I love Saturday mornings. Farm fresh eggs with cheese, whole milk with cream straight from our cow, (whom we've nicknamed Bessie) and lots of rich Indian coffee in the cool of the day. As I wash the breakfast dishes, I look out our kitchen window to see 2 bullocks wander by in the pasture next door. As with most bullocks in this area of southern India, their horns are brightly painted red and green with the tips covered in brass cups topped with balls and bells. The dishes will have to wait while I grab my videocamera and head outside for a closer look. Before I can see him, I can hear his horn bells jangling constantly as the darker one strips most of the leaves off a small tree growing in the pasture. In less than a minute, he moves on toward his partner, stopping here and there to graze in the grass. I wonder about the constant jingling of his bells. Does he wonder, “Is it just me or do you hear that ringing sound too?”

Hindus adorn their cows and bullocks with paint, powders, flowers, bells, etc. because they hold cows in high esteem and respect them for their gentle, giving nature. Such decorations are part of annual agricultural festivals that honor cows. They give 

Gr-r-i-n-n-d. Click, click. Rattle, rattle. Kathunk. Erk, Erk, Erk. Harrumm. Tootle-tootle-tootle. Ah-h-h-h-h.... all music to my ears. 

For the last few years our Indian adventure has been enhanced greatly by having a vehicle provided by Acts of Mercy. This gift provides us extraordinary freedom to be able to focus on Achiever Academy during the school day and then have dinner, shop a little, and even take in some sights during our free time in the evenings and weekends. 

Some of you have told us how much you enjoyed our adventures in the little white van that we drove for 5 summers. It was a peach of a vehicle: no air conditioning, windows that sometimes refused to roll down, doors that sometimes couldn't be coaxed open, and a head clearance so low that I couldn't sit up straight in the drivers seat. The day we crammed 12 people inside, it looked like a clown car at a circus. But despite our neglect and disregard for its temperamental need for fuel and water, it valiantly served us faithfully... until now. Sadly, we must report that the little white van has passed on. 

On the day of our arrival a few weeks ago, John Christian apologized that, this year, the only vehicle that was available for us was a 1990's era, well-worn Jeep Scrambler, that looks like it has been “rode-hard and put up wet”. We first met the Jeep back in 2009, during my first visit to India and when we were invited to stay longer that year, I immediately responded, “If we stay, will you let me drive that Jeep?” They did, I did, and my fondness for this Jeep began. 

Some of you may know that as a boy I always dreamed of owning a Jeep someday. During the summer of 1968 my father found a 1953 Willis CJ-3B ¼ ton jeep with a four cylinder F head motor. “Jeeper” already had over 100,000 miles on it when I bought it 

Friday was a hot day in Mahab for Jim Sir. The day started with a convocation and prayer service to dedicate the teachers and students of Achiever Academy. As honored guests, Susan and I were invited to sit up on the stage in the direct sunshine. The service was meaningful and short, but by 10:00 I was well-toasted. After the service I helped Justin and Saroop (the worship pastor at Chennai Vineyard Church) take down the PA system and load Saroop’s car to take it back to Chennai. Then John Christian and Saroop showed me a couple of store rooms full of clothes, files, and sound equipment stored across the street at the Acts of Mercy office and asked me to help Justin and Thynkassi (the watchman at the widows village) sort through and organize the items after lunch.

“Susie Mam” and I decided we would walk the 1 kilometer to our favorite restaurant for take-away lunch before her class, so we hurried off down what we affectionately call “Mulberry Street.” - for we never know what we will see on the way.  On the way back to school, we parted company and Susan hurried back with the food while I stopped at the currency exchange to change some dollars to Rupees. Then I stopped at the laundry to pick up the clean laundry, but  I had forgotten to bring the dirty clothes to drop off so I walked back to school, retrieved the clothes, and made one more round trip to the laundry and back. When I got back to school I had only a few minutes to catch my breath and eat a little before Thynkassi came to tell me it was time to get to work on the storeroom.

I wish I could describe the stifling heat of a closed storeroom in India whose only ventilation is the open door, lifting antiquated  air conditioning units, oversized speakers and boxes of clothing and books out onto a narrow balcony, reorganizing

After yesterday’s comfortable homecoming to India, I think we could call our
second day in India an interesting detour of opportunities.

Detour #1 - AC
When Susan and I awoke we discovered that when the power went off and back on in the middle of the night, the air conditioner in Charlie’s room had not come
back on. He was a good sport about the discomfort, but had spent much of the night trying to make it work. You may recall our great joy yesterday, when we 
discovered that all of the comforts of our home worked perfectly, even the first
time. It had been a great 12 hours of comfort, but I will tell you, we were not
completely surprised to wake to this new development. We called Kavita, our Acts of Mercy “fixer“, to find someone to fix the air conditioning, but based on our past experiences, we thought it might take a while to get the AC problem resolved so we also began thinking of alternative
solutions over breakfast. Susan spent a few extra minutes getting ready and I think she regretted not practicing, over the past year, how to properly drape her Sari. But soon she was beautifully wrapped in her Ivory Sari (with a more than a few extra pins for security) and we were on our way to school, all the while, the heat and humidity and the broken AC in the back of our minds.

We were greeted very warmly by all the teachers, who told us they were excited to see us again and had  been waiting for us to arrive for several days. The children presented us with bouquets of flowers during Morning Assembly as we enjoyed seeing how they had grown in the past year. Afterwards, Susan and

Frosty cold milk, fresh mangos, French toast, & Indian coffee!  Add warm
hugs and great smiles from our dear friends, John & Carol Christian.  What a
warm welcome home!

It had been a long trip covering 2.5 days, from Houston to Chennai, and we
were happy to finally be back in India. We purchased tickets at a great rate,
but when CheapOAirfare.com wanted to charge us $45 apiece for 3 seats together, we went “CheapO” ourselves. We decided to trust in God and the airline and opted out of the $135 expense. When we checked in at the airport, we were delighted to find our assigned seats were all together in the center of the second cabin, which seemed like an answered prayer.  When we boarded, however, God demonstrated His abundance when we learned that the airplane was half-empty and we could choose our own seats and spread out over several rows.  Quite a treat for a 14 hour flight to Dubai. After a layover in Dubai, the connecting flight on to Chennai was a little more crowded but we were all together and it was only
about four hours and quite acceptable.

When we arrived in Chennai, we were greeted with unusually cool temperatures - 73 degrees (although 3:00 AM) and quickly claimed our bags and cleared customs. There was no wait at the taxi stand and there was a currency exchange 30 feet away so within a half hour,  we were headed to Mahabalipuram in an “A/C Taxi”.

A week before our departure from Texas, our Indian hosts, John and Carol Christian, had invited us “come home for breakfast” at  their lovely farm home, Fresh Winds. What a joy to be greeted with those glorious smiles and welcome hearts. Soon we were enjoying fresh mangos and French Toast and best of all, fresh milk from the Fresh Winds dairy.

We enjoyed renewing our close friendship and after a short visit, John drove us to our rental home in the village, which is the same house we stayed in last year.  We were excited to be moving into the house so soon in our visit, as we had previously stayed in a hotel for several  nights as logistics were arranged. We got REALLY excited when we found that not only did the air conditioners in 
both bedrooms turn on, they actually pumped cool air. The refrigerator was in place and yes, it seemed to be working, too. Was it too much to hope for the well pump to actually deliver running water as well?  We were not disappointed as we settled our luggage and enjoyed a refreshing shower for the first time in 3 days. Still in awe of how easy and comfortable our arrival had been, we thanked God and settled in for a long nap to sleep away a bit of the jet lag.

We’ve accumulated a number of Indian household items through the years and we store them at the Acts of Mercy office between visits. Before leaving us at the house, John had arranged for Justin, the Acts of Mercy caretaker, driver, and jack-of-all trades, to pick us up in the afternoon so we could retrieve our home items and pick up the Acts of Mercy van, our main transportation during the month we will spend here. As I shook off the cobwebs from the nap, I heard the familiar honk of the school bus and was excited to see Justin and school bus full of children, all waving at us with great big smiles. Susan was still a little groggy and missed the bus, but Charlie (our mission partner this year) and I climbed aboard and enjoyed delivering each of the children home. Back at Achiever Academy, my focus switched to re-familiarizing myself with the van and I was glad I remembered that there is no working gas gauge in this near-ancient vehicle. After getting reassurance from Justin that there was plenty of petrol, we headed back to the house to pick up Susan and headed to our favorite restaurant for dinner.

We received a very warm welcome from the waiter at the restaurant and were honored when he remembered Susan’s and my favorite order and even how we preferred it prepared.  Soon after we ordered, the owner of the restaurant, our friend Jacques, came by to give us a warm and familiar greeting and we enjoyed renewing our long friendship with him. How wonderful to have such good friends and relationships half a world away.

After a delicious dinner we dropped by the market to pick up a few staples to get us through the next day and once more, realized how good it felt to be “home“ again in Mahabalipuram. When we walked in the market we were greeted us with a squeal from Kavita, the gracious office manager of  Acts of Mercy, and the one responsible for all our living arrangements. Kavita introduced us to the clerk at the market and a new friendship was formed. Susan had just been talking about how our relationships are similar to a spider web in that we have direct contacts with individuals, but there are also so many branches of people who know the same people we know. Our web of influence and blessing in India just keeps widening.  No trip to the store is quick, as Susan frequently discovers a few more things we might need but it was not long before we were on our way with a 5 gallon bottle of drinking water, juice, cereal, bread and a flat of fresh eggs, and a generous supply of cleaning products.

As I wove the van through the traffic and pedestrians (both human and bovine) I was contrasting the ease of transition these three travel days to India had been - a stark contrast to previous trips here. Those who have followed our previous travels to India may remember that in years past, we have waited more than a day for air conditioning and sometimes longer for a refrigerator. Fresh, clean water was iffy at best. How could we have ever imagined just four years ago that we would be able to fly to India, be greeted by true Christian friends, easily move into a wonderful house for a much needed nap, have a vehicle provided, enjoy a
delicious dinner and shop on the way home. It was a blessing to be greeted as treasured friends and made so very welcome at every stop.

On the drive home, we marveled at all the blessings of our warm “Welcome Home”. Comfortable, spacious airplane seating. Unseasonable cool temperatures in India. Easy navigation of our airport arrival. Wonderful breakfast with dear friends on an Indian farm. (Did I mention the milk? ) Simple move-in process for our home for the next month - so simple we had time for a long nap. Delicious dinner and the renewal of friendships all across the village.  Yes, it was a very comfortable and happy “Welcome Home”.

It reminds me of a favorite prayer:  "God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. For such is the nature of God."

From our home in India to yours,
Jim

There was a buzz on the streets of Mahabalipuram today. Men were smiling in appreciation and women were bobbling their heads in the traditional Tamil Nadu gesture of affirmation. Even the busy, overly-active 9 year old M. smiled up shyly as he looked up at her, "Your dress is very beautiful, Mam." 

Wherever she walked, it seemed that all eyes were on her beautiful ivory sari.  Golden threads woven into a delicate border complimented the gold blouse with the metallic floral embroidery. It was an unusual sight on the streets of Mahab because today, the starched ivory fabric matched the blonde hair and pale skin.

How many blonde women do you think roam the streets of this small village?

Recently, I received a very special gift of a beautiful ivory sari, woven in what is known as the Keralan style. We've learned that each region of India (and sometimes even each village) has its own style of sari fabric, colors, or embroidery and even children can distinguish the very subtle differences. The Keralan sari derives its name from the southern state of Kerala and is known throughout India as a very elegant sari. The golden threads and ivory color are symbols of serenity and purity.  ...

Now I know that even God appreciates a good Swiss Army knife.

We are very pleased to finally be settled in our rental home and even more pleased with the delightful chilled air that rushes from the AC vents. Such luxuries are not to be assumed in a country such as India. On the 3rd day after our arrival, we were told that the AC had been installed and our home was finally ready. Susan was busy at the school so Justin agreed to help me. Justin and I established a strong friendship my first year in India and his many roles at Acts of Mercy includes caretaker at Achiever Academy and jack-of-all trades for Acts of Mercy. Most importantly, he is our cheerful and beloved friend. With his typical big smile, Justin helped me load the 3 large bags, the audio-mixer box, and the 2 carry-on bags for what I hoped was the last time. We headed north out of Mahab toward what we now consider to be our home in India.

When we arrived, I took a quick glance around and was pleased with how clean things seemed. (Remember this is a man’s view.)......  

We awoke to drenching rain in Houston for the 2nd day in a row, concerning since our flight yesterday was cancelled due to weather. Particularly interesting since Houston, with its humid, tropical climate, hasn’t had measurable rainfall for 6 months! Undaunted, we load the 280 lbs. of luggage back into the SUV and once again arrive safely at the airport 1.5 hrs. later. However, I quickly became a little concerned when, instead of the expected boarding passes, the check-in kiosk spit out a paper saying “cannot access itinerary – see agent”. Uh oh. Here we go again. As we inched our huge mountain of baggage closer to the desk, I began to worry about the extra weight and baggage fees we expected to incur.  By this time, we had repacked efficiently enough to squeeze some critical school needs and medications around the audio mixer so we had saved a $150 fee for extra baggage. We already had 4 super-large and heavy bags (2 more than allowed) and were prepared to pay a $100 extra baggage fee for those. Now I worried, “Did that extra tube of lipstick I bought last night send the weight over the 50lb limit? How much would THAT cost?” For some reason, I felt the urge to pray. I did and immediately, it was our turn at the desk. The entire process took about 7 minutes and the agent ignored the few extra pounds in each bag. She checked us through to India, wished us well and apologized for yesterday’s flight cancellation.  As we headed for the gate, we quickly realized she hadn’t charged us the extra baggage fees either!  We smiled, God smiled; we were on our way with “Special Touch Story #2”!  Stay tuned for Story #3 – I just know it’s awaiting us in exotic India!

Susan

P.S. – Jim also got a 25 cent refund for returning the baggage trolley so far bringing our total savings to: 

No fee for the mixer after all ($150) + no extra baggage fees ($100) + trolley refund = $250.25! And we haven’t even left Houston!

I don’t believe in coincidences.  I truly don’t. So when a “coincidence” occurs, I have to smile and wonder what God is up to.  And frequently, I think He smiles with me, too. In the frenzy of activity in our preparations for India, such a “coincidence” stopped me in my tracks and made me laugh right out loud!

One of the programs of Acts of Mercy in India is a music school and concert center that also provides significant funding for the school for indigent children and homes for widows. Electronic musical equipment is very expensive and of poor quality in India so John Christian, the head of Acts of Mercy, asked us to purchase an audio mixer and bring it on the plane, thereby greatly reducing the cost of tariffs, shipping, etc. What seemed to be a very simple request turned into a flurry of phone calls and emails which resulted in frustration and hopelessness to the point we almost gave up several times.  As we were running out of time, the decision was made to postpone the purchase until we arrived in Houston (our departure city due to cheaper airfare to India) and so as a last ditch effort, my son-in-law, Blake, (who also plays guitar in a worship band) agreed to help us select and buy a different mixer on our very limited budget.

After a long drive across Houston, we arrived at Guitar Center to find swarms of customers waiting in line to be assisted by one of the 30 or so salespeople.  We settled in for a long wait, especially challenging as 15-month-old grandson Colton was enthusiastically playing chase around the sound equipment between stints entertaining us on the keyboards. After about a half hour into his wait, Blake inexplicitly found himself focused on one particular salesman and so when another became available, he stepped back, letting others go ahead so he could wait specifically for this man. He wasn’t exactly sure why he had made the decision to wait, but he felt the strong tug that he should wait for this man.  So, our wait continued. And continued.  

When it finally became Blake’s turn for assistance, he explained that this particular piece of equipment was intended for use in the Vineyard Church in India. The salesman commented that he had a connection with the Vineyard Church in California and he, too, knew a man who runs a mission in India. The conversation continued and you can imagine our surprise when we learned that this man, Doc Greene, actually knew John Christian and attended church with him in California years ago!  He moved to Houston only 2 months ago and as we began swap “do you know…?” stories, we found that we knew many of the same people in the U.S. who support Acts of Mercy in India.  And, when he mentioned the name of an old friend who had moved from California to Colorado about 10 years ago, he told me he had completely lost touch with him.  Wish I had taken a picture of his face when I pulled out my cell phone and dialed the number of this same friend of his – and also mine - from my years living in Colorado! Two old friends reconnected by cell phone, right there in the store. They swapped phone numbers and vowed to catch up later that evening.  And thank you, Doc Greene, for the discounts that saved almost $100 for the children and widows in India!  

How do “coincidences” like this happen? How was it that we flew from Houston, for the first time ever, and thereby requiring the mixer to be purchased there? How does it happen that this fellow moves from California and a short time later, connects with a woman from Dallas and her son-in-law who wander into a huge store filled with shoppers and salespeople?  How did we stumble across this man in Houston, the 4th largest city in the US with a population of 2.5 million, on this particular day, on his particular shift?   How is it Blake knew to wait for Doc?  How is it people can still believe in coincidences after stories like this?  I don’t.  Not anymore. These stories have happened to me too many times.  I’m not always sure WHY these things happen the way they do.  But I am certain that God touches our lives in very special ways - for His own purpose - whenever and however He chooses.  And sometimes, I think He winks at us as He does.  Thank you, Lord, for this Special Touch Story – Number #1 for this journey, sure to be followed by many more.

Stay tuned for more Special Touch Stories in the next 4 weeks.  I know there will be more and I’m smiling in anticipation. 

Susan

Off to India!  Almost.

After days of packing and repacking, weighing and bargaining for space,  “(I’ll trade you 1 bottle of Pepto Bismol for your fleece jacket”), we loaded all 6 bags + 2 laptops in the car, said goodbye to family, and headed for the Houston airport.  Arrived just in time to learn our flight had been cancelled due to…. well, not really sure as we got 2 different versions.  First agent told us “we had a storm and the plane was hit.”  Not sure if she meant by lightening or by a baggage truck, but it didn’t really matter because by then, we weren't getting on that plane anyway.  Another agent blamed the problem on weather in Chicago, but I think he was just working hard to absolve the airline of responsibility so they didn’t have to compensate us.  :-)  All we got was a cup of Starbucks coffee and I had to pay for that!

We were impressed with how quickly we were rerouted onto Delta but soon realized that was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. After 3 futile attempts to check in, the gate agent said she couldn’t figure out the airport codes for Brussels and Madras so therefore, our bags couldn’t be checked all the way to India.  Standing in front of a trolley filled with 280 pounds of luggage, it almost became funny - until we realized that if we trusted her to figure it out and check our bags, it was highly likely we might never see our bags again!  Just as we considered what it would be like to spend 5 weeks dressed in only the clothes we had on our backs, we learned that this 2nd itinerary was now cancelled and we were going nowhere today anyway. We have been rebooked to depart tomorrow (Thursday, June 23rd) so will make the long trip back to the airport again in the morning and start over once again.

So here we are… Day 1 -  spent the entire day waiting at the airport and ended up right back here where we started. Perhaps God was protecting us from peril today - or perhaps He was giving us new opportunities for tomorrow. Either way, He leads us forward into this great adventure and most assuredly will give us opportunities and stories each and every day.  Jim and I feel incredibly blessed  to be sharing this adventure with the greatest Companion of all! 

Susan