Just the Beginning!

Home made Brick Making





The Building above and to the right is the Bible College and Church. The picture to the left and just above are from the downtown area.

On June 8th as we were descending upon Bangalore I peered out the window o the earth below. It was around midnight in India as we landed. The scenery through the window was so different from what would be seen while descending into a U.S. Airport. Every visible portion of land that could be seen from my window was covered by a building, road or covered by the glow of a yellow light bulb. After landing, our plane had to wait 40 minutes before there was a loading dock available. The airport was very small, but not over crowded during our time there. We waited for our baggage for twenty minutes before it came out the conveyer belt. Then we had to have one of our bags checked again before we could finally leave the airport. Chuck and Colin, both Americans, met us as we left the baggage claim. After shaking hands they led us to the taxi.

Driving though the Indian streets was somewhat chaotic in my eyes because not only were we driving on the left side of the road, but the road lacked lines, markings and pavement. Motorcyclists weaved in between each other and pedestrians wandered sometimes even between the motorcycles. It was around midnight and there was still a fair amount of traffic. Finally, we reached the home of Jayakumar and Prima.

Chuck, not yet middle-aged, used his cell to the landline phone inside the home. Prima came out the door and groggily greeted us, then unlocked the iron gate that enclosed the porch. Alan, Colin and I bid Chuck, who lives a block away, goodnight. Colin, who nineteen years old and is staying in a room next door to Alan and I, parted as we spoke shortly with Prima before the both of us headed up to our room. Alan had told me that the floors were made of marble, but I didn’t quite imagine that all of their floors would be marble. Marble is as common in India as linoleum is at home. Their home on an American standard is actually very nice; every bedroom has its own bathroom with shower. After exploring our room, unpacking and settling into our firm beds, we were able to enjoy about twelve hours of much needed and long awaited rest.

On June 9th, most of our day was used to really get settled. Chuck, his wife, Connie, their daughter, Anjali, and Colin took Alan and me out for a drive through the city. We saw the state Capitol and the Parliament building. We drove through the, “most western city in India,” according to Chuck. Traffic was still insane. I’ll see if I can get some videos and pictures up to show how traffic runs in this country. Later, Alan gave Rufus, a young man that Alan connected with during his last visit to India, and Prima the gifts that he had brought them from home.

We had dinner around 9:30pm which is quite normal for the Indian culture. Around 10:30 we had cake for Prima’s birthday. It was a fruit flavored cake with icing.

Alan is always preparing for his class that starts on Wednesday or reading one of his many books. He has also been recruited to preach next Sunday in the English/Tamil service. The service on Sunday June 10th was very interesting. There is a worship team that sings and plays guitar, drums and runs a computer that projects the lyrics. The songs are shown on the projector only the language that they are meant to be sung. Tamil songs are shown in the normal Tamil script as well as in English to help with pronunciation of the Tamil language.
Today, Monday June 11, Alan and I are at the school using the computers here. Alan is printing documents and preparing things for his lessons while I am writing this blog entry. They have wireless internet and a network setup for the school’s computer lab.

It feels great to be away from the American culture. I have confidence that the Lord will be working through Alan in the classroom. He is teaching Apologetics, the defense of the Christian faith. Pray for Alan as he is teaching here across the globe. Pray for me as well, that I will be able to serve to the best of my abilities, grow in my faith while I am here and aid Alan as he serves in the classroom. Prayer is always needed.

Jeremie