Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday

Greetings From India Tuesday 27 January 2009

Yesterday was really hot, but today was a bit cooler. We had a larger group around the breakfast table this morning because John & Varinder ate with us. They had to leave today & go to Ongole where another school is going to be built.

Before he left, Varinder worked on coordinating the logistics of getting all of us to the airport in Bangalore to catch our respective flights next week—Sharla & Kevin leave early Monday morning, Joy leaves Monday afternoon, & I leave in the wee hours Tuesday morning. I think we’ll all be traveling to Bangalore on Sunday.

This morning Surya, Paul & Kevin took several children to Cuddapah for tests at the hospital & also purchased more medical supplies for the children at the school. Kotesh, Spandana, Sharla & Joy held a medical clinic in a nearby village, & I stayed back in the clinic office working on the medical record database for the students. It was rather challenging trying to read Dr. Naik’s handwriting, but by 6 pm this evening it was getting easier. We’re hoping to utilize this database when we dispense the meds purchased in Cuddapah today & it will make it easy to sort for different problems that need follow-up measures.

Early this afternoon a man came to show us some hand crocheted items he had for sale. He had bedspreads, tablecloths, doilies, and placemats all handmade at very reasonable prices. We all bought some of his wares to bring home with us.

This evening I spoke for the meeting at another church—“Stuck in the Mud.”

Wednesday ~ 28 January 2009

This morning at breakfast we met Mel & Susan, a couple from Homer, Alaska who are volunteers with Maranatha working here at the school. They went back to the US in November for a couple of months & now are back at the school for another year. They have to leave India every six months because they are here on tourist visas. During their time back in the States, they purchased a house in Battle Creek (near Susan’s parents) & moved their things down from Alaska. She is teaching the older students Music Theory & Mel manages the non-educational aspects of the school—maintenance, supervises new construction, etc.

This morning we had a special treat. Dr. Naik, the doctor who helped us with the children’s medical issues at the school, invited us to come to his little clinic & 15 bed hospital in a nearby town. He proudly showed us around his little facility. He has a lady who assists him & a pharmacy & pharmacist on site. He showed us a video (on his digital camera) of a procedure he did on a little boy who had a stone the size of a kidney bean in the end of his penis. The procedure was done without any anesthetic!

After we toured his hospital/clinic, he led the way for us to walk to his house (maybe 2 blocks US distance) where we met his in-laws & they treated us to some soda & some sweets. He showed us his wedding photo album—his wife was at Cuddapah in school so we didn’t get a chance to meet her. He was so delighted to have us come to his home.

I came back to the school to work on the computer & the medical team went out to a village. When the medical team finished, Kotesh called the driver at the school, Chitty, & had him take me to town so I could join the rest of the ladies for shopping. Spandana translated for us & negotiated the best price for us. I bought 1 new sari & 2 new Punjabis. We also bought sari pins & Henna for hand & foot designs. We stopped at the tailor, too. When we got back to the school & went back to the clinic to work on the computer.

I went back to the house for a fast supper, & then we headed out to the evening meeting. I gave the “Wedding Garment” message again & Joy did the music. Before the service the pastor was leading the singing with his tambourine & I decided to play the drum—no mallet, just with my hands! I did pretty good—by watching the pastor I was able to stop on the same beat he did!!!

When we arrived back at the house, Spandana came over to decorate out hands and/or feet with henna. I was first & it took a long time. After she finished with me, I fell asleep on the couch in the living room to give it a chance to dry before going to bed. It was about 1 am when I finally went to bed.

Thursday ~ 29 January 2009

This morning I was REALLY tired!!! When the henna stuff flaked off, my hands & arms looked so weird!!! I’ve never had this done before & this will be the last time!!!!!! As I was working on the computer today (instead of going to the village), I kept thinking that my hands were dirty.

I finally finished entering all the doctor’s orders—except for about 10 charts I had questions on. Then I started entering the names of all the students, so we could check our list against the student roster & maybe figure out who still needs to be seen at the school. I took a break for supper, & then I stayed at the house all evening still working on the computer. Kevin had the message in the village & I finished getting all the names entered about 10 pm.

No dilly-dallying about going to bed tonight—I’m pooped!!!


Blessings from INDIA…where the people are beautiful, the children are irresistible, & the GOD of Heaven is blessing us richly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!