Thursday from Chiluvuru

First of all, thank you to Mr. Garish Kurra for your kind offer to use the internet in your home. The son of Dr. Chandrama Rao offered me his mobile card for a couple of days, so I have been using that. However, I need to return that later today, so may need to take you up on your offer later this week. Even if we don't need the connection we will stop at your house to greet your family and express our thanks for your kind offer and your support of us in our journey.

Yesterday, Wednesday, was a holiday here in India (Sankrati) so the clinic, as all other businesses, were closed. We expected a rather loud celebration, as that was our experience of the festival on Monday that we attended. However, it was a very quiet day as most people celebrated with their families in their homes and there was very little activity out in the street.

We were pleased to receive George Varghese at the train station in Tenali early on Wednesday morning. He is from Karrala. He and his wife Gigi had lived in Denver for 5 years while attending seminary. Jerry Weaver, from Hesston helped us to make the connection with one another. It has been a great gift to have him present with us. His refelctions on our experiences past and present here at Menno Clinic and the challenges, opportunities and blessings before have been very helpful. He is indeed a kindred spirit as Jerry indicated that he would be. We will take him to the train station this evening for his return home.

Another beautiful day here. Yesterday we took a walk through the fields and orchards surrounding the village looking at their farmaing practices and the various types of fruits and vegetables that they grow along with the many fields of rice. We spent about an hour and a half at pastor Gopala Rao's house yesterday afternoon and had a wonderful time with his family.

This morning we had some wonderful interactions with some of the men of the village while we were sitting on the bench in front of the clinic. Then we went to visit the Shiva temple and got a crash course in Hinduism, which we experience as one of the most complex religions in the world. It was very interesting and educational. Troy was back at the eye clinic this morning and was going to watch a neighborhood cricket game at the school before lunch.

This afternoon we will visit Pouwen's house (the pharaceutical supplier for the clinic) in Tenali before we take George to the train station and then return for church here later this evening.