Getting Started

This does not really look steep, but it was pretty steep!  Of course the team up top got a good laugh comparing us going down vs. some nationals that headed down (probably not even on a trail since we were on it!!!)

Our guys helped load a broken moped into a truck.

I was curious what kind of class this was...we didn't interrupt...

A cricket game

Some curious onlookers...we got lots of curious stares going through the village!

This cute little boy followed us for awhile.

More people

Not sure if these were noodles or potatoes.  I was scared to ask too many questions because I didn't want to be offered one...flies were all over them.

They wear such beautiful clothes...even to work in!  Not sure how she gets the hay that high...maybe she climbs the poles?!

Photo shoot before our first hike!

I was so excited to be out in the mountains and among the people. I started up on this team......but ended up on this one!

Here was the other team.

Praying before we headed out.

We made it up the mountain!!!

The ride up the mountain was more tolerable for me this year because of the advice of a pharmacist about the motion sickness medicine...the view is amazing, and it was nice to better be able to take it in this year.

As we neared our hotel, the temperature dropped and storm clouds moved in. Thankfully we were safely in the lobby before the deluge hit...complete with hail! Dinner also got ready just in time to keep us from taking our bags to the room before dinner...the rain was much lighter when we headed to our rooms after dinner. We were so thankful to finally make it!

And they had tomato soup, one of my favorite things they serve. It was a great way to get warmed up from the inside out!

Bus Break Down

The bus was on hour late picking us up...but we were soon on our way. A few minutes later, the bus broke down and we had to arrange for other transportation.

Will and Doug worked hard to get us up to the mountains...they had to make multiple trips to the airport to pick up teams arriving at different times...arrange a bus to replace the train that did not have seats for our new day of travel...arrange another bus after ours broke down...and arrange flights instead of an overnight train to allow us to have 2 days in the mountain! Great job guys!Tim was not excited getting off the bus while we waited for alternate transportation, but he did help supply muscles to push the bus to the side of the road!

At the airport

As you know, we had tons of travel changes and problems...however, good did come of it! Our team of 10 came from 3 churches in two states. Because Karen and I joined the team at such a late date and because of scheduling conflicts, our team had only been together one time before we were at the airport. All the extra hours in the airport helped us get better acquainted and comfortable with each other. This employee worked so hard for us!

Trying to get a bit of sleep.

The London gang was the first to arrive...we got to shower (yeah!) and eat at Pizza Hut and do a little shopping...we were also able to get a good night's sleep in a bed!

Heading East Part 3

MB called this morning to say that 7 men accepted Christ today! Praise the Lord! What a way to end a missions trip. They will be waking up soon to prepare to start heading down the mountain. She said that the moms of the "M's" were going to stay a couple of days extra. They called the airlines to check on the tickets and their tickets were cancelled due to they (the airlines) thought they didn't make it in country - due to missing their original flight. It was a poor connection but MB mentioned something about the return flights being full. YIKES! She didn't sound panicked and it sounds like Doug got it all sorted. My prayer is that the entire team's flights didn't get cancelled due to this same reason. That would mean their return flights would be just as crazy as their going flights:(

Please be in prayer that everything ends well.

Heading East Part 3

The ministry is going well. MB said that a village that has been negative about the Gospel in the past has been very open to the Message. Praise the Lord!!!! It is awesome to see the Holy Spirit at work. The team is doing well. She didn’t mention any sickness – that is always good. Please continue to pray that the people of South Asia will be open to the Holy Spirit.

Heading East Part 2

Well MB called me last night to share that the entire team was getting on a bus to travel to their final location. This morning she called and said she was finally there. It took so long because the bus broke down. Wow! Who would have known they would have so much fun before they get to the mountains.
Jeff

Heading East

This is Jeff reporting in for Mary Beth. The past 24 hours has been crazy for the South Asia team. Due to weather in the North, their flight was postponed 3 1/2 hours. By the time they got to Newark, the South Asia flight already left...oh boy. The team of 10 got divided into three teams. Team one left this morning for England - that is the team Mary Beth is on. Team two will leave this morning also and go through France. Team three will go directly to the location. The team had a nice no sleep night in the airport. MB called this morning at 6:30 am saying she was getting on a flight. She will arrive in the final destination around 11 am local time Sunday. The last team will come in around 11 pm. The overnight train, due to the mix-up, had to be exchanged for a 12 hour bus ride. MB was not happy. The overnight train on the way out was replaced with a flight. That is good. Funny enough, they won't lose out on any ministry time. Be praying that MB gets some sleep and can be ready to hit the ground running.

Scenes from the big city

It is so fascinating to observe all that goes on in this busy city. Some of it is humorous, some of it is intriguing, some of it is heartbreaking... Getting a shave

This just means that they are good friends.
This little chipmunk was hanging out at our hotel.

It's not uncommon to see whole families on one moped.

Sacrifices to a tree.

Wouldn't want to have to figure that out!

Dumping out coal.

Carrying goods

Selling fruit

A different meaning for a "phone booth"

Working hard

Shopping

Teamwork

Construction site...hope it's safer than it looks!

Not sure what they're doing...seemed like medicine.

This looks like it could fall in.

The BIG Event at the Mall

We had several hours to kill before we headed to the airport, so we went to this mall. There were red carpets everywhere and we couldn't figure out why...as the night progressed, the excitement built! There were photographers...
lots of security (they wouldn't let you step on the red carpet, which was down every corridor)...

Loud music...

that these teammates couldn't resist dancing to!

A crowd was gathering.

Finally, a sign to give a hint...

The moment arrived...it was a fashion show!

More models...

Models leave...the whole thing took less than 10 minutes by the time the models got to the center stage... was a letdown after the hours of wondering and watching the preparation!

We just pretended like they all came to throw us a going away party!

Some crazy signs!

This is a cool place to shop...there are separate areas for different goods...wood carved, marble carved, jewelry, etc...it's huge. You pick what you want from an area and take it to the counter. They scan it in and have it delievered to a pick up spot near the exit. You pay for everything at once at the end and then pick up your stuff...no hauling it around! Cool!

This sign reminds me of an experience we had at a mall. JJ, Carolyn, and I were shopping together in this store that's similar to a Bed, Bath, & Beyond. They had tons of employees and at least one in each area. We must have looked like cheats or thugs to them because the employees shadowed our every move. If we picked something up to look at it (which we tend to do when shopping), they would come right up on us.

We got a little sassy in the dish session where there was just one employee...we'd gather in a spot and look at something and then all three head in a different direction at once to look at something else to mess with him...I'm sure he was very thankful when we left the store! They did not shadow the nationals shopping, so it made us wonder what their thoughts about Americans are!

Idols are everywhere at this shopping place.
At KFC

Thanking the Hotel Staff

The hotel staff takes such good care of us while we are here! We brought them some gifts as a thank you.

Because of the culture, only the men shook their hands in thanks.