Madhu

Yesterday (wrote this when we first came but wanted a pic before posting), Madhu rang our buzzer holding five long stemmed roses (three red and two yellow) for me. He couldn't have come at a better time. We were OK but discussing how overwhelmed we were when this handsome 21 yearold stepped into our lives and assured us in very good English that all was well and that he was available to help us any way that he could. I am sure that Heavenly Father sent him.

We called him this morning to help us find an ATM and a bank (two different places) to change large bills into smaller ones as autos and street vendors (only place to buy bananas) rarely give change. Stores don't like to either we've discovered.

Before setting off on our walking adventure, he fixed the gas tank on our stove so that we could cook and charged the battery in our camera (no, we didn't know how to do either).

Madhu then negotiated us across a number of streets through all the traffic with ease. We'd still be struggling if it weren't for his easy lesson--walk, don't run; stop (in the middle of a jillion vehicles) if necessary; if there's any space, hold out your hand and keep walking. (The first time we crossed a street we were with Kaspers and Bill didn't go. Elder Kasper had to go back and get him across. You'd understand if you were here.)

At home again, Bill and I were dripping wet inspite of Madhu's claim that we were lucky to have such good weather produced by a nice rain during the night, making the temperature cooler but the humidity certainly higher because we noticed no difference in our own wetness. (This was also the walk when we saw a camel, ridden by two young boys, walking down the street right along with every other vehicle but my camera was charging and I didn't get the picture.)

We visited for more than an hour. Telling us how much the Church had changed his life and why he loves the senior couples especially, he began choking up. We all got a little teary. He and two brothers (now 19 and 20) were baptized at about age 13--Madhu anyway. His Hindu parents wouldn't allow it earlier. "Without the Church, I would never have known God and that he loves me," he said. And then his association with the senior couple at the time, the Eldridges, gave him an understanding of the gospel. He came to this same apartment and the Eldridges would pay him 10 rupees to clean which he did about three times a week. Sister Eldridge would say, "Madhu, pay 1 rupee for your tithing and do with the rest as you wish and your life will be blessed." He discovered for himself how true that was. After some education, Madhu has a good job now as a computer engineer.

On another day he got our internet to work by discovering we had inadvertently turned off the router by clicking one of the many switches that decorate our walls. What a blessing he has been!