March 19

Second day of the leadership conference at the ministry center in Rameswarem. We left the hotel about 8:15 for breakfast at Billy and Salini's house. Then in the car for the 300 ft. drive to the ministry center. I think we are driven back and forth from there because it is so hot and sandy and we are not used to the heat. The flies were still present but not as bad today. The services start at 5 a.m.!!! but we don't get there until either Ron or Mike's teaching sessions. The first session this morning was taught by Mike on the fruits of the Spirit. It was very good. Chuck came in during toward the end of the session. He slept in today. On Tuesday, our travel day here, Chuck, Mike and Jan, and Billy's mother, Saralin (sp) went to the southwest corner of India. From the time we all left Chidambaram their total trip time was 15 hours, going through more of a jungle type terrain. They arrived in Kerala about 1 a.m., had to be up to teach two sessions and have a preaching time also, then got back in the van at 5 pm arriving here at 3 a.m. And, Mike had to lead the first two sessions this a.m.which started at 9:30 am. After the first session the rest of the team went back to the Baby Home for pictures, to hold the babies, and to pass out handmade dolls the New Life COTN had made. Then we went to the Prince of Peace elementary school on the compound grounds. They have about 275 students from kindergarten to 5th grade from the local Tamil community.The kindergarten class sits on the floor and uses individual slates and chalk for their lessons. It is in a building that, as best as I can describe, is like an old fairgrounds livestock stall. The rest of the classes share a long narrow room in a different building with partial wall partitions between each class. They sit on benches and use slates also. No desks. Each class area is about 10x15 in size. Of course, no air conditioners...just ceiling fans. I understand this school is free for the students and depends upon donations. They have a huge waiting list each year. New Life COTN helped BCM to purchase a big piece of property across the street and railroad tracks for a future school with plans to be able to teach up to 10,000 Tamil children. This is the Tamil area of India. We then were taken out into the community to a small "day care" where there were about a dozen or so little ones who were doing some studies. They had a concrete floor and palm-leaf woven walls. They looked to be 4-7 years old. It was about 1 pm and so very, very hot. I'd swear it was well over 100F with at least 100% humidity. Everybody else tried to convince me it wasn't that hot...it was just the high humidity.....I disagree. There is no way for us to find out for sure. But, trust me....it was HOT! Then to lunch at Billy's again with time to just relax. We are eating well. Lots of rice. Some fruits and cooked vegetables. A little chicken. Today we also had fresh shrimp. The cook is being very conservative with the seasonings which nearly everybody is thankful for, except perhaps Dixon and a couple of other people. They would like to try the very spicy South Indian food. We finally found out that we could connect to the internet in Billy's office at the ministry center so were able to send some blogs. I hope you have enjoyed them. We will attempt to send another one or two before we leave here on Sunday morning for the beginning part of our journey home. Then several of us went back to the hotel to rest until the evening service. Ron is doing the two teaching sessions this afternoon. After a nice rest in a cool room, despite the power going out briefly several times, we went back to the ministry center for the evening service. Tonight was a graduation for some of the pastors who have been taking a three month series of classes on evangelism. It was standing room only so we sat out on the veranda outside the conference room trying to catch a breeze. Edon is feeling a bit under the weather so stayed at the hotel. After a late supper (they have "tea" at 6 pm) we returned to the hotel for the night.
There are two constants we have seen on this trip.......the poverty of both countries everywhere we go...and the clothing. Men wear either shirts and pants or shirts and wrap around skirts. Women wear sarees or the baggy pant/long loose top. The only western style clothing we saw anywhere was in Calcutta and very little there. And, either barefoot or sandles/flip flops. Clothing costs are minimal in this area of the world!