hospitality

Saturday we went to Gita's house. she lives a little outside the city, so we took a bus...and it was wonderful there. oh so peaceful. no honking...there were trees (banana, bamboo, palm, and hibiscus plants everywhere!). There were also lots of ponds.

now...i need to explain Indian hospitality to you...and it involves a lot of food. BUT, i know when i say "a lot of food" what you're imagining is no where close to reality...so let me explain.

we got to Gita's around 11, and we were promptly served cold pop. Limca, which i love...kinda like sprite, but less sweet, and more lime to it. Then, we had a snack (which was big enough to count as lunch in my book). Purry, is what it is, little puffed fried flat bread (oh so good!) and a sauce that has turmeric and other spices and potatoes...and sometimes other veggies. Then we had tea. We hung out for a bit, and then went for a walk around the village and to a pond. Around 1 it was lunch time. We had rice and dal (which is a sauce made of lentils...its really good, and it goes on the rice). We also had chicken and some fried potatoes, and a "salad" which means sliced cucumbers, onions and tomatoes. Now..when i say rice, i don't mean just a little. i took a poll of my team, and we decided that it would not be exaggerating at all to say it was 2 1/2 cups of rice...EACH! now, it would be rude not to finish what is served - especially when we know that they aren't giving out of abundance. So...off you go eating the rice (with your hand, of course). its kind of like a race, or a challenge. the key is to not slow down. you eat as fast and you can and whatever happens...do not take a break. now, both times we've eaten in homes i've had this horrible moment when i think, "man, i'd like to stop eating now. i've had enough rice" and then i look down at my plate, and i see MORE rice than i would serve myself to start off with if i were the one in charge of serving. Eating in homes is a very good team bonding exercise...cause we all know what we're trying to accomplish...and it isn't easy for anyone (allow me to interject here that i think its horribly unfair that the all the plates have the same rice. i think i should get less than the boys...but that's not the way it is!). We laugh and laugh as we try to eat everything (and i get mad at the boys for making jokes...cause then i have to stop eating to laugh...which doesn't help the bigger cause!). I finally finished (i've been last both times) but i do have to say that i feel like i've really accomplished something when i'm done...i did it! i did what i once thought was impossible!

after lunch we had a group nap. Gita's house is bigger than Upendra's but not large at all. they have a cooking area in the front of the house, and Gita, her mom and sister share one room (12 by 12, maybe). so, we all laid down for a nap (which was really quite welcome...cause with all that rice i couldn't DO anything!)

Nap time was over around 3, and we went out and played frisbee and then the Jesse and Kyle played cricket with a couple of the boys. it was wonderful...and fun...but then it was time to eat again.

we had to have a little "tiffin" (afternoon snack) before we could leave. so we had mashed potatoes, breaded and fried in little balls. they were good (all the food is good, there's just a lot of it!) and then tea again! Gita's mom wanted to feed us dinner too, but we had to leave...and none of us could eat anything else anyway!

All in all i would say that Sataurday was really good for us as a team. it was good to just be together for so long with nothing to do and enjoy each other's company. more and more i feel like i can be myself with my team. I'm enjoying getting to knwo them all, and seeing the Image of God in them. I love my team...for lots of reasons, and some other day i'll tell you some of those reasons...but for now...just know that i love my team more and more every day!

Last night we did our book discussion on "terrify no more" and it was good. We ended up having a discussion about the underlying causes of the problems here in K-town, and our response to them. Its easy to see the mountain of a problem...and be frustrated by my ability to move that mountain...and its also easy to forget that i serve the God for Whom nothing is impossible! So, in my heart, i am looking for and hoping for a continued shift toward dependence on God - and the Holy Spirit to be at work in me and through me...and in the lives of the men and women that i come into contact with. That the Holy Spirit will be at working bringing freedom and hope, and breaking strongholds...and changing lives...and this city. So....its a tall order. by human standards, impossible...but not for the God who Is! And if you'd like to join us in praying specifically for the men who visit the red light districts, and for the men and women who are perpetuating the abuse...and for those who allow it to continue - that the Holy Spirit will be at work! That Freedom and Wholeness and Restoration will come! And also...i would covet your prayers for my heart. it is easy to be angry, or judge (the perpetrators of the abuse and oppression)...and hard to love. i think it might be impossible for me - so please pray that God will plant in me a heart of love and compassion for ALL of the people involved in teh sex-trade, at every level...i can't do it on my own.

On a totally different note, i'm leaving tomorrow morning for Nepal (Kathmandu and Pokra). We are going to visit the WMF office there. We'll also serve at a Missionaries of Charity home, and take a 3 day retreat. I'm really looking forward to our time in Nepal. We met Silas, the field director there, and it will be good to see what WMF is doing in another place. It will also be really good to be out of the busy city...and in the Himalayas!

I don't expect to have much Internet access while in Nepal, so...it's best to plan on communication silence, and if something works out...then it will be bonus. We'll be there 10 days (returning on March 31).