The Case of the Missing Quesadilla in Pune & Bombay

Uncle was trying to help Laurel come up with topics for her Spanish homework...the Case of the Missing Quesadilla was his suggestion. We all have discovered the "hilariousity" of Uncle. For your entertainment, we will post the Spanish story when it has been completed.

PUNE AND BOMBAY

Our first impression of Pune: the streets were lined with school children cheering in celebration of the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games. Our hostess, Serena, joked that they were all there to welcome us...

We were well taken care of in Pune by Uncle's nephew, Arun and his family, Serena, Neha (18) and Natasha (15). Serena especially blessed us with her gracious hospitality, and Cynthe and Laurel appreciated getting to know Neha as well. Arun and Neha gave us a splendid tour of Pune before dinner with the family where we met Aunty Dolly. We enjoyed a time of fellowship together before heading back to the YMCA where we were staying.

Close by the YMCA is a mosque - we were exposed to our first Call to Prayer here - and call us to prayer it did.

The following morning (Wednesday) we headed out to the WINN Counseling Center for a time of ministry with about 15 women that Serena disciples. Cynthe led in worship, and Laurel followed with a word of encouragement that truly blessed the women, particuarly the two younger girls who were there. After singing Ai Hamare Bap (The Lord's Prayer in Hindi), Cynthe spoke from Matthew 1, meditating on the lives of the five women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ. She encouraged the women to live faithfully to the Lord in whatever their circumstances, trusting that God was using them for His purposes, even when they cannot see the fruit of their obedience. Afterward, we enjoyed a time of fellowship over a delicious meal.

(Cynthe speaking:) The women all shared how much this particular Bible study meant to them - it reminded me of Grace Groups. I was impressed with their hunger for the Word, and their love for one another. As Serena shared, the women came from a wide variety of church backgrounds, some of the women in ministry as well. This particular group was a place where they all could receive from the Word together. It was a honor to be a part of their fellowship for a day.

We enjoyed a two-hour (plus?) taxi ride to Bombay from Pune where we spent the night at the YMCA International House of Bombay. Characteristic of the religious diversity of India, both a Muslim center and a Methodist building were adjacent to the front gate of the YMCA.

Laurel and Cynthe enjoyed some worship, photography, and tossing some glow-in-the-dark bracelets over the 5th story balcony wall to some unsuspecting passerbyers. :)

The YMCA had quite the international flavor - Laurel walked into the dining hall and observed to us, "So many white people!!"

The following morning (Thursday), Uncle's friend Padmani took us on a generous full day tour of the city of Bombay. The streets were initially quite empty of traffic due to the fact that Thursday was a Hindu Festival, Navratri - which means nine nights. However, over the course of the day, the streets filled up with celebrants, and in the evening, truckloads after truckloads of young men drove down to the beach where they would toss their idols into the sea. We definitely got a taste of a Hindu holiday.

We are now enjoying back in Delhi a day of rest (for Uncle and Cynthe - poor Laurel has been plugging away at her homework). Tomorrow, we will head to Faridabad where Aunty Shiela lives, to minister at a women's retreat. Uncle will stay on through Sunday, and Cynthe and Laurel will head back to Delhi to participate in the worship service at Daily Bible Fellowship (Arvind's church).

A few praises:
-for sweet fellowship in worship, prayer and time in the Word together as a team
-God has kept us in good health, and protected us inspite of trouble around the country.

Please join us in prayer for:
-our upcoming times of ministry in Faridabad and DBF.
-discernment in knowing how to best minister to people here.
-that Laurel's homework load would not be a stress or distraction.

Praise God for His continual grace in all our lives. Thank you for praying for us - we are sincerely grateful. We are praying as well for you all.

With love,
Uncle Sonny, Laurel and Cynthe