In the marketplace at Kanigiri, we caught tuk tuks, and were brought to our ministry location, called Shankavaram. This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. A girl ran up to our tuk tuk and asked if she could carry our bags. Her name is Rebekah. She helped us bring our bags to the house and smiled a lot. She is beautiful. She told us that she is 12, and we are so blessed that her English is near perfect. We have two translators! Before we could really walk up to the location, we all stood with mouths open, staring at the blessing of mountains. We have mountains right in our backyard for the next month!
We live next to beautiful Pomeranian-like dogs, water buffalo, chickens, and a field of cows grazing on the farm. Wow. Thank you God, for your blessings! On top of all of this, we were given a huge church (WITH FANS!) to set up our tents in and sleep in every night. On TOP of this, we have a toilet!!!! We were told originally that we were going to have to build a toilet by digging a hole and setting up tarps. We were also told that we would have no water. Well, we have a market just down the street as well as tap water and steri-pens. We will be able to shower and CLIMB MOUNTAINS!
We spoke with the pastor and his family last night, then set up our tents. After a while, we were called to dinner. The family had prepared curry and eggs along with rice and chapathi (which is similar to naan or pita bread). It was delicious! We ate family style in the Indian fashion. Rebekah joined us and helped us with our manners. In India, you eat with only your right hand and Rebekah called us out by reminding us that you don’t eat and talk at the same time. It is so hard to just eat with one hand, but I know that if we keep mimicking Rebekah, we will get better.
After dinner, we turned on the fans and called it a night.
I woke up this morning around 6:00 and went outside to the front stairs just to take in the view and make sure it wasn’t all a dream. One of the women from the church was also out front, milking the water buffalo. Life is good. I can’t wait to get pictures up here and let you see how blessed we are!
We’re off to the market today, and later we might try climbing the mountain.
