Days of Our Life in India

Hi to all,                                                                                                               March 22, 2013

     I think this is going to be a little view of our various happenings in and about daily life here in Cuttack. Cuttack  is a very old city. There are still a few remains that hopefully we will be able to investigate a little more before our six months are up.
     This week we are starting the picnic outings with the children, since their exams are now behind them. Exams, we found, are very crucial in determining the child's next year of education here. They study long and hard and so it is exciting to be a part of the fun after their hard work. But… that will hopefully be the blog for next week.
     We have a lady that helps with our wash three days a week, we are blessed! Then Veronica & I take care of the other two or three days, depending on the amount and height of the pile. =)
      We also help each other with the cooking, and dishwashing. She usually cleans the “east wing” bathroom and I the “west wing”. She pretty much does the daily sweeping and mopping of the tile floors, Chris will occasionally lend a helping hand.  And the ironing is something that Veronica does very neatly and wonderfully. Thank you Veronica!
     Louis and Chris have been the ones to do most of our veggie and fruit buying the past couple weeks. We have found a couple very nice stands right close to the apartment. That too is a big blessing! The one man has very nice vegetables and his prices are very competitive and the last BIG bonus is… He speaks very understandable English!!  Also the guys see to emptying the garbage nightly. They take the bag about 9:30- 10:00 at night and empty it on a pile where others on this street empty theirs too.  Then the hundreds of dogs and cows make the most of recycling. I might be exaggerating slightly on the number of cows but barely on the dogs.  I like a nice, lovely, wonderful dog too, but these, well, they don’t fall into ANY of those categories I’m afraid!
     We are slowly seeing the temperature rise. Now our daily temp. is around 104 degrees. So we have started running the a/c for a little at night to cool things down. It actually doesn’t feel as bad as our July/Aug. weather back home. I think it’s because there is not the amount of humidity. Can’t say I’m looking forward to 120 degrees though, even though I do prefer hot to cold.

       Other than a couple trips back to Phulbani, Louis has been here with us in Cuttack.  Chris and Veronica have been diligent in studying the book of the Oriya language. They also enjoy very much the opportunities to spend time and play with the children at the Home. During the evening devotions they have been asked  to teach them a couple songs in English.  Veronica & I enjoyed a ladies bible study and praise and prayer time on Tues. at the Home.  There were the older girls and the women who attend Sunday services  present.  I was able to learn a few of the ladies names and some of the daily concerns and burdens in their lives. We had a beautiful time of praise, worship and fellowship.

       Good Night for this time. I will look forward to our next “visit”.  Until then, may God be our focus and praise our hearts outpouring!!   Blessings from Melody & The Crew  

        A few added prayer and praise reports: Our Great Physician has been so gracious in healing our ailments; coughs, sinus trouble, a few days of stomach upset, foot trouble,and a scraped foot.  Thank You Heavenly Father!! Also our safety in the traveling we are doing.

       I know a lot of you are praying with us for the 4-5 month old little girl, Pretty. She has a hole in her heart and the Doctors here in Cuttack cannot do that type of surgery. So they have sent paperwork to another hospital that can, in Bangalor. But they would like her to be older and a certain weight. As of now they have a tube into her stomach to feed her, last week she wouldn't eat on her own. Dear ones, it is a critical time, and we would ask for a special outpouring of prayer to our Great Physician. That He would receive great honor and glory and the staff at the hospital would see the amazing power of our Almighty God in the miracle of His touch on little Pretty's heart!!!   Thanks so much for all of the prayers you are lifting to God's Throne Room. May we be faithful and continue to intercede for the helpless and beloved ones.




Watching traffic from our front balcony




A beautiful house across the street from our apt.




A sunset seen from our roof top



Veronica washing clothes with a washboard




Melody hanging clothes on the clothes line





Veronica ironing clothes



Chris studying Oriya

It's whats for dinner

Children



More children



And children everywhere  :) :)