church in mumbai

we went to church today..which usually is pretty easy...but, there is only one branch in all of mumbai...it's about an hour away..in navi mumbai, which means new mumbai...a suburb...so we drove through alot of the city...so many slums..it's unreal...we saw where 'slumdog' was filmed...we saw the 'new ' government housing for the slum people which look like they are 50 years old and they are brand new...can't figure out what happens to those buildings...there are the roadsiders, they are people that don't even live in the slums, they are more like homeless...so we got to church about 20 min. early...it's in a muslim home that is rented as the church...they have a guard standing outside the house...we went inside..a small room with about 40 chairs set up...people started arriving and everyone of them said hi, introduced themselves and shook our hands...very friendly...we met the branch pres...a very young indian man..very nice...met a few americans, one john lee who is from camarillo...small world...i think we will hang out with his wife next week...they were very nice and he loved talking to russ about surfing...he knew just from looking at russ that he hurt his nose on the surfboard! they are here for 3 years...the meeting started...they had the prayer, they welcomed us...had the sacrament..one deacon...they asked kathy to speak...she had brought a wonderful talk...then the deacon spoke and gave a great talk on Christ...i was very impressed...afterwards we sang, along to cd music...prayer...then we split up for rs and priesthood meeting...their church is only 2 hours..so every other week they have rs/priesthood and then the other is sunday school...not sure if they have primary...they have a primary pres...but only 2 little children about 3 and 5...there were 8 of us in rs...the primary pres. gave the lesson..it was her first time giving one...i thought she did a great job...very sweet...2 of the sisters were baptized last week...one of them broke down crying, saying how her life is so hard...etc.etc...i guess that doesn't happen ever...it was very sweet...afterwards we said goodbye...they were very sweet and loving...so hard to be a mormon in india! what strong people they must be...some take 3 hours to get to church..amazing...then, we had lunch on the way back to our hotel...so, it basically took all day...it was very nice...

mumbai

We flew into mumbai,india yesterday...it's crazy...but, pretty amazing...to start off...before the plane left the sprayed the plane with insecticide...some weird gov. rule...we were met at the airport by a driver from the hotel...as we drove, the traffic was crazy...the only rule is that there are no rules...3 lanes become 5...whoever can go, goes...honking..watch out or your'e in trouble...he showed us the nice buildings, the suburbs, the slums, the shopping...trouble is...i thought it all looked pretty slummy..now, i know what a 3rd world country looks like...even thenew stuff looks crummy...steve was saying you take your life in your hand everytime you walk outside...he also says the men do this 'bobble head' thing going side to side to say yes...today we went on a tour of the city...we went to the 'jain' temple..it was interesting..they are one of the many, many religions here...you take your shoes off, you can't turn your back on the statues...the people make offerings of rice...there are some men that make some yellow stuff and men put it on their foreheads...as we left, we were attacked by beggars..they follow you to your car, act like they are with you...we then went to this park that has a lot of topiaries...in the middle of the park there is a part which we couldn't go see where the jains leave their dead..they don't believe in bury or burning...so they take the body to this part and leave...vultures eat it and then they bury the bones! sick! we saw where a bunch of families have a washing, drying and ironing business....have had it for many, many years..the men do the washing...it looks like alot of hard work...not in washing machines...by hand....then they deliver it...we went past the train station, some newer buildings...we went to ghandi's house..interesting...went to the gate of india...beggars attacked kathy...we saw beggars with no arms, it's really sad...we went to the veg market...they had animals also...we saw many of the tin lunches on bikes being delievered...amazing...a guy cleaning another man's ears..then, later kathy and i went to a travel agent to plan the rest of the trip...we drove in a 'cool cab' which has a/c....on the way home...no cool cabs...had to take an old yellow and black...he couldn't understand english, so the beggar woman told him how to get home...the money is $1 for 50 rupees...i gave the bellman 50 rupees...kathy said it was a good tip..construction people we were told make $6 for 8 hours of work...our hotel i found out was one of the ones bombed in novemeber...the security it tight...they check the cars, your luggage, bags, etc. every time you enter the hotel...well, more later...

up, up and away!

and we're off!!

russ and i are flying away today...we're going to dubai, india, and thailand...we'll meet up with kathy and steve fryer in india...so stay tuned for all of our great experiences!