India - bits and pieces

I just got back from India, and while it would have been easier to post daily about the trip, the days were too full, technology slow and it was much too fun to be engaged with the people and the team to take the time. So I'll give it to you in pieces from journal-memory.

This was a team trip from Bent Tree Bible Fellowship traveling to Pune, India. We were teaching a 5 day Counseling/Discipleship Conference to women. The men were teaching Leadership to the Church Planters ready to graduate after a year of Bible Study. The focus of church planting, training and discipleship is the Marathi people in this Indian state of Maharashtra that includes Mumbai and Pune.

We'd planned this trip for months, now it's time to get there. We flew out Feb 13th to overnight in NY, then a 13 hour flight to Abu Dhabi on Etihad Air plus another 3 1/2 hour flight to Mumbai. It was great to be met by a familiar friend, Jithu. (Jithu and Shashi oversee the church planter training) Just one more leg, a 3 hour bus ride to Pune ... yes, a 3 hour tour.

We broke down ... twice, sat by the side of the road for hours waiting for another bus and arrived in Pune 8 hours later. It was, at the least, an adventure! It felt so good to climb into a clean bed with no option but to fall into a great sleep.

This is our hotel.

The street in front of our hotel - yes, downtown street and cows roam free because of Hindu religion.

The view from our hotel - pollution.

It's Satuday, and we "lost" a day in the air. This would be our only free day to see a bit of Pune. Some of us went to the International Leadership Academy (ILA) that evening to visit the group of men who had been living and learning together, out of their suitcases in dorm conditions, in Bible school, training to be church planters. This was their last week and then they would go back near their hometowns to start cell churches. After the their first 6 months, they had been directed to start cell churches and they had started 25 with over 200 in attendance.

As we walked up to the house, we heard their clear, strong voices singing together during their devotions. It was thrilling. We prayed for them in a group and had a great visit. I learned a few Marathi words ... I love to do that in any country ... which I would use during the week - much to the surprise and giggles of the Marathi-speaking people.

OK, enough for now. Check back later and I'll have more.

They call it a "Bluebird" day

So much for "let's take the first few days and just relax, read some books and putter around." You have to take adavantage of the beautiful days God gives you. Marty and I got into Crested Butte yesterday afternoon, stocked up on groceries, did some opening chores around the house, had fun cooking and settled in - fully anticipating a slow few days to wind down. But when we woke up very early this morning to crystal clear blue skies and warmer temps than normal for January in Crested Butte, (today predicted high almost 30 ... last week -34 low and 0 high!) we quickly grabbed all our gear and headed to the mountain for a full day of skiing. And what a day it was! It's been a banner year for snow, and with no wind and sunny skies - we fully took advantage of every run we could on this bluebird day. I think we still "got it."


Wish you were here!

And now ... the rest of the story

This is probably TMI, but if my last blog seemed a little "Hallmark-y," here is the rest of the story.

My memories, of the whole holiday were not diminished by any glitches. Any time with family is precious. Yes, the week was a happy, noisy house full of family but that meant that Marty spent 4 hours in the clinic the day before getting meds, shots, inhaler because of bronchitis and onset of pnemonia. I went to the clinic the morning of their arrival for the same symptoms. That meant my 79 year old parents, whose plane was delayed 4+ hours traveled across the country to be with all of us ... sat in the Cleveland airport all day, making friends with other stranded travelers, playing cards and eating junk food. That meant my sister (with 2 broken feet) was delayed 6+ hours in the middle of her connecting flights with almost no hope of making it all the way in that night and very rude airline employees. That also meant Marty made 2 trips to the airport within 2 hours to get the weary travelers in. Also in the mix, was a trip to the ER and overnight stay in the hospital with my dad because of a pain in his neck and left shoulder. Real troopers, the day after Christmas in the ER not in your home town is a bit unnerving - my dad checked out ok even with his history of open heart surgery and a pacemaker. The stay in the hospital with extensive tests meant my parents missed their original flight out, re-booked on an afternoon flight ... and that flight was cancelled. All packed up and ready to be home, they stayed one more night with us. That also meant that Brian, Julie, Scott, Holley, Abby and Grant still made lots of time around their schedules and in law families, travels, colds. We so appreciate all the time and effort that everyone made to be together.

There is always "the rest of the story." What I remember is the meals together, the laughter, the candlelight Christmas Eve service (with truly choirs of angels heralding the birth of Christ) the games, the wonder and delight of children ... that it was a nice week celebrating Christmas with everyone.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The house seems rather quiet today after a happy, noisy house full of family over the holidays. My mom, dad and sister - Judy came in for the week to spend Christmas with us, which was no small effort considering the summer they've had. My mom has made a great recovery after a broken femur (titanium rod/ weeks in rehab) in June and Judy is on her 10th week of recovery after breaking her left ankle (plates/screws) as well as her right foot. It was fun to hang out with Brian, Julie, Abby, Grant and Scott & Holley as they made lots of time for us. And Marty's parents joined us on Christmas morning. It was a nice week celebrating Christmas with everyone.












Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

So long, George, my friend

When I was in Uganda with Hesed Minstries this year, we made some good friends at Hesed as we worked together as a team. One of these fine people and respected friends was George Mayende. (That's George, in front in the picture, leading worship at a conference where we all worked together.)

To my great sadness, George Mayende, a faithful servant of God passed away on Sunday morning in Kampala, Uganda from malaria and further complications.

George was born in eastern Uganda near the Uganda/Kenya border and was 43 years old. He served with Hesed Ministries beginning in 1999 as the head of Hesed's music ministry that has been very effective in presenting the Gospel through traditional music and dance. George was happiest when communicating the Gospel through song. In addition to this ministry, George worked very closely in Hesed's orphan ministry. George had a deep passion for orphans, having grown up an orphan himself. In fact, his ministry and outreach to orphans is found in the number of children that have survived him - 19 children that included 7 of his own, 2 sons that he adopted after his brothers died, his late sisters' six children whom he provided for, and, most recently, four boys that he led to Christ to whom he had become a surrogate father.

George suffered a disabling hip accident as a toddler that left him crippled and in pain. He was disabled, but when it came to worshiping God, he was fully able. We remember in prayer his family and especially his wife, Topia as she assumes the the responsibility of care for all their children.

I was honored to meet and befriend this man from a small village in Africa who grew to impact so many in his own country as well as all of us so far away. George was an incredible man and we are really going to miss him.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas ... Vacation

Taking cues from the Christmas Vacation movie, we've added squirrels and attic adventures in our holiday memories. Yesterday evening, after some weeks' battle with galloping squirrels in the attic, Marty made yet another trip to the attic to search for their access. No squirrels spotted, but Marty misstepped on a joist and put his leg through drywall all the way up to his hip. Ouch! He's bruised, but fine. The ceiling in the game room upstairs has a huge hole and he narrowly missed the ceiling fan. We tried taping up the drywall, but about 15 minutes later we heard a weird sound upstairs and realized that now a critter could have access to the house through that hole! Fortunately, the noise was just the tape ripping loose. And more fortunately we figured that out before a squirrel found his way in. Marty screwed the drywall into the joist and covered up any small cracks. That might be as good as it gets before the houseful of family arrives for Christmas.

Sing with me now ... "Christmas is that time of year ..."
(That Spirit of Christmas sung by Ray Charles)

One ____ to Rule them All

Peter Jackson deservedly has made his mark in New Zealand. After the trilogy of Lord of the Rings, everyone is familiar with the fabulous sights of this beautiful country. And the country has latched on to the publicity. In newspapers, billboards and TV, the marketing for products centers around the famous phrase, "One Ring to Rule them All" - so fill in the blank with your product. One: phone, TV, air conditioner, whatever - it will "rule them all." The landscape does not disappoint this beautiful, rugged, mountainous, beach, sheep-filled country. Marty and I remarked as we traveled the countryside, "It's so Lord of the Rings!"

We only had enough time to get around the south island, flying into Christchurch; driving over the Southern Alps; winding down the west coast to see glaciers; into Milford Sound; Queenstown; the rugged southernmost coast with penguins, sea lions, elephant seals; the Scottish city of Dunedin and back up to Christchurch. Wonderful sights, interesting people, good food (we didn't have to eat there, but Subway's special sandwich is roasted lamb with mint sauce - wouldn't fly in the US. Burger King even offers Pavlova - a merengue dessert.)


The Tasman Sea


Hiking to the Fox Glacier (also hiked to the Franz Joseph Glacier)


I can't believe twice in the same year - helicopter landing on the top of a glacier!


It's surprising considering the beauty of all the water, but we didn't do any fishing in this legendary, fishing country.


A boat cruise through Milford Sound (really a fiord since it was carved by a glacier) 9+ miles till it meets the Tasman Sea. With crested penguins, fur seals, dolphins and thousands of waterfalls.


Yellow-eyed penguin on remote beach of the southernmost coast. (only about 1000 left in the world)

For the whole slide show of Australia and New Zealand, just click on the picture below to use controls and see the captions. (Double click on the slide show to see the pictures individually.)