Week Ending 28 October 2018

Visited the National Handicrafts & Handlooms Museum in Delhi with wonderful display of old icons from throughout India

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, a state neighboring Delhi, actually a suburb where we met on the 3rd floor of an unfinished office, accessed by a steep metal ladder and then narrow, steep concrete steps where you come out on this spot overlooking the street.  The concrete wall is about 15 inches tall and the "front" of the office is also open to the street with only a makeshift plastic (think ground cloth type of plastic) wall!!!

It is always wonderful to visit Old Delhi, still predominantly Muslim, hustling and bustling, a constant assault or stimulation of every sense of the body.  We visited Fazalur Rehman Qureshi and his son, Adam.  They are the second and third generation running the Rehmatullah Hotel, really a cafe/restaurant.  It started at Partition in 1947 when all the wealthy Muslims moved to Pakistan.  This family took it upon themselves to feed the poor and still feed for free around 500 people a day.  This is where they line up in the street.  They also have a very loyal and active paying customer base.

Jeanette, Fazalur Rehman Qureshi and Grant in front of the Rehmatullah Hotel and kitchen.  He has been a good friend of the missionaries and the Church for at least a decade.

Fazalur at dinner in part of his home above the hotel/kitchen (with houseboy) and delicious food straight from his kitchen.  We put our "veg" diet on hold to partake of his delicious chicken and interesting brain curry (not pictured)!

Fazalur showing me how to eat chicken with my hands!

Adam, me, Jeanette and Fazalur in their home above the kitchen.

Adam's wife, me, Jeanette and Fazalur at their home in Old Delhi.

A most enjoyable, entertaining, enlightening and educational evening with President and Sister Hansen watching the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra production of "Ram" from the Ramayana.  This showed the always kind and virtuous Ram being sent into the forest, Sita his wife and his brother Lakshman following.  Sita is kidnapped by the evil Ravana and this the story of saving her from the evil, helped in the process by Hanuman, the monkey god.  Fascinating.

Tricycle rickshaw gang hanging out around the furniture shops at Munirka Market waiting to be hired for a delivery.  Yes, they carry everything in the backs of these machines - pigs to refrigerators to dressers to re-bar.

Pre-stake choir practice lunch at our apartment.  From left, Sharin & Sunita Massey, Joy & Jason Ambrose (soon to leave on a mission to New Zealand), Aron?, Jeanette, Elias, Nirmala Dass & John Abana (Nigeria).  They seemed to enjoy our American macaroni and cheese though I am sure to them it was very bland.  They also found the Jell-o to be typical American - too sweet - but they did like it.