Thanks to some money we brought over from Scotland we were able to buy 4 big sacks of rice for the leprosy colony. This will provide them with food for a few days. There is around about 250 people who live in this community and in order to survive they must beg for food and money in the surrounding towns and in the city of Chennai.

We went with Capt. Thacker and met Sebastian and few other people from Mount Zion Church at the colony. The rice was handed over and a short service took place.

A medical team from another church were also at the colony at the same time and they were treating minor medical needs.

*Adam*

when we first pulled up at the leprosy colony i was very catious to get out the car. I know leprosy is not contageous but i was still thinking of silly little was that i could catch it. So we got out the car and i was very aprehensive we dropped off the rice and had a small service and said our goodbyes. When we got back into the car i started thinking more about the amount of people. 250. Also these people have nothing hardly any food and no money. They have to go in to Chennai to beg for money to buy food. it was quite upsetting really.

xx

Today Captain Thacker came to collect us and take us to Mount Zion Church. We left at 10 am for the 10:30 am service. The monsoon has started and the streets were flooded but we were still able to be there on time. It was a tamil service but the sermon was interpreted for us. We thought that we would have been out by 12 but come 1pm the service was still going, by 2pm it was still going and Adam was hungry but at 3pm it finally finished. It went on so long that some of the children fell asleep.

There were 2 sermons, and lots of singing and praying. We were introduced to the congregation and Adam was introduced as young man because they didn’t know his name. The sermon however was all about Adam, the first man. Near the end of the service we were called out to the front to speak. It was then that they found out Adam’s name and they all laughed Captain Thacker says it’s a sign from God, that Adam is to ask God what he wants him to do.

After the service we were invited to have lunch at brother Sebastian’s house along with Brother Franklin, and some other people.
The lunch was very nice and for pudding we got french toast with lots of jam!! They were very hospitable and Sebastian’s children are very cute.

In the evening we went to Christ the Rock Church. Some of the sewing ladies were graduating from sewing classes. This means that they have learned enough to be able to use their new skill to support themselves.

Tomorrow we are off to the Leprosy colony and then to Sangita for a couple of days, so there will be no more updates til at least Thursday.

Cya all soon

Rae and Adam

xxs

Today has been a very Indian day for me. I rode the bus like an Indian. For those of you who don’t know what that means basically you get as close to the open door as you can while the bus is going around the city.

I also ate like an Indian again for those who don’t know they use their hands to eat ANYTHING!!! We took some of the children from the slum to a scripture union camp for a day. We were all down on the beach and paddling around in the water. I ended up soaking wet. Oh well.

30 children and youth from Christ the Rock church came along. Many of whom had never been to the beach before. We paddled in the water but couldn’t swim in it because the current is so strong. Some played cricket and others played on the swing and the seesaw. We then had lunch which consisted of rice, cabbage, dahl and fish. It was another scorching day but at the sea it was cooler. We all soaked ourselves with water to keep cool.

Raj gave us some coconut milk but it wasn’t very nice so Bobby B drank it instead   He really liked it, he had two.

Also today we went to a wedding it was very colourful and there was hundreds of people there. The wedding was of Brother Sunderaj’s daughter Mary. She is Michael John’s sister. Many familiar faces were there and everyone was happy to see brother Matthew make an appearance as he has been very sick with cancer.

It was here that I learned to eat like a true Indian. One of the waiters came and gave me a big plate of rice and I sat for a while waiting on my knife and fork. The man next to me leaned over and said “this is your first time isn’t it” I just looked at him and nodded he burst out laughing and showed me how to eat with my hands. Once I got the hang of it I was fine. So mum guess how I will be eating my tea from now on J haha.

Right now I am sitting in my bedroom typing this up so the next time I get internet it’s just a copy and paste job. Oh monsoon season has officially started its pouring with rain and you should see the lightning and hear the thunder. The rain reminds me of home and it makes the place a whole lot cooler so I am not really that bothered.

xx

We visited the Kennedy School today. The kids are really nice they were all surprised to see themselves on the camera. the followed me around the classroom so they could keep watching themselves. When they saw their own face they pointed and burts out laughing. There was one boy who was able to sleep all the way through the comotion.

We tried sugar cane juice today. I didnt like it but Rae had a cup. We got moved to rooms with air con now so no more fan . Well for Rae thats ok because my air con doesnt work very well so i am still suffering while rae drops her room temp to that of home .

We are sitting in Raj’s house just now. Later on me and Rae are going to try and find a subway with wifi so we can catch up on emails and try to catch people on skype.

hopefully speak to you all soon

adam

xx

I had forgotten about IST.  No one seems to have a sense of time.  It’s one of the more endearing parts of Indian culture   But it has helped us to meet people at the YWCA and chat with them while we have been waiting to be picked up.  There were lots of people staying at the YWCA for a wedding and we chatted to Joseph and his family and we also met Bruce Wallace – a nice scottish name . He is from London and his father is an ex soldier who still lives in India.  The people at the YWCA are from all over the world.

Today we had a wee touristy day.  We went with Capt. Thacker, Raj, Vanitha, Sharon and Sabina to the Snake park.  This park is in Chennai and houses lots of deadly venomous snakes!!!  Luckily they are all behind glass in their cages.  There are also big crocodiles and other reptiles, there were no spiders though

After a while walking round the Snake Park in the sweltering heat we headed off in Capt’s nice air conditioned car to St Thomas Mount.  The sun got hotter and hotter the higher up we got.  The temperature was between 26 and 34 deg C and we had to walk part of the way up in the scorching sun but it was worth it for the view we got from the top.

After St Thomas Mount we went to Subway and Adam and I enjoyed a nice tasty sub and an ice cold juice, Mmmm

Tomorrow I think we are visiting the sewing classes and on Saturday we are taking some of the church slum kids to the beach for the day and then have been invited to an indian wedding at night.  We’ll keep you posted on how that goes.

Take care

Rae and Adam

I thought i would have gotten used to the heat and the smell. That hasnt happened yet.

Tonight rae and i are updating the blog in an internet cafe with probably the ‘fastest’ internet i have EVER seen. NOT.

We got one of the famous Indian took tooks here it was fun. I said to rae in the took took “its a wonder noone has crashed driving like this yet” then suddenly we were given a ‘gentle’ nudge for a car coming up too fast. I just started laughing but we were both ok. So dont worry mum .

unfortunatly as i  am not on either mine or raes laptop i cant put up some pictures.

I also never realized how big Chennai is. Its 60km long.

my inter net time is running low hopefully talk soon

bye

xx

WE HAVE ARRIVED!!

The first thing i noticed when i walked out of the airport was the heat. It was so hot. Then i noticed a mass of bodies all the Indian people were waiting to pick up friends or family.

Also the smell was overpowering. Then i saw Raj in the middle of the mass of bodies. Raj and Captain Thacker were there to pick us up and take us to the YWCA. Even though it was 5 in the morning the streets were still full of people and cars. Chennai never seems to sleep. As soon as i was shown my bed i was in it and asleep. Me and Rae slept through breakfast and lunch . We now sitting in Raj’s house and the fan is keeping me nice and cool . Tonight we are going out to the rain forest  restaurant  for something to eat. I cant wait i am starving i really should have got up for lunch. 

You may see a bear in some of the pictures. Don’t be alarmed he is from the SSPCA and he is tame. His name is Bobby Bennie Bear. Rae and I decided we should take Bobby on our journey with us. Bobby also has a bebo where we keep track of his travels.  www.bebo.com/BobbyBennieB

keep checking back for more posts

cheers

xx

Hey guys its Adam

Soon me and Rae will be flying off to India. I cant wait. 9 hour flight first . Its going to be one of the best experiences of my life. Probably the most important and life changing anyway. There will be happy times and sad times. I am sure i wont get homesick as i have heard that the Indian people are very hospitable.

Bye Bye Bo’ness

xxx

Adam and Rae are off to India tomorrow morning.  Keep an eye on the blog for updates

That’s it the end of the India experience is nearly over.  We have taken over Capt Thackers house.  Suitcases and hand luggage all over the place.  People sleeping in his bedrooms.

Just waiting on a delivery from Pizza hut must give it a try before our return.

It is now 8.00pm we leave for the airport 12.30pm, our flight to Dubai is 4.15am!!!  We still have a long trip ahead of us, but knowing our loved ones will be waiting for us keeps us jolly.

The game we created last year has been resurrected.  Remember the game where a word is made up and everyone has to come up with their own made up defenition of a word. 

We only have 2,887 pictures on the computer and more taken today to show you so get the kettle on.  We have 4 video tapes waiting for Owen to edit.

The team have been remarkable, as mentioned in previous blogs.

Anyway, that’s it over and out.

Lilias and David

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