Entry #16 -- March 1 - March 31, 2009

March Madness... We are hopping through the hoops this month -- that's basketball talk! Kent checks the internet early each morning (and four more times during the day) to catch up on the NCAA Tournament scores, standings, and who won, who lost. He even printed a bracket and faithfully records the winners. Then he becomes the "informant" for the missionaries. Now that's a 3-second violation!

A new "team", or congregation, has been organized in Visakhapatnam (the third one), called Gajuwaka (no, not Gonzaga), and we have been asked to be team players (attend) there. In fact, Kent has been called to be the Second Counselor in the Branch Presidency (that's like being an assistant coach). I said, "Can they do that?" Blow the whistle!

We are at "half time" or, half way through our mission now. (The exact date was the 9th.) Some would say that was half way home, but we can't say that (four-letter) word. We can't say other words either, like Krispy Kreme Donuts, Dairy Queen, McDonalds, Wendys or Talbots or Liz Claiborne or Jos. Banks. Buzzer!

So, let's "stop the clock" to show you some frames (pics) that we haven't used yet. Time out!

Poorna Market

Lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Fishing Harbour in Visakhapatnam

Thousands of fishing boats and trawlers operate from this harbour.

Crushed ice is brought in on trucks.
The fish are packed in large styrofoam containers,

or, thousands of fish are dried in the sun on these racks.

Isn't she cute!
She begs for money by placing a coin in her hand and holding it out --
and she never gives up!


Boat building -- all by hand.

Women are sorting the fish by type and size --
under the hot sun.

We were invited out to the Seetanjali English Medium School. From left to right are: Carol Nielsen (also a senior couple missionary serving in Visak), Nazarena (our friend from church) who is a teacher, the principal, another teacher and two little children, in uniform who greeted us and gave us beautiful bouquets of flowers.

These well-behaved children are in the youngest class.

This is Nazarena (again) and her husband, Sunil at their home only a few blocks from the school. While we were visiting the school, he was at home making lunch for all of us. But Nazarena made sure to give him instructions. She is holding their marriage record. They just finished telling us about their "love story". They are one of only a few couples whose marriage was not arranged by their parents.


The newly formed Gajuwaka Branch meets on the second floor,
just above the Union Bank sign.

Entry #15 -- February 1 - February 28, 2009

We are going where?...First, we traveled to Hyderabad for a combined zone conference with missionaries from Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Kakinada and Hyderabad. That meant a 12- to 14-hour train ride up and another back with 24 missionaries. Kent Watson, of the Asia Area Presidency presided. We stayed at the Grand Bay Hotel and wore out the remote on the flat screen t.v. The train ride gives you a chance see the farmlands; rice fields, corn, red chilies, cotton, coconut trees and grape vines. Otherwise, you should have reading material and newspapers and hopefully you get to take a nap or two. We are so glad that the missionaries don't forget to bring the junk food!

Next...we traveled, again by train (for 3 1/2 hrs.), to Rajahmundry to attend a one-day couples conference with workshops, fun, food and getting to meet new people.

Finally...we "snuck" out of town and flew to Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is a large island off the southeast tip of India, and it is the closest thing to paradise that we have seen so far! We joined other couples from Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Sri Lanka for a senior missionary couples conference. The week's itinerary included shopping, sight-seeing, food, fun and of course, meetings. Unfortunately, Kent and I got a virus (or something) and spent most of our time in the hotel room (it is a good thing that it had a great view). On the last night, we had some excitement that was not in the schedule. Two LTTE planes flew into downtown Colombo and the Sri Lankan air force shot them down. One crashed into a gov't. building only two blocks from our hotel and the other crashed near the airport. Therefore, we spent some time in the hotel ballroom and basement hallways. While the staff were passing out water bottles and flashlights, people were text-messaging to the outside world for information. We were hoping that the airport had been closed so that we did not have to leave the next day, but no such luck. Everything seemed back to "normal", whatever that is!

This is a view of the Colombo Hilton from the pool with the

World Trade Center Towers to the left.

The fish pond at the Colombo Hilton in Sri Lanka.

They are evidently trying to graft this plant to the tree.
Maybe someone could identify it for us.

Elephants at the elephant orphanage on their way to the river

for their daily bath.

Elephants enjoying their time in the water.

A baby elephant playing while the older elephants stand guard.

There is a large lake in the middle of Colombo. In the lake is a Buddhist Temple. Around the outside of the temple are these Buddhist statues, each one in a different state of meditation.

View from the top floor of the Colombo Hilton looking toward the sea.

World Trade Center Towers in the background. Foreground is an old colonial era building called Cargills. Trading in the tea producing industry took place in the colonial times of Sri Lanka, or Ceylon, as it was called then.

The Internal Revenue government building in Colombo where a LTTE (Tamil Tiger) aircraft crashed.

The National flag of Sri Lanka.

Many thanks to Nick and Carol Nielsen for sharing some of their photographs of this beautiful island.

Entry #14 -- January 1 - January 31, 2009

Our New Year's Resolutions: 1. Figure out the difference between a coconut tree and a palm tree so that you are not embarrassed. 2. Be more patient with the auto drivers when bargaining for a price. 3. Eat more than chicken fried rice, chicken tikka and butter naan when we go out for dinner; experiment with other items on the menu. 4. Read two newspapers a day. Get a good world map and figure out who is shooting at who and make sure you are not in the way! 5. Learn Telugu -- that will never happen! 6. Look at the pictures of your grand-children more. 7. Be more tolerant of the ways of India. 8. Find a new apartment . . .

This is our new "flat" at G.G.M. Reddy Estates. It is on the "backside" on the third floor. Four brothers went together to build this apt. building. Their father originally owned the property. They each have their own flat for their family and each rent another flat for income. There are a total of ten grand-children and they do not hestitate to come into your apartment whenever your door is open!

This is moving day from the first apartment. I don't know how two people brought eight pieces of luggage with them, and ended up with all these boxes! The movers wrapped the couch and two chairs in burlap and sewed them closed with large curved needles and thread.

Our first landlord invited us to his nephew's wedding. All of the gift-giving, picture-taking, music and formalities began at 7:00pm with a buffet dinner. The wedding did not take place until after midnight. Obviously we did not stick around for the "I do's" or whatever they say.

Our landlord and his wife are standing closest to the bride and groom. They are Dr. and Mrs. N. Kurmaiah. He is a retired professor of Chemistry.

We finally visited the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park here in Visakhapatnam. It is the largest zoo park of its kind in the country. It has a walk-through aviary, a deer safari, and a cat complex with jaguars, leopards, lions, Bengal tigers . . .

and bears, oh my!


There are festivals all during the year, but this one was close to the Christmas holidays. Large scaffolding hold the lights. They are usually displayed on the streets.

I'm glad I learned how to take night-time pictures!

Beach Road in Visakhapatnam is known for its wierd scupltures.
Here are some lovely mermaids.

Don't be shocked; this is only temporary. A design is made using mehandi, a paste of leaves. It is put in a cone, the tip is cut off and then you squeeze the cone to push the paste out.

This must take a lot of practice!
Do not try this at home...

Entry #13 -- December 1 - December 31, 2008

So, where's the Christmas rush?. . .There have been many years when I have wished that Christmas was not so hectic. We work at getting the tree up, the cards out, the groceries in and the baking done. We fight the traffic, hunt for parking spots and stand in lines at the post office and check-outs. Be careful what you wish for! This Christmas, in India, has been different. There is no tree to put up (or take down - yea!), someone else mailed my cards for me, dinner was catered by the local vegetarian/non-vegetarian restaurant that features Indian cuisine and goodies were bought not baked. Am I shedding crocodile tears? No way. (I do admit I miss baking those 24 loaves of zucchini and pumpkin bread.)

e There are 129 official holidays in India throughout the year and another 17 are called "optional". We have seen occasional signs of Christmas, minus the snow, of course. Here, people do get "wrapped up" in the Spirit of Christmas even though most are not Christians. They like the idea of getting together with family and friends, partaking of a big meal and exchanging gifts. Children write letters to Santa and hope that their stockings will be filled with presents and candies. There are festive people who put up a tree or decorate with candles and lights just because 'tis the season'. And many wish us a "Happy Christmas". The kids are even out of school for 10 days. Who knew?

e Our children and grandchildren have all found a way to celebrate in our absence. Sarah will be taking the kids to Naples, Fla., to "Aunt Sydne's house". Wouldn't mom and dad be pleased to know that the great-grandchildren are heading to the beach and swimming in the pool. Jeremy is in Iraq and misses all of them. Jason just moved into a new home in Las Vegas. Even though the boxes are not unpacked, the tree is up. And they actually had snow last week. Lauren is probably still soaking her feet and packing away her tiara after those strenuous Nutcracker performances as the Sugar Plum Fairy. And Kansas City got a little snow on Christmas eve!

We miss everyone, but are enjoying where we are for now. No matter where you are. . .

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

e e e e e

We went on a search, looking for signs of Christmas...

This Santa looks a little strange because he has a plastic face.

This Santa is "in training".
We took him with us when we went caroling, but he fell asleep.
(Who is that guy in the Old Navy t-shirt?)

We found green trees...

We found white trees...

We found a star...

and we found the Baby Jesus.
(Nativity - Visakhapatnam 1st Branch)


What we did on Christmas Day

Missionaries who serve in Visakhapatnam.
First, we had a traditional Indian meal but then topped it off with brownies and ice cream!


Then we traveled north 24 km to Bheemunipatnam where the Visak 2nd Branch was having an activity of games, lunch and a program of skits, carols and a Nativity by the children.

Nearby were these huts. So, all of the villagers came out to watch the activities. One of the village women had a baby, which she gladly "loaned" to us for the Baby Jesus.

We headed back to Visak before the sun went down, via auto, on Beach Road. We stopped to take a picture of the River Gosthani where it meets the Bay of Bengal.

Beach Road and the Bay of Bengal from Bheemunipatnam to Visakhapatnam.

Come back and see us next year! We'll be here!

Entry #12 -- November 1 - November 30, 2008

Just when we thought it was safe...the missionaries showed up at our door for Trick or Treats. It was obvious that their mothers did not make their costumes. Then the toilet backed up. The plumber had a great solution. He separated the plunger from the stick and used his bare hand to push the plunger down the toilet - yuck. It worked! Then we got stranded on the elevator one day when the electricity went out. We learned that cell phones do not work in elevators. Then we had to go to the dentist for our check-ups. The "dust bin lady" answered the door and wanted to know if we were there for our eyes or our teeth, as she pointed to each one and spoke in her "very best" English. That was a little unsettling. Then the dentist had to boil the instruments inbetween our teeth-cleaning sessions! But that gave Kent time to check the football scores on the dentist's flat screen t.v., which was right next to the chair! Our visit took two hours, cost $18 and there was no paperwork. Then we discovered that a bird (or some other creature) was building a nest in the bathroom window and had attached it to the mosquito net. Then we showed up at the Eastern Fleet's Navy Week open house to tour the ships at the port. Because of the bombings in Mubai a few days before, they wouldn't let any "foreigners" in! Then, Kent had to endure Thanksgiving Day without non-stop football games.

But we are grateful for so many things. When I first arrived, I had a list of things that I needed, wanted or wished that I could find. After awhile, I have either found them or found a good substitute. If I haven't found them, I finally realized that maybe I don't need them as much as I thought that I did or I have just learned to live without it.
Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Gathering wood -- 10 km northwest of Visakhapatnam at Simhachalam Hill. I had to climb a very steep hill and when I got to the top, she wanted me to pay her for taking her picture!

Must be wash day! The saris are drying flat, on the grass after being washed ... in the river. The picture was taken from a train as it passed over the Godavari River just after the stop in Rajamundry.

Palm trees, golden beach and Highway 5 going north out of Visakhapatnam. Mount Kailash, a hill park at 350 feet provides a panoramic view.

Shiva and Parvathi statues on Kailasagiri Hill.

The young women of Visakhapatnam 2nd Branch after a special program. They are beautifully attired in their very best saris.

President Kusuma (Prasad) and his wife, Gayathri from the Visakhapatnam 2nd Branch.

Thanksgiving Day, 2008. Dinner included chicken curry (easy on the spices), rice, brownies ordered from our favorite bakery and soft serve ice cream from Marry Brown's. They are all smiling because they just ate ... they will be hungry again in one hour! Pictured are Elders Talk, Manohar, Pacanos, McDonald, Sekar, Schmutz, Castagno, Morrison, Jenks, Bernard, Pessetto and Baree.

Many of you have asked for our mailing address:

our name(s)

India Bangalore Mission

"Anjali Plaza", 2nd Floor

493 C. M. H. Road, Indiranagar

Bangalore 560 038 India

Entry #11 -- October 1 - October 31, 2008

The ABC's of (surviving) India...
Air conditioning - We do not have central air, but rely on a "split" a/c in our bedroom and a floor fan on wheels. Beach is within walking distance, called Ramakrishna Beach, but you wouldn't want to swim there. Cars are plentiful, but small. I doubt if anyone had to take a driver's education test! Dishwasher - don't have one. I get to wash the dishes by hand. Boiling water to rinse them is a good idea. (Dryer - don't have one of those either. All clothes, towels and sheets go on a small line in the "laundry room" or on a drying rack.) Electricity can go out occasionally and several times a day. Our apt. bldg. has a back-up generator which will run some lights and fans until it comes back on again. Fuzzy is what my washing machine is called. I don't know why. I would prefer to call it a "slosher". Geyser is the contraption hanging on the bathroom wall. It heats your shower water, unless you are too hot and would prefer cool water. Humidity ranges between high and very high. Ice cream is preferred at Jack Frost. If you buy it at the store, it may be melted by the time you get home. Japanese encephalitis shots were given to us by our health department before we left. They are rationed around the world, cost a lot of money, but protects you against a certain species of a mosquito. Karachiwala's is our favorite little grocery store, carrying some American food items, like Skippy peanut butter. Look right, then left for oncoming traffic if you want to live another day. Mail is getting to us with no problem, except it take three weeks. Night mosquitoes are more dangerous than daytime mosquitoes so you never forget to wear your Odomos or Deet. Ocean is really called the sea. Pizza Hut delivers (what more can I say!). Question? - people say, "I have a doubt." Railway station is always very busy and very confusing but we are determined we are going to figure it out. Subway is within walking distance; no, not to catch a train, but for a tuna sandwich every Tuesday. Transporation is usually by "auto" but we have learned how to go to the "complex" and catch a bus (they always come back to the place where they started!). Underwear is really called inner wear. Vegetarian and non-veg. restaurants are plentiful. I would love to have a salad if I could just find a head of lettuce! Water is safest if the label says "Aquafina". Never use the water from the tap to drink or even brush your teeth. X... Yellow pages - there are none, which makes it difficult to shop or find stores. Zoo - yes we have one here in Visakhapatnam.

This is the view of the harbor and the Bay of Bengal from the roof of our apartment. There are always ships waiting to come into port to unload. A beautiful sight at night!

This family has traveled to this Vishnu Temple to have their children's head shaved by a priest.

We traveled 10 km through the Simhachalam Hills to the Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple. It was built during the times of King Sri Krishna Dev Rayulu in the 11th Century.

This is for everyone who would like to try chalk-drawing on your sidewalk, driveway or at your front door. First, you need to moisten the cement. Next, you make dots, in a symmetrical pattern. Last, you draw the lines around the dots, making a design.

Let it be known -- it is the women who are "building" India! The game is to count the number of bricks she is carrying. And she looks happy about this!