the tea line.  You then just turn your hand forty five degrees and take a sip of what I consider to be wonderful Indian spiced tea – masala chai.

Changes Along The Way

Many of you may be aware that there are tensions here in Orissa with animosity being expressed toward Christians.  We were well aware of this as we came and we have not had any difficulties related to it.  There have been threats however for certain areas of ministry for those who are hosts.  Because of this they made a few changes in our activities and schedule while we are here in Orissa.  Another change also developed for a completely different reason.

The first change that was made is that while we were in Cuttack we stayed inside most of the time.  We were picked up and taken to the activity sites and we usually got out of the car after the exterior gate was closed.  We then were returned to our residence in a similar fashion.  We have stayed behind locked gates and have not had freedom to just roam around in the community.  The concern is not to create animosity within the Hindu community.  It is mainly a situation of being wise.

You need to realize that the event we are here for is a registered event for which the local church has police permission to gather and celebrate in the Prayer Conference.  That is not the issue.  Seven people from outside of this community and nation attending this event, however, calls a little more attention to the event.

There have been no calls for concern while we are here.  Our hosts are just being sure that they do not put us or themselves in a difficult situation.  We now have moved north at the time of this writing and there are no restrictions on our movement in this community.

Another change that has taken place relates to part of one of my early blogs.  I mentioned that one of our team members spouse had needed surgery since we started on this trip.  There always was a question about his needing to return home early.  Greg left for home on Friday.  We were able to change all of his tickets to accommodate this.  It was good that he could be part of so many things during the early portion of our journey.  We trust and pray a speedy recovery for his spouse.  Remember them both in prayer.

One further change relates to us going to and staying at the SPICE hostel.  Tension has mounted in that area and so our hosts made provision for us to stay in a hotel and use this as our base while we are in the northern part of Orissa.  From here we will go across the state border into West Bengal for services on Sunday and then return here before heading back to Cuttack on Monday.

Changes come in many ways.  Some we weather easily.  Some bring a bit more concern.  But through whatever the change may be the solid point of our experience in our walk and relationship with Jesus Christ.  His love and presence is constant.  We trust him in all we do, wherever we may be. 

Orissa Prayer Conference

For two days we have experienced parts of the Prayer Conference scheduled for these days.  The Rev. Dr. George Lucas was the guest speaker.  Those on our team also had opportunity to speak in several different settings.  In all of the experiences we met wonderful people and made new friends.

 Our daily schedule went something like this for each of these days. 

 8:30 – Breakfast

10:30 – Leave for the Church Center

11:00 – 2:00 – Services with usually three speakers as well as singing and testimonies

2:00 – 3:00 – The mid day meal

3:00 – 6:00 – Time on our own back at our lodging

6:00 – 10:00 – The evening service with a message and then a cultural program

10:00 – 11:00 – The evening meal and then back home to our lodging

 As you can see we have become accustomed to lengthy services and a very different eating schedule from what many of us are accustomed to in the west.  Also interspersed in this schedule are at least two times for morning and afternoon tea breaks.

 As a team we are learning a lot about each other as we live in community through-out this time.  It is exciting.

SPICE Hostel

We traveled to Orissa from Delhi, landing in Bhubaneshwar.  There are hosts were ready at the airport to meet us with beautiful garlands.  Once we had collected our luggage we piled into the two vehicles and headed north to Cuttack.  We are being housed in the Good News Hour building and guest house.  There are nice rooms here, each its own bath.  The two rooms downstairs are air-conditioned and all of the rooms have ceiling fans.

After we had settled in to our rooms and relaxed a little we were picked up to go to the Zion Boys Hostel.  This is a hostel for high school boys that is now in its third year of operation.  We drove to the hostel and were greeted by the some sixty residents of this hostel.

They live here and study in the local schools of Cuttack.  The high school hostel has opened the door for high school education for the students who come up through the other SPICE hostels.  The program in Oirssa previously only had children who were in grade school.  This hostel, and one that is planned for girls as well, provides a place where students who otherwise could not receive the same education in their own home village areas, to receive education.

They each introduced themselves to us and then shared a delightful program including singing and drama.  Following this one of our team told about what it meant for sponsors to be part of this program and how special each one of these students were to the people who are sponsoring them.

Part of the SPICE program is the opportunity for sponsors to give an extra gift for something to be purchased for each student.  We happened to be here just at the time when they had the gifts purchased for this hostel and we were able to call out each name for the student to receive a pair of jeans and a shirt.  The delight of the moment was mutual for all.

We returned to our lodging very satisfied with what we had seen and experienced.  Truly the dollars given through SPICE are dollars that are well spent and give a multiplied return in the lives of people.

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.