Second Trip to Kadapa
I was able to make a second trip to the four districts around Kadapa. These are a few scenes from the trip.
Kumar would be driving Pastor Koenig around, so I had a rented car and driver. Driving here is a greater risk than in the US. There are two main problems. The first is a great difference in the speed and agility of the vehicles, from ox cart and walking, through bicycles, farm equipment, motor cycles, motor rickshaws, cars of all kinds, lorries (trucks) of all sizes including car transports and big enough to haul wind generater parts. The second problem is a lack of rules and common sense, safe driving techniques and any enforcement of such things. Thankfully both drivers Kumar and Venkadesh are good drivers.
I revised my teaching lesson to focus on the parts that were not covered on the first trip. It has more about Jesus use of events, objects and symbols. The pastors liked this because it is very practical for them in their preaching and teaching.
Victor likes to stop at places along the way. We stop to talk with pastors, relatives, people to give us directions and stands for snacks or fruit. On this trip I met many of Victor’s relatives. The pictures are from those short visits. Victor’s daughter is Swarupa, her husband, Chandra, their two daughters, Sireesha and Rupa, the little girl is called Tikki. I only got the name of the son, Bijay. At the Step Family’s home, the power went out just before we came and came on as we left. The people all offer something to drink and cookies or some snack. We always pray for them before we leave.
There was a sad reason for some of these stops. Victor’s step brother Mohan died of an accident on 8 September; the car he was in was hit by a truck. We attended a memorial service on the Thursday, 22 September. Mohan’s widow is Rathama, the eldest, a son, Sutheer, two daughters, Maulika and Sindusha. Mohan worked for the state railroad system. They have a custom or rule of campassionate grounds; the eldest son gets the fathers job in the event of an accidental death of this type. He is 16 and will get the job at age 19.
Unique circumstances have given me the chance to meet both Pastor Koenig’s landlord and Pastor Ude’s landlady. This is an illustration of hospitality and friendliness. At each place I was welcomed, given tea and snacks, and included in the conversation. They asked me questions and answered my questions. Abdul Rub (Koenig) focused more on business and politics; Malini Nair (Ude) covered relatives, living in US and the difference in churches using Father and Brother. The art of conversation is not dead in India.