We flew from Bangalore to Hyderabad and on to Rajahmundry on Friday 11 September 2015. Got up at 3:30 a.m., got to the Bangalore airport at about 5:30--arrived at Rajahmundry at 10:15.
The airplane parked about a half mile away from the terminal.
We took a bus to the terminal.
President Chinna and Brother Raju were there to take us on into town--about 14Km.
Rajahmundry is a "village" of about half a million people--it is surrounded by farming and agriculture and has many of the elements one might expect in a typical tropical Indian village. It is a lot greener than Bangalore--there are several species of palm trees and other fruit trees as well as rice fields surrounding a bustling city. It is also very hot most of the year.
Fruit stand along the road to Rajahmundry
The bustling traffic in downtown Rajahmundry. Cows have the right of way here, and painted lines on the road seem to just be a suggestion. Drivers must expect the unexpected at all times.
Here is what the city looks like from the sixth floor
window of our temporary housing in the Hotel Shelton.
Fireside
The church rents floors two and three--that is what we call levels three and four. Indians name the floors: Ground Floor (or floor 0) then first, second, etc.
Saturday night missionary fireside with the Rajahmundry Third Branch. The theme was unity. The Elders performed a skit showing how parents need to be united in their decisions regarding the family.
Games, food and
a great time!
Our new friends--sister Mandali Seelhama (bottom)
Anita and Teju (top right)
and Sonny (top left).
and Sonny (top left).
Members of the Rajahmundry Third Branch
Saturday, 12 September 2015.
Indian Food
Here is a typical Indian breakfast from a restaurant.
Starting at the 6:00 position moving clockwise:
Baked beans, chunks of papaya and watermelon, corn,
french toast, a round deep fried doughnut-looking thingy
(a wada) that was not sweet but was spicy hot, tamil
with vegetables (it has the consistency of cornbread).
And in the middle: fried egg and boiled mint potatoes.
Buttered toast and strawberry jam.
Pineapple juice and bottled water to drink.
I'm glad they left the silverware to use...
This was dinner at the Citrus restaurant in the Shelton Hotel.
We had Chinese Chop Suey, Chicken Fried Rice and Garlic Nan Bread--Diet Coke and bottled water to drink. Soooo good!!
Raju photo bombs our picture with a new friend
The Neo Concept
Christian Church
Four bridges cross the Godavari River (second largest in India--second to the Ganges River) which empties into the Bay of Bengal.
This is a two way road with NO shoulder.
Water buffalo wander the streets along with cattle
Here are some Ganesha Festival images we found on the street...
and on the Hotel Shelton lobby floor...
Went shopping with the Elders on P-Day. We squeezed six of us in an Auto!
We went to Reliance Mart--sort of a Wal Mart-type store.
(a wada) that was not sweet but was spicy hot, tamil
with vegetables (it has the consistency of cornbread).
And in the middle: fried egg and boiled mint potatoes.
Buttered toast and strawberry jam.
Pineapple juice and bottled water to drink.
I'm glad they left the silverware to use...
We had Chinese Chop Suey, Chicken Fried Rice and Garlic Nan Bread--Diet Coke and bottled water to drink. Soooo good!!
Seeing the Sights of Rajahmundry
Sunset over Rajahmundry
Raju photo bombs our picture with a new friend
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| Larry, President Chinna and Brother Raju on the bridge |
The Neo Concept
Christian ChurchFour bridges cross the Godavari River (second largest in India--second to the Ganges River) which empties into the Bay of Bengal.
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| Lookout for that BIG truck, Sister Newton! |
Water buffalo wander the streets along with cattle
The Festival of Ganesha
September 17 to 27 India celebrated the Ganesha Festival.
Ganesha Chaturthi (Gaṇēśa Caturthī or Vināyaka Caviti) is the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the god Ganesha, the elephant-headed. The festival, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period).
| Here is a photo from Wikipedia showing a Vinayaka Chaturthi festival somewhere in India More from Wikipedia: |
The modern festival involves installing clay images of Ganesha in public pandals (temporary shrines), which are worshipped for ten days. These are immersed at the end of the festival in a body of water such as a lake, along with the idol. Some Hindus also install the clay images of Ganesha in their homes
A traditional legend about Ganesha's birth is that Parvati, the consort of Shiva, created Ganesha out of mala (dirt) off her body while having a bath, and breathed life into the figure. She then set him the task of guarding her door while she bathed. Shiva, who had gone out, returned and as Ganesha didn't know him, didn't allow him to enter. After the combat between Ganesha and Shiva Ganas, finally angry Shiva severed the head of the child. Parvati seeing this became enraged and Shiva then promised that her son will be alive again. The devas searched for the head of dead person facing North, but they found only the head of an elephant. They brought the head of the elephant and Shiva fixed it on the child's body and brought him back to life. Lord Shiva also declared that from this day the boy would be called Ganesha (Gana Isha : Lord of Ganas)
Here are some Ganesha Festival images we found on the street...
and on the Hotel Shelton lobby floor...
The finished product
(The swastikas you see in the image above is not the same
--it is rotated 90 degrees--
and does not mean the same as was used by Nazi Germany.
We have seen it used elsewhere as a trade name on signs throughout town)
(The swastikas you see in the image above is not the same
--it is rotated 90 degrees--
and does not mean the same as was used by Nazi Germany.
We have seen it used elsewhere as a trade name on signs throughout town)
Youth Conference
About 70 youth came to a District-wide youth conference on Thursday, 17 September 2015 at the church. They first had instruction on serving the Lord with all your heart, might, mind and strength; then instruction regarding being yourself and making good choices.
Shopping
Shopping
Went shopping with the Elders on P-Day. We squeezed six of us in an Auto!
We went to Reliance Mart--sort of a Wal Mart-type store.
Four new friends:
(left to right)
Aishu, age 4
Akshaya, age 6
Daughters of President Pratti, of the 3rd Branch.
Choty, age 6
Shiny, age 4
Daughters of President Mumidi the District President.
New friend Akshaya, age 6--
a member of the First Branch
Elder Newton working at the computer in the hotel.
No, he's not really asleep
Sister Newton found her chocolate! Hurray!!
(Indian pizza, french fries and Diet Coke)
Temple Preparation Class
Outside the Dowleswaram Branch building in Rajahmundry
Friends at the Dowleswaram Branch--
where our apartment is located
Registration
From L to R:
Elder Mutyam
Bangalore Mission
Elder Devarapalli
Bangalore Mission
Elder Sarikonka
Bangalore Mission
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| This is what happens when you eat too much Indian food... |
Temple Preparation Class
We taught a compressed Temple Preparation Seminar for a single brother plus seven Elders and one Sister as they prepared to leave for their missions on 23 Sep 2015
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| Chicken market--no, they are not rubber! |
The Dowleswaram Branch
Outside the Dowleswaram Branch building in Rajahmundry
Friends at the Dowleswaram Branch--
where our apartment is located
Registration
The day that we went to register with the Indian Government at the Rajahmundry police station it rained VERY hard. In just a few minutes there were rushing rivers of water five inches deep.
Missionary Celebrations--First Branch, Second Branch,
Third Branch
New Elders leaving from the First Branch
23 Sep 2015
Elder Chilli
New Deli Mission
Elder Gubbala
Bangalore Mission
Elder Mungamuri
New Deli Mission
Sister Gantimi
Bangalore Mission
From L to R:
Elder Mutyam
Bangalore Mission
Elder Devarapalli
Bangalore Mission
Elder Sarikonka
Bangalore Mission
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| Sister Newton helps clean up the chapel after the missionary celebration These are the type of brooms you see all over India |
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| We had a traditional Indian lunch, wrapped in newspaper, with curry in plastic baggies, on the floor of the chapel the day the missionaries left for the Philippines The New Church House The new Church house renovation and new construction is moving ahead! |
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| It is expected to be completed by February 2016 |
What an awesome experience you are having. It will the memory of a lifetime. Lots of rain here.
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