Hey! Still playing catch up a bit. Here’s Month 4: India
I’m left-handed. In this country, this hand is reserved for using it as toilet paper. It’s awkward when I am caught writing or eating with this hand.
[I am a firm believer in the goodness of TP and reject the idea using my left hand in that way]
There are dogs, goats, water buffalo, chicken and wild boar that roam the roads. They like to hold up traffic.
Traffic consists of several international makes of cars as well as the World Race favorite of auto rickshaws or tuk tuks.
[Don’t let the size fool you. It’s is possible to fit your team and then some inside.]
If the roads flood, the traffic doesn’t stop. And rats join the animals marching or swimming around.
Men and women are often separated in church and in the home at meal times. We eat on the floor and as honored guests, we eat first. It is a strange thing to adjust to.
Also at church, we are honored with chairs in the front. The members of the church all sit on the floor around us. It is a strange thing to adjust to. Women cover their heads when praying with scarves. When we preach, we also have to cover our heads. That makes a hot country even hotter.
We use a squatty potty, and take bucket showers. Our team filled the family’s septic tank. That was fun.We hand wash our clothes. And hope that in all of the humidity they will dry before the smell of mildew takes over.
Curry and Rice for breakfast. Rice and Curry for lunch. And then a lovely course of Curry and Rice for Dinner.
The chai tea is lovely.
Thum’s Up is a wicked creation from the Coca Cola company. They really should have stopped while they were ahead with Coke. But nevertheless, Thum’s Up is the cold drink of choice of many Indians and this is what they serve every day.
–Now meal times… we’ve addressed the what. Here is the how. —
- Sit down, be handed a paper plate covered with foil. Pour water onto plate and wipe around with your hand. Pour water into pot.
- Rice is scooped onto your plate, followed by a few chapatti and a shovel of curry. “It’s spicy”, they warn.
- Eat a few bites, remove bone from your mouth. Dig around your plate for a piece of chicken without bone or fat. Decide the potato curry is a better option. Have another scoop of chicken drop onto your plate.
- Fan mouth and shove chapatti inside because you just found the chili. Sigh at the thought of future spicy poos. [sorry, but had to share the very real reality that what goes in must come out.]
- Be offered more rice. (There is still a large amount resting on your plate) Say “No, thank you.” Another pile of rice is added. Say “Thank you”.
- Another chapati is added to your plate. Eat beyond being stuffed. Drink your small cup of water. Mouth is on fire even more. Thum’s Up is poured into your cup. Drink small amount to not offend but not enough to say you want more.
- More rice is given. Leave it alone. More Thum’s Up is added. The meal is over when you are able to hide or crush your cup, fold your plate or move all of the extra rice into a pocket or onto someone else’s plate. This is mealtime madness in India.
[Please know the above situation was typically only at dinner when out in the villages, as our host family graciously let us serve ourselves for breakfast and lunch. Amen!]
The Church here is beautiful. Full of life and hope for the people around them. On more than one occasion I found myself resting in the love being given to me as a visitor and sister in Christ even though I could not share a more than a few common words. God’s joy is found here.
When preaching, speak slowly so the translator can understand. Also limit your vocabulary to that of a small child.
The power goes out often… so keep an eye on the power meter of your electronics.
The mall is really just a small local grocery store. It has peanut butter and thus is worth your time.
As a World Racer, you must always travel in pairs. In India as a World Racer, you must always travel in pairs and bring along a local, or all three of your host family’s kiddos. This will extend the process of getting candy at the small stand down the road by about 10 minutes.
[Because pointing is faster than getting translation through a 12 year old.]
Buy the local dress. But know that it is not at all cooler than the clothes you brought with you. It simply dries faster on the clothes line.
Saris are beautiful… they are heavy and thick, and a pain to wear. Good times. Punjabi tops are the way to go.
As a woman, you can forgo trying to look the part, but make sure that your ankles and armpits are covered. These are the exciting parts on a woman’s body. Also show off the midriff. No one cares and the older woman who has eaten many carbs in her day is the proudest to show off the tum tum. So go for it if you can stomach it.
[sorry, had to.]
When praying or singing a song in church, always end in three hearty Hallelujahs.
And repeat , “stotrum” loudly in prayer. It means ‘praise’.
Jesus loves you in Telegu is ‘Yesu Nimu Premisthunadu’ as I would write it using English characters. Pronounced, it is ‘Yea-Zu Nee-Moo Pray-mis-tune-a-doo’. Learning this was fun.
Always finish praying over someone with ‘Wandanalu’, meaning ‘praise the Lord’.
The music is church is a tad bit different than in America. But I can clap along easily because there are about 7 different rhythms being shared throughout the songs so my personal beat really doesn’t matter.
Also, if singing an English song in an Indian church service, choose an up tempo number. Blank stares look up at you and your team if you sing a slower song as if to say, “how on earth are we supposed to clap to this?”
All in all… much of India was a good month. It rests currently in my mind as one of learning and also one of not being fully present, but those details require a different blog. I can’t say that I ever really want to visit again but I am grateful for my time there. For all of the sweaty confusing times sitting in church¸ sleeping among mosquitoes and mice and laughing in a packed van with my team, singing badly at the top of our lungs to songs that remind us of home.
If you are a future racer or one with India on your hypothetical route, embrace the month. It will be a struggle, especially one for questions of church, ministry and life among the temples to Hindu gods, but it will be a good month for so many other things.
If you are family or a friend from home that has supported me in prayer from the beginning, thank you for praying me through India and sending me here.
I currently need $3000 by January 1st. Please consider donating and sharing in this crazy Kingdom Adventure.
Enjoy this video by my favorite Jenny ever…
She needs $3000 as well. She’s well worth the investment.
