Diary - Fall Trip 2009
Sept 11 2009
Caught 6:00 am flight from Vancouver to Chicago - Seat mate from Southern States who was on a course on mass digital storage in Vancouver – committed Christian. Told me of a ne mass storage device of up to 10 terabytes which can be simultaneously accessed by 10 video editing stations.
Chicago airport was chaotic hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed. We were told our 2:00 flight would be 5:00 which meant I would miss my train connection. I left the gate to phone and change the train reservation. I got back to the gate at 4:30 then was puzzled when the board said the next flight was to Boston, rather than New York. When I checked I found that a plane came in at a different gate and while I was making the phone call, they had everyone quickly switch to another gate and the plane left at 4:45 without me. An agent on the phone told me to get to another gat and he would make sure I got on the next flight – I did and I guess he pulled strings as the plane before was cancelled and they left over sixty at the airport.
This plane got me to New York almost too late to catch the last train to Maryland. But after running for over a block – with three bags I through them on as the train started to move.
Next there was an error in the automatic announcing system and they announced Carrolton one station early. I got off – almost 2 am and no one there – literally no one – only two other people got off and a car was waiting for them. I phone my host, who were of course waiting at the Carrolton station and had a hard time finding the station I was at so we finally get in after 3:00.
Next day was full I spoke at two Seventh Day Adventist churches and attended I baby shower for a Mizo girl who was married to an Afro-America. Real nice couple he is a drummer and we enjoyed some great music.
Visited two families Sunday morning the in the afternoon spoke at two different Methodist churches. Evening was another baby shower and supper at Dika’s house. His daughter, now a beautiful young lady asked if I remembered her - she was in grade four when I visited their house in 2000,
Monday morning a Pastor visiting from Aizawl took me to a couple more Mizo homes and a Mizo farm where we spent an hour harvesting leaves. The owner was medical superintendent for Nepal and much of NE India and retired to a one acre farm, which he grows enough vegetables for his family plus a cash crop of these sour leaves enjoyed by Burmese – tasting them I believe they are the same leaves the Iranians use in a pickle we get from Par vine.
No problems catching the train and plane to London and when I arrived Marjorie was waiting. We went to our hotel, near the airport and went to sleep until Kyle arrived a couple hours later. It rained hard but now problem as we were warn and dry and had much to talk about with Kyle. Next day we found that I was a tremendous rainfall which tied up traffic all over London and actually flooded one branch of the underground.
Sept 16th.
We went to downtown London on the tube. Saw Kyle’s room – ate at the Mizo restaurant that refused to let us pay. Saw a bit of down town London from a double Decker and a very short time in the London Museum. Back on the tube to the airport – we left from two different terminals and had no time to say goodbye because I had to take another train to mine.
Slept most of the time to Mumbai – then spent a tedious 6 hours there. Made the error of looking for a restaurant which was outside the International terminal and then they would let me back in and I had to take a taxi to the domestic terminal.
When I arrived in Pune my ride was waiting. The time in Jamkhed is covered in my report.
Sept 24 2009
Jamkhed people drove me back to the airport – put me up in a hotel and drove me to the airport at 4:30 am. Three planes later I arrived in Aizawl shortly after noon. The time between flights in Kolkata was very tight but a car met me as I got off the one plane and took me and my bags to another plane and off we went.
Had a rest in the afternoon – then Maaumi who I had heard of in Maryland came to see me. She is a wonderful person who worked with OM for a number of years and was offered the job of head of OM for all of India. However she felt called to come back to Mizoram and work with the poor farmers. She has done this and while it has been frustrating for her at times she is making a difference. I hope to take some friends who are in the right position to help her to her operation near Aizawl next week.
Had a chance to talk to a large choir and listen to some great singing and then enjoy a whooper of a thunderstorm.
Sep 26.
Morning was beautiful and Mizoram is at its best at the end of the rainy season. Enjoyed a lovely morning walk and then a large meeting where the Chief Minister spoke – echoing many of the same concerns I have for the Mizo people. John Ralte was seated just in front of me getting a reward from the Salvation army. After the meeting a group of Mimi’s team of evangelist got together I got to share some of my dreams of Mizoram. Then I visited Chhawna and Sanni, stopped by Vanlal Naghka’s sister-in-laws place and his son was there on holidays from Delhi. Vanlal will be here on Thursday. Stopped at James Ralte’s pharmacy – he wasn’t in but visited his wife. Then bought a tripod and back to Durtlang,
Again this evening watched a spectacular lightening display and am now more than ready for bed. Hope to have use of an internet terminal tomorrow.