India

Namaste and greetings from India!!! We arrived at the home at 1am Friday morning. After a good but quick night sleep we were given a tour of the compound; all the buildings are fantastic and the accommodation is very comfortable, they are looking after us very well. We have running toilets, showers and air-conditioning, you would think we were in a hotel! We spent the morning buying local clothes in Kottayam and seeing, hearing and smelling the sights of India. We had our first Indian meal for lunch of curry, rice and paratha bread followed by ice-cream sundaes. Driving has been interesting to say the least road rules in India are this, 1. The biggest vehicles have right of way… that’s it. When the kids finished school we had the privilege of meeting and playing with lots of them. We played soccer, cricket and taught them songs with actions and tomorrow we are giving them other sports goods such as volleyballs, soccer balls, badminton sets, nets, frisbees and cricket sets. Tonight we have had a prayer meeting sharing devotions and songs with the kids. They are very passionate worshippers and full of love, hugs, smiles, and handshakes!!!
Needing to be mentioned was that Conrad was woken up by Dave & James doing push-ups in their beds (a new exercise routine without getting out of bed – it might catch on?!). Dave during the tour of the home was confused by the children as to weather he was a boy or girl (due to the long curly hair – which they love!) and so his new nick name is ‘Davina’ – he prefers ‘Davey Baby’. James helped a local pull a boat out of the water (the boat had been sunk). The girls are obsessed with playing 7’S, and Nicaela seems to be the one owning us all! Nicaela, Kylie, and Cassie taught the girls Hokey Pokey, and we think they were enjoying it more than anyone else was! The boys were watching on with very strange looks! And the clothing is interesting with the all the girls in the team were looking great in the Indian outfits, Dave and James have dresses/skirts (ones for the boys, but they couldn’t tie it properly, so it was constantly falling down) Conrad got a safer option of a traditional Indian top – so wardrobe malfunctions there.
Please keep praying for us while we are away, for the time we have with the children and bible college students will be impacting. For the ministry we will be doing on the weekend, and next week at the home and villages nearby. For Ps Melinda as she is preaching this weekend. For safe travelling on the Indian roads, and health for the team.
With much love always from the team in India
Melinda, Nicaela, Kylie, David Cassie, James, Conrad.