Mary and Rajesh

Mary and Rajesh celebrated their first wedding anniversary January 11 and invited us to celebrate with them at her sister's home (pictured below). This couple (only members in their families) was steered toward each other by the Lyerlys (couple before us) who saw in them a good match. We have spent quite a bit of time with them for couples' activities, PEF, employment, etc. even before we were directed to help in these areas. We invite them to ride home with us in our auto whenever we are at church together and leaving at nearly the same time. Mary speaks excellent English and is currently teaching English to children at a school as well as to adults at church. She has an inner beauty that causes her to glow. I told her one day how beautiful she was and she blushed and ducked her head and said, "Oh, no, Sister, not me!"

Above on the right are some of Mary's friends from work at a previous job. Sareesha (left) is a returned missionary in 2nd Branch. To the left (if it turns out that way) are family members. Others came as well prompting us to leave after we had eaten so there would be room for all the invitees. All who came were fed a hefty portion of rice and different curries. The buffalo below were on the ground floor of the apartment area where Mary's family lived--literally at the foot of the stairs. Boddu was there and said that he drinks their unpastuerized milk but we're not too interested. There doesn't seem to be any area for them to graze in as we went quite far back off the main road where small apartments are huddled closely together.

A Few of Us

Day of the couples conference, these guys used my camera to take couples' pictures which were flashed on the screen during one of the presentations. The four at left are all in 1st Branch: Leo (district clerk), forgot next one' name, Rocky (nickname that we can remember; branch mission leader; member only 8 months), Vasanth (assistant district clerk). Leo's father is a counselor in our branch presidency. Great guys!

President Naka (2nd counselor in District) is also in 1st Branch. We're hoping he changes his marital status before we leave, especially since he has a good chance. He's on the grass in front of our chapel with the camera looking toward the street which is West Marred Pally. Little around there looks as nice as our church and grounds. A Catholic church two doors away is actually quite nice and across from it is a big colorful Hindu temple.

Boddu and Vani again. He has a fetching smile as usual. Pres. and Sister Gutty are below (John and Sudha; John isn't his real name but the one he tells us).

President and Sister Joseph with Rosie. Dad has a bad cold today accompanied by loud coughing so we stayed home from church and the Josephs are bringing dinner over tonight. He's a fire and brimstone kind of speaker (you should hear him) but loves to have fun. Rosie likes to cuddle with us.

The three couples here in Hyderabad along with our District President Prasad Rao were trained in PEF and employment by the Asplunds and Eichelbergers (green top and orange) who are in Bangalore. We had a fun day together divided by lunch at Paradise, fairly well-known inexpensive restaurant where I can get chicken chow mein which isn't spicey. They are known for their chicken biriyani and Sister Kasper tells me you can order it non-spicey, but that's what everyone tells us about their spicey food. She handles it better than I do. Elder Fullmer won't eat it at all and makes quite a production of it. Dad just looked at the picture and said, "None of you are that big." Pradeep, 1st Branch video man, told me my camera is good but it certainly adds width and pounds. Sister Kasper is tall and thin. I don't see a bump on her in person. Sister Fullmer is very petite. Sister Asplund would probably feel terrible to see herself in this picture. I'm not this wide and neither is Sister Eichelberger.

New Year's Eve Bash

The Indian members certainly know how to let their hair down and have a good time. We wouldn't have imagined if we hadn't seen them because even though they are happy and service oriented, they also are serious and somewhat sedate. (We actually see their other side when we play games at FHE.) President and Sister Joseph are the couple in red. He loves to dance with abandon while Sister Joseph is much more inhibited although she accommodates him.

They rented a type of gym (very old and dirty) so they could play music which President Joseph deemed inappropriate for the church building. Pavan (w sound for v) who is jumping in the white shirt had just told us at the workshop that evening a story of his life that caused my tears to flow unceasingly. (To start with, his father was killed by friends in a land dispute when Pavan was only 6--and it doesn't get better.) But here he is leading the pack with wild gyrations and sweat. You rarely see these people sweat; they always comment on mine. Leo, to the left of Pavan, is an extremely intelligent and religious young man. We had fun watching them have so much fun. They have very few breaks from the rigors of school, which is pure academics from pre-school on, and work and family responsibilities. Actually, the Indian people love celebrations which occur frequently and are understandable when you think of their lives otherwise.

Above left are Shekar Boddu (we call him Boddu) and his wife Vani who is the RS president in 1st Branch. We really love this couple. To the right are Theophilus and his wife Usha and their son Abraham. Jessie wasn't there. What a handsome and good family! Theophilus is a police inspector and the one who had us for his son's birthday celebration. Bottom left are Krondhi, Tinku and Chiru at the fireside where we did the budget workshop. Other missionaries taught other classes. Tinku and Chiru are Madhu's brothers--great young people.

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.