Yet another exhausting and exhilarating day in India as we wind down our mission exploration trip. Today we
- ate breakfast crepes filled with freshly grated coconut
- toured two housing rehabilitation projects for victims of the 2004 tsunami (photo left)
- visited a mass grave where hundreds were buried after the tsunami in which 225,000 died
- enjoyed fresh coconut milk and banana cashew bread made by the rehab villagers who welcomed us by anointing our foreheads with Indian spices and placing on our shoulders ceremonial shawls
- watched women make rope from coconut fiber
- drove through acres of rubber trees, mango groves, coconut palms, and banana trees
- prayed with the residents of an HIV-AIDS home
- were serenaded by students at the community college run by the Sisters of Notre Dame (who also have Chardon, Ohio connections)
- enjoyed modern and folk dancing and singing from a group of nursing and engineering students and shared a meal together with them and our host family.
Tomorrow morning we depart the southern tip of India for a day in Mumbai, more commonly known as Bombay. I’ve been asked to preach there on Sunday, then we’ll have a final afternoon of touring before departing for home.
