Our arrival at Union Biblical Seminary in Pune

*Due to connectivity issues, our post for Monday was a few days late so don't forget to read about our final day in Chiluvuru!* 

Tuesday was another travel day for us, our last in-country travels before the journey home this Saturday. After an unexpected early departure from the Clinic in Chiluvuru, the team flew two short flights from the airport in Vijayawada to Pune, our final destination for the trip.

We have been blessed this trip with relatively smooth travel! Tuesday didn't stray from this pattern, with two representatives from Union Biblical Seminary (UBS) waiting to greet us at the arrivals hall. 

Our drive to the UBS campus had us loving Pune already, the mountains and trees combined with cooler weather were a wonderful welcome to us. We were then warmly received at the guest house by our host, Usha. Usha was wonderful to talk with - we learned about her role as host, about her family (her husband also works at the seminary as a professor), and shared stories about all of our pets, of which she has 4 dogs, 14 cats, and a pond full of fish! After tea we took a walk to explore campus, which is perched at the top of a hill in the old part of the city. 

Rev. Dr. Shekhar Singh greeted us at the conclusion of our walk, officially welcoming us to the UBS campus. Dr. Shekhar also gave us a brief idea of our daily rhythm for the rest of the week, for which we were grateful! Our evening was relaxed, consisting of a wonderful dinner followed by reflection time before heading to bed early - we are going to have to get into a new, nap-free rhythm! 

Last Day in Chiluvuru (a few days late)

*This was written Tuesday June 28 but we were without a good connection at the airports. We have since arrived at Union Biblical Seminary and are able to update again!*

Our last day in Chiluvuru was wonderful - but it's sad how fast our time here has gone! We are now sitting in the Hyderabad airport on our way to Pune, but here is a quick update from Monday:

Today is a special day - we've arranged an appreciation meal for the staff of the Clinic! The local Byriani expert arrived early in the morning to start preparations for the noon meal. Byriani is a special, well-known dish from this region - all the spices and any veggies and/or meat are cooked right in the rice, all done in one large pot - the blending of flavors is delicious! As we ate breakfast we watched him prepare a marinade for the chicken and cut up vegetables before we left for a morning out. 

This morning we enjoyed the cooler weather and took the long way to get to Pastor Gopao Rao's home. We passed by Bashu's and said hello, and walked past the Roman Catholic Mission School and orphanage on the edge of town, and went to the area on the other side of the canal by the Three Kings Church. The team talked about the concentration of Christian ministries in this particular part of the villages - where historically people in lower castes would have lived. 

Upon arriving at Pastor Gopao Rao's house, we were warmly greeted in the beautiful orchard that is their front yard... Later we would enjoy fresh-picked guavas! After the normal pleasantries and introductions (the previous night after church we had been interrupted), we asked him and his wife to tell us a bit about their story and how they got to the place they are now. 

 

Gopao Rao is incredibly passionate about his ministry in Chiluvuru, he is the pastor of the Church located at the clinic. He worked for the railroad for many years, his vocation he called it, but all the while he was preparing for his passion: full-time ministry. Soon after his retirement party 10 years ago, he made the switch and started putting all of his energy towards his passion. It was very energizing to hear their story and humbling to hear their words of affirmation to us - excited for the four young girls dedicating their time and money to their faith journey. After an hour and a half with them, drinking sodas and eating guavas, they prayed for us and we were on our way, back to the clinic for lunch!  

Lunch was incredible to say the least - and not just the food, it was good to share a meal together with the doctors, nurses, and other staff working at the clinic. The dessert was a new experience too! Fried sugar cane straws with molasses on the inside - nothing like balancing the savory spices with super sweets! Another example of India in extremes. :) 

 

 

The afternoon was spent packing and napping, as has been the usual for us in the village - and then at 5 a group of us headed downtown to play volleyball with some of John's friends from the village. After, still not hungry yet, we stayed late and chatted a bit - American movies, studies, and questions about hobbies and such were our focus, it was very good getting to know our neighbor's better, and to find out just how much we had in common! 

After leftover Byriani for dinner, we stayed up and debriefed our day and our whole experience in Chiluvuru. Many mixed emotions as we look ahead to Pune - anticipation in learning more about the work at UBS, but sad leaving Chiluvuru just as it seems like we are starting to build relationships. 

After a late night, the team was slow to assemble for breakfast in the morning... Though, the girls reminded us that 7 is still earlier than they would ever be up in the summer at home :) 

Unfortunately, we had to make a last-minute decision to bump up our departure from the clinic due to weather... This made our goodbyes harder than we anticipated because many of our new friends weren't yet there. But, nevertheless we took off for the Vijayawada airport to begin the last part of our time in India, with Union Biblical Seminary in Pune. 

Thank you for continuing to keep us in thought and prayer back home! 

Sunrise, Sunday School, and Sarees

Our morning started off early - with most of the group getting up in time to see the sunrise after a night of cooling rains. We enjoyed the cooler temperatures throughout this day - it was a nice change from the hot sun and humid air! 

Sunday morning in Chiluvuru means Sunday School in the chapel at the clinic! Normally an experience of organized chaos when we bring groups to join the kids, the team brought a fun atmosphere this morning! After singing a few songs, we brought the kids together to make friendship bracelets - an activity prepared by the team, inspired by their camp experiences... A big shout out to Mennonite Camping! :) 

 

The morning went great and the shared activity gave us a channel to communicate. We have more great pictures that will find their way to Facebook. 

 

After Sunday School, the women of the team were in for a treat! Some of the women working at the clinic had brought sarees and they spent about an hour getting all of the girls decked out in beautiful cloth, jewelry and flowers. They looked incredible! 

 

 

What the girls didn't plan on was wearing them the rest of the day :) After carefully eating lunch, a few tried to take naps while a couple of us decided to enjoy the cooler afternoon and help Mercy prepare some food for later in the week. Either way, it was a very restful afternoon. 

Church in the evening was a new experience for the girls - for most, it was their first time attending a service entirely in another language. Others commented on their worship style and service structure - that it reminded them of Amish services they had attended... Unison hymns sung with full voice, prayer, sermon, prayer, offering - and then sharing biscuits and chocolates which I guess could be compared to the sweet marshmallow cream peanut butter :) 

We shared a late supper with a few of the doctors from clinic, one of whom is also a pastor and had preached that evening. The girls were anxious to get out of their sarees, which they found surprisingly hot and uncomfortable, and we had our regular time of sharing and reflection. 

As I sit on the top floor this morning drinking my coffee, reflecting on the conversations and experiences we've already had in week one - I'm both grateful and also very much anticipating week two of our trip. Today is our last full day in Chiluvuru and we've all already expressed sadness in anticipation of leaving, but we are excited for the new experiences to be had at Pune and are looking forward to visiting the Union Biblical Seminary and school. 

Reflections from Chiluvuru

By Madeline Troyer

Our first day at the Menno Clinic was started off with Indian coffee, which is more like cream and sugar with a slight coffee flavor and some other spices. Besides the coffee, our morning at the clinic consisted of watching Latha, Jhansi and Mercy prepare coconut chutney for breakfast, and helping them cut up okra for our lunch.

 

The morning consisted of lots of talking, breakfast, and then staff devotions and prayer at 9. Then before the hottest part of the day, we went on a walk around the town and visited Bashu, a dear friend of John's father. As we talked with Bashu, it became very clear that he is passionate about promoting understanding between the different faith traditions, and to view them through our similarities rather then our differences. 

Bashu and his family are very devout Muslims and they are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan so we learned some more about that from him. He also wanted us to know that there is good and evil in this world and all the scriptures from Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (he was well studied in all of them) are teaching many of the same good values and trying to fight evil. He reminded us that a majority of Muslims around the world are more similar to us then different. They recognize Jesus as a prophet and are very peaceful people. We all left Bashu's house wiser.

 

 

We then walked around the town more and John told us some stories about things that happened as Menno Clinic was starting up and the background story  of how it began.  It's all a good reminder that God just needs us to be willing to do his will and he will touch more people then we could imagine. 

 

The meals have been something that I personally am growing to love. All the spices work together for something wonderful and then eating all the rice mixed with the curries and sides for flavor is a lot of fun and makes the eating experience better. After lunch a few of us went to get fresh coconut water before laying down for the mid day nap that everyone takes during the heat of the day here. I think we could all get used to this laid back village life and it is a good reminder that we need to find time to take breaks in our own busy lives we live at home. 

Overall, I personally have fallen in love with India and the culture. There is such a verity of colors, smells and religions all right next to each other and they all work together. I find it fascinating that we can be in a Mennonite clinic, sitting up after a supper that we thanked God for, which is right beside a Hindu temple, all while hearing the Muslim call to prayer. In the culture we live in and the news we hear from around the world it is refreshing to know that this can all still exist side by side. 

The more we learn about the culture, such as what plants in the area are used for, how the food is made, something new about one of the religions, or when we here a story of one of the workers at the clinic or stories of India's history, I am learning to love it all the more. 

Arrival in Chiluvuru

Catching the train this morning was a good experience for all! The bustling crowds at the station, watching the countryside roll by, vendors selling tea, coffee and all matter of things.

 

Padma, a friend of John through connections at Menno-Clinic, had joined us in Hyderabad and is coming along to Chiluvuru for the weekend. We were met at the Guntur station with a car and crammed in for the half hour drive to the Clinic. 

With her wonderful gift of hospitality, Amamma - meaning grandma in Telugu - welcomed us right away with lunch... Putting a few of us into an afternoon slumber. But the girls were full of energy! They went on their first walk through the village - already making some new friends along the way. 

Our evening was a relaxing one - tea on the roof, supper together, and reflecting on the first part of our trip. Answering questions for Padma and Amamma, and thinking back on our first impressions and how they've developed over the past few days. 

As we were winding down, a storm blew in, so as we head to bed this evening we enjoy the sound and relief that comes from the cool rains at the beginning of monsoon season.