Quite a Trip with an Accident at the end

Thank-you to all or you who followed our travels to India during the last two weeks. Everything we hoped to do was accomplished, even though there were several schedule changes along the way. I trust you have read the other blog that was also being shared for our group (see last post).

As a group we traveled in five states in India. We experienced the poverty of the country and even more the wealth and beauty of the country. We likely experienced some things there that we would not be able to experience in our own countries in terms of seeing the growing presence of an upper middle class in the nation. These things were actually not so much planned for this trip, but happened because of changes in our schedule.

We saw people actively engaged as followers of Jesus who are sharing the message of Jesus with their own people. The Church is alive and well. People are responding. The Christian Church is uniting in many sectors as they face opposition from others. I had a great conversation with a Catholic Priest as we rode a bus about some of these things. Gratefully we were able to move freely in each area where we visited. This has not been the case in other recent trips.

The Saturday before leaving India we planned a trip to a beach. Half of us went in a vehicle and the other half went on scooters. On the way we stopped to see the remains of a Portuguese Fort. After seeing the fort we were driving on to the beach on scooters. I was next to last in the pack. For some reason I was not able to make a turn in the road and slipped off of the brim of the paved road.

You can likely picture it. My front wheel immediately made a sharp left turn as it left the paved road and hit the incline of the ground beside the road. The front wheel stopped going around and instead came to a rapid stop against its flat surface. I was thrown forward and my rider the same. Fortunately she was not severely injured. I knocked the wind out of my lungs and found out later that I broke four ribs on my ride side.

We were greatly blessed by a fellow believer, Antonio, who came by in a vehicle and was willing to give three of us a ride back to town. Later I received the attention of two wonderful Indian doctors, first for ex rays and then for the care of my injury. In the midst of the accident we realized how great the hand of the Lord's protection was on us as we knew of so many other things that could have happened. We are all grateful.

The next day was time to travel home. First a short flight to Mumbai. Then a seven hour transition and a fifteen hour flight back to Newark, NJ. I was blessed with sleep for much of this journey.

Now we are all home and getting back into the rigors of life here. I had to cancel three appointments this week, but trust to be able to be back to my appointments next week. The doctor here at home tells me that he concurred with the treatment plan and medications I received in India. He also tells me that it will be quite a few weeks until I am actually back to "normal."

Thank-you again to all who followed our trip. I deeply appreciate your ongoing prayers.

A sister Blog

Things have been moving and we are having a great time with many experiences. Sorry, I have had little time to blog. Another member of our team is keeping a blog for us and you may wish to also check it out. It may be found at envisionday.blogspot.com.

Thank-you for your ongoing interest and support in our travels.

Our Team

Ready, Set, Go

This journey has been coming for quite some time. Many ideas came together in making it happen.

It is taking place now because of the wedding of a friend in India. Even as I write the celebrations may be taking place in Allahabad. We couldn't get there for the wedding, but we will arrive in Orissa in time for the reception that will take place there.

The other idea that helped birth this trip was a vision trip for people who worked in the office. It is a great way to help broaden the experience of people who work with others from around the world. Several people on this journey come from this association.

An ongoing idea is to expose pastor's to the work God is doing in other parts of the world. This idea as well is lived out in this journey and her participants.

One further concept was to visit people who live and work in the states of Goa and Karnataka. These are newer areas of work and not to many people have made that journey, particularly to Karnataka. And so this is part of the plan for this trip.

Ten people, fourteen days, multiple experiences, being touched by God. Pray for us as we go.

Back In the States

Thanks to all of you who have followed by travels. I am back in the States with one more leg of my trip to go - Detroit to Harrisburg.

The trip went well. I had two side seats to myself from Amsterdam to Detroit. That is always nice.

Much was accomplished on this journey. It was really good to learn more about a work in India and the wonderful people who are doing it. It was also very special to spend time with a group of leaders, many of whom I knew from previous experiences, who help to interface the work of an NGO with the work of the Church in that part of the world.

Blessings to you all.

Greetings from Amsterdam!

The trip is going well. I even slept for a good portion of the night. I am now back in the same spot I was in several weeks ago when I made one of my early posts.

I trust the best for the remainder of the trip. Thanks for all of the comments from Facebook.

Back in Delhi

I had a good flight from Kokata to Delhi this morning. All of my travels have been good with very little trouble along the way. For this I am grateful.

This has been a full day of making stops around town to pick up items people had requested back home. I didn't shop much in Kolkata when others did, because I knew I was coming back here for that purpose.

My flight leaves at 12:50 a.m. on the 28, so I am working on getting a good nights rest tonight before the journey home. I arrive home at 4:00 p.m. with a nine and a half hour time change. It should be an interesting trip.

I mentioned a meal in Kolkata in another post. Today I have eaten in a different style of restaurant. South Indian with the food being cooked right out front. A great "Thali" or plate of food for a little over a dollar. It was spicy and very tasty.

Tonight I ate Dahl (lentels) and Rhoatee - a flat bread cooked dry on a hot piece of iron. The bread came piping hot from the kitchen. It was very good. This meal brought with it many memories of childhood here in India.

I am grateful to still speak one of the languages of India. The one waiter and I talked off and on through out the meal. We know each other fom previous visits here. We also enjoyed watching a football (soccer) match between the India and Sri Lanka National teams being played right here in New Delhi.

That is it for now. My next post will likely be from the States or while travelling there if something of note takes place. Blessings.