An Honest Mistake

I normally won’t follow up a post with a full joke like this, but this one is so apropos to my last post on perception…

A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer… The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.

He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, ‘I’m very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him.’ I noticed the ‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday-School’bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem  on the trunk; naturally…I assumed you had stolen the car.’

What perception are you leaving?

Representing Christ in the World

My wife won this book in a raffle at a conference in the fall, and it ended up in my reading pile for India. I had some good thoughts while reading it, and then…

As I returned from India, I heard Pat Robertson make an unfortunate comment about Haiti. I watched Scott Brown take Ted Kennedy’s seat in Massachusett’s. I saw an article in my hometown newspaper about a lawsuit over God in the mission statement of a school system – and heard the debate while in a local Starbucks that morning.

The opening line to UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…and Why it Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons is “Christianity has an image problem.”

Hard words…apropos words…words that we need to hear and think about if we are going to engage people around us.

I remember right after 9/11 when one of my clients wanted to know what I was going to say to my youth group. He was not a believer, and he is a thinker. He wanted to hear more than the Christian cliches.

I have been asked many times already about Pat Robertson’s comments concerning Haiti, and I’m sure that many of you have engaged in, or avoided, conversations around the watercooler about this.

As believers, especially believers who are on the front lines at work, we need to be ready. We need to be have skin thick enough to handle the charges of hypocrite and judgmental. We need to be ready to engage in discussions with intelligent answers.

Being from Barna, there is a ton of research and graphs and charts and numbers if you are into that. I was more interested in the conclusions. For the most part, the perceptions were no surprise. Antihomosexual, judgmental, and hypocritical topped the list.

The key for this book is David and Gabe’s keen insight into how we as individuals can use our circle of influence to change that. What surprised me is how some of the attitudes become reflected in our actions unknowingly. David relates a very personal story about a homosexual friend he unwittingly offended through his actions (and inactions), and how he had to deal with that.

The other key is that they have Christian leaders in a variety of fields also weigh in on how to interact more appropriately with the culture so that we can change perceptions.

Never do they advocate changing our message, but changing our tact, our attitude, and our actions. It may simply mean listening more and talking less.

So ten years from now, what will society’s perceptions of Christians be? Are you willing to hit the front line and make a positive impact on being part of a positive change?

Learning from India

As we drove to the Bangalore airport, I thought back to when we first arrived in India 3 weeks prior.

We arrived around 4 in the morning, so it was dark as we drove from the airport. I was tired from the flight, but excited at reaching our destination. I was trying to take in as much as I could.

The main road was 2 lanes and relatively smooth. That surprised me as I had been warned of what the roads were like. Not much traffic because of the early hour. I saw a rickshaw “truck” with a load of chickens in cages. Billboards dotted the landscape of our drive – so that didn’t feel too odd.

As we went off the main road, it got bumpier, and I noticed all these “garages” with shop names above them. The final road to our host home was taken very slowly, and the potholes were very evident.

The next day was the assault on the senses as we drove to the train headed for Chennai. I was trying to soak in the variety of people and dress styles, the street vendors, the dogs and cows roaming free on the streets, the piles of garbage, horns beeping, bicycle rickshaws, motorized rickshaws, motorcycles, cars, Hindu temples on street corners with priests outside doing their prayer rituals, churches, schools, kids in uniform going to school, houses right next to “tents” (if you can call them that), Bible verses written on walls, people walking with things on their heads, schools, government buildings, fences everywhere, the smell of diesel, garbage, human waste, flowers, food, spices…I couldn’t process it all.

Now as we drive to the airport, I am able to focus on specific things that I see. An older lady in her sari walking along with her produce carried on her head. The “garage” shops are not so overwhelming and I can pick out the bakeries and produce stores from the auto shops and clothing stores. I know what food is available from the stores and street vendors.

India traffic doesn’t faze me much now. I am tired of the bumpy roads, and vow to never complain about Michigan potholes or drivers (though I am sure that will wear off quickly). The fact that we have highway systems in and of itself is wonderful. I don’t think I could ever successfully drive on an Indian road, and am amazed at the concentration and courage of those who do.

Some of the things I took for granted before – western toilets, toilet paper, hot showers (not bucket showers), regular power, high speed internet connections, coffee houses that have wi-fi.

We complain when we lose our home internet connection for a couple hours, yet dial-up at home is still a luxury for most of the nation. When they lose power, the few lights that are on the inverter stay lit and they go about their business. The fact that TV isn’t on the inverter is only an issue if it’s the end of the cricket match.

I loved the food. There are no instant meals in India, though. Canned chicken? Lamb Helper? Frozen vegetables? I think I put on weight from everything I ate [home now, and actually lost weight]. Josh loved getting different fruits and trying them out. Some he liked, others not so much. Papaya was his least favorite, the little bananas were his favorite.

And along with food – the hospitality! The two actually go together – if you visit an Indian home, be prepared to be served chaia (Indian tea) at a minimum, snacks most likely – samosas, puffs, plantains (fresh, steamed, and fried), and sweets galore. You visit, eat, and pray a blessing on the house as you leave.

One of the things that we found disconcerting though is that if you were invited for a meal, the family that invited you often did not eat with you. The reason is they are focused on making sure your needs are met and that the food stays hot, so they eat later. That is a definite change from what we are used to in the west.

I watched in wonder at buildings being built while I was there – scaffolding built from scratch using bamboo poles, bricks moved from the ground to the second floor – one at a time by a line of people passing them from one person to the next. I didn’t see many big bull-dozers – a line of men with shovels and pick-axes did that work.

Having land is precious. If you have enough to have a covering for your car and a small strip to plant some vegetables and spices, you are excited. If you think yards in California are small, these are even smaller!

I think of the churches and know more of their challenges. Sharing the gospel with Hindus is difficult due to tolerance – Hindus will simply add Jesus to their pantheon. Many who come to Christ come due to miracles of met needs. Discipleship is almost non-existent.

Yet when they leave behind Hinduism and come to Christ, the excitement that you see on their faces. They tell their stories to you willingly. I heard stories of one member of a family healed miraculously at a church, and most of the extended family came to Christ as a result, reminiscent of Cornelius and Lydia’s families in the book of Acts.

I also heard heartbreaking stories of some who came to Christ and have been abandoned by their families. Yet they have hope, and asked for prayer that they might be able to continue to share Christ with them, that they might share in the joy that they now have.

And the pastors – pastors who serve face many challenges – lack of training for themselves, a “me”-culture, extremely low pay – many living below the poverty level. What we take for granted in terms of translations and concordances and illustrations from the internet – they have only a single copy of the Word of God.

Yet they recognize the power of that Word. They know what prayer is and that it puts them in the throne room of God. They know that the songs they sing are essential to worship. They don’t have iPods and David Crowder, but they worship with all of their hearts. Even though I didn’t understand what they were singing, you could see in their faces that they were going before an almighty God in song, trusting that He is using them.

The people in the churches, especially the remote villages, are devoted to Scripture and reading and memorizing it. They don’t put it all together correctly, but they know their way around the Bible better than the rich Americans who own multiple Bibles, concordances, and other tools.

Some churches spurn all jewelry because of its link to Hinduism. Some churches do not celebrate Christmas because it just adds another day to the number of days that Hindus idolize, and they want to be set apart. While we may laugh at it from this side, we have not studied it from their angle and their culture. I have learned that I respect their stance and dedication to it.

I am still processing what we as a western church can learn from these churches. There are no building programs – usually they meet in somebody’s house or tent, Sunday school is critical for their learning. When evangelists travel, people will flock to listen to them speak for hours.  They face persecution for their faith, and Christians are often blamed for a variety of problems just because they are there. And yet they endure. They are dedicated to what God has called them to do with a singular devotion.

AIDS is a problem there that is still hidden. It is being addressed more today than ten years ago, but is still a major stigma. Children who lose their parents to AIDS are cast aside and left for dead. Much of the effort to help those impacted by AIDS comes from the churches. The government provides assistance, but other faiths sweep the issue out the door (literally).

Poverty as we know it in the Americas is rich compared to poverty in India. It is more widespread and more open. While India has their slum areas, many of the slum areas can be right in the middle of a nice neighborhood. While I found the beggars to be more persistent in India, the other thing I noticed is that the poor look for ways to keep busy and/or earn money. Sweeping streets, fishing and selling fish, being a servant in another house. Many of them are proud, and many are happy in the situation they are in.

People in India like to serve. They are know for their service and hospitality. From the time we got on Kingfisher to the various hotels to the hospitality in the homes to people wanting to meet us to the people we got to teach – that description proved true.

We spent four weeks on the road, so I’m ready to go home. It has been a long, rewarding trip. Not looking forward to the hours of plane rides, but wondering what all that I have learned means. How will it impact my prayer life? As God has been introducing me to more and more Indian people at church and work, how is He going to use me? How can I make a difference for the people back in India, the pastors and Christians that I met?

Life changing? Yes.

The Great Adventure 1/6/2010

Packing in earnest after phenomenal travel around Kanataka.

After church on Sunday we packed and headed to Coorg, where we spent the evening in a bungalow/bed-and-breakfast. Not large, but the family who provided the food did a great job. We got some great rest and headed out for the day, which began with clear blue skies and stayed that way throughout our trip.

Coorg is known as the Scotland of India for it’s green hills. First stop – Abbey Falls – a hidden beauty in the midst of coffee and pepper vines. Unbelievable beauty. Josh and I wondered if there were any fish in the stream below…

We then visited some royal tombs close by that showed some amazing architecture. A short drive and we visited the Raja’s seat, which is where the Raja would go and enjoy the beauty of the country. A beautiful park has been built around it with flowers and vistas to enjoy.

Our main stop that we were aiming for was the elephant sanctuary, hoping to get Esther her elephant ride. Our hopes began to fade when they said that they only did them in the morning. We took a boat ride to the other side, where we got to watch the elephants crush coconuts to get the meat out, stand on bamboo stalks to break and strip them, and generally be amazed at the power of these creatures.

These were Asian elephants, so smaller and darker than their African cousins that we see more frequently in zoos and circuses in America.

Unfortunately, the rides are only in the mornings, and we couldn’t convince them to let us foreigners get a ride before returning. I was truly bummed as I knew this one of Esther’s main dreams for this trip.

We caught the water/light show at Brindivan Garden at Mysore that evening, before crashing in a hotel in Mysore.

In the morning, we toured St. Joseph’s Cathedral where a relic of St. Philomena is buried. It is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture.

After that we headed over to Mysore Palace, the primary palace thought of in this city of palaces. Rachel loves to tour palaces, and we wandered around taking pictures of the gates and palace for the fort outside. After surrendering our cameras, we headed inside to tour.

We saw amazing wood paneling and ceiling, paintings, columns, and furniture. My kids were amazed that anybody could need that much space. We saw where foreign dignitaries were received in the open air court, the dance halls, and the paintings that depicted parades and dignitaries arriving.

As we headed out the back, they were offering camel rides – could they – YES – they also had elephant rides! This was actually more like Esther’s dream – relatively random – and she got her wish. It truly completed the trip!

Now to finish packing and begin the journey home (via Dubai).

The Great Adventure 1/3/2010

The train ride from Kerala to Bangalore was better in some ways, more challenging in others. Didn’t see any cockroaches, but we were split up a bit more, and I tried to hang with Esther to keep her company. The main thing – travel in India is difficult and not for the faint of heart!

We brought in 2010 at what is called a Watch Night service. It is a church service that begins at 9pm and goes until 1am or so. We worshipped, preached, and prayed in the new year.

This service was done in multiple languages, and brought the whole church together. They generally do different services on Sunday mornings in Malayalam and English. This one featured music and teaching in Malayalam, Tamil, and Kanada. As each group led worship in their tongue, I thought that this might be what heaven will be like – each nation, people, and language presenting worship to the Lamb that was slain – only then we will have glorified ears that will understand each language. Maybe we will all be singing the same song at the same time, but either way, I was awe-struck.

When they did testimony time, some were in English, some in Malayalam. The pastor of the English service sat behind Abe and I and gave additional commentary on the testimonies – families who left Hinduism behind, a man still rejoicing as he has struggled with cancer for many years, a wife who came from Dallas to get married, and had been married less than a week – these went on for over 1.5 hours and we had to stop to keep the service moving.

I preached from Luke 1 again, encouraging the people to be ready to hear from God and respond as Mary did. I finished up at 11:55pm so that we could pray and worship in 2010. Abe preached after that, and we celebrated communion together.

We spent New Year’s Day at a market street in Bangalore, shopping for churidars and scarves and other trinkets. Saturday only a few of us ventured out, and Esther and I hit some bookstores. Being cognizant of the weight, we got some really good deals.

Saturday night was another service for Abe and I to preach at. This one was in English. Only a few attended, but we had a great time of worship and sharing in the Word of God. I shared my heart on Ministry in the Marketplace (I will place the text of the message at the end here) and my testimony.

Abe and I got to talk with several church members who really appreciate what we do. They are working and struggle with sharing their faith at times. They shared the variety of ministries that they work with, including village outreach. One man is a missionary to China through his wife who works in IT, and they have been able to share Christ in nine closed countries over the past year.

Sunday morning was the last of our preaching duties at the English speaking service. My kids appreciate those much more than the Malayalam ones. One of the highlights of this service was a woman shared a testimony about how she impacted another woman at work. She works in Dubai while her family is in Bangalore, and she keeps a Bible on her desk, referring to it when she struggles. One of her co-workers wanted to buy the Bible just for the wisdom in it, but she shared that you need the relationship with God to understand it. It was a perfect illustration of what I had spoken on the previous night.

The Great Adventure 12/30/2009

Monday was the shortest trip we took all week – a mere two hour drive to Kottyam and the Meenachil River for a houseboat ride in Lake Vembabamad.

The boats look like an extra long, extra wide longboat that they fish with. It looks like a simple grass hut on top with a porch, but we were very surprised. It is very nicely built out with hardwood – an open porch/living room (with TV), a hallway, two bedrooms with adjacent baths (and western toilets), and a kitchen in the back.

Some of the other ones we saw were double-deckers with additional porches and rooms on a second floor, satellites, and air conditioning.

The do’s/don’ts listed on the boat mentioned that you had to be in your room by 10pm and could not come out until 6am. We figured that considering the bugs, that was probably a smart idea.

We only rented for a four hour afternoon tour. The driver said that they are often rented for two or three days at a time, and we all decided that it would be well worth it. They dock the boat each night for sleeping and again for each meal.

The meal was a great fresh fish with samba, vegetable salads, and ?? for dessert. We even had chaia (tea) before we got back.

We were originally scheduled to do this on Tuesday, but because of the state-wide strike, we would never be able to get there. We prayed that a boat would be available. Our bus driver knew the business we stopped at, and though the owner does not normally do short boat trips like this, his next reservation was not until that evening for several days, and he agreed to take us. God was so good to us!

We saw a variety of life around the lake as we traveled. There were a variety of fishermen still out – most in their fishing canoes, though I did see several using cane poles from the shore. We saw some diving and coming up and tossing some things aside and some into their boat. Another was bobbing up and down with a large stick. Not sure if he was setting traps or what he was doing.

We saw people bathing and washing clothes in the river. We saw small huts and larger houses. Some people simply watched us from shore, others went about their business, unaware of being watched.

There were speed boats, jet skis, and more houseboats out on this lake. Further out in the lake we saw some of the resorts that are around the lake – and they look very nice – swimming pools and all.

We saw a kingfisher, ducks, and seagulls. While docked, a pack of wild dogs sat by the boat hoping to get some scraps. We saw tons of green along the shores – banana trees and coconut palms and more.

Lots of photographs to load when I get to Bangalore and get a good connection – though Rachel and Joshua kept stealing my good camera (I think Rachel will follow me in photography).

We relaxed on comfortable sofas and chairs, chatted, laughed, did Sudoku puzzles, and enjoyed an amazingly beautiful afternoon.

Tuesday was strike day. As we got up – it was quiet. No buses, no motorized rickshaws, no trucks, no honking. There were demonstrations around Kerala, and you did not want to risk being caught in them, or having rocks thrown at you. There were some walkers and bicyclers, and a few motorcycles (you could turn around and get away quickly), and a few brave automobiles, but very few.

We spent the day repacking while the kids did school lessons. I managed to start and finish Ravi Zacharias’ autobiography East to West – something that was made more vivid having been in some of the areas he talked about in India – his descriptions were more alive than if I had never visited.

Today we will head for Chapter 4 of our trip – a long train ride this afternoon for Bangalore will set us up for New Years, three services for Abe and I to preach, and Mysore and an elephant preserve.

The Great Adventure 12/27/2009

Christmas morning in Kerala was quiet in a sense, and just as crazy as any other Christmas morning in another.

We arose and had breakfast. Abe and I did devotions on the cool front porch and started in on a theological discussion of Christ preaching to the dead in 1 Peter and Ephesians. As the kids ran around, we noticed a wasp nest forming on the porch. One hard swat and three wasps were gone. Within minutes, a line of ants had formed and were taking two of the wasps off to their nests. It was fascination as only we could find. The kids watched for a couple minutes, and then asked us to come in to open presents.

We read Luke 2 together and sang some Christmas carols.

We had only brought a couple small gifts for the kids, yet the excitement of opening those was just the same as if they had a huge pile sitting at home on a typical Christmas morning. The new DS games were quickly opened, and the Zhu-Zhu pets were a hit with the kids and the parents – we laughed at Jonathan laughing at them but running from them if they came close to him.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing. We were exhausted from some of our travels, and the kids played as the adults chatted and read. There was no huge traditional turkey dinner. We had a fish that they didn’t know the name of, but was very good (the bones in it made it a challenge to eat, but well worth the effort!).

On the 26th, we headed out to Veega Land – supposedly the Indian DisneyWorld. It was much smaller with lots of water rides. They had the traditional bumper cars, spinning rides, and roller coasters as well. One of the amazing things was that most of it was done in bare feet – very much different from what we are used to in the United States.

It was interesting to see women in Burkhas on the water rides. Many of the attractions had separate areas for women and children (like bumper cars, the wave pool, and the waterfall attraction). We still saw women and children on the men’s one, and asked why – those are allowed for family as a whole.

Sunday morning was spent at church. Because many people in India walk a distance for church, they make it worthwhile. Our kids were in for a 3-hour Malayam-speaking Pentecostal experience!

I preached on Luke 1 and the difference between Zechariah and Mary’s responses to the angel Gabriel. Abe preached Psalm 84:5-7 talking about walking through the Valley of Weeping.

The kids are still unsure as to what to think. Not understanding much of the service makes a long service even longer. Esther had Blessy sitting next to her helping translate, and I was up front with Abe. Josh was on the men’s side pretty much by himself. As they grow, I hope they will learn to appreciate how to worship even when you don’t understand what is being spoken. I have had a lot of practice, and enjoy the music that I have heard in Tamil and Malayalam throughout this trip. Watching the faces of believers as they focus on the throne of God is a thrill in and of itself!

After lunch at the pastor’s house, relaxation for most, but Abe and Blessy headed out with her parents to visit some elderly relatives.

Tomorrow sends us on a boat ride in Kerala. Tuesday will be spent packing as it is a state-wide strike against rising prices (Kerala is a communist state). That could be interesting.

The Great Adventure MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas from India! This will post while it is still Christmas Eve for many of you, but it is Christmas morning here.

I have deleted many e-mails over the past couple weeks advertising last chance sales, overnight shipping, order now to get by Christmas, and everything else. The rush that we normally feel is not here.

It is definitely different – no Norman Rockwell scenes. Even some of the traditional Christmas carols seem odd – Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells, etc.

There is no snow. We have seen only a few Christmas trees. We are always surprised when we hear Christmas carols. There is no rush for purchasing last minute gifts or large Christmas displays in the stores (most of the stores are not big enough for more than a few people anyways).

Earlier this week a group from the Indian Salvation Army came caroling by the house. The songs they sang were in Malayalam, but they had a lot of excitement with drums and tambourines. The Santa Claus mask was a bit disturbing, but we enjoyed the time.

Those who do decorate their houses do so with stars like you see in the picture. They are lit and very beautiful. You will see some in our house next year for Christmas.

Many of the best lighting decorations are actually on the Hindu temples…

Many of the Christian denominations here in India do not celebrate Christmas or Easter. For Easter – they argue that we celebrate Christ’s resurrection every day. For both holidays, it is because of the proliferation of celebrations and holy days that are practiced by the Hindu and Islamic faiths here in India. They want to set themselves apart.

But that meant no Christmas Eve service. We read Luke 1 with Blessy’s parent’s and worshipped together, and will read Luke 2 today.

On this day we stop and reflect on Immanuel – God with us. He came as a man to give us the Good News of salvation and offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for us on the cross – rising from the dead to give us new life!

We miss being home with our friends and family, and that has us homesick for the traditional Christmas, but we rejoice with you in spirit!

From both the Roden and Philip families to you – Merry Christmas!

The Great Adventure 12/24/2009

A followup of what I commented on in terms of seeing more Christian influence than I expected. We met Commander Matthew, who works with an independent church planting group in northern India (he is based in Delhi), today in a God-ordained encounter. We were visting another of Blessy’s relatives, and he happened to come visiting from Delhi.

The southern part of India where we are spending our time has only 25% of the people (remember, this is out of over 2 billion). This area also has 80% of the Christians.

As you go further north, the Hindu stronghold is much greater. This group has mapped out many of the Hindu holy spots and pilgrimage sites, and many of them are centered in the area of greater population, cutting off the north from the south. This is also the area used to control the nation politically, economically, and more. This area has been used for successful control of India throughout the centuries, including British control when other countries failed to take it by starting in the south.

As you pray, pray for those pastors and Christians who are working in the north. Pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts and minds to receive Him. Pray for training for those who want to go – as training is one of the greatest needs throughout this nation.

The Great Adventure 12/23/2009

The trip to Kerala was a long 12+ hours. We were in what is known as a 2AC car, which means that you have 2 levels of beds – basically bunk beds – for the cars. The girls didn’t enjoy sharing it with the bugs on the train – Indian cockroaches. We got into Kerala about 8:30am, and it was a short drive to Blessy’s parents, where we crashed for a few hours.

Life is so much slower in India. Chennai is much more western, so there is a picture of the rush that we are used to in the states. Even there you find that sense of what is called IST – Indian Stretchable Time – which means whenever they make it. If you want to leave at 8, make sure you tell them 7:30. The traffic will also slow you down, and I have had to learn to be there when I get there.

Kerala has been much more relaxed. Part of that may be that the main ministry of teaching is done, and the agenda is much more open. Part of it is that the traffic around the house here is nothing like what we saw in Chennai.

In both places, tea time is important. It’s time to stop, relax, have a small snack, and enjoy time with each other. Anytime you visit somebody else, it is tea time, and guaranteed that you will have some kind of additional food. Indians are very hospitable!

On Sunday afternoon the pastor came and visited. There was no agenda but to meet the visitors. Of course tea was served. We got a chance to hear about the church, the pastor, and we shared about our travels and ministry in Chennai.

Before dinner everybody got together and played Skip-Bo. The kids are adapting to limited TV. We have had cable in most places, so Nickelodeon and Disney are the top two channels. Many of the same shows with a few twists, and some of the commercials are pretty funny. They are spending more time playing games with each other, including chess with the new wooden travel chess set that Josh bought.

Monday morning a few of us went for a walk with Papa, Blessy’s dad (you call people by terms of respect, often not knowing their name, even for family). We walked through a rice paddy and a small village, where Papa haggled for some fresh fish that were delivered to his house for lunch. We saw the fisherman casting the nets in the rice paddies.

The fields are flooded and some “hyper-seeding” done. As the water recedes, the patches of rice will be spread throughout the boxes. The land here is extremely fertile.

We saw a “duck herder” taking his ducks out for a swim and feed in the canal we walked along between the rice fields (reminded me of my sister Kim and her pet Easter ducks). We also saw the rubber tree collections, including one of the harvesters. It is almost like maple syrup collecting. The harvester was going around and removing the sap that had hardened so that more sap could be collected.

Monday afternoon we visited with appachan, Blessy’s grandfather. He is 82, a retired English teacher, and a great storyteller. You could see the excitement in his eyes to have visitors in his house. He shared some of his travels and life with us.

Tuesday we headed out for a very long day. We were headed to Cape Comerin – the southern tip of India where the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea all come together.

First we went to Trivandrum to Papa’s sister’s house to visit (and eat). They had lived in Kuwait with Blessy, and her daughter, also named Blessy, is only two months younger than her. We then stopped to see Abe’s aunt who lost her husband just before we continued on our trip.

The drive took longer than we expected, but I thought about the fact that like life, we are on a journey, and should not lose our focus of what is happening around us as we travel to where we are going. Some of the side trips of our journey can teach us if we open our eyes.

There is no such thing as freeways as we know them in the states. It is mostly two lane roads (as in rural towns in the states), and villages all along. In the larger cities you will see a fruit or tea stand right next to a stall for cell phones – western dress alongside traditional garb.

Kids getting out of school joking with friends, a dirt futbol pitch with kids playing, beggars, large houses and grass huts, Hindu temples next to Christian churches, signs for Linux training, walls with Bible verses.

To be honest, I have been amazed at the number of churches and places advertising Jesus. I did not expect to see them here. In talking with Mano, Hindu is a religion, but it is also the term the British assigned to any Indian who was not a Christian or a Muslim. There are fewer “practicing” Hindus than you would expect (though remembering that there are 2 billion people in India, so it is still a large number).

Arriving at the Cape was interesting. A large number of cars, and as you look down the hill to the beach and see the trash all around. The people were foreigners, Indians, and Hindu devotees.

It is very amazing to see the waves and tides all coming together in from different way. Of course this is a huge tourist place, a very large market place with shells and other knick-knacks, Hindu temples, and a Catholic church.

I have discovered that the beggars are persistent. Unlike what I am used to, they keep pestering you. On the train, the girls opened the windows before our departure, and a couple of women began banging on the window, even after we closed the curtain again. You try very hard not to make eye contact as you are walking along. If you do give them a couple of coins, suddenly you have several around you. And my family sticks out like a sore thumb, so we seem to attract them. It is heart-breaking.

And so the adventure continues…