FOOD
I saw a high tech reverse osmosis water filtering system in the home of a large church pastor. Others buy water coolers with filtering systems
Chai means tea, but it is strong tea with milk and sugar, or it can be more like coffee with milk and sugar
Tuna packs are my staple
Freshly picked roasted corn on the cop is a street food
Southern Indians love spices. They even add salt to their bottled water.
Coke and Pepsi are universal. “Thumbs Up” is the local brand
On one intersection in Hyderabad we saw a Pappa Johns, Dominos and Pizza Hut
In January there is abundance of watermelon, mini bananas, papayas, pineapples, tomatoes, apples, grapes and oranges
A crowd of children and adults quickly gathers when candy is passed out
Hot green chili peppers are disguised as green beans waiting to give you a chemical burn in your mouth (the voice of experience!)
I regret having brought only 5 boxes of Candy Canes. I could have used 100.
All candy is called chocolate.
SOME THINGS CHANGE
Noticeable decrease in mosquitos
More cars and scooters, less bicycles
More street food vendors, some selling things like helmets and face masks
More construction – all concrete
The villages are the same as they were hundreds of years ago except for some new wells( thank you, CTO donors)
Hindu temples dot the roadways, both small and massive
Stricter rules controlling evangelism and enforcement of those rules both result in a greater need for national pastors to be trained quickly
Cows and beggars are gone from the streets in the cities but water buffalo are still herding o the highways outside the town and cities
There are now roadside stops on large highways – with usable toilets
Prescriptions are now being required for some drugs
Christian persecution is increasing, freedom to evangelize is less (February 1, 2016 Vijayawada, India)
INDIA UPDATE: We have many nice things here, comforts you may not expect us to have. Our hotels are nice, clean, safe and have free continental breakfasts with healthy food we like. The wi-fi is very weak but usable. Laundry service is inexpensive and well done. Bottled water is plentiful. Pastor Moses’ car gives us comfortable travel, lots of time to talk (and write blogs, organize pictures and audio recordings) and view beautiful India countryside. We eat some Indian food supplied for the pastors at lunch supplemented with out tuna packs and power bars. Our evening meal is at an Indian restaurant and consists of something we can find that isn’t as spicy as Indians like. Last night we went into the very large very modern shopping mall across the street from us. Leslie ate at KFC and Nancy and I split a Domino’s pizza. Pastor Moses ate Indian food at the restaurant. Life is good!
Psalm 23 The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not be in need. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul.
Its easy to get in the habit of negative thinking. Instead, make a mental list of all you have to be grateful for today. Be as detailed and complete as you can. Thank God for these things, one by one. Try to keep them before you all day so you don’t slip back into negative thinking.