We landed in Tiruchirupalli (or just “Trichy” for short) just a little after 3:00 p.m. and, after getting our gear, were met by hoards of smiling faces from our friends at TBL.
See, it’s traditional in
India to greet guests with these beautiful, Hawaiian (of a sort… though have you ever seen one this huge?) liai’s.
Each weighs about 3 pounds and is manufactured from fresh rose petals.
According to Rajendran (or just “Raj” as we all know and love him), they take about 1.5 – 3 hours to assemble and only cost about $1.50/each.
Considering that US roses are about $5/stem, that’s amazingly inexpensive, but let it blow your mind that at even $1.50, that’s still good money for the local craftsmen who make them (remember that most of the world lives on less than $1/day). They smell wonderful, and continue to do so for several days (making hotel rooms seem really pleasant).
In addition, a large convoy of Bible League friends were all present to receive us.
Then we loaded our gear into the cars and headed for our Trichy place of residence, a lovely hotel called The Sangam.
Featured here in the photos are Gene Ort and Annan Raj (who just goes by "Annan" and helps with translation when GCC teams are in town), then Raj and Annan (see that laugh and smile? It's SO typically Raj! He's just one of the most joyful people you'll ever meet!), and the team assembled around Prema (Raj's wife and co-conspirator in bringing about the Kingdom of God here from Heaven to Earth...or...as we say in India, from "Unga to Inga").
We landed in Tiruchirupalli (or just “Trichy” for short) just a little after 3:00 p.m. and, after getting our gear, were met by hoards of smiling faces from our friends at TBL. See, it’s traditional in 
Considering that US roses are about $5/stem, that’s amazingly inexpensive, but let it blow your mind that at even $1.50, that’s still good money for the local craftsmen who make them (remember that most of the world lives on less than $1/day). They smell wonderful, and continue to do so for several days (making hotel rooms seem really pleasant). In addition, a large convoy of Bible League friends were all present to receive us. Then we loaded our gear into the cars and headed for our Trichy place of residence, a lovely hotel called The Sangam. 
Featured here in the photos are Gene Ort and Annan Raj (who just goes by "Annan" and helps with translation when GCC teams are in town), then Raj and Annan (see that laugh and smile? It's SO typically Raj! He's just one of the most joyful people you'll ever meet!), and the team assembled around Prema (Raj's wife and co-conspirator in bringing about the Kingdom of God here from Heaven to Earth...or...as we say in India, from "Unga to Inga").
4 comments:
Please pass along my love for Raj and Prema and tell them that I hope to see them again SOON!!
Thanks!
Becky Callender
Tell Raj, Prema and Clarinda how much we miss them and love them!
I'm living vicariously through you all via this blog :)
Jeanni-it is fun to see you there! I am glad you arrived safe. I am praying fo you!
Please pass this message to Courney: Your Aunt Arlynne is following your adventures via this blog. I am very proud of you.
Post a Comment