Hursts in India

With Spencer Heilner in Agra, Taj Mahal & Delhi; Then us in Kolkata  Main Entrance Gate to Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal (Muslim) Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in birthing their 14th child in 1632.   Shah Jahan was later added to the mausoleum.   Spencer's magic video of the Taj appearing, back of Grant's head!  Classic view of the Taj Mahal  Grant, Jeanette and Spencer   At the back of the Taj Mahal - creative/experienced guide   The guide even showed us how to take a panoramic photo so the same people - here Grant, Spencer and Jeanette - face each other from opposing sides of the scene!  Another clever panoramic - Grant, Jeanette and the Taj Mahal Parrots at the Exit from Taj Mahal  Entrance to the Agra Fort   Nothing like the juxtaposition of the young and aged to emphasize the difference! ...

We enjoyed many gatherings with friends this week.  These special people enrich our lives. We celebrated August birthdays on Tuesday for Moshmi and Sonu.  The girls loved the carrot cake cupcakes. Thursday was India's 73rd Independence Day.  We celebrated with friends at home making baby quilts.  Here are Sister Toon and Mona Rath, Relief Society President in the Lajpat Ward tying. Sister Broadbent, Sister Hansen and Sister Pandey. were turning and stitching the quilts.  To date we have delivered twenty of the projected one hundred to the government hospital in Rishikesh. Mona Rath, Sister Toone and Lucy Broadbent.  This was Lucy's first tied quilt and she loved it.   This goat survived Eid.  We saw him sipping along a busy Delhi street.    Motorcycle herding cow and calf on our street, Poorvi Marg. Saturday we had the Pitampura YSAs over for dinner and games.  They are always so fun to b...

 SLUM VISITS, BABY QUILTS, COWS, DINNER & YOUTH CONFERENCE     Early in the week we along with President Hansen and S.V. Sunil from the Service Center in Bangalore visited several slums in east Delhi.  The purpose was to identify a major water/sanitation project the Church can do through LDS Charities.   Sunil on left, government official & President Hansen These at least have some concrete walkways.     Typical scene - children, children, children   Open sewer, common to all the slums and even to some of the regular city neighborhoods. The garbage pile is a common sight.  To the left is a sewage pit, the pipe is connected to a large pump which moves the open sewage and deposits it in another open hole (just in front of the man's feet) which drains into some sort of run off system. We stopped for a bite at a local Subway on the way home - almost the same but check out the menu:  aloo pa...

The monsoon rains continue in Delhi making it humid but much cooler (high 80s-low 90s).  Everything is greening and the streets are washed clean on a regular basis.   On roads all around the city we see saffron clad Kanwariya, Hindu devotees on an annual pilgrimage to collect water from the Ganges and carry it to temples dedicated to Shiva.  Legend has it that the god drank poison that turned him blue and was only cured by Ganges water.   They carry pots of water slung from long poles balanced on their shoulders creating traffic jams and stopping at colorful roadside tents where they can eat and sleep.  Monday afternoon this small group came down our street.   Tuesday we celebrated the birthdays of 6 girls at the Udayan home.  We made paper chains with birthday messages for each that they wore as necklaces or hats.  They are beautiful girls, each a unique daughter of our Father in Heaven. Wednesday night ...