Did you bring your fishing boots??

A few days ago, after a late night in the office, we noticed it was raining so we grabbed our umbrellas. It was only sprinkling rain so we headed for home. Our walk is typically only 12 minutes, 5 of which is on the busy road with road construction. Well, today it was a lot longer.

We started walking along the street and noticed the water kept getting deeper. As we continued, the cars and motor scooters were churning up the water into a very muddy mess.

See the video which best shows the situation we were in.

We decided to wait for an AUTO (small three wheeled taxi) but after about 10-15 minutes we noticed they were all occupied...so we decided to continue the trek.

I'm sure the younger missionaries are used to this.

Rain boots would have been nice to wear. However, most people wear flip flops or sandals. Mike's pants after our walk home.

Back to the office for a nice drink of water. At least the water inside is clean, and it tastes good.

You take the cups from the top - they're face up - just blow out the dust

On a brighter note, check out the pics on a sunny day on the grounds around the Mission Office and church building. Beautiful! The rain and mud are worth it. These Poinsettia trees really get you in the mood for Christmas.

We're really going to miss that Luke 2 reading with the all the grand children children acting out the Nativity and dramatizing details surrounding the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Chocolate Cheese and a Taco Shell Made of Spicy Chicken??

We were surprised walking through the grocery store the other day. Chocolate Cheese!! Perhaps it's good but we'll have to think about this one. 

It is Curry heaven for me here in India. I'm enjoying a chicken Tandoori platter with Biryani rice and nan. Sister Martin wanted to try something "normal?" in the mall so she went to Taco Bell. She picked the Naked Taco, costing a whopping $1.43 USD. That different looking shell is not your typical...It's actually made of crispy, spicy fried chicken. 

Almost everything is somewhat spicy in India. I haven't had anything very spicy yet but Sister Martin sometimes says it pushes her limit. 

Kids are entertained in the mall on this little train.

The malls here have many of your typical shops plus a lot of India style dress shops and yes, various veggie and curry chicken fast food restaurants. They are also priced higher than the local restaurants. What costs around $5 or $6 in the mall is half to a quarter the price at the small restaurants.

I went to a place called IT crowd and ordered what I thought was an appetizer for 150 Rupees, which is just over $2. When the plate was ready I was amazed that it was, a large meal that even included desert.

As I sat on a bench of sorts by a tree a younger missionary joined me with his plate of food he purchased from a place called Tandoor Box. His plate had a few Naan breads stuffed like pockets with a kind of curry masala/potato. I asked the Elder what he paid for his lunch and he replied 60 Rupies, which is about 85 cents. Wow, the price is amazing for a plate of food here. 

Trying out guitars...this is the one we bought.

Enjoying a quick Saturday afternoon lunch at this restaurant. We just happened to run into a few of the young missionaries who had just finished teaching a lesson; Elder Vupadda, Elder Wheeler and Elder Thomas. This is the second time coming here. The food is great and the price is generally around $2 - $4 per person. Our friend, Vasanth, ordered what he thought we would like on the menu. He ordered Dal Tadka for Sister Martin; made of lentils and spices...and Chicken Chettinad for Elder Martin. Last time we got Hyderabadi Chicken which was my favorite so far at this restaurant. 

India snack we like

Since it is hard to find Grapefruit here, I enjoying a new daily breakfast treat. So, with a banana, I break open a nice juicy Pomegranate for us to share.

We have a lady who comes and cooks and cleans our apartment from time-to-time. She also does the same for the our Mission President and his wife. It's a very reasonable price. My first cousin Bob Priddis and his wife Annette served as office couple in this mission earlier this year. They had the same person come and work for them. She will make whatever dish you want. I usually ask for Curry Chicken but Sister Martin will ask for other items like this. 

She made this nice curry chicken, Naan, rice and some spinach paneer. Yum-Yum.

Thanksgiving 

We enjoyed a nice thanksgiving dinner with the DeHarts, an American family that lives in different locations around the world because of his work. The last place they lived for a few years was Argentina. They invited us to join them for the feast.

They even found a modest sized turkey, amazing! It was great. I made my favorite chocolate chip cookies but they didn't turn out too good. All we have is a little toaster oven and they were overdone on the bottom and undone on the top, not to mention the ingredients are not quite the same here. The butter, flour and sugar are quite different here. I took some of the cookie dough to their house and did the last batch in a bigger oven. They turned out better but still not the same as at home. I wonder if I can find the ingredients for Clam dip here?

Unfortunately, this is the only picture I took and Sister Martin didn't take any either.

Busy days in the office - An India Wedding Reception

Our work load is over the top some of the days, lately. I, Elder Martin, work on the finances, renewing leases and more. In the last two weeks we have had what I call a tsunami of work. The service center has had me help pay many of their bills and other various tasks that I was told was never before asked of the Mission Finance person. After many long days and late nights, I think the tsunami has finally subsided. 

Sister Martin is the receptionist, helps all the foreign missionaries with their Visa registration, baptism records, arranging transportation for missionaries going to and from the airport and much more. Occasionally, such as this Monday p-day for the young missionaries, they come in to do emails home to their family, play basketball, etc.  

A few days ago we walked out the office door and the courtyard was transformed into an elaborate wedding reception. There was a decorated stage, and chairs filled with attendees and more people standing.

Wedding Reception - The mission office is in the background

Singing just before the grand entrance

Video of Groom making his entrance


The bride arrives

The bride exiting her carriage and making her entrance

The Newlyweds were hoisted high above everyone in this make-shift crane with a heart of fresh flowers

They decorated the entrance - church building is on the left

We left early but overall it was a very interesting and beautiful wedding reception, the likes of which we had never seen before.

First Greeting of Stripling Warriors of India

Now that we're helping out in the office (temporarily), we are meeting so many of the young missionaries. Each have different backgrounds and have amazing testimonies of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the Gospel.

They are all here in India as volunteers and have sacrificed much to be here.

Some of the leaders recently joined together to help strengthen each other and discuss the challenges they face and receive council from the Mission President and his wife.

Gun Powder and drinking from a test tube??

We visited one of the other Senior Couples, Elder and Sister Briggs. They are from Idaho. During this time we had the opportunity to stay at a hotel that offered a free (adventurous) buffet breakfast with more amazing India cuisine, and foods we have never tried before.

GUN POWDER??

I sprinkled some "Gun Powder" on some of the food and drank some green Bittergourd juice that was served in test tubes. I was a little worried so I asked what the gun powder was. They couldn't tell me but assured me that it wasn't used for actual guns. They thought the word "Gun" was from the Telugu language.

Fresh Bittergourd Juice

The test-tube concoction was rather intriguing. I Googled what Bittergourd was and found it is actually quite healthy for you. We both enjoyed other exotic juices made from local foods such as carrot-beetroot juice.

I had them make me a "Dosa" with Masala inside. They offered several flavorful Chutney sauces. The red one that looked super spicy was actually sweet and mild. Sister Martin even put it on her Omelet.

Dosa - The Gun powder is to the left of the fried chili pepper

Chutney sauces and other delights

We enjoyed our P-day with the Briggs. We not only saw some interesting sights, but they showed us the church building. There was a meeting going on there and we met a few of the members. The Elder and Sister missionaries were also there teaching someone.

Walking along the beach - There is a heard of goats in the background

Enjoyed viewing some Bonsai at a park

FSM (below), almost resembles where we served our last mission in the (FSM) Federated States of Micronesia. But in this case it is a restaurant called, "The Flying Spaghetti Monster". It was pretty good.

We ate lunch at another interesting restaurant

A local bathroom

Driving along with the cows and water buffalo

Expect the Unexpected

As many of you know, we were called to be "Public Affairs" missionaries for the Bengaluru, India and Sri Lanka Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Here in India, it is actually called the India Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

After we had been here just a few days, Elder and Sister Hansen, the Mission Office couple, had some family emergencies and had to go home. So, we have been asked to temporarily fill in and help in the Mission Office. We will still be doing a some public affairs work but that of course will be limited until someone replaces us.

Expect the Unexpected - Our short training in the office began

After a few partial days of training, We said good bye to the Hansens. We had a good time with them during the short time we spent together.

With Elder and Sister Hansen at the Office

We enjoyed watching all of the preparation and celebration of the Hindu Diwali Festival and Holidays. The festivities look a little like July 4th in the US because they have fireworks and also like Christmas because people put up lights everywhere.

Having a farewell dinner with the Hansens

It's Curry Heaven in India. They recommended Zabardust Chicken and it was amazing. They said the word Zabardust means excellent in Hindi and the Urdu languages.

Part of the menu

Some local snacks

Visited a mall - A little Panda train entertains children

Back to the office. We love helping in the mission.