An Auto Driver, Faith, and Relief Society

March 15, 2009

Now that we meet in Sector 2, we have to take a 15-20 minute auto ride to get to church. Last Sunday, our first meeting in the new location, (Elder) Bharat Kumar Vanjarpu rode home with us and talked to the driver and got him to agree to come and pick us up each Sunday morning and come back for the return trip after church. He agreed to come next Sunday at 8:30 AM. No contact all week and I figured it would be a miracle if he showed up on time, if at all. I had looked outside and hadn't seen anyone, so I figured we'd need to go catch an auto on the street outside the sector. When Sister Tanner and I walked to the gate, there he was waiting in the shade across the street and down a little out of sight from our window. We had prayed before leaving and the answer was waiting before we prayed. Oh me of little faith.

This is something Sister Tanner wrote that needs to be shared and I second her comment about our great church meetings today. Read on:

"We had great church meetings today with lots of investigators. President and Sister Ricks were there, and at the end of Sacramet meeting he asked if he could take a picture of the congregation. He said he wanted to send it to Bangalore to show them that we're nearly outgrowing our new facility already!! What a wonderful problem!! There actually were about the same number as last week, but nearly all were different investigators and most of them actually stayed for the full block!! There were actually 10 ladies in Relief Society today and Hannah Smith had been asked to give a lesson. Being just 13 years old and quite shy, it was a challenge for her. But bless her heart, she did it and did a very nice job!! The lesson was on "Callings in the Church", so what a great example she was in standing in front of all the Relief Society ladies!! That's the way it is sometimes -- we may be scared to death, but the Lord really steps in after we've done all we can and makes everything alright, if we go ahead in faith. We were all sisters in there, and there was much love and encouragement given to her -- just like a real Relief Society!!"

Noida Branch Relief Society today - half of them are investigators, and they stayed for the whole block - wahoo!!

Shelves

March 13-14, 2008

For quite awhile, Sister Tanner has wanted/needed shelves in the kitchen to store canned goods, etc. on. We have some cupboards, but not nearly big enough to keep what we need. When we do go to a store that carries some of the things we had at home, it is usually a major purchase and it gets really crowded for awhile until we begin to use it up.

After looking for something suitable and not finding it, I decided to draw up a plan of what we needed with dimensions suited to the space in the kitchen. Every time I go to the market in Sector 40, I walk by a yard where I had seen them making window and door frames and figured they might be able to build some shelves. After a weak attempt to explain my drawing and inquire if it could be built, I decided I needed someone who spoke Hindi. Elder Patha volunteered and last Friday, a carpenter showed up who owned the yard I had stopped at. Elder Patha was around so we came to an understanding and negotiated a price for the shelves. He said he would be back and it would take 2-3 days. He asked permission to build the shelves in the driveway. For once, I was surprised at the speed something got done. The carpenter was back in 2 hours with another guy with one of those bicycle pickups with two panels of teak plywood of different thickness, some trim strips, etc. We left about 30 minutes later to go to an appointment and the carpenter was watching his helper mark the thicker panel. By the time we got back several hours later, the shelves were almost together.



Trim work yet to come, but nice start. The carptener is in the orange shirt.

They were back Saturday morning and finished up in a couple of hours. Putting a laquer finish on with a piece of cloth. The staining and finish was all done without a brush ... and I challenge you to try out this position to work from.

When we brought the shelves inside, we turned the overhead fan on to prevent either the kitchen blowing up or us getting high, probably both.

Cindy is really happy with her new, good quality shelves and immediately reorganized the kitchen to take advantage.

Working on a month's food storage. Notice the Campbell Soup, canned in India. A lot of American and English brand names are available in India, but produced in country, not imported.

Our New Branch Building and Holi Day

Pictures from 3 events of the past week. We held our first meeting in the new branch building. It is not completely finished, but it was close enough to allow us to use it last Sunday. The church has rented the first floor of the building except for a small office in the right front. Even though it is in a commercial/industrial area, the owner did not want us to display the church sign permanently so it will be put up Sunday mornings only during services. This is a good day to stay indoors for reasons you'll read later. Good opportunity to update the blog.













A real sacrament table and a pulpit to speak from with a good sound system. The right side is a series of class rooms. We love it. Robin, Sister Tanner, and Elder Tanner were asked to speak the first Sunday

Our little group for our first Sunday in the new building. 6 investigators among the members and elders.



Sister Smith, Hannah Smith, Sister Archana the RS president, Sister Tanner. Two of our faithful sisters did not make it today. Getting a block mindset established is still a challenge for some so there are many that leave after sacrament meeting.





A baptismal font and changing area is being built on the roof of the building. It is quite a hike to get up there, but consider it the first steps on the path towards heaven ...

We have zone conferences every 6 weeks after transfers. One was held yesterday, March 10th, the day before Holi.

Holi is a day in India where colors get thrown on everyone. From powders, to colored water in squirt guns, to foam cans of color, to creams that are smeared on by hand. Two of our elders thought it was all over by 1 PM so they ventured over to the market area since it was P-day and they needed some things. They got caught and here is the result. After they were colored, they were given some "sweets". I'm told it will take a couple of weeks for the color to go completely from the skin depending on the number of showers and scrubbings. The clothes will retain color stains permanently.

Don't ask about the origins of this practice, there must be at least 3 versions and I don't recall them well enough to write anything. Something to Google if you want to know more.

Trip to Meerut, UP, Sunday Dinner

Saturday, February 28, 2009

IAP held a First Golden Minute training event in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and invited us to attend and represent Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC). It was only 60 km away, so we thought the drive would be easy since it was going away from Delhi and supposedly less traffic. Should have known better. 2.5 hours later we arrived 30 minutes late and found they had been waiting for us to begin. Such is life and there was another group of IAP officers that made it even later than we did coming from the Delhi airport.



The training was held at the Anand Hospital, a new facility only 1.5 years old. The administrator gave us a tour before we left and it was very nice.

I was asked to speak to begin the session and I was so fast Sister Tanner could not get picture. It wasn't our show, so expressing thanks, etc. didn't take long.

IAP had set up 6 practice session rooms. This is a shot of one of them. They had the drill down and did an excellant job of organizing and conducting the training.

Some shots from the trip down and back. This is a "rent a boom box on wheels" outfit that can go to weddings or any other activity requiring loud noise to keep the neighbors awake.

A view of traffic when we hit one of the many commercial areas on the road. Also a close up view of one of the "autos" we're always writing about.

Grapes are on and are they good.

A patty cake factory. The water buffalo, cows, etc. manure is mixed and worked by hand into the round "cakes" and then sun dried. Once dried, they are stacked for use later on to fuel cooking fires.

Sunday, March 1st, Sister Tanner feed the world. L-R, Elder Tanner, Robin, Elder Patha, Elder Carmen, Elder Gangipogu, Elder Swanborough, Elder Adari, Elder Siyyadri, Bharack Kumar Vangaripu, Daniel Jayakaran. Daniel is the church's facilities person and is stationed in Bangalore. He was here to check progress on our new branch building.

In our front yard and a beautiful day.

Prelude to a Wedding and Conferences

February 4, 2009

We had an invitation to lunch with Atul Dev at the Gymkhana Club, a very upscale club that the British built back when and now is wholly Indian. Atul told me it takes about 13 years to work your way up the waiting list to apply for membership. It turned out the occasion was a combination business/personal lunch. We briefly touched on the Rotary/LDSC dam projects, but mainly just relaxed and enjoyed a storied setting and good food. The personal part of the lunch came later when Atul invited us, Tanners and Browns, to attend his son's upcoming wedding. Elder and Sister Brown became involved with Atul when they carried the check dam project until we arrived. The other person in the lunch photo is Atul's friend Premila. The ladies managed to arrange a shopping trip for the Monday after the wedding, so consider this Delhi trip a success all the way around.

Sister Tanner has a new friend.











L-R Elder Tanner, Premila, Atul, Elder Brown, Sister Brown, Sister Tanner

February 9, 2009 after District meeting we treated the elders to lunch at the Noodle Bar, one of our favorite eating places. It is in the Great India Mall in Sector 18. I think we managed to fill them up.

In preparation for Branch conference on the 15th, Sister Tanner persuaded the elders to sing a number in Sacrament meeting. Practice, practice, ... Sister Tanner has also been asked to conduct the music and organize a choir for District conference on the 22nd.

February 15, 2009

We had a full house for branch conference thanks to all the visitors from the District. There was standing room only in the back. It was nice to see our little room so full. The branch has struggled a bit for the past couple of months. The Noida Branch sustainings didn't take long, but it was a very spiritual meeting. That is one constant in our little branch, the spirit is always there, and the investigators that attend almost always comment on it.

Our elder's quorum president, Prabkhar, went back to his "native place" down south to obtain work that he could not get in the Delhi/Noida area. The good news is we've kept track of him and he connected with E/S LaDuke in Hyderabad. Last week I got an email that he finally was hired as a lecturer in a technical college. He has a degree in software engineering. Then this week we learned that our branch clerk is moving to the Gurgaon area to cut 1.5 hours each way off his commute to work. Can't blame someone for not wanting to live on a bus. He has already contacted people and will attend another branch on the Delhi side, but bummer again. We know there are elect people out there waiting for us to find them, and that will happen. Our elders are a dedicated group and we are blessed with some great young men. Elder Joseph, on the left in the picture above, was our district leader. He completed a successful mission and returned home Tuesday. Happy Elder Joseph. His smile was so infectious. Sister Tanner was in tears saying goodbye, shoot, count me in on that one too.

February 21-22, 2009

We had a visiting area seventy, Elder Subandriyo from Jakarta, Indonesia, as our visiting authority. Saturday, we had priesthood and auxiliary training sessions at 4 PM and an adult meeting at 6 PM. What great meetings they were. Elder Subandriyo is one who definitely can relate to the members here. His background and story is one of living in similar conditions, working construction for peanuts, finding the church, going on a mission, then marriage and living in a 1 room abode, etc. He shared a lot of personal stories with spiritual impact and had a great sense of humor. What a blessing it was to be able to attend. After the meeting, Sister Tanner had her one choir rehearsal. She had contacted someone in each branch and asked them to practice with those interested and we would have this one opportunity to get together before conference. Sister Tanner was really happy with the way the choir sounded. President Smith sang a solo for the first verse of "I Believe in Christ", 2nd verse the ladies, 3rd verse the men, each in unison, then we did parts for the 4th verse, something that doesn't happen in India, so we'd been told, but it worked this time.

Sunday's conference session was held in a rented hall and there were over 300 in attendance. It is going to take a larger facility the next time. The Noida Branch came in a bus, all 33 of us. The Smith family 9, 8 Indian members, 8 missionaries, and 8 investigators. It was a great meeting with Sister Tanner beaming on the platform and leading the music and Elder Tanner sitting in the first row beaming at Sister Tanner, ok, enough of that. All of the talks were excellent. The choir performed very well and there were comments about the Delhinacle choir. Sister Tanner just amazes me with her ability to get the best out of people and in such a fun and loving way.

Elder Subandriyo must have saved the best for last because he again touched everyone there and connected with them. One interesting wrinkle was a request that all members who had been in the church for less than a year were asked to remain after everyone else left. He held a mini-meeting with those that stayed. He had the branch presidents introduce each member and state their branch calling. A subtle touch/reminder to get them called and involved. I remember one family that was introduced and was going to be baptized that afternoon, Elder Subandriyo had visited them and some others in their humble homes on Saturday. What an outstanding man. One note he shared in his talk in an effort to encourage the members to seek to progress and to demonstrate that obstacles can be overcome - he received a law degree the previous week at the age of either 49 or 50, not sure.

We went home on the bus and then took a taxi back to the Browns in Dwaka and we went to the wedding together. After the wedding, we stayed overnight with the Browns. They had graciously invited us earlier to stay because it would be so late after the wedding and the sisters had shopping "game on" for Monday.

The Wedding

Atul Dev's son Amitab and his bride, Hita, are married in a traditional Hindu ceremony. In talking with another guest, they said the wedding was upper, middle class. We were both amazed at what we saw and I think it would be hard to attempt to draw comparisons with something from the states. I will attempt to describe only and relate how much I enjoyed attending this event although I'll admit to some trepidation beforehand. Sister Tanner was gung-ho to attend, let me assure you. She had purchased a new "suit" to wear to a wedding that was cancelled in the last hours. I'll have to get a picture of her in the suit and post it later. She was stunning and got immediate attention from Atul Dev as soon as we arrived and compliments continued throughout the evening.

The wedding was held at a military officer's club. This is the entrance that was done up with flower strings, lighted candles, rose pedals on the walk, etc. Beautiful entry.

The groom was standing on a stage when we arrived and shortly after the bridal party made their entrance. The bride's mother has her left arm.

Now tell me, does he look apprehensive or what?

Waiting for the priest to get on the stage and begin a preliminary ceremony. Check out the gold ornaments weighing down the brides arms.

Part of the stage prelims involved each partner putting a huge flower 'lei" around the neck of the other.

It wasn't all serious ...

The bride's grandmother on the left, Atul Dev's sister on the right.

From the stage, the wedding party, which appeared to be only the immediate family, close friends, and bride and groom moved to a cabana type arrangement. The priest is seating the couple before beginning. They had the only chairs. The parents sat on cushions.

Jasmine flowers were strung on thread to create the canopy.

You can see small vases, etc. in front of the priest. He passed these around one at time as part of the ceremony beginning with the smallest along with some incantation. The bride poured a liquid from each into the cupped hand of the groom, then he did the same to her.

A major portion of the ceremony, which lasted about an hour, revolved around a fire in the metal container in the middle. Here the bride and groom are lighting the fire with burning oil from their hand held ladles.

Ceremonies symbolized the hope of prosperity and wealth for the couple.

A well pleased father. The picture being held by Atul Dev's daughter-in-law is that of his deceased wife. An older son is between Atul and the groom.

Part of the ceremony involved walking around the "pit" on four different occasions.

At one point, eveyone in the first row was given something combustible blessed by the priest and then they would toss it on the fire. This was repeated multiple times with a prayer intoned before each tossing.

I believe the strings are called mongul sutra or something like that. They put them over each other's heads. Don't know the significance.

The coconut and leaves are symbols of "auspiciousness" which is very important in the Hindu culture. Don't ask, I got that third hand.

I had to include this shot. Note the groom's left hand. He had his cell on silent and took it out to check a call at least 3 times during the ceremony.

Gifts of gold and cloth were given to the bride by the grooms family after her mother released her. Note that she is now sitting on the groom's family side. They have traded chairs.

Close up of some of the gold and the henna designs on the bride's arms and hands.

The priest had them take 7 steps on the rose pedal path along with giving instruction.

I took this right after we got there. The food was amazing. The line goes all the way back to a pavilion that is facing you. The pavilion had Chinese and Italian cuisine and there was bakery with multiple ovens in front of the pavilion. Before the actual wedding ceremony was over, the whole area was filled with people eating appetizers that were served by a bevy of waiters. I got tired of taking pictures and standing and wandered out to get some energy several times. The appetizers were very good and not all that spicey.

Sister Tanner had this observation about the couple's car, "Interesting how they decorate it with flowers. No Oreos, shaving cream, balloons or cans tied to the back. They obviously have no class!!!!"