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 

A few weeks ago, on our first Sunday back in India, John Christian spoke at church about the importance of heritage and of those who fear the name of God. He shared with the group that several years ago, he had an opportunity to preach the Sunday sermon in the church back in Illinois where I was confirmed as a boy. From India to Illinois, it is really an amazing story that began 2 summers ago and yet continues to impact our lives now. 

Those of you that have followed our blog might remember that in the summer of 2012 I spent much of my time here engaged in some pretty hot, sweaty activities, including moving the church in Chennai to a new location. At the end of each long hot day, John and I would spend about an hour driving back to Mahab together and in that time, we had many discussions about the challenges of dairy production on his "Fresh Winds" farm in India. We talked about the care and feeding of the cows as well as the nutrition, and care and delivery of the milk. I told John that I wished he could meet my long-time friends Chris and Carolyn McMillen, owner and operators of "Paradigm Farm" in Toulon, Illinois John agreed that he would enjoy talking with a long time dairy man but I am ashamed to say that having spent time with John and observing his hectic schedule, I didn't take those comments too seriously. I have often marveled at how John manages to keep so many things going at one time and how many people want to have a little portion of his time, both here in India and on his infrequent trips to the US. Truthfully, I thought this potential meeting between my Indian friend, John, and my boyhood friend, Chris was only a fantasy.

Over dinner one evening just before our departure that summer, John suddenly turned to Susan and said, “Susan, I don't think Jim is taking me seriously. I told him I wanted to go to the farm in Illinois but I don't think he believes me.” I was surprised to 

Got Milk? My answer to this question is, "yes, by God's grace, I do."

I have often mentioned the struggles I have with the oppressive heat in India. Sometimes, when I'm
especially blessed, I receive a little relief in the form of a fresh breeze or a drink of cold milk.

When I was a boy in grade school, back in Illinois, a high school boy named Chris honored me by asking me to lead his Grand Champion Dairy Cow named Bessy in the Parade of Champions at the County Fair. Although I have never been a farmer or even lived on a farm for any significant period of time, agriculture has always been an integral part of my family life and my upbringing.

Many years later as I began my telephone career I moved back to that old home town and renewed a relationship with Chris. Chris invited me to help him complete some carpentry projects on on his dairy farm named Paradigm Farms. The agreement