After making my way through the bottleneck of people, I sit down in seat 14F; right next to the window.  As we prepare for take off from the Delhi airport, my view is immediately filled with the image of a man wearing a light blue T-shirt and jeans.  He’s probably in his 20’s and his beard and hair could stand a trim.  He’s reclining in the bright green grass with his cell phone in one hand.  Behind him is a picture of an out of focus tent and below him are the words is written:

Pay bills

transfer money and

recharge prepaid

from your mobile

SMS Airtel

 The advertisement has been printed on an extension of the disposable covering for the head rest infront of me and everyone else sitting on the plane.  It doesn’t matter where I look; the ad is either flooding my visions or nudging into my periphery.  My only escape is to close my eyes, but I don’t mind because my day began at 2:30am and I need some rest. 

 Less than two minutes later the Jet Lite stewardess wakes me, “Mam.”  She hands me a scratch and win voucher along with a brochure of items I can bid for.  All three of us won a prize, Dr. Ebenezer won a set of pearls, Mrs. Ebenezer won a man’s watch and I won the choice of a watch, pearls, or a Reebok gym bag.   

Our flight arrives safely in Kerala and passengers push their way to through to get off the plane first.  We take our time, moving a little more slowly than the rest.  As we leave the airport there is a crowd gathered at the Jet Lite counter eager to collect their prizes.  After exiting we are almost immediately greeted by the taxi and we set off for a few more hours of travel until we reach Chengarah.   

As soon as we leave the airport, my vision is once again packed with advertisements.  Billboards, appearing bigger than I have ever seen, line the sides of the roads.  Each image promises me a better life.  Sexy people are positioned in trendy spaces and blue skies back drop pristine buildings.  This greatly contrasts the street that is a bed to many beggars, shabby buildings where business takes place and the monsoon sky looming above.  It has three pictures.  In the middle a heavy-set Indian woman wearing a white saree and a red bindi on her forehead, holds a red lettered sign that says “SAVE A CHILD IN NEED”.  On both sides of her is a picture of a physically deformed child and below her is further contact info.  The sight of this billboard automatically puts off my mood.  I selfishly think, “There is enough suffering on the street.  Do we have to post it on a billboard too?”  The presentation doesn’t make me feel inspired to give.  Instead, it makes me feel accused of not caring for these neglected children.  I refuse to dwell on this thought, instead I tell myself I am thankful someone is working to help these children, and I’m glad they are challenging others to get involved.

 More billboards keep coming and another one catches my eye.  It’s a double-wide fuchsia  colored sign, “WORLD OF HAPPINESS”.  Pink silhouettes carrying white shopping bags are randomly placed on the board.  Shoot, if happiness was something you could buy, why aren’t all Americans happy?   

Instead of seeing these signs of false needs fulfilled, I would rather see billboards with hopeful pictures of a restored world.  In other words real needs fulfilled with advertisements offering constructive ways to attain such pictures.  Now I realize this may not be the best idea and if it’s taken to an extreme it could turn into brainwashing.  After all, who would determine what a societal need is? 

For now, I’ll just close my eyes and imagine what a world fully reconciled to God looks like.  The only image coming to mind is the view o the Himalayan foothills seen from the Dorcas Center.

July 1-5

A group of Australians came to stay at the Ebenezers for three days and a couple Americans stayed at the guestroom at the Center for a week.  I had a good time getting to know both groups in between office work.  It was refreshing to talk with people my age who I could relate to without the language barrier.

 July 6-11

 I spent the week visiting the women who live and work up at the CHAAYA Café in Mussoorie.  Mussoorie is further up the mountain that Rajpur.  It is a place is known for it’s language classes, and many language students would come to the Cafe.  Two students were telling me that Berkley University sends people to Mussoorie to learn Hindi.  Classes are about $6 per session plus a book fee.  The program is designed so that a student will take three sessions a day for 6 days a week.  That adds up, but the cost of the class is rather inexpensive compared to American College courses that run $700-$1000 per credit.

 July 12-18 

Back to Rajpur.  On Sunday I went to the English church service where I met some people my age who had studied at the Seminary.   We all ate lunch together and had a good time.  It felt nice to joke around with someone my own age who understands enough English to pick up on sarcasm.  Starting Sunday night I spent the week staying in the Center’s guest room.  This allowed more time for me to interact with the girls who live here.  We worked on English and managed to get in a keyboard teaching session.

 July 19-25

 Dr. and Mrs. Ebenezer brought me along on their trip to Kerala.  Mrs. Ebenezer’s mother passed away in June 2007 and it was time for a memorial service, as common practice, at the church.  On Sunday evening many family members and friends gathered at the Anglican church her mother grew up in.  For the rest of the week we ate and ate and ate at Mrs. Ebenezer’s sister’s house.  I was absorbed into the family almost upon immediate contact.   Her sister is married and has two children, their daughter just finished her masters and their son is in 12^th grade.  The whole family was extremely hospitable, and despite their busy schedules they were never too busy to spend time with us.  They all live lifestyles of serving with a generous heart. They are very committed to the Anglican faith.  Every night we would sing a hymn, read multiple portions of scripture and then kneel to pray together.  I really enjoyed my time spent in Kerala.  I was glad to see the Ebenezers get a break from their hectic schedules as well.

 July 25-31

Back in Rajpur.  I’m staying at the Center working as a waitress for the first time in my life.  It’s a bit harder than I expected to handle multiple orders and customers.  A yoga class started up the hill so we are getting more business after a month of almost no sales.  Most of the yoga clientele that come to our Café are European and American.  I’ve had some interesting conversations and met some nice people. 

 One thing I’ve noticed is most of them appear to have a strong desire to do good in the world.  Each day they practice yoga exercises and then they have a couple hours of yoga philosophy instruction.