Birthday Cake and a Baptism

Enjoyed a quick piece of cake outside the mission office with a new missionary, Elder Nagaraj, that recently arrived. Apparently, many people in India like to have cake smashed on their face for their birthday.

Everyone then told us to look at the sun. I didn't look up but did a safe selfy and got a glimpse of a strange phenomenon with the sun.

We had an interesting Sunday Priesthood class discussion recently. We were discussing a talk given by Elder Dieter F. Uctdorf about Missionary work. Link - Missionary Work

From the talk, we had just read the following and were discussing our comfort zone relating to missionary work, "Perhaps we feel uncertain about how to do it. Or we might feel timid about going outside our comfort zone."  

Then, our blind friend Arvind raised his hand and gave one of his usual profound comments, "Actually I am comfortable when I'm sharing the gospel with my friends and uncomfortable when I don't."

Earlier that day on the same beautiful Sunday morning, we watched our blind friend, also a recent convert, baptize his friend Arun.

Before the ordinance, we all enjoyed a talk about baptism given by Elder Ostler and how to follow the Savior's example.

Brother Arvind currently holds the Aaronic Priesthood which gives him authority from God to baptize, under the direction of the Bishop.

Arun helped guide Arvind to the baptismal font. During the baptism, Arvind listened for prompts to assure that Arun was fully submersed below the water.

After the baptism, while they were getting dressed, Elder Ostler played two videos from stories in the New Testament. Links to videos below.

The Baptism of Jesus

Jesus Teaches of Being Born Again

Enjoyed a nice meal cooked by the Sisters

After cracking open some coconuts the Mungamuri sisters and Sister Babu made some fresh coconut milk.

Spicing up the chicken for a different curry dish.

 Lavanya roasting some peanuts and cashews

saute some onions

Add left over rice - Yum Yum

Elder Martin started playing guitar and singing "How Great Thou Art" while the sisters cooked up the great meal.

Amazing Missionaries and their Testimonies

Getting to know the Mungamuri Family. All three currently serving full time missions. The oldest served a mission before and is now going to BYU Hawaii and working at the Polynesian Cultural Center to help pay for his college. Their parents passed away years ago. A grandmother helped raise them but she passed away years ago as well. They just keep on going, a great example to us all.

Sister Babu, who joined the Mungamuri family and us in the picture above, was helping out in the mission office with referrals. She talked to a man in Southern India who had contacted us and was interested in learning more. She told me he wanted us to send him a Book of Mormon. She then asked me if she should share her testimony of it with him. I said "Absolutely Yes." This is her beautiful testimony below. I asked her if I could share it with others and she said "Yes."

 

 Mission Leadership Pictures

Buzz Lightyear, Baby Shower, Birthday party

At an airport with Lego Buzz Lightyear.

We were invited to a baby shower for a sister in our ward, Arpana, Sunday afternoon. She is the wife of Prabhu who went with us to a Bangalore shopping area, meat market(with the eagles) and parks that we wrote about in a previous blog. They also had us over for Christmas day dinner. The Sister Missionaries were invited so we all went together.

A baby shower in India is a time to shower the Mom-To-Be with love and blessing, wrist bengals, flowers and sweets. Sister Martin made lemon bars. This is usually during the 8th month of pregnancy. In India they do not find out the gender of the baby before it is born because it is against the law. Something to do with the parents responsibility of a dowry when it is a girl. According to a study conducted in 2011, they found that 90% of the 11 million infants abandoned were girls. They wait to give baby gifts after the child is born. The mother and baby will stay with her parents for up to a year after the child is born. Prabhu said his wife will go to her parents home for 6 months.

They decorated her hair with flowers.

Just outside in their apartment's entry/courtyard was quite the setup.

They were serving Biryani Chicken and rice and curry. We were still fasting so Prabhu made a to-go box for us. So thoughtful.

In India, there are certain events that are very important to celebrate. A one year old birthday is one of those events. The boy was a nephew/relative of the person who helps do maintenance for us.

When we were in Vishakhapatnam (with Elder and Sister Briggs before they went home), we were invited to a birthday party for a one year old. Family and friends gathered together for a big party.

The parents hired a company to set up a stage and decorations near where they live. It is set up right in front of their neighborhood homes out in the street. We were invited to come up as honored guests on the stage during the celebration and pronounce blessings on the child which Elder Briggs did.

Sister Martin talked to some young boys sitting on the front row. One of them spoke very good English and the others a little bit. They became instant friends. 

And of course we had Biryani Chicken and Rice. The boys showed us the proper way to eat with your (right) hand.

After church on Sunday, we met the parents and family of one of the great missionaries that we worked with in the mission office, Elder Vuppada. They invited us for dinner but unfortunately we had to catch a flight soon.

Interesting way that they build buildings in India with some make-shift scaffolding.

Remembering some fun with Elder and Sister Briggs.