Hursts in India

Last Sunday following meetings we jumped on a Vistara Airline flight to Bengaluru.  It was quite heavenly, being over 10 degrees cooler than Delhi and with relatively clean air.  Monday morning we  were picked up by Motivation India, an NGO out of the UK, which focuses on providing wheelchairs to around the world. We drove to the campus of the Association of People with Disabilities, another NGO were we celebrated the final distribution and fitting of 851 wheelchairs in India funded by LDS Charities.  Two more large donations are planned for the next two years.  The women on the right in the blue sari is the trainer who taught these folks how to maneuver  their chairs. The chairs are not just mass produced and handed out.  Rather  the appropriate model is chosen and then custom fitted for each recipient, based on his/her needs.  This mother from Bengaluru just couldn't stop smiling and saying "Thank you."  She came with her b...

Its been a busy week.  We are getting more and more comfortable with India and enjoying new discoveries every day.  On Monday, July 16 (Winston birthday!)  Elders Drummond and Middleton came over so Elder D could make cinnamon rolls.   He did and they were great and they attracted various other companionships  to the apartment so it was a very sociable day.    Elder D returned to Terra Haute on Wednesday evening.  Tuesday we joined the Malviya District for a farewell lunch after which Elders Mills and Miles led us to the metro.  Delhi has a clean efficient system and we are learning to use it. Wednesday morning we visited a DTEA (Delhi Tamil Education Association) government aided minority school where LDS Charities had donated some desks.  The students were darling, and the principal was delightful.   We enjoyed a very nice lunch with a couple from the ward that afternoon.   Saturday w...

We have had some fun Indian cultural experiences these past two weeks.  The first was attending a  traditional Indian Wedding on Friday, July 13 as the guests of our new friend Kamal Kumar, pictured below with part of his beautiful family.  Weddings are carefully planned to happen on auspicious days.  Apparently theirs are not the same as ours! As you can see, the venue was sumptuous and there was plenty of great food--all vegetarian. The groom arrived in a carriage like this, drawn by white horses and accompanied by a brass band. All the clothing was beautiful, especially the groom's costume.  It was getting late and we left before the bride arrived.  Saturday morning we had brothers Vinay and Dinay Singhe over for English class as usual.  They stayed and fixed chapati and dahl for us.  It was delicious. Sunday evening we attended a fascinating Bharatantyam dance performance by Arupa Lahiry sponsored by the Cultur...

Friday (June 22) afternoon we went over to Kahn Market, an upscale shopping district, and then met Elisa Pulido, a friend from the Plano 9 th  Ward, for Friday services at the Judah Hyam Synagogue.    Elisa brought along six of her fellow students from the Jain Institute.    It was great to see her.   Saturday morning we had our English class with Dinay Singh, Boban John and Vinay Singh. I spent most of Saturday with Aradhana Paul preparing food for a prospective missionary activity we were in charge of.   She is a trained chef and makes a mean brownie.   In the evening we had 12 youth, ages 16 to 24, over to the apartment for a discussion and refreshments.   Sunday we had 25 more.   We met that night in the Stake Center next door because our power went out right at 5, when we were to begin.   It was all good.   The young people are impressive—bright, articulate and outgoing.   We had Elders Drummond an...