Christmas in India

President and Sister Gutty hosted all the missionaries in 1st and 2nd Branch Christmas evening with a full-course meal. There were a few branch members there as well in not a lot of space. We had already eaten two meals and didn't have a whole lot which caused Sister Gutty to say, "You didn't like the food, sister!" in an apologetic manner so I had to explain. People pile their plates high and it is offensive here not to do that and to eat it all. They both look like movie stars--not the best pix here--and have two beautiful children, a boy and girl. Got a pic only of their son.

After watching the annual First Presidency devotional Christmas morning at 10, we rushed home to fix brunch for the elders and sisters in our branch. Elder Nixon is lifting up Dad. All are from America except the two sisters on the left and Elder Sadiyadi in front. They talked a lot about going-home dates, a no-no.

Priya is an assistant professor at NIFT (see sign below) and a niece to Sister Shanti and cousin to Sister Gutty who wanted an accompanist for a group she had taught Christmas carols for a program Christmas Eve night. The group was a little larger than what you see and the young man second from left was an outstanding classical singer (couldn't tell if he won but even one of the judges said he was the best and we thought so) in the American Idol type competition preceding our program. Of the singers, only the young woman in pink is a Christian but they sang the carols enthusiastically and sounded great.

Madhu says NIFT is an expensive and good school that he often wishes he had attended. The campus is beautiful and was decorated with many lights that evening. We were feeling through the mostly modern singing competition that no one would be in the mood for a Christmas program but they totally joined in and seemed to love it. Candles were lit and given to everyone in the audience--very impressive. Many afterward shook my hand and said, "Merry Christmas." In India everyone seems to celebrate and know about Christmas. There is no problem here with 80% Hindu and only 3% Christians mentioning this glorious occasion. Why do we allow so few in America to determine that we must now have a Winter Holiday instead of a Merry Christmas?

On the 17th, 18th, and 19th Branch members went Christmas caroling to every branch member's home, starting at 6:30 p.m. and going to 3 or 4 a.m We thought we'd try one night and get off the bus early and auto it home but it didn't work out and we didn't work into their schedule either. Madhu asked about the caroling Tuesday night at the Branch Christmas party (forgot my camera so no pix but it was great fun) and when he discovered they hadn't come, he organized a group who came at 11 after we had gone to bed. They persisted ringing our buzzer until we got to the door. Then more came and the watchman wouldn't let them in. They called and Dad went down to convince the watchman that they were OK to come up. It created quite a stir which worried us since people have complained already about groups coming to our apartment but everything seems to be all right. Madhu is in the grey and yellow and Rajiv is in the suit. Each has a unique sad story which makes them special to us. We have a strong desire to make a difference for them. Rajiv brought a delicious full meal prepared by his mother on the afternoon of Christmas Day and ate with us--first one to not just watch us eat, but we insisted. Madhu had us for lunch on Christmas Eve and had planned for the Kaspers and another family later so his Hindu mother was certainly busy preparing yummy food which included chipate (sp? like a flour tortilla) and papads (sp?) which are crispy, bowl-shaped, deep-fried and tasty.

Our celebration of Christmas began Tuesday with a party for the elders and sisters on the roof of Kasper's apartment building, six flights up from the ground. Not all the elders are in the pic below. Elder Singh, left of Santa (Elder Nixon who talks football with Dad and is being switched to 3rd Branch so we won't see him often) goes to Chennai today. We will miss him. Elder Toleofoa (second from right in back row) is Samoan and extremely talented. For the talent show he led 2nd Branch elders in the haka (war dance) that Billy Tenney used to do. Each branch and couple had a performance of some kind (we sang "Popcorn Popping...") and it was great fun and entertainment. Then we played the gift game which went way too long. Had cake and banana splits for dessert.

Sister Yadav (in red) is from a Hindu family and felt the Spirit of the Lord when she was eight. Eventually, she joined the Church, alientating her family for a time, but they have all joined now except her father who will join when she comes home. Sister Arza (middle) is the only member in her family. I've told you about Sister LaFevre (from America) before. What a sweetheart! The outfit I'm wearing gets lots of comments from the members who love it. Just as Sister Ferguson said in the MTC, I should add color to my black and white to seem more a part of them. I need to add to my wardrobe period.

We have thought longingly of our family and friends at home, but many here seem to know that will be so and try their best to make us a part of their family here. We are sometimes the subject of beautiful expressions in prayers which touch our hearts. We so appreciate the love and thoughtfulness of all at this most important and glorious time of year which reminds us most of all of the love and sacrifice of our Savior, the Savior of all mankind. Our desire is to serve Him in the way He would have us serve.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

On the way to Medak District, north of Hyderabad (before we had gone only east to Nalgonda District), to visit a village about clean water, we saw hundreds of monkeys on and alongside the road. Barely rolling the window down, I threw out a banana for one to eat. Before I could click the second picture (above) he had eaten the banana and discarded the peeling. I did stop a second to actually watch him quickly pull the peeling down and gobble up the delectable part. I was surprised that others nearby didn't try to take it from him but they just sat and watched. Posting just these for now because I thought the kids would enjoy them. Because rolling the windown down isn't safe, the pix aren't as clear and bright as they could have been.

Ramoji Film City (accent on 1st syllable)

One P-Day all the missionaries in Hyderabad went to Ramoji Film City, which I had previously thought was for making movies, but it seems to be a tourist attraction on the order of Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm except a much smaller and more amateurish scale even though they advertise being the largest in the world. The mission pays for two excursions a year to see something unique. We pass the entrance often when going to the villages but you have to go way back into the hills to get to the sights. It was a long hot day as we soon saw nearly everything we were interested in. Too late Sisiter Fullmer and I saw across the way some grass sculptures of animals (bottom pic I think but you can't see them) but there was no time left to walk over there. All kinds of people stopped and asked to have a pic taken with me whenever we were sitting somewhere. It was pretty funny. All we could figure is that the white hair combined with the white skin was an attraction because they didn't want anyone else's picture but mine. A couple of them put sun glasses on me and a tiger striped hat. I should have had them use my camera too. White hair seems to be unusual. If people get white hair, they dye it black. Their hair is beautiful though--very shiny and thick. I guess we'll get two more such trips before going home. A couples' conference is also planned for February in Sri Lanka we hear but we will have to pay all the costs.

We spent most of the day with the Fullmers or at least Sister Fullmer as he was more adventurous than the rest of us and rode on all the rides while we watched. I don't think I've posted any of the rides but they were tame except one which Elder Fullmer took where two hammer things swing opposite directions until they swing all the way to the top and go all the way around. They asked him if he had heart trouble before he got on. You know Dad doesn't do well and I outgrew or pooped out of rides a long time ago. Most were for kids in preschool range. I swear I've lost 20 pounds but you sure can't tell in pix. One Sunday a young married man came up to me and said, "How is your health, sister?" I told him it was fine and he said, "You are losing too much weight. You must take care of your health." They obviously have a different way of looking at things but it is noticeable in person if not otherwise.

I see women carrying things on their heads nearly every day and want a picture but can't get the camera out in time or there are too many people. Barely caught these women as they were entering some building at Ramoji. One of these days I'll get a good one.

Some Sights

An unusual looking building (left) in a Muslim section next to the fort. Also, a not great view of the city from Jubilee Hills, a richer section where you see separate homes.

Muslims settled Hyderabad in 1591 and Golcondo Fort is one of their most famous and significant historically. Some claim that the fort itself is 2000 years old. The city of Hyderabad expanded eastward from the fort because water was so scarce and so it seems a bit separated from Hyderabad at the present. The palm tree marks the entrance if you want to go in and see the detail. We just drove around it on our way back from a project site.

Took these pix because it was such a fancy-looking school out in the country. The students were older and dressed with ties and looked as if they had a little money.

Aloor Girls Camp

Some of the buildings where children have classes and/or sleep are quite grubby. We plan to give them a lift (read below).

A long way into the countryside, in the middle of nowhere is Aloor Girls Camp operated by MV Foundation (our water project partner) to put young village children into school and take them out of child labor. These girls go home to visit occasionally and their parents come there for visits so they are not totally separated from their families but they are protected from parents' desires to exploit their children for money.

This beautiful six-year-old (in blue above and below) followed us around the camp instead of going to her classes. Her mother was a Hindu and her father a Muslim whose differences over religion ended with the father throwing gasoline on his wife and setting her on fire. She grabbed onto him and set him afire as well. She died and the father lived a short time but couldn't care for his daughter and sold her to a truck driver for 500 Rs ($12.50). The driver sold her to someone else for 5000 Rs ($125) and that person was trying to sell her for 15,000 Rs when MV Foundation rescued her and put her in their camp. I suppose she is too young to understand the horror of her story but our hearts ached for her. Another girl, age 13, was being sold into marriage when found by MV. They care about the children and try to give them a foundation for a better life. In fact, they follow them all through school and help them find a job when old enough.

We will be submitting a project this coming week to help these 200 girls who range in age from about 6 to 15. We hope to be able to give them sleeping bedding (something soft like a sleeping bag--but no cover is needed) and pillow (they are currently on cement), sports items for activities (volleyball, badminton, etc.), books, and a supply of sanitary napkins. If approved, we will take branch members out there to whitewash their buildings, inside and out. MV has offered to feed us while there but our Branch President Joseph doesn't trust the sanitation conditions and wants us to bring our own food. Bill and I ate while we were there. It was good and we survived without even a stomach pain.

More Bits and Pieces

Up close and personal right across from where we live which is up the little alleyway to the right of the building with the blue sign. We have to cross two directions of traffic (It's Sunday--today--and traffic is always a lot thinner), the one on the other side of the median, and then the road you can see. We looked to our left for traffic and right in the middle of the road came these two camels. I had Dad take my scriptures and I hurriedly got out my camera. When these boys saw me taking their pic, they headed toward us and as you can see on the right, they are right next to us. Dad was negotiating with a stopped auto and wanting me to get in because the camel didn't seem any too friendly and Dad was just a little worried about being trampled. The boys didn't smile and perhaps didn't like our taking their pix but we did and hopped into the auto and were off. Pretty cool!

I have long been interested in the scaffolding around the buildings under construction and finally got a picture of one (below). I am usually too intimidated by all the people to bring out my camera. It is made from the bamboo sticks in this closest picture--not anything I would want to climb or feel secure about. Sometimes the buildings are six or seven stories and the scaffolding surrounds the entire structure.

Note the women in sarees engaged in road construction. I see them dressed in even fancier sarees swinging pick axes in the rock quarries along the side of the road. Here the men are digging a very large hole in preparation for a flyover. The dirt is put into the wooden bowl/plate and passed from one woman to the next until the last one dumps it onto the pile at the left. Quite amazing. It will take a lot of digging for the flyover.

Entrance to a large indoor stadium where we went for a press conference for SMAAT's new filter that produces 2000 liters/hour to be used for flood and disaster relief. SMAAT is the RO filter provider for the villages we go to. This spot was an hour away by auto and Shekar left us to come back alone so that he could get a bus to his house. It was the most harrowing ride we have had. Dad said while riding, "No one would believe this if they weren't here." I worried too because we had to make so many turns in every direction to get home and had no idea where we were and no live cell to call should we get stranded. But just the ride was pretty unbelievable, narrowly missing so many pedestrians and other vehicles. The driver wasn't giving an inch to anybody and had an auto with a little more power than usual. When we finally turned on to Raj Bhavan Road and eventually saw KFC, we knew we were OK.

The elders loved my breakfast of banana walnut pancakes, scrambled eggs and fruit salad. From left Elder Leckington, AP (stayed over from zone conference to do splits since they can't do any in Bangalore anymore), Elder Mackay (high school wrestler from San Diego, new), Elder Moses (Utah, zone leader), Elder Hatch (Scottsdale, AP, related to Snowflake Hatches), Elder Nixon (football player from Washington, D.C., new), Elder Tyler (Wyoming, zone leader). They are all very impressive .

Sister Arza (India, new) Veronica (pronounced with a long "o" and just baptized), and Sister LeFevre (Utah, the one adopted in family of 14). These sisters are very shy with very small voices around most of us but are fireballs when it comes to teaching investigators.