We had a great trip to India! It was a wonderful and refreshing time of reconnecting with our daughter who lives there. She has been a midwife there for over three years - loving what she does and where she lives. She appreciated that we came to see her on "her" turf, and because she did not have any deliveries while we were there, we could spend most of our time with her. We were also delighted to meet some of her friends and associates.

We were mainly in Goa, which is south of Mumbai (Bombay). It is a tourist area with visitors from many countries, especially Europe and Russia. A few highlights from there were the nice beaches, the ocean that was as warm as bath water, visiting a spice plantation, and..., can you believe it - riding an elephant! That definitely is not my favorite mode of transportation!

We also spent a few days in chaotic Mumbai. I have traveled on five continents, but I think the traffic chaos, noise, smells, and contrasts of that city win the prize. The people were warm and friendly, and there was not any time when we felt unsafe.

Mumbai’s infrastructure is already strained to the breaking point trying to cope with an estimated 25 million people. Projections are that with the present urbanization that is happening, the city’s population will double in the next 25 years! Because the city is situated on the coast, it can only grow in three directions - and up.

Two of the highlights we experienced in the city were visiting the Gateway to India and the Taj Mahal Hotel where we enjoyed high tea. This was the hotel that was taken over by terrorists a couple years ago. We were impressed with the restoration that had been done to the building. One would not have known that parts of it had been burned and shot up just a couple years ago. The staff people we spoke with were friendly and proud of the restoration.

Another highlight was taking a two-and-a-half hour walking tour of Dharavi, billed as Asia’s largest slum. (It is one of 200 slums in Mumbai.) The area covers approximately 525 acres and is home to an estimated million plus people! The people living there are very industrious and put an estimated $500 million plus into Mumbai’s economy. Here is a link to a National Geographic article on the slum. Our hearts went out to the dirty, naked children whose future will likely be more of the same.

The contrasts between the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Dharavi slum are examples of the diversity and contrasts of India. In spite of a crumbling infrastructure and unbelievable air pollution, there are also evidences of extreme wealth. Case in point: The most expense personal residence in the world is in downtown Mumbai – costing almost a billion dollars to build (Yes, that is billion, not million) and a light bill of approximately $180,000 per month! Here is a link that tells you more about it.

We returned to Goa from Mumbai on a train – eleven hours of sweat, smells, cockroaches, mice, and lots of people! We had two-sixty air-conditioning: two windows open and going 60 miles an hour! It was an experience we will never forget or plan to repeat! Needles to say, the first thing we did when we returned to our daughter’s place was head to the shower! Ahhh…, the simple joy of being clean!

We returned home more thankful for what we have, being extremely grateful for the blessing of having been born in North America, burdened for the multitudes whose future is as bleak our winter skies, and marveling that our daughter has chosen to live in a world that her siblings cannot relate to.

We are refreshed, refocused, and resolved to press forward in the Lord to do our part to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. We have once again seen that creation is straining to observe the revelation of God’s sons. May we who live in the comforts of North America not be lulled into a deeper spiritual stupor of nonchalant Christianity waiting to fly away on some glad morning.

Though we were not involved in any ministry while we were away, we “received” ministry in that the rest and change-of-pace provided some good reflection time for us. We are thankful for the prayers and support of our family and friends who encouraged us to take the trip. We have been impacted with fresh resolves.