Will make him glisten, And gleam, and with massage, And just a little bit of steam...

Well, we are in Goa for my Ayurvedic treatment as we discussed last week, but it looks like nothing much else is going to go the way we thought. We had hoped to go to Tokyo and see Mike and Sheryl Jones on the way home. Nope, that‘s not going to happen. When we actually got the price for a three day layover through Tokyo, the tickets were about four thousand dollars more than the cheapest direct flight and we would have to have paid the difference. We thought we were going to Rishikesh. Nope, that’s not going to happen. Rae pointed out that whilst we have high hopes for the treatment we don’t know for sure how it will all turn out. She pointed out that it probably wasn’t the smartest idea to spend a couple of days in the car, on India’s bumpy roads, and then immediately turn around and spend 30 hours flying back to Portland.  So, instead of all of that, we are just going home. We leave India Tuesday the 8^th at 3:30 in the morning and will arrive in Portland Tuesday the 8^th at 1:30 PM. It’s getting pretty real.

So we got to Goa Friday evening and checked into our hotel. Saturday morning I started my treatment. I probably will not do it justice, but I will try to capture this week and next what I go through. So, without further ado, here we go.

After the initial formalities, or rather informalities (so unlike US treatment; no paperwork; no white lab coats; no sterile office furniture). I was taken upstairs to the treatment room. Once there I was told to remove my clothes and given what I can best describe as a paper jock strap. Putting on this fetching ensemble, I laid down on a wooden table (about the size of massage table) that has a carved out indented top with about a three inch pad in it. Once I laid down, two strapping young men started working on me. First they did assisted stretches, wherein each of the muscles and joints of my body was taken to the maximum stretch possible and held there. It is a pretty painful process; the only part of the treatment that is actually uncomfortable. Not surprisingly, my surgically repaired shoulders, my hamstrings (which have always been notoriously tight), and of course my knees and hands that are most attacked by the auto immune disease) were the most painful.

After the initial stage, the two started a brisk, invigorating, medium pressure, full body massage. Each one took a side. They started by putting warm, herb infused oil on my body then they massaged the top half of me, then the bottom half of me, then started a process that started at my feet, went up my body, across my shoulders, down my arms, and then back down to my feet. They carried on this circuit for a while and then they focused on my wrists and hands, and then ankles and feet. Then they went back to the full body circuit. They completed this several times and then had me roll over to my stomach and followed the same process on my back.

After that process was completed, they had me turn over on my back again. One of them did a face and scalp massage. Once this was completed they wrapped me in the cloth that had been on top of the matted table and took me to a steam box in which I sat with everything but my head enclosed. When my steam was complete they wiped the sweat, steam, and oil off my body and I got dressed. The whole process took about two hours and were the same both days except today, after the scalp massage, he poured heated oil onto my forehead at about the scalp line which then ran down my head and was caught in a basin. Very relaxing. The first day, I was pretty done in by the treatment. Today was better. I was a little sore and tired but I rebounded more quickly.

In addition to the massages, I am on a vegetarian diet (only during the treatment) and taking herbs before and after meals. These are for the most parts natural anti-inflamatories. I am not sure what else is to come, but I understand that it involves GI cleanses and suppositories. I can’t wait. If I was asked if I think the treatment is helping, while acknowledging it is only two days, I would say I am hopeful.

Well, that’s it for me. Here’s Rae.

I don’t have a lot to add.  I, like Phil, am hopeful that this is going to be successful, that would be a huge blessing.  The idea of Phil needing to be on traditional meds for the rest of his life is hard to think about.   There are so many side effects from the drugs.  They require constant monitoring of the kidneys and liver, two areas that suffer from these drugs.  We are hoping that after a couple more days he will be feeling better and we will have the opportunity to see a few sights of Goa.

 I’m trying to take this time to rest and relax before we get back to the rush and chaos of the actual move.  We get back to Delhi Sunday night, the 30^th.  Monday I have to start the process of sorting out the items that will be air shipped and the things we will carry with us.  The rest will go slow boat, and arrive in 2-3 months.  The movers will pack us on Friday (4^th) and load us Saturday (5^th).  We will camp in our flat until we fly out Tuesday morning (8^th) at 3AM.  We are definitely on the countdown.

Hoping our next blog, and last blog from India, has wonderful news to report.

      

Namaste 

So tell me what is our ending, Will it be beautiful?

We have started having our “lasts”. Today may well have been our last service at Delhi 1^st Branch. We have three more Sundays (or so) in India, but the next two Sundays we will be in Goa for my Ayurvedic treatment. We haven’t decided for sure, but the first Sunday in September we have discussed going to Rishikesh. If everything after that goes according to our tentative plan we will be in Tokyo the second Sunday in September. Then we will be home. It somehow doesn’t all seem real.

Since this may be our last Sunday here, they asked us to bear our testimonies. It was emotional to look out at the congregation. I have come to love these people. I expect there will be times I miss this or that about India; I am confident I will miss the people. Some in particular have become true brothers and sisters. We talk about seeing each other again, but realistically I am not sure that will happen in this world.

Quickly changing subject to keep from getting too emotional…. Yesterday was India Independence Day. We spent most of the day sorting our belongings into those we will take on the plane with us, those we will air freight so they’ll get there soon after we arrive, and those we will put on a slow boat from Chi… err, India. So our Independence Day activity was limited to the student activity at the campus on Friday. The students planned and conducted everything. I planned on only staying for 30 minutes or so but it was so fun that I was there for the whole program. Students sang songs, did dances, and made speeches about India and its Independence. What was most impressive to me was the degree to which students from countries other than India participated. We sometimes have trouble integrating all of our nationalities but Friday it seemed to happen effortlessly.

Here are a few pictures:

Here’s Rae!

As mentioned above, today was a bit emotional.  For almost 2½ years we’ve built friendships and watched these people’s lives change and progress.  When we first arrived at the branch there were basically 2 small children, Rachel and Aalisha.  They were both about 1-1½.  They are now 3 and 4.  There were quite a few young single adults and it was baffling and frustrating to watch them, just sort of flounder, as they faced so many prejudices and traditions that seemed to stand in their way when it came to being able to get married and move their lives forward.  I think we’ve talked previously about some of those things.  Families against love marriages; one part of India not accepting another part; economic differences; skin color differences; and of course the illegal caste system, just to mention a few.  Good thing the Lord is in charge and not me because as you might see from my comments, I saw little hope.

Within this last year we have seen several things change that make our hearts happy.  There have been several marriages, 6-8, and there have been several new babies born, with a few more on the way.  These are good things and we are so happy to see these young people, who are the leadership of the church now, taking these steps and seeming so happy in the process. There are at least 6 new babies and at least a couple on the way. Yay!  The branch is changing and progressing. 

These babies are all so darling, and the grandmother in me just wants to sit and hold each one of them.  It will be sad to not see them grow up and become “naughty” as they are so often referred to by their parents, when they start developing their own personalities and knowing their own minds.  “He/she is so naughty”, is the response I almost always get from parents when I ask them how their babies are dong.  Cracks me up! 

While we have had some great experiences, and some trials and frustrations while we’ve been here, I can without a doubt say that the thing that has touched my heart the most is the people, and I will miss them.  If I could give them one bit of council, it would be to not take offense so easily, and certainly don’t let an offense keep you from your activity and growth in the church.  There, I’ve said my piece.  

Namaste 

And now, the end is near….

Regular readers of our blog will know that we missed an entry last week. The reason was we knew the game was a foot but didn’t know any details. Therefore rather than ignore the elephant in our living room, or giving only partial or wrong information, we choose to ignore, or more properly delay, our responsibility to you dear reader. This week we will reveal all. We hope you will forgive last week’s lapse.

So, we are going back to the US. Soon. Like the middle of next month. Rick Shurtz, the US partner, had intimated what they were proposing while they were here last week and Charu presented the plan when she got back into the office this week.

When my health was at its worst, I wrote Charu a letter in which I told her that we weren’t going to renew our contract next year and that I was not going to be able to keep working the 50 – 60 hours a week I have been; restoring my health had to be my first priority. I wrote I also understood they had a college to run and this was a critical time, so, if they found my replacement and wanted to make a change sooner, I would understand. I have been involved in some of their activities to find a replacement (with no luck I should note) and my health has improved. So, Rae and I fully anticipated that we were here until the end of my contract next March.

While Rich Shurtz was here, he and Charu decided to promote Rajive Narain, the head of our marketing and admissions, to campus director while they looked to fill the other two positions. With that, they are releasing me from my contract early – as in mid-September – but they are going to pay me through the end of December. So, now we start trying to figure out the next stage of our lives.

One of the parts of the next stage is figuring out how to use the rest of the time we have left in India. I am going to go to Goa (famous for its beaches) for a few days to receive Ayurvedic treatment and to have a little vacation with Rae. We are also trying to arrange a weekend trip to Rishikesh, up in the foothills of the Himalayas. With those two stops we will have at least seen many of the varied aspects of India. It would take much longer than we have had to really see anything like all of India – it is just too immense and different.

Here’s Rae with her take on all of this and more.

Wow is the word that comes to mind as I look back at this last week. Tuesday was the day that Charu and Phil spoke.  Wednesday was the day that we got the official word that Rajive would take over running the campus.  Wednesday night we had a party scheduled for all the staff, to celebrate some milestones, and so it was decided that the changes would be announced at that gathering. 

The reaction to the announcement was one of shock and sadness and it was touching for me to see their response as so many of them came up to Phil to express their sadness and love.  I know that Phil cares a lot about these people and so I’m sure this was hard for him.  It was an emotional time for me also.   Once the announcement had been made then the wheels could start in motion for our return.  Friday we found out that the moving company would come out on Saturday to see what was going to be shipped.  Saturday the moving company came to make their assessment.  Wow!

Now to dispose of the things that we will not be taking back to the US.  Some things are already spoken for but there are still some things that we need to resolve.  Moving is always so much fun, hopefully you caught the sarcasm there. 

I should be happy for the distractions that a move brings, because it keeps me from sitting around and thinking about the people that I will miss.  There are some things about India that will be easy to leave behind, but the people who have become so special to us, that’s the hardest part about leaving. 

We are excited to be back with our family and friends and feel at peace that this is what is right for us, but it does make our heads spin a bit.  Wow!

We’re trying to get more pictures taken that might help explain the experience(s) of living in India.  We are experiencing some computer issues so some of those pictures may have to wait until we’re back stateside and computers are resolved.  Just another reason it’s time to go home, maybe?

WOW!

Namaste