Train a tub and a TV!

Well, what a week.

We've had quite a few adventures. Right now we are in Hyderabad and going to see Fellowship tomorrow that has a specific contextualized setting. We are really excited to get see this so soon.

But up until now ... well it's been kinda crazy! Mainly due to the 29 (yes, t-w-e-n-t-y n-i-n-e) hour train trip that I (mom, wife) took Monday & Tuesday. Me and group of women from our fellowship were traveling to the 2nd National Womens Conference in Hyderabad. This is an AMAZING thing to have a conference just for WOMEN in India. I was very privileged and thrilled to get to go. But getting there was very interesting!

I don't even know that I can describe it. I will just share a few pictures first. Above is the first train station that we were at. This is a rather 'tame' picture, actually. We were on what they call a '3 tier AC' section for the first leg of our journey. This means there is air conditioning and that there are 3 tiers (like bunks) for beds. Here is a picture of the inside:

So you can see that the person laying down is on the 2nd tier and there is a 'bed' above and below that and then on the opposite wall there are 2 'beds'. I was on the 3rd tier the whole time! The one above the person laying down. It was really hard to climb up and down. And everything was so filthy! It's unreal!

Every 5 minutes from 5am to 10pm there are guys that come through and announce (read: yell) that they have tea, coffee, snacks, or something else for sale in the exact same tone and pitch. Every 5 minutes!!! Again, unbelievable. Then if you would happen to want to stand up in the aisle and one of these guys comes through, watch out! You better move or they will just move right past you however they can.

Here is a picture of the bunk I slept in the first leg of the trip, the one at the very top:



The first 2 hours were very hard, but then I was able to adjust and settle in. I never felt in danger, just totally uncomfortable! There were 12 people in our group, but we somehow didn't get bunks together. So we were trying to switch with people and only had limited success, so we had other people sleeping in the bunks below us or above us that we didn't know, and they were all men!

Our train stopped in Nagpur and we were able to see a school that takes in children from the "district" and educates them, clothes them, feeds them and basically the people there become their parents and loving caretakers. I got to know the lady that started this school and home for these children really well. She told me some stories that I couldn't hardly believe. I will blog about that in the coming days, I think. It's really hard to remember those kids and know their situations. I know that they are in a MUCH better place than being out in the 'district' with their moms, but it's still a rough life. I am so overwhelmed by how the people that run this live so simply and give everything they have to these kids. I know that their mansion in heaven will be much bigger than mine. We actually got to go and meet the kids in the school. We weren't allowed to take pictures, for their security, but they were so great. They sang several songs for us and recited scripture, then they wanted to know our names. So we all introduced ourselves and told them about us. Afterwards we got to interact with them individually. I will share one story. There is a boy there, Rupesch, that is 11 years old, although he is about the size of an 8 year old. He was HIV positive, but he is not showing any signs of it right now and we are believing that it has reversed. His mom died and they don't know who his dad is, as is the case with most of the kids. They have rescued him and his 4 brothers and sister. When I asked him when is his birthday, he didn't know. But, he had the biggest smile I think I have eve1r seen. Please remember Rupesch and ask for special favor for him, he really took my heart! I have worked it out with the lady that oversees this school that we can correspond with him and send him some things, but that's not the most important thing he needs!

So we get on our connecting train from Nagpur to Hyderbad. This is a non AC 3 tier section. So still 3 tiers, but no air conditioning! Thankfully we were traveling at night, but it was still mighty warm.

When we got on, there was a young guy sitting on the bottom bunk. We assume that he has a ticket for this section and so we begin to get our bags together and get them under the seat, etc... and start to get settled in. Then another man comes up and shows his ticket and says that his bunk. So then the young guy admits that he is on the wait list and gets up. So, all of us continue to get our beds 'ready' (as much as you can get that kind of bed in any kind of shape to be ready to use!) and this young guy shows back up and just sits down on the edge of one of the bunks. Everyone ignores him. Then a little while later, after we were all laying down and the lights were out, he starts to get into where our suitcases are. One of the ladies that was with us ask him what he was doing, and he said he was getting his suitcase. So she says ok and tells him to get out when he's got it. She falls asleep, so the next thing she knows he is laying his head on someone else's suitcase and sleeping! Thankfully I didn't know this was going on, probably because I had decided to listen to my mp3 player at the highest volume to block everything out and eat my Jelly Belly's that I had stashed in my suitcase (thanks Kate!), or I would've really been a little scared. I wake up in the morning and look over the side of my bed and this is what I see:




This guy slept on the floor of this train all night. We was so sound asleep that we had to wake him up to be able to get out of our own beds! I can laugh about it now, but at the time I wasn't too happy.

In this last leg of the train trip, our beds were in the first section, so the bathrooms were right on the other side of the wall. So every time the train stopped or slowed down the smell was horendous. It would just gag me instantly.

I have to say though, that these ladies that I was traveling with made such an impression on me. First of all, they traveled 29 hours on a train ONE WAY (not even including the other 8 hours that we waited between our connecting trains) to get to a womens conference that lasted a day and a half. I never heard one of them complain about anything, they had the best time. They laughed and talked and praised God and sang and just made the best of it. I was so overwhelmed by their love for eachother and their sacrifice to travel. It was very humbling to me.

When we finally arrived at our destination, I was very relieved! I did it! They told me that after doing this, I can make it anywhere in India!

At each train station there are men called 'coolies' that will carry your bags for you, but they carry them on their head!

They walked really fast and they fly up and down stairs with all of this on their heads.

Each time I got off the train, I was aggressively approached by many for money. The others in the group never had anyone approach them like they did me ... I think my age and being from the west just made me a target. That was tough. Even when I would turn to the side or just gently shake my head no, they would continue to be right in my face. Today, I was getting into a car and 3 women (2 with little babies) followed me to the car and then when I got in they stood at the windows and tapped the whole time we were sitting there. I just sat there and looked at the ground. Seeing those babies, right in front of me was difficult. Everywhere we turn, though, there are people that are in desperate situations. We are working through how to handle this the best way. There are many 'right' ways, we just have to determine what is right for us.

I have a lot more to blog about this adventure, but just wanted to update you on this week so far! We haven't found a 'flat' yet. We have a good lead on one, so hopefully we will get to see it when we return next week and it will work. Everyone, but me, is fighting a fever, cough, headaches and one has been stomach sick during the night the past couple nights, so please lift us up that we will overcome this. The great thing, is that we can go to any pharmacy and get whatever antibiotics we need ... and very cheap too!

OH!!!!!! It's amazing to me how even the little desires of my heart keep getting met. Today, after the conference we came to a hotel that we are staying at tonight and I was TIRED! I had done all that traveling, sat in a day and half of meetings in an unairconditioned and very hot meeting place, found bed bugs in my bed last night so I didn't sleep to well after hardly sleeping at all on the train ... so yes - tired. I get to our room and I think, wow, wouldn't it be great just to be able to soak in a bath, drink a coke, and watch some 'good' TV to just relax for a minute? So I ask, and sure enough, they have Coke!!!! So I get my coke and decide to wash my hands first (always a must here!) and I open the door in our room that I think is the bathroom and it's just a closet ... so now I am really bummed b/c I think that we don't have a bathroom in our room! I plop down on the bed and look up. There's a door there that I hadn't even noticed yet ... yes I am tired. I get up and open it and it's a FULL bathroom, with a western toilet and a BATHTUB! I haven't seen a bathtub anywhere we have been yet. I then turn on the TV and guess what I find .... you won't believe it ....


Amazing Race. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually, Amazing Race Asia. I couldn't believe it!

So I sit down with my coke and get to watch Amazing Race. It was like a big 'you did it' from Him after this incredible week. I can't wait to get to take a real bath next!