Our Cramazing May, Episode XXVI: The Drive to Basundhara



On our first full day in India (Is that really possible?), Tuna, Jeepu, and their boys picked us up at our hotel.  The drive to Cuttack from our hotel in BBSR (Bhubaneswar) took about 45 minutes.  On the way to the orphanage, we would oddly see certain things that we are quite used to seeing, like the Ford dealership.  We would also see things that we are completely not used to seeing, like men urinating on the side of the road.  Very strange to me.  Like, very strange.  Still can't see how that could ever seem "normal" but obviously, it does, at least to some degree.  There were still other things, like the sketchy scaffolding, that seemed familiar because we had seen it in Ethiopia, too.  And there were palm trees all over, reminding us--in case the sweltering heat wasn't enough to tell us--that we were in a tropical land. 

And then, as a constant soundtrack floating around in my head, the Caedmon's Call lyrics accompanied our drive each day:  "I've seen idols, rickshaws, cycles, cows...on the highway.  Honey, all the things that I have seen!  [But] the most amazing of them all is the Grace that we believe in...we are known and loved, loved and known."

 



Even though I only rode to the orphanage four times, the route seems so familiar to me, especially once you cross the riverbed and enter Cuttack.  Cuttack is home to over a half of a million people, yet coming from the USA and being accostomed to large cities here, there is no way I would have ever guessed that there were that many people.  It seemed like a small town to me, and I might have guessed that 50,000 people live there.  In reality, it's over 10 times that much!

Here is a construction project that was being done while we were there...

I snapped this photo quickly out the car window because I wanted a picture of one of the larger temples that we were seeing.  As it turns out, these are two rather famous temples in Cuttack, the Uttareswar Temple (barely visible--it is white and is almost out of the picture and hidden behind the car)

and the Jagganath Temple, the tallest temple in all of Cuttack. 

*Note:  I just learned the importance of these temples tonight, over 10 months after seeing them.  Thank you, Google, for the research assistance.

This next photo is really tough...it was hard to know exactly what was going on, but what it looked like to me was that this man was standing there waiting for the woman (far away at left) while she walked through the trash piles looking for something.  This was what appeared to be a huge garbage dumping ground, and she was out in her beautiful, traditional Indian dress scrounging...while he waited.  I was saddened by it; yet I couldn't take my eyes off of the scene either.  There are probably some spiritual analogies here...

The ubiquitous solar-powered flower...

A place to buy pots and pans...

...or tires.  Not much longer after the tire "store", and we would be at Basundhara.

Not Tonight

Tonight, they were not statistics. They were young men, destined for greatness.

The Town Crier

Earlier this year, Rex's class studied the middle ages, and for his class project, he researched the topic of farming. He came up with some really disgusting facts to share with his class during his report on how they farmed back in the middle ages...stuff I had zero clue about. Each of the students had to dress up, so Rex chose to be a Town Crier. He did such a great job on his report, and his public speaking skills are getting better each time he has an opportunity like this one to practice.

During their Middle Ages unit, Rex began writing a class newsletter called--what else?--the Town Crier. He had an application/"hiring" process where some of his classmates became writers, illustrators, and advertisers, and the chief editor is, of course, his fabulous teacher, Mrs. H.

Here, Rex giving his report, posed as the town crier, and with Mrs. H, the class queen. Each year she dresses up, and the kids love it!  And I'm not gonna lie...I was pretty happy with Rex's costume, too!  It was an 11th hour put-together (as good costumes often are around here), and it turned out great!

Big Surgery News

Many, many phone calls, doctor/hospital visits, and prayers have gone into the very simple sentence that is to follow.

Tom will have his first surgery on April 6.

Two weeks from today, on Good Friday, Tom will finally begin the surgical journey that we knew he would go on from the time we saw those first two pictures of his tiny little fingers and toes back in October 2009. We are so glad that it is finally happening.

More news will follow, and in fact, this site will now become one for updates on his surgery prep, his condition during our time at the hospital, and then during his recovery at home. I will be making the site public again so that word can easily be spread and prayers lifted. We need your prayers...it will be a challenging time in some ways, but we are hoping that our little boy adjusts well to his casts (He will be casted for four weeks.) and can enjoy life as he always does.

Stay tuned...much more to come.

(Night) Life in the City

It's one of those nights. I'm trying to get to sleep, knowing that my 5:21 a.m. alarm is coming quickly. But I can't sleep. I'm not sure if it's the things on my mind or the caffeine I consumed today or the loud people yelling outside.

Pretty sure it's the loud people.

When this kind of thing happens, my mind won't quiet. There they are, two women broiled in a profanity-laced debate about who knows what. I tried to listen...sounds like one is trying to help the other, actually. But there were words exchanged that you never want to hear in front of your house, so the police have been called. Asked them to just drive by and be present in the neighborhood.

Usually I can just go to sleep after logging my call, knowing that it will be handled.

But tonight...they are still there.

They could be in a fight about drugs. Or a man. Or any number of things. Perhaps one is trying to get the other from going out to sell herself tonight. But since I have no way of knowing, I pray to the One who does.

He knows every single thing about those women. Their hurts. Their joys. Their struggles. Isn't that astounding? I stop and take that in. They are His creation, and He longs for them to be found in Him, taking in all the breadth and depth of His love, no longer crowded in by the perils that haunt so many in our city during the dark hours of the night.

Holy Spirit, come. Rescue her. Protect her tonight. Don't give up on her...like you didn't give up on me. And Lord, keep the reminders coming of where I was, so that I don't give up on her either.

Our Cramazing May, Episode XXV: Dinner with the Samuels

To end our first full day in India (Actually, we hadn't even been there 24 hours at this point...amazing.), we were invited to have dinner at Tuna and Jeepu's house.  What a treat!  It was wonderful to be in a home rather than in a plane, an airport, or a hotel.  We had an instant connection with them, and the whole evening was fabulous--the food, the friendship, and the conversation.  Over dinner, we asked them about things like the caste system and growing up in a Hindu nation and the persecution of Christians in Orissa.  We jumped right in!  We appreciated their kind hospitality, and the way that Tuna had chosen to take time to help us was such a gift.  We had no idea at the time how much the gift of his time, effort, and support would later be worth. 

At the end of the night, we had one of the most amazing cultural experiences we had during our whole time there...riding in an "automobile" (or tuk-tuk or auto rickshaw or just auto) at night, right alongside all the locals.  We got up close and personal...and we have video to prove it.  The videos will never probably display the drama, but it's the best we can do.  I remember thinking that I was so glad that I was confident that my life was in the Lord's hands...I wasn't scared.  But if I were a prone-to-be-scared kind of person, I would have been.  Cars so close you can touch them.  Busses full of people.  Horns honking everywhere.  Large trucks.  Motorbikes weaving in and out.  And all the while, we were holding on tightly.  To our possessions (lest they get tossed out in all the bumping up and down) and to our son.  And to the auto itself....clearly, there are no seat belts.  Tuna escorted us home on his motorbike, making sure that we got back to our hotel safely.  It was good to know that he was looking out for us, I'm not gonna lie.  But in a million years, I wouldn't take back this experience...it is life in Orissa, after all.  And we wanted to take in all of it that we possibly could.

 The spices which are used to make delicious Indian cuisine...

 ...in their kitchen.

 Yummy homecooked Indian meal!  It was a lot too spicy for Rex, a little bit too spicy for me, and perfect for Hoffbeast.  And they said that it wasn't even that spicy!  :)  It was sooo good!  I think that the Hub decided while we were there that he could pretty easily live in India because he loved the food so much!

 They even have Super Mario Bros. in India!  You can only imagine how excited Rex was to be able to brush up on his video gaming while there.  He had so much fun with his new friends, C and C (and their computer, of course!).

We were--and are--so thankful for our new friends and their generous hospitality!

Tuna and Jeepu's "helper", G...what a sweet girl!

Our gracious hosts for our time in BBSR.

Our automobile and driver...here we go!!!  These tuk-tuks are everywhere throughout the country...a ubiquitous sight on the urban roads.  I suppose the name "tuk-tuk" comes from the sound that they make...be sure and listen on the videos.

Halfway to the hotel, Tuna had us stop, get out, and take this picture.  I know that it's an important statue depicting an important part of their history, but unfortunately, I can't possibly tell you what that important part is.  I'll have to ask Tuna for his help again...enjoy the virtual ride-along!  (It's not super thrilling video, and it's a bit repetitive, but it gives you the idea...)

When we got back to the Ginger (our hotel), we were all exhausted, to say the least.  Our lives had changed forever in just one day, and the mental and physical need for rest was obvious.  We all fell asleep quickly, but of course, I stayed up later than Rex and the Daddy.  This is me, the night owl, remember?  Before I could rest, I had to find a way to let everyone at home know that we had arrived and that our first meeting with Tom had gone well.  The Ginger staff was wonderful, and they showed me the "tech center" where I could use the internet.  I wrote this post then.  Then one last thing before bed--recording just a bit about our day, something I would do each night while in Bhubaneswar.  A few Cramazing May posts up has the beginning of this entry, but here is how it concluded.  A tired and happy mama...

"We sat…..we sat some more…the women came in and sat with us…ho hum….and then, my eyes barely leaving the door, saw Soudeman and then him.  He was clutching a bouquet of flowers for me with one hand and clinging to Soudeman’s hand with the other. 

Eventually, after inching toward him for awhile, I took him, and Soudeman and the others left, leaving us with just the 4 of us and Satyajit.  The most precious of moments?  Watching brothers react to each other and having him fall asleep in my arms.

We will go back tomorrow, and I can’t wait.  Too tired now…must rest.

Thank you, God, for your very good gifts….praising you for our son!"

Happy birthday again!

I do love my birthday...and I do love catching up on posts I always meant to write but never did.  After writing about Rex's last birthday, I looked back at all the pictures from Neil's birthday last year that never were shared.  Doesn't seem right. 

So again, without further ado, Neil's 6th birthday, last June, on the way to Colorado:

 Birthday pancakes at our India travel friends' house...made especially by Mr. McF!

 A little Birthday basketball while sister scootered...what a beautiful summer day!

 Birthday water gun

 A birthday dad attack!

 Birthday cupcakes

 Birthday with new friend, B

 A birthday attempt-to-get-the-siblings-to-all-pose-for-the-camera.  It didn't work.

And finally, after a fun morning with friends and a long traffic-filled afternoon, a birthday dinner somewhere in Missouri.....at the favorite fast-food place of any child in America.  Gotta love McDonald's for road-tripping!

I love you so much, Bud!  You are so passionate about whatever you do, whether playing basketball or soccer or football or baseball....or hugging your mama.  :)  I know that you think Dad is cooler, but I also know that you think I'm the "best mom in the world"....I'll take it!  How is it possible that you are now going on 7 years old?  You were my baby a minute ago!  I love the young boy that you are growing into, and I can't wait to watch and see what God is going to do with your life.  Always treasure Him above all else...