Day 11

India Time: 10:14 PM (July 5, 2013)

CST: 11:44 AM (July 5, 2013)

Just another day in paradise.  :-) 

Today started with our last city jump as we made our way to Tenali.  We got a great surprise this morning when we were loading up the car and saw Brother Santosh!!  Thanks for praying for him!  One of the craziest things we saw on the way here was a big monkey running across the top railing of a bridge!  You couldn't even tell it was a monkey at first!  We weren't quite as rambunctious in the car today, probably more because the bumpy roads had us jostling around enough.  :-)

All of the hallways at our hotel are around the outside, so the walkways are open.  As we were getting ready for lunch we were looking over the balcony and heard a "Hello!"  We looked up and Brothers Solomon and Prem Kumar were leaning over their balcony waving at us!  Brother Nathan invited them down to eat, and for the first time all trip, they actually joined us!  We were so excited!!!  (We're considered guests, even to them, so in general it's not considered polite and correct for them to eat with us--This was a BIG deal!!)  Just after we ordered our food, Brother Solomon's phone rang and Brother Santosh's back was acting up again so they had to leave to take him to the doctor.  Pastor Jyothi later told us that he has kidney stones.  Again, prayers on his behalf would be greatly appreciated!  We love our gang so much and hate to see them suffer when they are doing so much for us!

The afternoon naps were interrupted by semi-frantic "I need your passports!"  Brother David explained that the police needed to see them and photocopy them.  (Standard procedure).  Then he came back with some forms.  We got everything filled out and haven't been asked any other questions.  Pastor Jyothi assured us that it was just a formality.

Brother Nathan learned how to do yoga this afternoon and I'm not so sure that he'll be doing it again.  ;-)  We again had the dinner of champions (ice cream and maaza) before heading out to the Tenali ST Colony for the evening.  (I'd explain ST, but I'm not sure I'll get it right--It has to do with the "tribal" grouping of the area.  Colonies are offshoots of villages and ST Colonies are generally a little lower on the totem pole).

Our drive tonight was short.  When we got there, children eagerly greeted us with waves and smiles that did not stop until we pulled away.  Brother Nathan and I sang a few songs for the children before we got started including I Just Wanna Be a Sheep, Rise and Shine, and This Little Light of Mine.  Our teaching went well and the children's enthusiasm was contagious.  It was hard not to encourage distraction, but I couldn't help smiling as the kids tried to get my attention by waving and smiling during the program.  Father Abraham was, of course, a big hit.  And as we go, one song between gifts and the start of the sermon just doesn't seem to be enough, so I Just Wanna Be a Sheep is quickly becoming part of the routine.

The kids all want to be so close to you that you need to be careful to stand at least three feet in front of your intended place.  By the time they all get there and push to be touching you you'll be where you want.  :-)  I again had to pray for a woman who was having trouble having children and it wasn't any easier than the first time.  (Though the recovery was a little quicker).  I know that these people don't have faces for most of you reading, but if you pray for good health, healing for the sick and hurting, children for the childless, and education for the children, you will have many of them covered.

A few children stuck around after everything, so we got to at least high five a few of them.  Then came the dreaded, "Are you ready to go?" from Pastor Jyothi and I responded with no.  The pastor's wife quickly said that they would keep us and liked having us there.  Brother Nathan responded that we liked being here.  Pastor Jyothi then started in on the teasing.  I'm not sure of his exact words (he was speaking in Telugu), but the gist of it was teasing the pastor's daughter about going to America while I stayed in India.  Another girl gave me a flower for my hair as we were getting in the car.  We waved and blew kisses all the way out as kids lined up down the road to wave.  

Tomorrow, we're off to convince the government that we're tourists.  ;-)  We have a Buddhist shine and some caves to go visit, and have been promised KFC tomorrow night.  It's so hard to believe that we only have two nights of teaching left.  I wish we could keep going--It's so energizing to be here.  Pastor Jyothi pointed out the train station as we got into Tenali, and it's sad (sad doesn't quite cover it) to know we're so close to leaving.  Brother Solomon told us tonight that he would gladly keep us another month.  :-)

~Becky Haddad