Pretending to be Maharaja and Maharani (India Prince and Princess)

Enjoyed an evening dinner buffet at restaurant called Ji Hazoor nearby. You could tell they tried to decorate it like a palace and had lots of beads and lights. They even had some Maharaja and Maharani (India Prince and Princess) hats to wear for fun and pictures.

 We took our friend Vasanth. He has helped us find cool places to visit.

It was good food and we had fun. It was a good break from the non-stop stresses of the office.

"Sister Martin, let's break away from the office and go out to dinner"

Another evening we enjoyed a special occasion at a wedding reception for Kannagi's daughter. Kannagi helps cook and clean at the Mission Home and some for us.

Another elaborate invitation...

Kannagi is the mother of the bride, in the orange dress talking to President Mortensen. Vasanth came with us and we met President and Sister Mortensen at the wedding. Of course they had Biryani Rice and Chicken.

No Forks??

Eating with our hands (south India style) reminds us of one of our grandchildren eating cake at their one year birthday party.

Another fun getaway, even though I entered the wrong address into the Uber ap taking us to a location where another wedding was being held. We were eagerly invited into that wedding reception although we were strangers. We later arrived at the correct wedding reception, but since most things start late, we were just on time. 

Talking with some sisters from the Convent Road Ward at the wedding reception

We even bumped in to a couple of full time missionaries, Elder Koilada and Elder Byrd.

Back to the office to meet departing missionaries. Looks like Elder Kioa is trying some fancy clothes before packing them in his suit case to go home. I asked him what is the first thing he plans to do when he arrives home. He said, "I'm just going to hug my mother. I'm not going to talk to anyone else until I talk to her. I'm just going to walk straight over to her."

We had two departing missionary miracles. 1) Elder Nelson got his passport back from his former companion, Elder Barry (from England) who left two weeks earlier with Elder Nelson's passport in his backpack!

2) Elder Gray (pictured with Elder Kioa) Had been trying for months to get his Registration Certificate from Indian Immigration. 2 weeks before he departed they cancelled/rejected his application. He spent the last bit of his mission at the police station and Foreign Registration Office to obtain his EXIT permit to leave the country. He got it the day before he needed to depart! Prayers were answered in both of these instances.

Having Sister David and Sister Dahnpal over for dinner just before they returned home to New Dehli, India. Sister David plans to attend BYU Hawaii. Sister Dhanpal and another departing sister, Sister Nathan left a very kind thoughtful note to us on the desk. It brightened our day. We feel so blessed to serve with these wonderful missionaries.

Speaking of New Dehli, India, Elder and Sister Hurst from the New Dehli Mission came to attend a BYU Law Symposium in Bengaluru. We met them for lunch at the hotel and discussed a few Public Affairs things. We don't have much time to do Public Affairs work as the office consumes most of our time.

Time to help clean up a missionary apartment after they went home.

This cabinet need a little work.

A Family History Awakening - Anu's Story

Sister Martin and I, Elder Martin, interviewed Anu before a recent Family History Fireside. We wrote the following story exclusively about her because her excitement was literally "over-the-top", but difficult to covey that excitement in words. It may be posted on a church online news in India. Enjoy...

Elder Martin, Anu, Sister Martin. Background: an excited missionary from No. California, Elder Kioa and Elder Nelson

It was an exciting evening for Annapurna Vadlamani (Anu), a Visakhapatman resident. She was one of over a hundred people that gathered for a Family History Conference in Visakhapatman, India on January 26, 2019.

Annapurna Vadlamani (Anu) and Sister Terry Martin

Why did she and so many attend? Why would anyone want to dig up their past genealogical roots? Many are very eager to do family history since the prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, announced that a temple will soon be built in India.

Anu was enthusiastic to share why she attended the event and why she loves doing family history. She is currently the Visak District Family History Consultant and Self Reliance specialist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Anu was also asked to translate for one of the speakers from English to Telugu during the event. She is married and has four children.

Anu translating from English into Telugu, the local language

In 2008, she desired to seek after her paternal grandmother’s family history. Since she had passed away, she sought to find her grandmother’s sister. All Anu knew was her name, the city, and that she lived on Temple Street.

Anu courageously traveled to another city, seven months pregnant with her two little children on her quest.  When she arrived at Temple Street, she began asking people if anyone knew her. She said “It was like the Lord’s hand was there, helping”. Each person she asked drew her a little closer until she found her. It was like a miracle.

At first she was worried if she would be accepted. Her great aunt was Hindu and Anu was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. She had only met her once before. However, her grandmother’s sister warmly welcomed her.

Anu eagerly sketched the four generation family pedigree as they visited for 2 hours, “she was like an encyclopedia of information”. Anu exclaimed, “It was an amazing experience! I’ll never forget it! I felt a strong connection with my ancestors, like they were waiting for me to get the information recorded.” Anu explained that India's government didn't record birth and death dates. Approximate dates were typically remembered by lunar calendar. For example, a birth date may be recorded as 5 days after the full moon. 

Anu was the first in her family to be baptized, then her sister and finally her mother joined the church. At first, Anu’s sister was very against her joining the church.  However, when the missionaries told her more about Jesus Christ and the true plan of salvation, and that she could see her grandmother again, she got very excited and knew it was true! She loved and missed her grandmother very dearly. Her maternal grandparents took care of her and her sister when were little during a time when her father was out of work. a Two weeks later she was baptized and became super strong in her faith.

One of Anu's favorite experiences was going to the Hong Kong Temple for the first time to do baptisms for the dead. She did 90 baptisms that day. She said, "The water was warm but I didn't get tired even though I was pregnant and a little apprehensive".

Anu loves "awakening" others about their family history and telling them about familysearch.org. She shares her testimony often and exclaims, “It might look like a gigantic task, but it is not. All you need are names and dates and we will help you with the rest.”

Anu and other Family History Consultants being introduced at the Family History conference in Visakhapatman, India

The event was held at the Visak 1st, 2nd and 3rd Branch building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Several speakers from different backgrounds came and shared their stories.

Here are two audio clips of Anu speaking with us. The background noise is loud since everyone is visiting before it started.

The speakers were great. We may post another story about them. Here's a link to a story written about the same people that presented in different cities. It includes a piece of the story above. Church of Jesus Christ of LDS Newsroom - Searching for Family Connections in India

Here's some other pictures of the Visak event below.  

Skulls and a Family History Fireside

Almost tripped over this scull while exploring a Dutch cemetery.

Not far from Visakhapatman, is a little beach town of about 50,000 people called Bheemilli. Across the street from the beach and ocean is Dutch and Flag Cemetery. Elder and Sister Briggs mentioned there was an interesting graveyard that included some Pirate grave stones and also an ancient Buddhist archaeological site on the way. Interested in exploring on our P-day, we tagged along. Later that afternoon was a big Family History Fireside in Visak. Two of the main speakers for the fireside, Geeta and Vin Naidu, also joined us.

After breakfast, Elder and Sister Briggs' driver, Wilson, picked us up and we headed out. After about an hour we arrived at the ancient Buddhist Monastery called Thotlakonda. They estimated the Monastery originated about 2,000 BC but was noted to be most active during 300 BC to 300 AD.

The guide explained that they believe anciently this was a place where Buddist Monks traveled to receive training and spiritual strength. These round domes or stupas are considered sacred. It is believed that the one pictured here has a golden Budda inside. Monks walked around the monument in a clockwise direction and meditated. 

The ocean is in the background.

This video clip shows the spring where a water supply has existed for perhaps thousands of years.

An interesting ant hill or bee house. A large black bee started chasing me so I headed back to the entrance while Sister Martin and the others continued to see a few more sites that were excavated.

Sister Martin and the others continued exploring the site for a few more minutes.

Nearby was a park with a nice view of the ocean.

Sister Martin waving in the distance.

Leaving the area was a newer Buddha statue.

Arriving to the town of Bheemi and the Dutch and Flag Cemetery.

When we arrived the gate was locked - Oh no, Republic day is a national holiday in India

Luckily, a bystander said we could find the caretaker in a little park nearby, so we walked over and asked him.

Interesting children's park.

The caretaker gave Wilson the key and we entered the graveyard. The earliest grave dates back to 1762.

Yes, that's the skull I almost tripped over. 

Exploring the Pirate Grave stones.

Are those stray dogs on top of the Pirate grave stones? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

The stones displayed the scull and crossbones, the symbol of a pirate.

The inscription says June of 1783

A couple of videos of the beach and the town.

Enjoying time with our new friends, Elder and Sister Briggs on a beautiful day.

On our way to the Family History Fireside, look who got ahead of us.

Are those missionaries in that little Auto Rickshaw?

Seven of them squeezed in an Auto to save a few Rupees.

Excitement was high as many gathered for this Family History Conference.

Check out the next blog for the details of this energized fireside.