India Report #4: From Peda Kodapgal Oct 17, 2011
Dear family and friends;
The electricity just went off again but I have enough battery in the computer to get this done while we have free time. So, we will try to catch up on details of significance to us for our memories. We hope you might have some interest in it as well.
Backing up a little, we did not leave Hyderabad as announced at 10. The driver who insisted on that time, got caught in traffic and didn’t get to us until past 12. Then we had a few stops. The road has not improved since last year. Jeff Quam is taking it all in and can hardly believe the state of things in India. But he is doing well and helping in many ways. He wondered in Rogers what he would be doing here to help. Well, in Sangareddy Mary Alice and I laid down to catch a little rest. They had planned a vespers program in the nearby chapel at 7, but we slept through it. Jeff had a good nap and so went to vespers. There he had to give a story for the children (and adults) and got his first experience working with a translator. Sabbath morning he was suffering from serious back pain and spasms, so it was good we were staying so close to the chapel. In Hyderabad Jeff had laid down his camera in the car and forgot to take it when we unloaded. Fortunately, the car was owned by the Union and the camera was still there when we loaded to move on to Sangareddy. We had taken lunch with a local pastor during our touring of Hyderabad and Jeff feared he might have left it there. So a few phone calls got the process of discovery in motion and ended with rejoicing.
Moving from Sangareddy (already described) was interesting. We got off late and so could not move into our apartment in the Pitlam area in time to do much for an opening meeting. We heard that it was postponed since we did not get the expected grounds again. But the new place is in the village of Peda Kodapgal, six miles from Pitlam. The place we are staying in is within walking distance to the meeting site. A member of the government Assembly owns the house and the grounds for the series. He is very favorable to us and there may not be a charge to use the facilities. They have a new stage already in place and it will be big enough to accommodate our 8 x 8 rear projection screen. So in case of rain our equipment will be under cover—a rare happening. It is also of solid concrete including the steps so we will not have the hazards of the rickety steps to negotiate with the equipment. Also, there is a wall all around which saves us putting one up as at last time.
The apartments for us and the Paulsons are new but not very clean. The painters did not put down drop cloths over the marble floors so they are severely spotted. I think they have some way of cleaning that off but have not done it yet. The toilets are eastern (squat pots). That poses a problem for me with back problems and Mary Alice with her knee challenges. So the team took a plastic chair and cut a hole in the bottom along with other modifications. Since it was so late the work was hastily done with a small saw. It left much to be desired. We used it of necessity but realized it could perform unwanted surgery if not used very carefully. So today Jeff borrowed the saw and enlarged it to proper proportions. Any open wound over here could be serious with all the foreign germs hanging around. We wonder how we made it all these years without Jeff along.
We are relatively comfortable. The morning fires brought lots of smoke that included burning plastic bags. Jeff was having problems. So we will be moving to better apartments owned by the same benefactor in Pitlam. He is Honorable Mr Gangaram. You roll the “r”as in Spanish.
We ended up having a meeting last night but shorter and not giving the expected sermon topic. Paulson heard that people were coming including trucks from the villages. So we went over at 9 p.m. and endured lots of singing by many volunteers. I was asked to help present the shawl of honor to Mr Gangaram and he gave a nice speech of welcome to our group. Then Paulson surprised me again by announcing that I would be giving a half hour presentation. Extemporaneous speaking becomes easier with lots of practice. We got back at about 11 p.m. and fortunately the beds were already assembled and made up so we could sleep immediately.
I was concerned about dropping subjects from the sermon list but it will be made up by giving them on the two Sabbath mornings we will be here. We like to build background before the heavy subjects of Sabbath, Death, Hell etc.
We just learned that we will not be moving today nor go to the market since it is a special day with all the stores closed. It is related to the dispute between those who want to begin a separate state (Telegana) and those who do not. Just learned that it is a language problem. This area was once aligned with Madras (Chennai) where they speak Tamil and here most of them use Telelgu. So, the language “birds of a feather” want to stay together.
Just before our moving from Sangareddy, the Section Treasurer and his wife hosted lunch for us and really tried to make it special. It was very hot in spite of their efforts to tame it down a bit. So my stomach gave a strong reaction and the long (not in miles but in experiences) ride to Pitlam was very difficult (not to mention the back and hip pain). There were 8 of us in the car designed for 6 at best besides some luggage. Jeff didn’t give visible reactions but had to be terrified at the near-death experiences of avoiding head-on collision with oncoming trucks by the narrowest of margins. The two-way road was also being used to dry corn and dahl. This year there was much more of it than before, so it was in effect a one-lane road with two-lane traffic except for the spaces between piles of drying grain. We saw the usual flocks and herds taking their right-of-way out of the middle of the road or the entire road until the insults and threats of their owners gathered them to one side so we could pass.
The cold shower in the bathroom felt good but left a wet floor and toilet area. It is a science to know where to put your clothes when using the toilet or when taking a shower. The relief from both is worth the effort. This year we came about two weeks early and it is extra hot since the rains cool it down some. This would be fine except that the electricity is off much of the time and so the ceiling fans that cool and help discourage mosquito landings. So, sweat is abundant and increases the laundry sessions.
Today we had our own breakfast with peanut butter bread, fresh fruit and soy milk. We used the bread as cereal. We are glad for the extra food each of us has brought to get us by when planned meals are not available.
Mary Alice is straightening up the contents of the suitcases just in time to move again and redo it all. Bottled water is available and we bring cases of it along as do the local church leaders and pastors.
The electricity is still off and I had better save some battery for meeting in case we do not get electricity restored before then and in time to recharge the computer battery. Low-tech evangelism is more appealing all the time. Since we have not heard lately from Marian Parson in Zimbabwe, we wonder if her computer did make it through the series. I guess we will find out in December.
The Internet connection is not working here as it did in Sangareddy, so we’ll have to check that out. If and when it comes back this will be ready to send.
With love and gratitude to God for His many benefits (Protection and sustenance)
Dad and Mom (Glenn and Mary Alice)