The Golden Triangle

My Parents came to visit me finally. I have missed them and everything from America very much. I went to Delhi by bus the day before their flight came in. I arrived at the airport dressed in a “salwar kameez” a typical Indian outfit waiting impatiently for their arrival. While I was waiting for them to come out of customs I kept seeing all these foreigners except my parents I was getting a little stir crazy. I finally saw them coming down and I started crying I could not stop I was so happy to see them. My mom did not even recognize me at first she had to do a double take. Everyone around us must have thought we were a silly sight but it did not bother me one bit I was to ecstatic to see my family! The following day I introduced my parents to a typical north Indian breakfast: curd (yogurt) and aloo paratha (potato between flat bread). Not sure if they would want to eat this every morning like Indians do but they seemed to like it. We found our selves an auto rickshaw that took us around for two days to see the forts, monuments, gardens, temples, museums and had an amazing time. Delhi is very rich in history and culture its an experience you don’t want to miss. We over paid our rickshaw driver so he would not leave us. He kept taking us to his “uncles” shops, places we did not want to go but had to since he was driving us that’s the only downside to Indian drivers. We than rented a vehicle to take us to Agra and than Jaipur the other two cities that constitute the golden triangle. We saw the Taj Mahal at sunset on the beach where I got to ride a camal, a very memorable ride. Following day we visited the Taj Mahal for 4 hours it was the most majestic thing I have ever seen, all three of us were mesmerized and did not want to leave. So we paid a tour guide to tell us about the history and it’s a tragic love story with death and imprisonment. We continued on our journey to Jaipur the “pink city.” We rode an elephant saw the red fort and had a tour guide us through the city. And than we took a flight to shimla to see where I have been staying for my time in india. They saw the hospital and met the staff, and mom and I went on a horse ride up a mountain which was so cool. Over all we had a great trip and I was so thankful that my parents came. They took in lots of Indian food, culture, history, lifestyle for a short trip. Its something that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Surat and Nuzvid, India

I decided I have done all that I can for shimla Sanitarium and Hospital and made arrangements to shift to Gifford Memorial Hospital in Nuzvid which is located in Andhra Pradesh in the south of India. Darlene an American nurse has been working there since September, so we were both happy to have some company. She was in Surat at the moment visiting, which is in Gujarat state on the west coast, one of the wealthiest states in india. We have an SDA hospital there that is amazing. I have never seen a hospital in india like this it could rival the hospitals in America. Dr Jeremiah has turned this hospital into the best in Gujarat. I flew to meet Darlene and Candy another American volunteer working at the South Asia division offices for SDA. Candy has been working in india for the past 4 years so she had everything down pat. We shopped, worked in the hospital, and met amazing people for about a week and than had to say goodbye and go down to Nuzvid. The train was 16 hr ride but Darlene and I kept ourselves entertained with our different stories of india. We finally reached my new destination for my last 2 months in india.
Nuzvid is a large size village that is famous all over india and you will never guess for what. MANGOS!! They export mangos from nuzvid groves to all over india as well as outside the country. I have another question for you do you know how many types of mangos there are? Well technically I don’t know how many either, but I thought there was only one type until I came here and found out there so many varieties its overwhelming. Darlene’s favorite are sucking mangos, you just squish the mango and make a hole at the top and suck out the juice. My favorite are the kind you cut, I think its more tasty this way. Its about an hour drive from Vijayawada a big town so I can buy myself soy milk, one of the things I have been craving the most since arriving in india. The temperature is less than to be desired. Now if you remember in Shimla it was freezing I had to sleep with two blankets and a hot water bag at my feet every night. It’s the opposite temperature here. It varies between 98-115 degrees every day with humidity. Im staying in my own room across the hall from Darlene thankfully with an air conditioner . The hospital has a huge campus and there building more as we speak. The hospital has 150 beds but there usually not even close to being filled. The common things they see in the ER is malaria, snake bites, and suicide. When I arrived I got the most amazing welcome. During morning worship they introduced me to everyone and gifted me with a garland of flowers. I don’t work on the floors like I did before im doing more in-servicing with Darlene. We find ways to make the departments run smother, teach classes at the nursing school, teach the nurses better techniques, give the drills to keep there minds sharp, as well as a lot of things for the church. I help teach the teen Sabbath school and help out with all of there activities, and put together Sabbath school and AY. For a whole week Darlene and I put together VBS without any notice. I showed up to help and the pastor said no one else came to help you can make the program and teach. So I was very busy and hectic for that week with 50 kids it was a blessing we had so much fun. Candy came to visit for a while she works at the division and runs Advientist Child India, where she finds sponsors for indian kids to pay for there Adventist education. We took a day trip and visited a couple of the schools she has sponsored kids and than went to machilipatnam beach on the sea of Bengal. The just drive the auto rickshaws right up on the beach. And they have tons of fishing boats out. And no one wears bathing suits like at home they just wear there normal everyday clothes into the water. But than again no one knows how to swim they just jump around in it. That was a wild day jam packed with a very hot day and a car with no air conditioning. Another Sabbath we went to Platinum Jubilee for an SDA church. Its always something new here in Nuzvid it’s a nice change.

Bobbili summer camp

Just got back from Bobbili, India where a Blind school funded by Mcneilus via asian aid. During the summer they hold a summer camp for 1 ½ months for the SDA orphans that want to spend their holiday there. Darlene and I were asked to come help out for the weekend. We took the train on Wednesday to visakhapatnam the best beach in Andhra Pradesh. We spent that night and the next day site seeing and shopping. We toured an Indian submarine, walked up and down the beach for hours. And you wont guess everyone wears their regular clothes i.e. sari, pants. Its funny to see this because im use to American beaches where everyone is so scantily clothed, but I have to remember this is India. We went shopping in the bazaar and ate the most amazing “Gobi Manchurian.” The principle Paulson came to pick us up with his family and we went to a park during sunset that overlooks visakhapatnam where u can see the beach with the bay, the city lights, and the cliffs, it was beautiful. The following day we met the kids and the other staff which were all so welcoming. We did health talks, taught them the electric slide and the macarena (which was hilarious to see them dancing), did crafts (sari embroidery), Darlene spoke for Vespers and Divine Service, I taught the kids a skit for Sabbath school, played a bible quiz for AY with them, and just hanged out. The weekend was very busy but it was a great time. On Sunday we climbed the mountain right behind the school and it was a crazy hike with thorns, I have never climbed something so steep and crawling over rocks with flip flops before but the kids were sweet and helped me out. We toured the Sunrise orphanage were some of the kids at the camp are from as well as saw the new property they bought funded by asian aid to build a bigger orphanage for the kids. This weekend was a blessing to me in so many ways. Seeing these kids that have had such a terrible life still be so joyous and give praise to the Lord. A few of the blind students were there as well and to see what they are capable of is amazing.