days in the life of a
India Mission Trip
October 2-14, 2008
October 15, 2008
NO PLACE LIKE HOME!
No matter where you roam, there's no place like home! After traveling for 30+ hours (21 hours in the air!) from one side of the world to another, Kim's smiling face, hugs & kisses, and these beautiful roses welcomed me home! And, as much as I enjoyed the trip to India, I was so thrilled to be back in America and home again!
Things I missed while I was in India:
My Family & FriendsThis was our team of 10 people, along with Johnson from Hope Children's Home. They were my family andfriends the past 12 days. We got to know each other really well! It was my privilege to work and play alongsidethese beautiful Christian people from our church and the Eden Church near Muncie. But...they couldn't replacemy family and friends back home! Thank goodness for email and cell phones!!!My BedNow, don't get me wrong...I love Vanessa! But she's not as much fun to cuddle with in bed as Kim is! We werebedmates during the trip. This photo is from our hotel in Kanyakumari, where we spent 3 nights. It doesn't lookbad (it's actually quite luxurious by Indian standards), but we may as well have been sleeping on the marble floor, the mattress was so thin. When I got home last night, my own bed felt SO GOOD!!!Good FoodRice, rice, and more rice! That was what I ate for practically every meal in India. Rice, bananas, and freshpineapple were my staples, with some toast and Indian bread thrown in on the side. Not that I don't like rice,but it gets a little tiresome. Can't wait for some good, ole American pizza!Hot ShowerAt the end of a hot, sweaty, hard day, what could be more refreshing than a not-cold shower. I say "not-cold"because if you turn on the hot tap full blast, that's what you get. It's not warm. The best I can say is it's notcold. Nothing like washing your hair in a not-cold shower with low water pressure.ElectricityThis is what it looks like, in the not-cold shower, naked and dripping wet, when the electicity goes out. Orsitting in a restaurant trying to eat your rice and more rice when suddenly everything goes dark. Or when youpull up to a hotel after sundown and the whole city loses power. All these happened and more. Electricity inIndia is not a reliable commodity at all. Many times every day the power goes off for no apparent reason. Anywhere, any time, you can suddenly be in the dark. Thankfully, the power usually comes back on in aminute or less. Sure makes me appreciate my reliable REMC! My ComputerHere is the internet place in Parassala where I sent out my couple of emails to you. Inside this hole-in-the-wallshop are several computers, separated by curtains. It is about 150 degrees in there, no fans, no kidding! Youstart dripping sweat the moment you walk in the door. I finally gave up on the email thing after a maddening incident involving Dave McCord. It really wasn't his fault, except for the fact that he's a man and men are kingsin India. I had finished typing a long email, trying to attach a photo to send with it, when Dave (who was sittingat another computer, decided he wanted to print out a photo of his grandson Hunter. When he asked the manrunning the shop to print it out, the man immediately UNPLUGGED my computer and plugged in the printer forDave!!!!! Can you picture the steam coming out of my ears??!!! I was FUMING!!! Luckily, the draft had beensaved and I was able to send it out...without the photo. Respect!Men rule in India. Women are considered and treated as second-class citizens. Growing up in America, thatis tough for me to get used to. The rules are all different. I was not to speak to a man unless he spoke first. They enter rooms first and sit in the front, while the women and children scramble for any leftover spots. Whenwaiting in line (something you do a lot of in India!), they push ahead of women to the front. Thankfully, our the 8 men on our mission team did not take advantage of the cultural norm and were very gentlemanly toward Vanessa and me. But one thing never changes, men may THINK they are in charge, but the Indian women arethe ones who run the show! You GO, GIRLS! 
October 15, 2008
LESSONS FROM INDIA
I have so much to tell you...and not quite sure where to begin! So I think I'll start by sharing with you some lessons I learned on this trip. Most of them are not new revelations, but new insights and reminders of things I already knew in my heart.
#1: God's Creation is Beautiful
Is there anything in nature more gracefully beautiful than a palm tree?
Or a tropical sunset??? Amidst the poverty and filth that is everywhere in India, the beauty of God's creation is around every corner. I learned to appreciate even more the beauty of this amazing world that we all share.
#2: God's Children Are Precious
India is a nation of 1.13 billion people, the second most populous country in the world. There are people everywhere!
Although the caste system is officially outlawed in India, culturally it is still very much alive. All the children at Hope Children's Home, as well as the rural villages where we did our medical camps, are all part of the very lowest caste, the Dalits or "Untouchables", the poorest of the poor and the bottom of the Indian social ladder. But these children of God are so precious! And He loves them just the same!!! Their warm smiles melted our hearts wherever we went.
This darling little 2 year old girl was undernourished when she came to the medical camp. Look into those big eyes!
I especially loved the old women! Despite the hard life they have endured, they still have a spark in their eyes and a smile for the camera! Precious children of God!!!
#3: True Wealth is in the Heart
This 23-year-old woman begged me to come to her home. She was so proud to show me where she lived, even offering me food and drink (which I politely declined!...no "Delhi Belly" for me). I felt ashamed...I have so much, yet how many times do I want more or better things?! She has nothing, except what really counts--a joyous heart! What a lesson for all of us! We need to be reminded that possessions do not make people happy, but having Jesus in our
hearts is all we need to live a joyous life.
#4: People are People
Despite differences in the way we look, speak, and live, people are the same wherever you go. Same hopes, same fears, same feelings...we all share so much! Indian children are playful and ornery and innocent, just like American children.
Grandmothers proudly show off their grandbabies...
Daddies bounce their babies to make them laugh...
Mothers have hopes and dreams for their little children. This young mom spent a year studying in the US and desperately wants an American family to sponsor her children so they can have the life she only dreamed of.
These are just a few of the things I was reminded of while in India. But you don't have to travel halfway around the world to realize these universal truths. Our God is awesome and the beauty of His creation and His love for His precious children are not limited by geographical or cultural or language boundaries. God is EVERYWHERE!!!
October 16, 2008
HOPE CHILDREN'S HOME
Behind these stone walls, tucked away off the beaten path on the southernmost tip of India, lies hidden a jewel amidst the rocks that are India...Hope Children's Home. Beyond this wall 124 children from the poorest of the poor call Hope their home. It is the reason I go to India, where a piece of my heart will always reside.
As we drove into the campus, we could hear the joyful singing of children worshiping God spilling out through the windows and doors of the chapel. It was Sunday morning, and these 124 children from destitute Hindu families were praising God and celebrating their life in Jesus. Only the singing in heaven can rival those beautiful melodies from the hearts of those precious little ones! We felt humbled and privileged to be able to share in their worship.
Ten years ago, a handful of pastors from the midwest partnered with a few Christian believers in India to start Hope Children's Home. The goal: to provide a home and Christian training for extremely poor Indian children, with the hope that they will grow up to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout their homes and villages. The pastor of our church at Sulphur Springs at the time was Rev. Jim Behrendt, one of those who initially helped make the vision a reality, and our church helped build Hope and continues to support Hope in many ways.
Many of our church families sponsor one of the children at the home. Sponsorship is only $30 per month, and it is the best use for $30 I can think of. American dollars go a long way in India, and that $30 covers the cost of the basic needs for one child. Try that in America!
Of course, the home has many larger financial needs, to pay for staff, building needs, and new projects. It's a great project for an organization or church, as every single penny goes toward the needs of the home and its children. It is truly an investment in spreading the gospel throughout India!!!
There are two dormitories, one for the boys and one for the girls. Inside there are shelves where each child keeps his/her few personal possessions. At night, each child rolls out a rice straw mat on the tile floor to sleep on. It seems primitive to us, but by Indian standards the accommodations are very nice! Housemothers and housefathers live with the children. During the day, school-age children are driven to schools off-campus, where they associate with peers beyond the home.
Mealtimes are an amazing example of efficiency and organization. The children bring their own pan and cup (no forks or spoons...they eat with their right hands!), sit in organized lines on the floor, and the older children and houseparents bring the food (rice plus whatever else!) around to each one. After the meal is finished, the children each wash their own dishes, wash up, and head off to do chores or schoolwork or play.
All the children, no matter their age, have chores, which they do without complaining. This little girl is sweeping up the rice mess after a meal in the dining hall.
These older girls slice up okra for the next meal. It takes a lot to feed 124 children 3 meals plus 1 snack every day!
Boys and girls alike water the abundance of flowers and plants every day.
And laundry day, everyone pitches in and clothes are scattered in every available spot to dry in the hot tropical sun.
And the children...well, kids are kids! Their bright smiles melt my heart!
These are the faces that will share Jesus with their Hindu villages!
They are a bright light shining in a beautiful country filled with spiritual darkness. And I am so humbled and honored to have a small part in that.
And standing in the shade of the palms in the courtyard at Hope, I can see God smiling down on this special place!
October 16, 2008
THREE SPECIAL LITTLE GIRLS
When I say a piece of my heart resides at Hope Children's Home, this is the reason why! Or, I should say, THESE
children are the reason why! These are the children that Kim and I and my sister Barb and John sponsor.
Meet Santhi and Vijila. Kim and I are privileged to be the American parents of these two 8-year-old sweeties. They are both a little shy, but always ready with a big smile that just melts my heart.
Who wouldn't be charmed by these precious little ones who worship God with all their hearts and tuck photos of my family inside their worn little Tamil Bibles?!
And this is darling little Abirame, who is about 6 years old. Barb and John are her American parents. She's a little on the mischievious side...but cute as a button and always grinning her toothless little smile!
Abirame has a little brother who is also at the home. Do they get any more adorable than this?
Part of me wishes I could just pack them up and bring them back to America with me. But God has other plans for them, and I know Hope is where they need to be right now. So, tearfully, I left them there...along with a piece of my heart!
October 17, 2008
INDIAN STREET WALKIN'
Mornings were our free time while in India. So every day, we left our air-conditioned hotel rooms behind and braved the 90+ degree heat to walk the streets of India. Incredible, unexpected sights seemed to be around every turn.
The local butcher cuts up his meat on his sweltering, fly-infested porch...while a stray dog awaits the scraps.
We saw this woman in an alley, cutting up coconuts. Anybody hungry for a coconut cream pie now?!
You don't see this sight walking down an American street, but in India it's commonplace.
Lots of fruit and vegetable stands. It looks pretty good...but is it safe to eat?
And lots of Hindu shrines, honoring the hundreds of gods they worship. There's always LOUD music blaring from inside the shrines. Indians are very spiritual people, but sadly they worship many gods instead of the one true God.
Homeless, destitute people try to find cover wherever they can.
Many Hindus believe cows are sacred, reincarnations of loved ones. So cows freely roam wherever they wish.
And, speaking of cows, any idea what this is? Vanessa and I thought it was some type of dried fruit patties. WRONG! It's actually thin patties of cow dung, which is sun-dried and used for fuel. Fruit roll-up, anyone?!
What do you suppose this man has in his jug? Water? Milk? Whatever it is, he isn't taking any chances of spilling it. And besides, riding a bike uphill is just as hard in India as it is in America! (What do you think of his bike, Kamo?)
October 18, 2008
MEDICAL CAMPS
Our main purpose for this mission trip to India was to facilitate medical and optical camps in rural Indian villages. The churches in the villages sponsor this outreach to their communities free of charge, a practical way of connecting with their Hindu neighbors. Our team assisted in the camps, paid for the doctors and prescription medicines, and spread Christian love by interacting with the villagers.
We went to 5 different villages, 5 different churches...but each one served the poorest of the poor in India. Most of these people had never seen a doctor or an American. They were fascinated by us! The villagers put on their very best clothes and lined up for hours ahead of time, waiting for their opportunity to get medical care and see some strange white folks from the other side of the world (that would be US!).
Each person registered and received a number, which determined their place in line. So, while they were waiting outside the church, I socialized with them and played with the children.
They all LOVED having their photos taken...and then looking at them in the camera monitor.
We had lots of fun doing the "Hokey, Pokey". Whew...I was worn out, hot, and sweaty in that tropical heat!
At each village, I was privileged to be invited to the homes of the villagers. Even though they have very little, they are so hospitable and wonderful hosts, always offering a portion of their meager food supply to me (I was afraid to eat it...fear of Delhi Belly!).
Inside, the doctors were treating the villagers...
...passing out prescriptions...
...and giving out glasses (which, incidentally, came from the Lions Club donations here in the US).
At each stop, we were treated like royalty and honored with flower garlands and special treatment. It was very humbling. These people who have nothing gave more to us that we could ever give to them! It is our hope and prayer that these small camps will plant seeds of Christianity that the local churches can nurture and others will come to know the love of God!
October 19, 2008
SUBA RANI
God amazed our mission team with an awesome surprise, visible proof that Hope Children's Home is a success! Meet 19-year-old Suba Rani, a nursing student in Tamil Nadu, southern India.
At the conclusion of our first medical camp, this young nurse approached Pastor Jim Behrendt and asked if he was from Hope Children's Home. Now Jim, a big man by any standards but especially in India, was one of the founders of Hope and visited there often. Suba Rani remembered him (he's hard to forget!) and told him that she had lived for several years at the home. After graduating from high school, she moved away to college to become a nurse.
When the call went out for nursing students to help with our medical camps, Suba Rani answered. And so, to her astonishment as well as ours, she ended up working right along with us, those who had given her hope at Hope.
Jim remembered Suba Rani well. She came to Hope Children's Home soon after it opened 10 years ago, disfigured from birth by a club foot. Hope Home paid for surgery and rehab to repair her foot, and took her in when her family and society cast her off. At Hope she found care and love, accepted Jesus as her Savior, and grew up into the beautiful, happy young woman you see here. Jim even helped baptize Suba Rani one Sunday morning after worship.
Suba Rani remembered Vanessa and me as well. Here she and Vanessa bring back memories as they share the special handshake all the children at the home know. She hadn't forgotten!
Now here she is, all grown up, helping people as others helped her. It was an incredible, humbling experience for us!
At the last camp, she presented both Vanessa and me a small butterfly hair clip that she had made. How appropriate! So often the image of a butterfly is used to describe the rebirth of a new believer when she accepts Jesus. That certainly applies here. But I couldn't help thinking that Suba Rani's life itself is so like that precious butterfly. She was an unwanted, cast-off child of the "Untouchables" caste in India, lowly with no future in sight. But, with God's intervention, this special little orphan has grown and blossomed, transformed into a delicate butterfly, beautiful inside and out, and with wings that will take her wherever God has planned for her life.
Only God knows if my path will ever cross Suba Rani's again in this life. But, one thing I know for sure, I'll see her someday in heaven. Fly on, precious Suba Rani!!!
October 20, 2008
HOSPITAL VISIT
One of the doctors who helped at our medical camps in India, Dr. Oral Roberts (obviously NOT the Oral Roberts we are familiar with!), insisted that we visit his state-of-the-art hospital. Although his motivation for inviting us was partially to solicit funding for his hospital, Dr. Roberts is doing some wonderful work serving the poor in India who could never afford medical treatment on their own.
So our team stopped for a visit. Pictured here are the head of the hospital and 2 Indian men we worked with at the medical camps, Dr. Cecil and Jacob Johnson (more about Dr. Cecil in a future post...an amazing man!), with team members Vanessa and Dave.
Take a look with me inside his hospital (which is very nice by Indian standards!)...and thank God you live in America!
First stop, Surgical ICU. Are you kidding me?! It quickly became apparent that there are no privacy laws in India.
These 2 women are recuperating in the ICU. Now, I've only been in an ICU once in America, and as I recall, it was NOTHING like this one! We were a little embarrassed to be there with these very sick women, but Dr. Roberts ushered us in proudly and urged us to take photos! That is his son in the background, also taking photos...of the Americans' visit (likely to be used as advertising to solicit funds from others...my cynical mind!).
I'm throwing this in for all the Physical Therapists in my life (I'm talking about you...Maria, Barb, Alli, Zach!)!
Is this what your treatment rooms look like? I think not...in fact, I'm sure not! Although, I have to say we were impressed with his equipment. You rarely see such modern (comparatively speaking!) equipment like that in India.
Into the Operating Room! When we balked at touring such a sterile (we're assuming!) area, Dr. Roberts insisted, "No Problem!" So in we went, with our street clothes and shoes, just like that.
Dr. Roberts is obviously very proud of his hospital. On the right is Dr. Cecil, who you will get to know later, I promise!
He teaches classes, training his own nursing staff.
And if things don't work out as planned, "Dr. Bob" (our nickname for him!) uses his former patients for teaching tools.
Just kidding, of course...I think!
Besides his family, this is his hospital staff.
And then, Dr. Bob took us into the patients' rooms to explain their various medical issues (a breach of privacy if ever there was one, don't you think?!) and asked Pastor Jim to pray over each one.
This woman is in traction for a back problem. Note the bag of rice used as a weight at the foot of the bed!
Dr. Roberts' two daughters, Hannah and Sarah (nice Biblical names!) help out at the hospital. Very sweet gals who speak great English! Hannah wants to be a computer engineer and Sarah plans to be a doctor.
Our visit concluded with a short service at the hospital chapel. We sang a couple of hymns, Dr. Roberts spoke, and asked Pastor Jim to share his impressions of the hospital and its ministry. An awkward moment...but Jim handled beautifully. Then Dr. Bob told Jim to pray over and bless his children, so he graciously obliged.
What an eye-opener! We Americans take so much for granted, including access to the best medical care in the world. God has blessed us immensely...let's quit our whining and complaining and thank God for those blessings!
October 22, 2008
SIGNS FROM INDIA
Signs tell a story all their own. I know, I'm a little weird, but I love taking photos of signs. So humor me as I share some of the interesting signs I encountered in India.
This signboard is obviously advertising the meals inside this cafe. I find it interesting that part of it is in English and part in Tamil. I'm intrigued by the Tamil writing...I think it's cool to look at, but what does it say???
Nearly all the signs in India are handpainted. Anyone who's ever made a poster can appreciate this sign. See how the artist started out with wide blue letters, and as she began to run out of room, the letters got narrower and narrower, until "Spices" at the end was super-skinny. And I also love the little picture up in the righthand corner. They didn't fool me...they were trying to fill up that extra space! Been there, done that!
I just love this picture. It reminds me of the tongue-twister..."She sells seashells down by the seashore."
But I also love the sign...
I love India, too!
This is NOT a place you want to visit in India. Vanessa unfortunately had to make use of the pay public toilet, and she verified what I expected...it's not a nice place to be! Indian toilets are basically a hole in the ground that you squat over. I wish Vanessa had taken a picture of it, but my mind's picture is bad enough! And she had to pay 10 rupees for the experience!
A familiar sight! This Lions Club tower proudly stands over Kanyakumari. Speaking of Lions Club, at the medical camps they were distributing some of the eyeglasses that Lions Clubs collect. It was neat to see that outreach in action!
This area, the very southern point of India where the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal all meet, was hit hard by the 2004 tsunami. Rebuilding is tedious, as all the bricks and other building materials are totally made by hand at the site.
This is the hotel where we stayed for 5 nights while in Parassala. Don't be fooled by the sign! While it looks luxurious, it isn't! The big joke with the guys on our team were the picture of the food...lobster, steak, cheesecake. The restaurant there served NONE of them! False advertising at its best...especially disappointing for hungry Americans!
We were a little nervous following this truck. I especially like the "I am fire don't kiss me" admonition. And this driver, like all Indian drivers, drove like a maniac...speeding and swerving and passing, barely missing several other motorists. The key to driving in India is reflected in the phrase painted on the bottom...
SOUND HORN!!! And believe me, they do! Here's what I surmised about driving rules in India:
You are generally expected to drive on the left side of the road...No apparent speed limit...Indian drivers do not follow anyone! They honk their horn and PASS...Passing does NOT require a clear road ahead! Others are expected to move over and get out of the way.The bigger the vehicle, the more of a right-of-way you have.Many times, we found ourselves passing a vehicle that was also passing another vehicle that was also passinganother vehicle (or motorcycle or pedestrian or cow or herd of goats...)...5 abreast was not uncommon,with oncoming traffic barreling down on the whole group!AMAZINGLY, it always seems to work out! And without ROAD RAGE!!! I can only imagine these drivers onan American interstate!!!"Honk, honk!" means "Get out of my way, I'm passing you!" Lack of oncoming traffic is totally optional!The horn is the most used part of an Indian vehicle. Each vehicle has its own unique-sounding horn We Americans do not take advantage of the horn as we should!
Maybe we should start a new trend of horn-honking on American roads! What do you think?!
October 23, 2008
LIVING MARTYR
Of all the amazing and incredible people that I met while in India, none impacted my life like this gentleman. Meet
Rev. D. Cecilraj, or Dr. Cecil as we called him, an extraordinary Christian doctor and courageous man of faith!
Dr. Cecil was the administrator of all 5 medical camps. He accomplished an astounding feat in India...efficiently and orderly moving the crowds of people through the clinic without incident. His strong, authoritative demeanor commands attention and respect, yet he always tempers it with a huge smile.
And that smile is contagious! Dr. Cecil lives his joy in Christ! It radiates from him to everyone who is blessed to be in his presence. And I was one who was immensely blessed by him!
Dr. Cecil won me over the very first day of medical camp. I was hanging around outside the church, playing with the children. Midway through the afternoon, Dr. Cecil sought me out and, as I was dancing and singing with the crowd, he joined in and started dancing with me! That broke down all the cultural barriers (women in India are not to initiate social contact with men) and I knew he would be an instant friend. Dr. Cecil and I are both 51, and we shared that we are not "old" like other 50ish people we know! Dr. Cecil speaks excellent English, which also endeared him to our team. He's just one of those people that are fun to be around.
Dr. Cecil also was a great help explaining some puzzling experiences we had. Loving the beautiful ankle bracelets the Indian women wear, I bought one. Well, actually two...I thought I was buying just one, but I found after I had paid that they are only sold in pairs. (That should have been my first clue! Duh!!!) Only wanting one, I sold the other one to James, a fellow on my team, to give as a gift. That afternoon I wore my gorgeous gold ankle bracelet to the medical camp. Immediately I noticed the women and girls pointing at my feet and laughing, babbling in Tamil. One brave young girl finally asked me where my other ankle bracelet was, and when I tried to explain that I only had one, she broke out in hysterical laughter as she relayed what I had said to the women nearby, who also began laughing. So I asked Dr. Cecil what the deal was. Apparently I had done a big no-no...you should either wear two or none, never just one! Dr. Cecil presented it in his booming, no-nonsense way with a big grin on his face. "How many legs did God give you?...Two legs, two anklets!!!" And that was that, enough said. Bless his heart, James happened to have the other ankle bracelet in his pocket and gave it to me to put on. One of the women snatched it from me, quickly put it around my other ankle, and the crowd cheered! I was complete! And Dr. Cecil laughed the loudest!
One morning as Vanessa and I were walking around Parassala, we came across these palm mats filled with strange circles drying in the sun. After looking them over, we figured they must be some sort of fruit drying, like a fruit roll-up of sorts. So we shared this photo with Dr. Cecil that afternoon to solve the mystery. Again, he started laughing and laughing! What was so funny?! COW DUNG! That's what it was...thin patties of cow dung drying, to be used for fuel. When we told him we thought it was fruit, he got so tickled and hooted and howled. Kooky American women!
Here Dr. Cecil jokingly examines Pastor Jim at the end of a camp. Always the jokester (after telling Jim in all seriousness that he was too big!), he even wrote out a prescription for ice cream for Jim to take home to Debbie.
All of these things made us all love Dr. Cecil. But the most riveting thing about him for me was the testimony he shared with me. The last day of camp, he sat down on a bench beside me and pulled up his two pant legs, revealing some horrible scarring. When I asked him what had happened, his bright smile faded and tears filled his eyes.
In 1989, when he was 32, he had been walking home from a church he was pastoring at the time when he suddenly found himself surrounded by 50 or so young angry Indian men wielding swords, knives, and wooden clubs. They began beating him all over his body, slashing swords across his shins as well. I was horrified and told him I knew he had to have been praying desperately during the ordeal. He told me that he kept saying "Praise the Lord!" louder and louder, over and over, which made the group of Hindu men angrier and angrier. Finally they left him for dead, a village girl found him, and he spent 51 days in the hospital recovering from his wounds.
Now, one would think that after that, Dr. Cecil would quietly go about his faith, but no! He proclaims Jesus loudly and proudly, sharing with everyone he meets. He says he has no fear, and I believe him. The man LIVES his JOY every day of his life! He is the representation of what living in Christ is...no fear, only freedom and joy.
That's why I (and our entire team!) love Dr. Cecil. We, as Americans, have never had to fear true persecution for our faith. This man has survived a close brush with death because of his faith, and yet he never backs down. What an inspiration! We may never be privileged to cross paths again with Dr. Cecil on this earth, but we will surely see him in heaven...with a HUGE SMILE on his precious face! May God bless and protect you, Dr. Cecil, until we meet again!
October 24, 2008
MASSAGE, INDIA-STYLE
To finish up my posts about my incredible trip to India, I want to end with a story about the funniest experience I had. It had nothing to do with the children's orphanage or medical camps or anything significant. It started with a quest to spend rupees before we left the country.
When you fly into India and change your money at the airport, they keep track of how much money you exchange. Then, when you get ready to leave, you better have spent a good amount of it or you end up being endlessly questioned. When we arrived at the "resort" town of Kovalam Beach, our team still had entirely too many rupees, so we were on a mission...to spend money before we left India.
Now, spending money is not usually a difficult task for me. But in India, there were two factors that played into it. First of all, everything in India is so cheap, compared to what we pay in America, so I'd already bought a lot of souvenirs and still hadn't spent very much money. Secondly, I had no more room in my luggage for more stuff! So, as Vanessa and I shared our dilemma with Dave, he gave us a good idea on how to use up a few rupees.
Our hotel had a Massage Parlor on the top floor. For 950 rupees (roughly $19), we could get one hour of a full-body massage plus a complete facial. I've never had a massage, but I know they are expensive here at home. Vanessa has had several massages before, and she was gun-ho to do it. It sounded like fun, so we decided to go for it!
Let me put your mind at ease right away...THERE WILL BE NO MORE PHOTOS in this post! We did not document this experience with photos (be thankful!), and this is one time where your imagination will tell the story better than any photo could. ENJOY!
Vanessa (who is a much more daring and adventurous soul that me!) and I walked up the stairs to schedule our massages. There are two masseurs (that's the first time I've EVER in my 51 years used that word!), one gal and one man, both in their mid-20s. Cute too, I might add! The gal said (in her horribly broken English) that she'd do Vanessa and the young man said he'd take me. I looked at Vanessa, and she assured me that it would be no big deal, I'd have on my underwear and be wrapped in a towel, and besides, I'd never see him again. So they were off, to prepare their massage rooms, heat their medicated oils prepared according to ancient Ayurvedic texts (that's what the brochure said!), and get ready for us.
As we watched the man/boy disappear into a closet-like room with a padlock on the outside, Vanessa laughed and said, "You realize he is going to take you in that room and padlock you in there!" She was getting quite a chuckle out of it, but I was getting cold feet. So, reconsidering the entire idea, I finally talked her into trading me...she would get the guy, and I could have the girl. Vanessa isn't scared of anything. And besides, she's had massages before so she was experienced!
Off we were led into our separate massage rooms. Now, let me paint a picture of these rooms for you. They were about the size of a large closet, dark and dingy with a single lightbulb dangling from the ceiling. Mine also had a rope noose-looking thing hanging down. The walls were dirty and dark, I suppose they had been white once upon a time, with a dirty red tile floor. In the center of the tiny room was a massage bed with a dark brown vinyl top. There was a broken-down stool (actually it was once a chair, but the back had been removed) and a plastic chair by the door where I was to place my things. Hanging on the wall was a tiny, antiquey-looking mirror, with scratches all through it. And the door was like a crudely-made cabin door, hung crookedly, with a big padlock on the latch. The room's only saving grace was that it was not completely closed at the top, where a metal grate replaced the walls up high, I suppose to allow for ventilation. As I began to panic, I realized that at least I could call for Vanessa if I had to and she would surely be able to hear me.
I seriously considered backing out at this point, but I didn't want to seem like a big chicken, so I thought, "How bad can it be?" and, against my better judgment, stayed in the room. The girl was sweetly smiling and instructed me to take off my clothes. I took them off, down to my underwear, searching in vain for a towel to cover up with, but she looked puzzled, and motioned for me to take off my bra and panties too!!! And my watch, and my earrings, and my hairclip as well. My pulse was racing, and all I could think of was how GLAD I was that I had traded with Vanessa!
I could only imagine Vanessa doing the same thing in there with that young fella, with not a stitch to cover up our naked bodies! WHAT HAD WE GOTTEN OURSELVES INTO?!?
First, she had me sit my bare bottom on that nasty, filthy stool. I sat on the very edge, and she came around behind me and started massaging my head, neck, and shoulders, working warm oil into them. She kept telling me to relax, and I tried, but I couldn't completely relax as I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. I could only imagine how my hair must look, oiled down and rubbed all over. Then she had me lay face down on that vinyl table and she began working on my feet, legs, butt, back, and shoulders. I have to admit it did feel good, but I never really let down my guard.
Then it was time to roll over. I felt like a greased pig, sliding around on that vinyl table. She massaged my face first, then proceeded to do the facial, which eventually ended up with my eyes being plastered shut and covered with something (in the photo it looks like cucumber slices, but who knows!) and a mud-like mask over the rest of my face. The thought occurred to me that perhaps it was a dung mask, as cow dung seems to be used in many ways in India, but I tried not to dwell on that.
After my face was plastered and I couldn't see anything if I wanted to, she massaged my front side. And, yes, I mean ALL of the front side. It was weird, I tell you! My mind kept thinking about poor Vanessa going through the very same thing, except with that young man. Bless her heart for trading me! I think that would have been too much for me.
Then, after she was finished massaging every reachable part, I heard the door open and then shut, and I presumed she had left the room. She said nothing throughout the entire session, just quietly moving through her routine and motioning when necessary. I was totally alone in this totally quiet, dark, dingy room, buck-naked and oiled up to beat the band, and she had left me there. I heard the door open, a pause, then shut again. Two or three more times that happened. Panic began to take hold! She could take my purse, my clothes, my jewelry...everything, lock my greasy naked body in that room, and leave me there helpless and without a stitch of clothes. Or anything, for that matter, to cover up with! I was totally at her mercy, and my heart was pounding. So much for relaxation!
(Later, when Vanessa and I were comparing notes about our experience, we wondered if maybe they were quietly letting others peek in to see the naked white middle-aged American women. For all we know, we may have been the side show for the locals that day in Kovalam Beach!)
After what seemed an eternity (but was probably only 10 minutes or so), I heard the door open and she was moving around. She took a warm cloth and began wiping my face off, removing the packs from my eyes. When she had finished washing my face, I peeked and saw her grab a piece of cheesecloth-like fabric and begin to wipe off the oil. She worked at cleaning me up the best she could, then took my hairclip and twisted my oily hair up in some sort of bun. I began to feel a little better, but still couldn't help but wonder if my belongings were still there where I put them an hour ago.
Sure enough, they were there, just as I had laid them. As I pulled them quickly on, relief flooded through me. NEVER AGAIN!!! I had pictured a pristine, spa-like room with candles and soft music playing, not that dingy hole-in-the-wall room with a dim, dirty lightbulb dangling down. It was quite an experience, an Indian massage!
When Vanessa and I met up again out in the hallway, we both looked like we'd been caught up in an oily tornado. We quickly thanked and tipped our masseurs, and made our way as inconspicuously as possible down the flight of stairs to our room. Once we were safely inside, we began to laugh. Hysterically and out-of-control! Until we were both crying! Laughing so hard it was minutes before either of us could speak! We relived it together, comparing notes, tickled until we both nearly peed our pants. It was an experience that we'll never forget (and never repeat!), and one of the funniest and most daring things I've ever done in my life. A massage in India! Quite an entertainment value for $19!
