Last two days

Yesterday (Saturday) we had a quiet day really. Poor Simons turn for Bangalore Belly he had been up all night. Went to the pharmacy and got some medication. We went out for lunch to a western restaurant with a young lady called Gifty. She lived in Norwich for a year and became good friends with Bishop Malcolm and his wife Jennifer. I had burger and chips and Simon just had a bowl of soup.

In the evening we went to the youth group Simon preached on the prodigal son and I gave a testimonial. Pastor Raj seemed disappointed with the numbers. He was very impressed with Simons sermon and asked if he could talk on it on Sunday. We had soup and bread before going to bed.

Sunday we had an early start had to be in church by 9am. The services here last longer than at home. Around two to three hours. We were thanked for coming but replied truthfully we feel we got more out of it than we put in. We were given garlands which are dry so hope to get through customs!

After the service we took pastor Raj pastor Gladson and the whole family for lunch. It is incredibly cheep to eat here but wages are much smaller! Gifty was telling us she earns about ten thousand a year as an IT consultant!

Packing this afternoon and taking things easy up early to fly home. We have taken a picture of the girls living upstairs in the home. We have both enjoyed being here but are now looking forward to going home!

Two in one

Sorry fallen a bit behind! On Thursday we did some more visiting amd in the evening there was a special service. Some new pastors were inducted for some of the churches surrounding TVN. I have really loved it. Although the people are so poor they are so happy to share I don't think that there was one house where we were not offered anything. And after the service they cooked food for the whole community. I am sure they don't eat meat as often as they give it to us!

Simon didn't have a good night spent a large portion of the night on the toilet and had to take some medicine. We left at 0600 and three people from the churches came with us. It was a long drive about 3 hours and very hot pastor Gladson turned the air conditioning on thankfully but I actually had to ask to turn down. Thankfully Simons stomach behaved it's self but he decided not to eat for most of the day. Imagine my and Simons surprise when we picked up another man in Chennae a student there but from one of the villages.

First we went to st Thomas Mount http://www.stthomasmount.org/. This is where St Thomas preached and was ultimately killed. There was a large church there one of only 3 in the world with relics pertaining to be from one of the apostles. We also visited s cave where tradition says St Thomas lived before he was caught.

We then went to the beach the second largest in the world! One idiot decided to go for a swim much to the amusement of everyone else. Well it was 42 degrees Celsius! We then drove back to Bangalore dropping of yhr villagers on the way. It took another 6 hours. Has some lovely soup and bed.

We had a quiet morning had a late breakfast then went to a Catholic shop where Simon bought some clerical shirts. Funnily enough they didn't sell womens sizes so couldn't buy for Heather :-(. Only £5 a shirt is £50 at home. Then went for a lovely Chinese meal!

More visits

This morning we had breakfast had something called a  which is pastry deep fried it goes into a ball but does deflate! It is eaten of course with curry.

We then went on some more visits. The first was to a widow and her daughter the daughter has a 4 month old baby the father of the baby was at work. We were asked to pray for the father as has not received Christ and is having trouble at work with his manager. We also prayed for the baby. Here was a really cool cradle see pictures! The God has helped her through her life. Her neighbour came over for prayer not a Christian but asked for prayer. Married 3 years but not pregnant her in-laws with whom she lives are horrible to her and she has considered suicide. Simon gave her a holding cross and we prayed.

Then on to a refugee camp for people from Sri Lanka we visited an elderly widow who escaped in 1995 after her husband was murdered he was a civilian and killed just for being a Tamil. Then a family who have just started a new business, a small shop and restaurant which is going well they have a small baby so we prayed for the business and for the baby. Evidently many Tamils from Sri Lanka have had trouble accessing services such as education and health care as left without papers. The Indian government is considering giving them citizenship.

 

Then we went for lunch a famous curry house which if I am honest was a little warm! Even Pastor Gladson struggled a little. Had a few hours sleep.

 

In the evening we went to a visit to a village we visited some more people who are church members but we did not stay long in each house. Then we attended a cell group quite amazed how many people can get into one small house and the service was really nice. Afterwards we were invited into one of the church members houses for some food it was really nice but I struggle with the portions and am scared I may come home the size of a house! We feel a little guilty as am sure they cannot afford to feed us the way they do. Then home to air conditioned hotel!

New church

This morning we went to a plot of land where a new church is planned in a new village to be called Sammanthanoor meaning relationship village. They have bought the land but still need to raise £6000 for the building. There is no church near by and a great need for one. Wr spoke to a lady living next to it who is a christian she said really wants it to open soon. Her neighbour came over and asked for prayer although not a christian. She had a bore hole drilled but has dried up it has not rained here for 4 years!

We went for lunch and a walk around the town very packed as a public holiday Republic day where the British left no one stoned us or anything so that was good! Paster Raj bought me and Simon a shirt which we will probably wear on Sunday.

We had a rest then visited a church Simon visited 3 years ago when it was commissioned where we prayed. We saw a frog but were amazed when started to climb the wall! Then a visit to a village called Devanampet  it is a very poor with 35 disabled. The conditions were quite shocking. One family out of 3 all were disabled one deaf one deformed legs and one with a learning disability. The parents were too closely related. But the thirst for God was palpable and many witnessed their faith. The children were very excited to see us one said how nice my skin felt very soft. I was showing them how I can bend my fingers and another said it was like a white snake! I cannot express how wonderful it was meeting with these people. Pastor Gladson was telling me how after holding a service in the village the priest from the Hindu temple offered 3000 rupees if promised not to do another. They offered 5000 if they promised to close the temple!

Then back to TVN supper and bed oh and to write a blog!

Saturday 24th

Saturday 24 Jan                 TRAVEL TO TVM                                BY CAR

We left finally about 6.15 and hit the traffic.  It actually took us over 6 hours.  Part of the journey required us to drive along partially constructed roadways.  No baracades, just every now and then huge crators big enough to swallow the 4 by 4 whole or at least break and axel.  On the way we stopped at a macdonalds ! for breakfast. The only good thing about it was the coffee.

Finally to TVM  the hotel, well as good as usual.  At least air conditioning.  Dirty sheets, no loo paper and of course just a bucket for a shower.  But at least a western toilet.

A bit of lunch and a rest then for the evening meeting

CHURCH MEETING MANGALAM VILLAGE  The usuall format Simon  preached and Taffy gave a testamony. 

After the meeting we prayed with many people.  We also had to pray for 2 bottles of oil and one of water, for different people to take home, a bit like peter praying over hankachieves!

Sunday 25 Jan     

A reasonable night once we had killed all the Mossies. Pastor Raj came down last night by overnight train.

 

8:00AM                 SUNDAY SERVICE                             KARIYANDAL CHURCH

Strangely we went for breakfast opposite the church and got there about 8.30, we could hear it happening.  Once in the service we did not get to do our bit till 10am.  Before this Simon was asked to dedicate a baby Joyce Christina.  But then  bless a Kid goat that had been given as a 1st fruits offering.  It passed through our brain were we going to sacrifice it?  But no Simon had to hold it, and very cuddly it was and receive it abit like you do the cash collection except it riggled.  Then the family take it back to look after it till the church call for it or the need the money.  We then went  to ATHIYANDAL CHURCH  the service started at 10am we did not get there till about 12.  When the service finished about 1pm we then had lunch in the church.  Then back to the hotel for a rest before we go out to a service at  Kil Nathur Church, the newest one.  Funded i think by Kings Lynn Baptist Church.

Party time

During the day whilst discussing about the water in the Dam we discovered that the water is shared between Mysore and Bangalore, and they only have water on alternate days and that only for 4 hours a day.  So each house has large storage tanks underground, but chores etc have to be done around water supply, so washing by a bucket figures!

 

Thursday 22 Jan               

A slow morning.  Taffy has been up all night with an upset stomach. Which continued through the day.  Simon  spent the morning trying to grapple with his Church Annual report– and eventually gave up  .Both us for different reasons feel completely washed out.

This afternoon we went to a Christian book shop trying to buy a bible in Bangla for John. John is a man from my church who has converted from Muslim and has had death threats from his family. Then we went to a shopping mal and went to starbux for a proper big coffee.  Whilst there we were invited to a coffee tasting, a bit like wine but with coffee very interesting.  Unfortunately it also included eating chocolate cake which was to enhance the experience. 

 

 

7:30PM                 CELL GROUP                       ZGBC AREA – 3 Saddly taffy still ill so did not come.  Pastor Gladson and Simon went on the back of the motor bike an exilerating experience he said just undiscribbable the roads are so bad and so busy but we missed everything just!!  Spoke again about Gods love and the need to be filled with the Holy spirit linked to a battery needing to be plugged in to charge and switched on.

Friday 23 Jan

Today is Alyssa birthday she is 2 today, she is the youngest daughter of pastor Gladson and his wife.  Taffy was still under the weather.  As it happened although we fasted me intentionally, Taffy due to circumstances the prayer meeting was rescheduled.  But the house has been filled all day with relatives, and others arriving for the wedding.  Including Simon there were 3 visiting pastors, so 5 for one service even more than sprowston!!

Simon went to the wedding with out Taffy as he could not face being far from a loo.  In many ways the service was similar to ones we are familiar with in the uk.  Instead of exchanging rings a pendent is given by the husband to the wife, firstly being blessed by the pastor – that was Simons job today.  Taffy was releaved not to go when he heard the sermon was over an hour long and none of it in English.

After the wedding we are both going to the reception.  Tomorrow we leave very early for Thiruvannmalai TVM for short.  We leave  at about midnight your time.  We don’t know if we will have access to internet so we might go quiet for a bit.  So don’t worry we might still be alive

Mysore

Hi I thought you had probably had enough of me wittering on so Simonu has kindly offered to do for yesterday we were back late so didn't have time to do. Then I was up most of the night with diarrhoea and vomiting feeling a bit better now and have managed to eat and drink! So thid is Simons Blog.

We left after 7. So Sumi could come with us.  Joanna leaves for school on the bus at 7am.  We drove to Mysore about 3 hours by car.  Firstly we  visited the church of st Philomena  built in the Gothic style.   Supported by the king

Then visited the zoo and had a cart to drive us around.  I was not able to see much but could see the elephants who were trumpeting and even though i could not see the lions they were making their presence known.  The zoo gives this feeling of being in the country, but all around you hear the noises of a busy city.  After the zoo we went to the palace, an amazing extravagant place.  Doors covered in silver and ivory.   Generally a palace of great wealth. Whilst there we had an elephant ride, quite a strange sensation.  After the ride you give a donation to the elephant that takes it in their trunk, then the trunk is laid on your head as a blessing!

Then we went to the Dam. KRS Krishna Raja Sagar Dam also with Brindhavan garden

At sunset the fountains became dancing fountains with light and music very much like Dubai.  Then back to Bangalore.