Entry #24

Our Bathroom Renovation...No, this was not our idea! Right after moving into our apartment in late January, some workmen noticed that there was a leak someplace in the building. With our luck, they determined that it was coming from our little flat. First, they told us not to use our balcony (it has a drain), then not to use our master bathroom, then not to use our second bathroom. They said that they were "observing".

Evidently it was helpful to make this hole in the corridor wall so they could observe any water that might be coming from our flat. These pipes run underneath our master bedroom floor, which is entirely marble.

And some of those pipes end up right here.
They decided to remove "just a couple of tiles", so that they could "observe".

They were still befuddled as to where the leak was coming from,

so they decided to remove the toilet and to my surprise,

about 2 minutes later, they picked up the tub and took it out to the balcony as well!

And this is what we were left with.

At this point, I decided that we needed a "project manager"!

Here, bathtubs are set up on bricks and then sand is filled in around them.

Now it was time for the jackhammer.


They proceeded to remove the entire tile floor

and subfloor.

Eureka! They finally found the leak!

Guess where it is!

In the back wall, at the bottom left, they have now "entered"

the second bathroom and that's where the leak is coming from.

Since my husband's blood pressure had risen sharply by this point,

and five months had passed, it was time to put the bathroom back together.

They used layer after layer of gravel and cement to build it up.

My landlord keeps asking me why I don't take a bath!

So, you are wondering what this has to do with India! A lot. We could not count the number of days we waited for workmen and they never showed up, or came three hours late and then took a three hour lunch break. We put up with strangers coming and going in our apartment "observing" and speaking only in Telugu. We put up with a layer of dirt on the floor and a haze in the air that never settled. Kent gave up his bathroom and I gave up my balcony where I dry the clothes. And every moment that there were workmen in our apartment, the landlord had to be present as well -- so that he could "observe" the workers!
One day I counted 5 people crowded in the bathroom having a "conference".

It reminded me of the nursery rhyme...

Rub a dub dub, five men in a tub,

A landlord, a builder, a plumber, a mason and a mediator.

Entry #23

Rajahmundry...our home away from home. Quite often we travel by train to Rajahmundry. We visit two branches there and are presently teaching a missionary preparation class. The trip takes about 3 1/2 hours, if the train is not delayed. We reserve our seats ahead of time in the air conditioned chair cars. The cost round trip for one is about $8.00. We stay at the Anand Regency Hotel and make sure to ask for the 4th floor. That's the top; anything lower and you are taking a risk. The room costs $45.00. We enjoy the flat screen t.v., complimentary fruit plate daily and the free cookies. There is a free breakfast in the morning and we eat dinner downstairs at the "Canopy" which has a Chinese menu. We stick to the sweet corn soup, chicken fried rice, chicken noodle, chicken tikka, butter naan, chocolate ice cream and bottled water. On this trip we attended Youth Conference for the youth, 14 years through 18 years of age. Kent and I were asked to present a workshop on "preparing for a mission", so that took a lot of research! This was probably our favorite youth conference, because we didn't have to be chaperones!

Rajahmundry train station.

J. K. Gardens Function Hall in Rajahmundry
Location for the 2009 Youth Conference, Hyderabad District.

Youth Conference 2009

Visakhapatnam 1st and 2nd Branches, Gajuwaka Branch,

Rajahmundry 1st and 2nd Branches, and Kakinada Branch.

Did you notice that the girls are on one side and the boys on the other!

Service Project: visiting the elderly

Service Project: cleaning the yard of the "old folks home"

That is a pile of cabbage, which is on the "menu" for dinner

at the old folks home. She is chopping it by hand.

I bet you can't see all of the flies!

If there is a basketball court, Kent will find it!

A light shower at the church in Rajahmundry.



The girls - line dancing.

The boys doing the Bunny Hop.

Entry # 22 -- June 30, 2009

Did we mention that it was hot? These are the lazy days of summer. They say that the hottest months here in India are March, April and May. The kids even get out of school during those months. But we would like to make an ammendment to that. It is just as hot in June, July and August! We almost welcome the monsoon season. At least when it rains, the temperature drops. If it is about 38 or 39 degrees Celsius it is equal to 100 degrees Farenheit. And that is too hot for us! We do not have central air conditioning. Some days, all windows are open, the ceiling fans are whirling and a very dependable floor fan, with wheels "travels" to wherever we are camped out in the apartment. We are grateful for the split a/c in the bedroom, which we use at night. We keep the freezer stocked with plenty of cold drinks and ice cubes. On occasion, we have been known to open the refrigerator door and "act" like we are looking for something. We are really enjoying a moment of refreshing cool air!

These are all of the air conditioners, lined up in a row, at the Rajahmundry chapel. No wonder it is called the "A/C church".

Araku Valley in Andrah Pradesh.

They have just put down a new road in front of the chapel in Rajahmundry. It has been built up at least 12 inches higher than the previous road. Now, when it rains the water will go to the gutters/sewers and not flood the road. They make temporary rows of thick mud that criss-cross and they keep replenishing the "boxes" with water so that the road doesn't dry too fast. When you want to cross the street, you have to walk on top of the rows.

Now we know where to find our pumpkin for Halloween! This is a vegetable stand. If you want some fruit, you have to search for a fruit stand down the street. Fruits and vegetables are rarely sold together.

This is actually the inside of a house in a small village. On the opposite side of this home are their living quarters and in the center is an opening in the roof and a well for water.

These are mangos. There are many different types of mangos and some of them are used to make pickles.

Flower garden at Kabini Resort and Safari.

A train coming into the train station in Rajahmundry. We marvel at the mechanics that keep these things going!

A very common stand where you can buy water, soda (warm), chips (always with chili seasoning), shampoo in packets, other treats and also make a phone call using that "darling" yellow phone.

The motorcycle parking lot at the Visakhapatnam train station. They even have a section for v.i.p.'s. I don't know how you would find your bike in the dark!

A little oasis in the middle of Visakhapatnam.

Gardeners love to put their flowers and small bushes in pots.

One of my favorite pictures -- try to make it larger. It is "Michael's Body Freezer Box Service". Michael must be a merchant who deals with the rental of body freezer boxes. Here in India, people are not embalmed. You can be cremated or put in a casket and buried at the cemetery. (Which must be done on the same day that you pass away.) The body has to be kept cold while the family and friends come to pay their respects at your home. The "freezer box" looks like a refrigerator lying down, with a clear cover on top of the deceased person. You just have to trust me on this one, because I don't think I'm going to get a picture of that!

ooh...That makes me shiver!

Entry #21 -- June 14, 2009

Travelogue Time. . .We recently traveled to Hyderabad for meetings. On a day off, we went to Golconda Fort. It was built in 1525 on a granite hill, 120 meters high. It was constructed by the Qutub Shahi kings who reigned during the 16th Century. It is also known as "Shepherd's Hill" -- but in Telugu. Golconda Fort is encircled by an 11 kilometer long outer wall. At one time there were palaces, factories, a water system, cannons and a secret undergound tunnel. There are 400 steps to the top and Kent counted all of them! There is a fantastic sound and light show in the evenings.

Outer wall.

Outer wall.

One of many entrances.

Where in the world are we?

There are royal chambers, temples,

mosques, a jail and stables all inside the fort area.

It was a hot day, but we made it to the top.

All four hundred steps!

The outer wall is to the left.

At the top, looking down on the Fort

and the city of Hyderabad.

This is where visitors sit for the evening light show.

The End.

Entry #20 -- May 20, 2009

We thought that we had been spared of any campaigns, debates, town-hall meetings, political parties, 24-hour news, rallies, conventions, polls, elections and politicians. Here, India just completed their 15th Lok Sabha elections. There are over a thousand people seeking votes and making promises for 543 Parliamentary constituencies. In layman terms, the elected officials recess so they can campaign for a month (or two). It takes India one whole month for everyone to vote -- close to a billion people. There are five dates on which people vote, depending on where you live. They use EVM's (electronic voting machines). Then the votes are tallied and announced.

What is really hard to understand is that there are over 30 national and regional political parties. Sometimes they form alliances if they have a common political agenda. Since everything in India is an acronym, you have to know the difference between the INC (Indian National Congress) which is in the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) which is in the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). If you understand the Third Front (or even the Fourth) you are doing better than me. They don't agree with the political agenda of anyone else! Later, there will be a test on the RJD, DMK, BSP, AGP, CPIM and the HJP.

While we were traveling in an "auto" this noisy but peaceful group of election-goers passed us in a little parade as they "voiced" their political rights.

People and the things that they do....

Passengers transporting their goods at the Rajahmundry train station.

This is why we travel reserved seats in the A/C car!

A view out my back window.
This is a servant washing the dishes and utensils.
To the left is a wire basket where the clean items are placed to dry.

This is our second funeral and second cemetery. This cemetery has three separate sections; Christian, Muslim and Hindu. Because there is no way to preserve a body, the deceased needs to be buried within the day. The (black) casket is setting in the grass, to the left. That's right, the lid has not been nailed on yet -- and that's why I am far away!

These young boys are being taken to school by a rickshaw driver.


Residents are coming to fill their pots and buckets with their daily water.

This is our great friend, the security guard at our former apt. He is short, but carries a big stick! The only word in English that he knows is "courier". He holds all of our courier packages for us if we are gone. He does not allow anyone into the parking area with their car or motorcycle unless they are a resident. He always has a big smile, but as soon as you want to take a picture, they think they need to be serious.

Women bearing gifts to give to a god at their local temple.

My husband thinks I am a nosy neighbor.

They are always doing something interesting!

On this day, they are drying chilies, and possibly flour, grains, and seeds.

This is our local recycling center. They bundle and weigh cardboard, paper, newspaper, tin cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles and more!

Children sitting in front of a stand where people come to purchase snacks.

Entry #19 -- May 4, 2009

Here she is!

Our newest grandchild

McKenna Kate Dastrup

born on April 16, 2009

7 lbs., 12 oz.

20 in. long

Parents: Sarah and Jeremy

Siblings: Allison, Madison and Parker

Another Leaf

Our family tree is growing,

Another leaf, another name.

So beautiful and fresh,

So wonderful to gain.

The leaf helps complete the tree,

Small though it may seem.

But without the leaf,

The tree is bare.

A joyful celebration,

A wonderful addition,

Another piece of the whole,

Another step towards our eternal goal.

by Vicki Lynn Giglio