Quick update...

We taught the boys to play “War” with cards last night.  They can now play that and “Go Fish”.  These games serve a double purpose: We can have fun with them without always playing active ball games; and they can have fun with something new by themselves while we escape to spend time with the Lord or help someone.

Tuesday night we were given a rare opportunity… Pastor David and his sister, Grace, took us to purchase Saris, Punjabis, and Indian shirt/pants/chuni outfits.  The process for buying these is that you go to a cloth seller (one of these little shops-in-the-wall) and pick the materials that you want for your clothes.  Then you take them to a seamstress and she measures you and gets your preferences for the outfits.  All this was done late on Tuesday night with the excellent advice of our Indian family.  We will show you pictures after the outfits are complete. We also have some everyday Indian clothes that were purchased at the local store.  Because we are both old enough, we are allowed to wear Saris. Young girls are not supposed to wear them until they “come-of-age”.  

Tuesday night I (Bethany) got bad stomach cramps with my monthly period.  Our Indian family was so concerned that they went to great lengths to make sure I had everything I needed.  The next morning, they brought me various fruits to try and help with my insides. Most amazing to us, David brought in cocoanuts for us to drink the juice!  We’ve never drank out of a cocoanut before!  Apparently the electrolytes in the juice are really good for a girl’s insides (it’s almost like Gatorade).  We were also given tapioca and noodle pudding (with raisins) from our host at the cottage prayer meeting last night (meaning they meet in a member’s home rather than in the church building).  It’s also supposed to help the body out apparently.  It was interesting and I liked it!!!  

Tomorrow we will be going to the nearby slums to play with the children.  They gather in the dump and graveyard which serve as their playground.  We will be telling Bible stories and others, playing games, providing a meal, and possibly giving clothes (we’ll see if that one can happen).  I sure there will be many stories following that one.  Please pray for our activities tomorrow to bring hope and life to these children and their families.  Oh, that we may be like Christ in blessing these young ones and drawing them unto Him!

Andariki Vondinalu
(Thank you all so very much)