All day long I have been a bit 'ho hum'. When my language tutor wanted me to say a sentence this morning I would respond like this "(deep sigh....) Um.....when I was a child, my favorite subject was reading. (another deep sigh....)
As I went to the bazaar this afternoon, people seemed to be staring at me harder. The sun seemed extra bright and hot. It's a school holiday right so there are lots of teenagers just standing around being bored. The word for trouble maker is "nut kut" So there were a lot of nut kuts out today. Again...a deep sigh....
I mentioned before that one of our favorite breaks is to go to the "mall" here and watch a Hindi movie. We can sit in the air conditioned dark theater, eat popcorn, and not have to speak in Hindi to anyone. So, when Heather suggested that for this afternoon, I was happy to take her up on it. The people at the "mall" are notorious for not being very friendly. So I was not surprised when my friendly efforts were rejected by a lady I was standing in line with. Being nice sometimes does not get me far here. Another deep sigh...
As we were coming home, It dawned on me.. OHHH its Wednesday. Wednesdays are notorious for being a bit slumpy. I was actually kinda relieved when I realized it. My week has been normal enough for there to be a Slumpy Wednesday. Another deep sigh. Welcome back Slumpy Wednesday. Good thing tomorrow is Thursday.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Mutiny!
Last Sunday we visited a church in M Town with a bit of a colorful history.
It was built in 1819 by the British who occupied much of the land north of the city. There was a revolt in 1857 when the British ordered all the bullets to be covered in pig fat. As you can imagine, the local soldiers under them were repulsed. The bullet wrappers had to be opened by biting them off and the pig is considered an unclean animal to basically most religions here. So, there was a mutiny. They figured what better place to start a mutiny then at a church? This is the one place where the British commanders would be all together...without their guns. I heard that you can still see the bullet holes in some of the pews. After the mutiny, they placed racks at the back so the British could bring their rifles to church. It was interesting to visit. The people were nice. Ironically, I met a guy from Boston there. On the rickshaw ride home, I was thinking about another, less violent, revolt against the Brits. One thing that our country has in common with this country is that we both kicked the British out. ;-) I don't care though, I still love the Beatles.
It was built in 1819 by the British who occupied much of the land north of the city. There was a revolt in 1857 when the British ordered all the bullets to be covered in pig fat. As you can imagine, the local soldiers under them were repulsed. The bullet wrappers had to be opened by biting them off and the pig is considered an unclean animal to basically most religions here. So, there was a mutiny. They figured what better place to start a mutiny then at a church? This is the one place where the British commanders would be all together...without their guns. I heard that you can still see the bullet holes in some of the pews. After the mutiny, they placed racks at the back so the British could bring their rifles to church. It was interesting to visit. The people were nice. Ironically, I met a guy from Boston there. On the rickshaw ride home, I was thinking about another, less violent, revolt against the Brits. One thing that our country has in common with this country is that we both kicked the British out. ;-) I don't care though, I still love the Beatles.Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Butter Knife In the Frig
To update you on the latest- FINALLY things are looking much better with my optic nerves. Both the eye doctor and neurologist were well pleased at the process of my brain pressure. I barely see spots anymore and have almost no headaches. However, this evening I found that I had put a butter knife in my frig. In Hindi they would say "my head is not working". I am looking forward to the days to come as my head starts to work again. ;-)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Finding Normal
As things are leveling out and trying to turn back to normal (which I don't know if I ever will find normal come to think of it...), I still have nights of sleeplessness. The pressure in my head gets worse at night and so I toss and turn alot. I am headed back to the capital today for some follow up appointments. I have to get my vision tested pretty regularly because one of the potential side effects of this pesky thing is *()NFBjbf&*NKNkks...oh sorry..blindness. ;-) But all joking aside, if you could be lifting us up as we travel once again. For my eyes, for rest, for grace. I am learning to hold everything with an open hand of offering instead of a closed fit. ( And pray for Heather too. She goes with me for all of these tests and it makes her tired too.)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Wallas
I just want to say that life is alot easier around here with wallas. Walla is a word in Hindi that distinguishes a person or a thing. Its kinda like saying "one who sells or delivers, type of..." I live upstairs and Heather lives downstairs so we are often called the "upstairs walli" or the "downstairs walli". If I can't remember some one's name I can just say "you know... the tall walla " In the store I can just say "voe walla" or 'that one' if I want to pick out a certain item.
Or there are all sorts of wallas to do my work for me. My favorite is the press walla. The one who irons my clothes. He comes to my door a few times a week, I just hand him my wrinkled clothes and for mere pennies he brings them back all nicely pressed and folded. We have the veggie or fruit walla who comes in front of my apartment and sells produce. As I am understanding more Hindi, I can tell the difference in the different walla "calls". They sing this little song that tells you what they have available. "allooo ghobee..." means "I am selling potatoes and cauliflower" I keep listening for "Blue Bell ice creammmm..."
There is the recycle walla that you can give all of your recycled items. Or just the other day, we heard the "call" of the 'gas stove, cooler, sewing machine' walla. If your sewing machine happens to be broken, he is the man to call on (I just think about ALL THOSE TIMES in the US my sewing machine broke and I could kick myself....) Heather was telling me about the 'knife sharpening' walla who will sharpen your knives for you.
I even tried to make up my own wallas. Some men came to fix my water taps. And I told my house helper the "water tap"wallas came. She just laughed at me... apparently wallas are predetermined and you can't just make em up like that. Lesson learned.
Or there are all sorts of wallas to do my work for me. My favorite is the press walla. The one who irons my clothes. He comes to my door a few times a week, I just hand him my wrinkled clothes and for mere pennies he brings them back all nicely pressed and folded. We have the veggie or fruit walla who comes in front of my apartment and sells produce. As I am understanding more Hindi, I can tell the difference in the different walla "calls". They sing this little song that tells you what they have available. "allooo ghobee..." means "I am selling potatoes and cauliflower" I keep listening for "Blue Bell ice creammmm..."
There is the recycle walla that you can give all of your recycled items. Or just the other day, we heard the "call" of the 'gas stove, cooler, sewing machine' walla. If your sewing machine happens to be broken, he is the man to call on (I just think about ALL THOSE TIMES in the US my sewing machine broke and I could kick myself....) Heather was telling me about the 'knife sharpening' walla who will sharpen your knives for you.
I even tried to make up my own wallas. Some men came to fix my water taps. And I told my house helper the "water tap"wallas came. She just laughed at me... apparently wallas are predetermined and you can't just make em up like that. Lesson learned.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Both Knees
The last three days have been really good and encouraging.This afternoon I felt tired but I had been planning to go with my coworker to another side of town. So I decided to go.The cool thing about this place is that its so diverse. I always feel like I can visit a whole new world and its only a 10 minute rickshaw ride away. As we made our way across town, my coworker commented "the neat thing about living in this town is that you can live in a pretty nice place but still look outside and see a pig peeing"
The point of the story is not the pig. ;-) The point is- we had a good opportunity today. A huge family welcomed us into their house. There were tons of them. The matriarch of the family was Chachi. She sat in her silk housedress atop a huge bed, as the rest of her family flowed about her. We were able to talk about our Father. Somehow Hindi just flowed out of my mouth. My coworker said a prayer for Chachi's knee.She just happen to place her hand only on Chachi's right knee. After the prayer was done, Chachi made SURE that her other knee got prayed for too. So, we had to repeat the same prayer- for the left knee. I mean, might as well right? ;-) I was able to talk to some of the younger daughters. They told us 'whatever Chachi believes, we believe'. They all welcomed us to come visit again. As we left, we prayed for Chachi, her family and for her knee, that they would one day kneel..both of them
The point of the story is not the pig. ;-) The point is- we had a good opportunity today. A huge family welcomed us into their house. There were tons of them. The matriarch of the family was Chachi. She sat in her silk housedress atop a huge bed, as the rest of her family flowed about her. We were able to talk about our Father. Somehow Hindi just flowed out of my mouth. My coworker said a prayer for Chachi's knee.She just happen to place her hand only on Chachi's right knee. After the prayer was done, Chachi made SURE that her other knee got prayed for too. So, we had to repeat the same prayer- for the left knee. I mean, might as well right? ;-) I was able to talk to some of the younger daughters. They told us 'whatever Chachi believes, we believe'. They all welcomed us to come visit again. As we left, we prayed for Chachi, her family and for her knee, that they would one day kneel..both of them
Friday, March 12, 2010
A Collector of Quotes
Over the years, I sometimes collect quotes. I write them down if I think they are funny, wise or worth remembering. Here are some of my favorites
"Life is not always about Coke and skittles darling" M.G.
"All of us who are successful now are simply failures who didn't quit" John D Hannah
"Just keep swallowing through the gag reflex...we'll be there soon" Marielle
"Faith looks back on the past and remembers that He never once has failed any of His children. It recollects times of great peril when deliverance came, hours of awful need when strength was received and cries "always before, He has helped me and He will help me now" Charles Spurgeon
"He doesn't actually call you because you love people, He calls you because He loves people" unknown
"God uses people who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him" Hudson Taylor
"Love of comfort and ease leads to every sort of evil...love of pleasure, love of excitement, the desire to never be bored, love of good health,love of control, love of adoration, love of good looks, love of getting your own way, love of what people give me, love of self righteousness..these are profound idolatries" David Polison
"Hesitation brings about failure" (said when trying to cross a road at a crazy interaction here in South Asia)
"Anyone who says when 'God closes a door He opens a window' has a weak view of who He is. What God does is- He puts you at the end of a hall, with no door and no window. Then He places an angry lion behind you where you can't get out. He waits until its seemingly too late. Then He blows out the walls and provides a way. This is how our God works"
"Life is not always about Coke and skittles darling" M.G.
"All of us who are successful now are simply failures who didn't quit" John D Hannah
"Just keep swallowing through the gag reflex...we'll be there soon" Marielle
"Faith looks back on the past and remembers that He never once has failed any of His children. It recollects times of great peril when deliverance came, hours of awful need when strength was received and cries "always before, He has helped me and He will help me now" Charles Spurgeon
"He doesn't actually call you because you love people, He calls you because He loves people" unknown
"God uses people who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him" Hudson Taylor
"Love of comfort and ease leads to every sort of evil...love of pleasure, love of excitement, the desire to never be bored, love of good health,love of control, love of adoration, love of good looks, love of getting your own way, love of what people give me, love of self righteousness..these are profound idolatries" David Polison
"Hesitation brings about failure" (said when trying to cross a road at a crazy interaction here in South Asia)
"Anyone who says when 'God closes a door He opens a window' has a weak view of who He is. What God does is- He puts you at the end of a hall, with no door and no window. Then He places an angry lion behind you where you can't get out. He waits until its seemingly too late. Then He blows out the walls and provides a way. This is how our God works"
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