Stotram!

We have arrived!!!

What an incredible start! It took a couple days to recover from the jetlag and find our feet around the place but we’re settling in at the base.

We‘ve been received with an incredibly warm welcome, everyone at the base has been very friendly and helpful with finding the things we need and general day-to-day errands.

We have been given a flat complete with our own toilet (a much unexpected but very welcome luxury). Working out the whole no toilet paper thing has been a challenge, I won’t lie (ha ha) But once you have the knack of it, it’s actually not bad.

The food has been really good!! The cooking duties are shared among all at the base and some are just not as talented as others :) and we can safely say that the Indians staple diet is rice (breakfast, lunch and supper).  The staff has been very accommodating and they prepare Sanchia’s meals without chillies.  She has also been eating weetabix for breakfast until her and the baby get used to all the rice.  I tasted a King chilli the other night, apparently it’s the hottest type of chilli in the world. (The locals seemed very impressed that I tried it, jokes were made that these chillies sting more than twice).

The base is situated in an ‘affluent’ area. Although, whilst trying to teach Sanch a little about orienteering, I said “use distinctive landmarks to get your bearings, like that huge pile of rubbish” she subsequently replied “Which one?”

The people who live directly alongside us are the Brahmin, considered high priests among the Hindus. Just down the road however is a small fishing community, the contrast is startling. The people are poor and apparently spend most of their income on idol worship.

So inevitably there are temples all around us, you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting one. It is regarded as a stronghold among the Christian community here. On a walk home I peered inside a temple opening, it is incredibly dark and the hold these powers have on the people is very real. We praise our Father for the great love He has for all His children. His love sets us all free.

Grace, peace and love.

Sanchia says “Thank you, come again.” :)

1 family, 1 bike 

The dad had it all well under control and the mom looked quite relaxed on the back

Definitely not Johannesburg!

Sunset from the base rooftop outside of the kitchen

A typical chalk drawing in the doorway of most houses, just for aesthetics 

One of the nearby temples