Today is Sunday, March something or other. Two days ago we boarded a train in Cochin for a 24 hour trip to Vijaywada. Initially it was a very fun, interesting trip. The train was pretty empty, coffee or chai tea cost only 8 rupees and Kent, Jordan and I had a great time doing something our wives and mothers would have yelled at us for and made us stop doing: we stood in the open train doorways and watched the landscape pass by at about 45-50 mph, maybe faster. The train started filling up and we had dinner, biyani (sp? - rice and chicken and other assorted delights) sitting on our bunks. Our poor Indian compartment mate, a telephone company exec, was forced to sit across the aisle until we were done. Tim and I hit our bunks about an hour or so prior to pulling into the Chennai station where the train filled up completely. Indian snoring sounds the same as in the US, trust me. I slept pretty well, and we disembarked at Vijay pretty much on time. However, a 24 hour train ride is about 8-12 hours too long.
At Vijay a driver picked up up and the ride to Rejurla was about as thrilling as a roller coaster and three times as dangerous. No, that's an understatment - our driver felt honor bound to pass EVERYTHING on the road. We witnessed what appeared to be a near killing between a speeding car and a motorcyle with only two people on it. Jiadeep said it was the bike's fault; the cop in me didn't agree and called it a felony hit and run; the car being the faulted vehilce.
Yesterday Kent and I went into town with Jaideep where we viewed a nearby coal strip mine )pretty awesome sized hole) and Kent ordered 5 tailor made shirts for about $38 (not at the strip mine, at a store in town); pretty incredible deal. Why didn't I get any? Come on, tailor made shirts? This is me we're talking about!
Today, Tim baptised a new believer behind Jaideep's house. It's hard for us to fathom what this committment means to these folks who are basically going against their families and their culture to commit to being a Christian. Tim later preached from I Peter 1.2-3, where God has given us everything we need, including overflowing hope. He has an incredible touch with these folks who as usual, all lined up to have him anoint and pray for them afterwards.
Tuesday we'll be headed for Pithapuram where hopefully, I'll be able to connect with my own computer and upload a pic or two. Jiadeep's campus is still on dial up and I just don't have the patience to wait. Actually I don't think Kent can post anything on FB either due to the lack of any connectivity here.
And personal note to my lovely and long sufferning wife, Rosie: forget about me losing weight, Jaideep's wife Sylvia is an amazing cook.
More in a day or so; love ya!
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yeah, but have you ever worn a tailor made suit??!?
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