Holy Cow!

Sorry! I just couldn't help myself with that cliche!

I am in an internet cafe in Gopalpur by the Sea, state of Orissa, India. It is very warm at 7:30pm. We are in a retreat center, ministering to pastors and students who are going through some training. After +24 hours flying and 18 hours on train, we got to our destination around 4am this morning.

Cows are everywhere, Coco! They are mostly grey and white, with an occasional baby in tow, having their dinner in the middle of the street, cars and bikes and buses streaming around them. They seem nonplussed. So do the skinny little goats and dogs. It was nice to hear roosters and ducks this morning. They love to clean up the scraps leftover from our curry and rice and potatoes. Not a bad life...

I saw huge piles of hay from the train window. Men loaded it onto trucks with pitchforks. No big tractors or balers here. You can see big piles of hay right on the street corner. But that seems to be the exception. I am not sure how all those cows get much too eat. Guess they pick through the garbage.

It is a different world here. I am so happy to have made it. It is challenging eating wet rice and curry with fingers, but should get better with a little experience. I hope to hear more stories from the people we are getting to know. One lady told me that their family lost everything last fall. Property, home and belongings. They are just coming back from a refuge camp out of state. Another lady told me she is afraid to go back because their neighbors consider them enemies since they are christians. They are happy to know that we are praying for them and that we care for the suffering they are experiencing. They are especially happy to see pictures of Thomas and Patrick, Maggie, Rose and Nora. And of course Philip, too! Our world is shrinking.

Much love to everyone who helped get me here. Will touch base sometime later. Try to stay warm! Wish you could smell the salt air and fell the warm breezes and come share some cups of chai! Get to know our Indian brothers and sisters. Don't forget to pray for the persecuted.