“Aap kahan jaeangi?” (where are you going?)“Nass.” (name of town)
“Train nahin hai” (there’s no train) - the woman laughed.
I tried to talk with this woman in Hindi (third from right above- her family/friends are around her) as we waited on the train platform. We had arrived at a train station in a small town, after riding on the first train for 21 hours, (which was already a Plan B- since our Plan A was cancelled due to flooding in the city where we were going to go through!) We arrived only to learn that our connecting train had been cancelled.
Vegetable and fruit vendors on the train platform tried to sell us their goods and beggars (both young and old) came up to us asking for anything we might have- some of them having deformities that are hard to explain and things I’ve never seen before.
We (who are “we”- our training crew- about 10 people) went out of the train station and took a rickshaw (a 3 wheeled motorized vehicle) – We took it two or three people at a time with our huge 70 pound luggage bags to a nearby taxi stand. Once we were there, I had a flashback to one of my first experiences in this great country. Men, young and old all around- looking as though they had never seen a white woman before. My goodness- did they stare and look and look and stare! See a few pictures below.
We were finally on our way. Oh yeah, my luggage was again on top of the jeep. But koi baat nahin (no problems!). Well, that is, until it started raining. Which, of course it did. We had to stop, we put a tarp on the luggage and we were on our way again, without too much hassle.
Oh, but wait- with so much weight with the luggage and people, it really is a lot to ask for an Indian tire. So, sure enough, our tire went flat. We had been driving for almost 2 hours at that point, were out in the middle of no where, and had another hour or so to go- and someone else also had to “go” – to the bathroom…Yep, that’s right. I asked one of our leaders what to do- they said, “you could go ask those people over there, or just look for a bush.” Well, I chose the second option- perhaps I’m a true Indian now?
Okay, we (or rather the Indian drivers who spoke no English) fixed the tire, and we were on our way again. I don’t think we had any more major issues, except dodging the cows in the road and swerving to fit in-between two Ta-ta Trucks (Indian version of tractor-trailer- shorter, but wider).
(Picture of Robin and myself in the jeep/taxi thing!)
We finally arrived at our hotel- everyone still had all their luggage which was a shock, since on
all other trainings in the past, something had gotten stolen!
We are in a small town and it’s been raining ever since we got here, pray that there isn’t flooding here as there has been in a nearby town where more than 800 people have already died. We are on the 3rd floor of a hotel so no worries, but the streets are already a muddy mess…hopefully, it won’t get worse.
We did take a walk yesterday and here is a picture of the street we walked down.
And a picture of some little boys who were playing in the water. We were soaking wet when we got back.
We’re here visiting a partner organization learning about how Indians can take classes similar to
those in the states to learn how to do translation of the Book, etc. It’s neat to be here with Indians who are doing the same things we are and working towards the same goals. What an encouragement!
Something else that one of our leaders shared that was a blessing to me was how when we trust in Jesus, this earth is not our real home. He explained that since his wife and he have been here for 10 years, they feel comfortable here, but not exactly at home. Yet, when they return to their “home” in Canada, so much has changed, that Canada is not exactly home for them either. There is a dissatisfaction with belonging, and settling in because their “home” is not really anywhere here on this earth. He asked the group who would called this town that we are in their “home.” No one raised their hand. They are all taking the training courses from various parts of India or even other countries in some cases. None of us are “at home” here in this town and even not on
this earth. Yet, we have hope because for those who trust in Jesus, we have a home in Heaven where we will be one day!
Hope all is well back “home!” Here is a picture of our group….
Our first real meal after our approx. 35 hour trip!
P+P
Praise the Lord for health and safety thus far!
Please be praying for us as we travel to another major city where we will be for a few days, then
heading off to language school- where some details are still being worked out.
Oh, but wait- with so much weight with the luggage and people, it really is a lot to ask for an Indian tire. So, sure enough, our tire went flat. We had been driving for almost 2 hours at that point, were out in the middle of no where, and had another hour or so to go- and someone else also had to “go” – to the bathroom…Yep, that’s right. I asked one of our leaders what to do- they said, “you could go ask those people over there, or just look for a bush.” Well, I chose the second option- perhaps I’m a true Indian now?
Okay, we (or rather the Indian drivers who spoke no English) fixed the tire, and we were on our way again. I don’t think we had any more major issues, except dodging the cows in the road and swerving to fit in-between two Ta-ta Trucks (Indian version of tractor-trailer- shorter, but wider).
(Picture of Robin and myself in the jeep/taxi thing!)
We finally arrived at our hotel- everyone still had all their luggage which was a shock, since on
all other trainings in the past, something had gotten stolen!
We are in a small town and it’s been raining ever since we got here, pray that there isn’t flooding here as there has been in a nearby town where more than 800 people have already died. We are on the 3rd floor of a hotel so no worries, but the streets are already a muddy mess…hopefully, it won’t get worse.
We did take a walk yesterday and here is a picture of the street we walked down.
And a picture of some little boys who were playing in the water. We were soaking wet when we got back.
We’re here visiting a partner organization learning about how Indians can take classes similar to
those in the states to learn how to do translation of the Book, etc. It’s neat to be here with Indians who are doing the same things we are and working towards the same goals. What an encouragement!
Something else that one of our leaders shared that was a blessing to me was how when we trust in Jesus, this earth is not our real home. He explained that since his wife and he have been here for 10 years, they feel comfortable here, but not exactly at home. Yet, when they return to their “home” in Canada, so much has changed, that Canada is not exactly home for them either. There is a dissatisfaction with belonging, and settling in because their “home” is not really anywhere here on this earth. He asked the group who would called this town that we are in their “home.” No one raised their hand. They are all taking the training courses from various parts of India or even other countries in some cases. None of us are “at home” here in this town and even not on
this earth. Yet, we have hope because for those who trust in Jesus, we have a home in Heaven where we will be one day!
Hope all is well back “home!” Here is a picture of our group….
Our first real meal after our approx. 35 hour trip!P+P
Praise the Lord for health and safety thus far!
Please be praying for us as we travel to another major city where we will be for a few days, then
heading off to language school- where some details are still being worked out.
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