Wednesday RECAP

We said our last minute good-byes this morning to the various staff members up at 5am at the DLRH. It was a melancholic time for me. Time has gone by so fast, and it seems as soon as we found a rhythm to life at the hospital... we only had two weeks left. One of the problems with marking time by the number of 'Sundays' you will be worshiping in India--is they sneak up on you. This trip has snuck up on me. In my heart I am not ready to leave India. But, I am convinced that nothing will change, and the pressing financial needs of the work of BSSI require time and energy on the U.S. side of the world over the next 2-3 years.

I enjoyed most of the trip back to Chennai this morning. I read, the kids slept. It is amazing that they have finally completed the 4 lane interstate highway over the last 3 years since we have been gone. It is not a highway from US standards. It is more like a "boulevard" of two lanes in each side with a large 10 foot island, raised about 5 feet. For those readers from Indianapolis, it is like the road outside of the speedway. No matter a person can travel at 50 mph now, compared to 35-40 last time we were here... and I can appreciate the small things.

We arrived in Chennai at my Inlaws personal flat (apartment) around 9am this morning. After breakfast, Kathryn and Robert began day one of the shopping spree. And were gone till 5pm. Emrys and I sat in an A/C bedroom/office and began the first 7-8 hours of a 20-24 hour conversation before leaving here. Immediate small and large goals for myself, Kathryn the Board of Directors before their arrival this September. There is much on the plate, many ideas, but you know what they say about eating the elephant (... one bite at a time).

Kathryn was excited to show me all the gifts for family, friends, etc. I was excited to see the 7up she brought home. I also was excited today to try Kathryn cousin's (Suresh Attah = Suresh Uncle) mother-n-law's (are you following me?) Indian cooking. She made a pumpkin squash, coconut and bean dish (red beans) tonight that tasted straight out of New Orleans. It was awesome... I could not help but eat two helpings each meal. (moral of the story: Joshie's tummy is yummy today).

Our daily marathon of 8 hours of intense conversation finished and I proceeded to veg out and listen to the iPOD for one hour and then play with "NayaniaPriya" (Suresh Attah's baby girl of 18 months I think?). Since the little one only knows a few words in Tamil and Malayalam (Tamil is the language of Tamil Nadu-- the state we are in now, and Malayalam is the language of Kerela--the lower west coast of Indiad where Usha's family roots are from) and maybe 1-2 english words... there was not much in the way of conversation... but it is amazing how universal a ball rolling on the ground is. So, I enjoyed by evening. I will make sure to get some pictures of her and the rest here to post soon. promise.

Katie G, arrived from "Amrika" tonight (that is the way most Indians pronounce America). I laid down to sleep around 9pm, thinking that I would rise around 10:30 to join the team to pick her up (Emrys, Kathryn and Suresh). I felt like I had just taking a nap and got up and suddenly Katie was in the doorway saying 'hello'. So, I guess I was more tired than I thought -- probably because I had only slept around 3 hours last night. I think Katie is a med student, or a nurse here for the summer. I should know by now, since we have been preparing for her visit for some time... but I am utterly useless sometimes... now is one of those times.

So, long day short... it is around 2:30-3am in the morning as I recap this day. After my 4 hour nap. And I am ready for a bath (how one says, 'shower' in India), and to continue my nap. Maybe some 7up before I retire to the bed?

Prayers: Specifically for RAIN for Andhra Pradesh where the hospital is. And for safety and fun over the next few days here with family and Katie. Finally, for the deeper conversations, philosophical debates and critiques of how the mission needs to change as a whole over the next 24-36 months in order to welcome the next missionaries into the slot that my in-laws currently fulfill... and to prepare the U.S. organization and operations during this time to become a more affective partner and organization to that end. And for the patients of the David and Lois Rees Hospital who suffer with HIV, TB and Leprosy. You know, the REASON why we are here...

Praises: Indian food. Indian stores. Indian chocolates. Indian butterscotch ice cream. Indian 7up.

Maybe some pictures to come tomorrow. They are on our camera, but we are living out of a suitcase again, instead of having everything in a dresser/wardrobe. Thanks for visiting this blog again today... and in the days past. Your interest, prayers and emails are wonderful (even here in the city where we can get up to 50-70 kbs internet connections... hurrah!).