Friday, November 19, 2010
Dear Family and Friends:
Our experience at the Calcutta airport impels us to “fire off” another email record of it. (You will understand the expression better later) But first, we did find some acceptable postcards within walking distance of our room at the SDA School. Now the challenge is to find a place to buy the necessary stamps and then a mailing place.
At 7:30 a.m. our breakfast was past and Glenn had hauled our 2 smaller carry on suitcases and one big check on down the 50 steps to where the taxi would load them for taking us to the airport. We left one of the larger cases with the Principal and repacked so we could take out the Video projector as a carry on and use that case for a check on with overflow from the one big suitcase.
The taxi to the airport was a metered one and we expected to pay what the meter said plus a tip. However this driver stated at the airport that we owed Rs 300 rather than the Rs 123 the meter showed. We expected to give a tip for baggage, but rather than haggle over the Rs 300 Glenn just paid it and “neglected” to give an added tip. We had given the previous cab driver an additional Rs 110 for his trouble making a total then of Rs 345. So the last cab driver lost Rs 45 by inflating the metered amount. On the way to the airport there was a loud clattering sound that sounded to Glenn like the engine had thrown a rod. We remembered such an experience once just outside Oshawa, Ontario. What actually happened to our taxi was that something dropped down from underneath the car. So the driver pulled over and checked it out. Then he picked up some sort of rope or belt lying in the dirt and used it to tie up whatever had fallen down and we were on our way again. Of course we had visions of trying to hail another cab to get to our plane on time.
We planned to handle our suitcases ourselves and by-pass the aggressive “helpers” at the airport. Mary Alice went to get a “trolley” (luggage cart) but while Glenn was paying the taxi driver, a helper with a cart grabbed the suitcases and started loading them, even with Glenn’s protests that we could handle it ourselves and had a cart coming. It is interesting how little English they understand under those circumstances and how much they do understand at other times. Mary Alice would have driven him off (Yes, she can be feisty when necessary) but Glenn rather took it in stride as part of necessary commercial travel overhead. They (he added an assistant along the way) did help us get to the right places. So Glenn gave him Rs 50 and the assistant Rs 20 which they divided. So for about $2 we made it through checking-in and on to Security.
When flying we try to put the High Priest Garments that would be hardest to replace if lost, into the carry on case where we have more control over it. But Security changes what control we think we have over anything. Now, we have cleared many airports with the Ephod and Breastplate in our carry on luggage, but Calcutta was different. Their X-ray detected something suspicious and Glenn had to go through the bag till they discovered the lead sinkers Mary Alice had added to the Ephod (3rd garment of many colors) to hold it down when worn. Since the fishing sinkers looked like bullet heads the examiner inquired deeply about them. No manner of reason or explanation could convince him they were harmless. He had to check with his superior who decreed that they would have to be put in our luggage that is under rather than in the cabin of the plane. The first security officer then pointed to his gun to illustrate how they were like bullets (the appearance is similar to the ends of the bullets but not the power section that sends them along to their mark). Glenn tried humor to suggest that he could not throw them with enough force to kill anyone. But all was in vain. So with an agent he went back to the counter and through significant hoops to retrieve one piece of our “down-under” luggage. That involved talking with three people. Then together Glenn and one “helper” went back to the X-ray that first passed it without question and banded it with the Security Ribbon. But this time through the same machine prompted them to look at those “bullets” and inquire about them. Finally the explanations did win consent to band the suitcase again and get it back to the “down under” position where it could not harm anyone.
That’s not the end. Returning, Glenn again had to go through Security and endure the pat down and explain why going through twice. Still not done. Headed for the bus that would take us to the gate for the flight to Aizawl in Mizoram, one agent noted that two bags did not have the security stamp of approval. One had been overlooked (Glenn’s camera case) and the other was a purchase on the side beyond Security that should have been evident that it was harmless. Strict regulations prevailed and Glenn had to go back to the Original Security once more to get the needed stamps which were routine. We now have new illustrations to use in preaching about the Seal of God that is necessary to reach Heaven. All who reach there will be secure in every sense of the word and no threat to anyone or anything.
In spite of all the “side trips” we were able to make it to our Gate in time to board the plane and even had an interesting visit with a former Church of Christ Pastor in line. He is now in business and is helping fund an Orphans home somewhere in India. Here on a short visit he was amazed at the extent of SDA work here and around the world.
The Airbus flight to Aizawl was luxurious compared to everything else that day. We even got extra water in the small bottles we like. Our royal welcome from Biaka and Zosiama (people we have been in touch with over the years and helped with various projects) was so nice. The 28 Km ride up the mountain brought back memories. The heavy rains this year caused big landslides that we fortunately missed. There has been no rain for the last ten days and things are drying out. So our timing for here was perfect.
This time we are staying in the “Seven Day Hill” complex with Conference office, school, hospital, church and residence of many leaders. They have a guest room and provide the meals via the wife of the Conference President whom we knew from before. He is away to Hosure for the Division meetings, but family is here and working. The evening meal was absolutely delicious and safe for us. The toilet near our Guest Room is western, complete with seat, but an alternative squat one is next door to it. We noted that the western one had foot hold places under the seat for those who might use it who were used to the hole-in-the-floor variety. The squatting on the one we are using would be “high rise” and Glenn thought it might represent “upward mobility”.
The bed mattress is thin and hard but we “exercised” our way through the night by twists and turns not necessary on our Select Comfort mattresses at home where the full body weight is supported on air rather than a few pressure points carrying the whole load. We are almost refreshed this morning and certainly enjoyed the breakfast of wonderful WW bread, pancakes, soft beans with tomatoes, a warm cereal beverage, bananas and apples (shipped in from China with a Fuji flavor and crisp texture in contrast to the ones from India we have been eating). Also, our two meals here already did not reflect the hot spices we endured in prior meals.
There has been a lot of upgrading of buildings here, but Internet is still slow and often not available. So we don’t expect to be sending as much E-mail as before. Maybe to your relief! It may not be worth the time or patience to weather it out regularly.
This morning we must go to the Police Station and register, a routine thing here. Then Biaka (Our adopted Mizo son who is Ministerial Director here) will take us to a few places. Then Zosiama (Director of the Tlangsang School in Tripura we helped found and build) will lead us to look at Public Address systems. We plan to buy one for the school if we can afford it. They really need it now that they have 120 students. Even that is down from the 200 they had prior to the economic melt-down affecting many parents and students. There are wonderful things happening which we will see Sunday when Zosiama takes us with him. His expectations on our visit are very great. They will cancel classes all day if necessary for us to present all our messages in just 4 days. He wants us to visit with each student individually and says it will be the high point of their life and they will remember it and tell it to everyone they meet. Also we will get to see the results of the evangelism now taking place in villages opened to us because of the school.
Biaka says the Video projector we left with him at our last visit is not always reliable but has been used extensively to win many people who are now baptized members. We plan to leave our present projector with him and pass on the old one from Biaka to the Tlangsang School. Zosiama is well versed in electronics and may be able to fix it where needed and make good use of it there. So now we need to replace ours when back home for use with our Sanctuary Seminars. If any of you know of a good one for sale at a reasonable price, let us know ASAP. We have a Sanctuary Seminar on Dec 18 in Glen Bernie, MD (near Baltimore) just a week after we expect to be back in USA at Chicago. We’ll do that on the way home.
Our room here is much quieter than in previous places, even the hotels. We still hear the students and some of nature’s creatures but are not so distracted as before.
Time to close and try to E-mail this on our way to the police station. Tonight Glenn preaches at the big church here on the hill. Again he preaches tomorrow at two more services we think.
Our cell phone would not work in this part of India but our hosts here loaned us one of their SIM cards so we can use it. In case you need it for emergency, our new cell number in Mizoram and Tripura is: 919615467647. You may need 00 in front of that.
With love, In His Love,
Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Glenn and Mary Alice
P.S. We didn’t get to E-mail this as planned either at the Conference Office or at Zosiama’s house where we were for a delicious lunch after buying the sound system for Tlangsang SDA Academy. Sooner or later we will get it to you. In the meantime we hope you enjoyed the respite.