holy land part II

the second phase of our trip began with a turbulent airplane ride into kerala. while i was observing the magnificent landscape, lush forests, rivers and plains, i accidentally erased all of my pictures - ugh - so i literally started with a clean slate.

at this point in the trip, i began to make fast friends with some of the folks on my immersion. i had a confidant in my onni, a sister in an old homie, and a true friend in an acquaintance. i thank God for these folks on this trip because it was in talking to them that i was able to be comforted yet challenged every single day.

jerry and chris were our hosts in kerala - mostly tiruvalla. they were students of dr. clarke a few years back and it was their coordination and extreme care for us that enabled us to explore the jacobite syrian orthodox church and all of the nuances that a young, well-educated, interracial couple brings. they were gifts to us on this trip - they broke things down for us, translated and interpreted conversations, shared new ways of thinking, and exposed our inconsistencies and prejudices.

the house boat was my favorite part of the trip. favorite because it gave the group such a sense of family, of belonging, of journeying together. we laughed at each other A LOT, then just chilled and let the experiences that we had had just sit. we drank beer, ate a wonderful meal...very last supper-ish. i think the pictures speak for themselves. (cut and paste to see)

http://travel.webshots.com/album/560393806AuTHCH?vhost=travel

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=15hu2t7b.1uya3bif&x=0&y=-kglxhr

we had audiences with more bishops, higher up-types, and other leaders in the community. all of which were interesting (i promise they were even though i'm not elaborating here) and after four days, we were on the move again.

after a 16 hour train ride, we arrived in bangalore, in the state of karnataka. i'm downplaying the train ride here, but it was my first time on a sleeper train and because i chose not to take 3 tylenol pms, i stayed awake for 15 hours. so we arrived in bangalore, with our baggage in tow, and stepped foot onto utc's campus.

united theological college transported me back to july 1992, dasmarinas, philippines to the campus of united theological seminary. gosh...the landscaping...typical flowers, broad-leafed foliage, banana trees, big calachuchi trees (plumeria in english), and old plastic buckets that double as watering cans. i saw a mother bringing her child to school which threw me into a spin of reminiscing..dressed in the school's uniform with a hat on his head and an oversized backpack on his mom's arm. gosh..i miss that life.

in this third and last phase of our trip, we would be going to different schools in the area to observe the education system, visit even more temples, visit a slum on independence day, and dialogue with the theological students.

this was by far the most chill time of our entire trip. we would get up rather leisurely at 8am. maybe follow our itinerary, maybe not. maybe go shopping, maybe not. i wanted to go go go - after all, when will i be in india again? - but we did a whole bunch of sitting and talking...to each other. ugh. we would walk around campus watching all the students run to their classes, a bit envious that we couldn't sit it, and find ourselves with little to do. it was a restful time for all of us - half the group was homesick (or just plain sick) - and so, a perfect time to transition back to stateside thinking and all the things that awaited us.

but i wasn't ready to leave. something pulled me to india...something was tugging at me..and i didn't feel like i'd fully addressed it yet. my head began to nod from side to side, instead of up and down. i was acclimated to the weather, the flow of time, and the food. i was reluctant to leave...and i'm still trying to figure out why. could there be something for me in a country that is so complete on its own? i dont know any of the languages, cannot understand the writings, and at the very most, have very little knowledge of the history and culture. so what's the deal?! my attraction was not to one person, or one place...it was to the vivid colors of women's sarees, to talking with anyone who would give me some time, to food that never before seemed palatable, to ways of thinking that defy foundational american beliefs.

for fear of sounding like some culture-sucking leech that latches on to anything that seems "out of the ordinary"...i'm trying not to focus on all the touristy parts of south india. i'm also trying not to emphasize the ridiculous hospitality we received because any filipino knows hospitality is a given. but this was an amazing experience for so many reasons. i saw God in colors and in mannerisms that i'm not accustomed to seeing. i heard praises lifted in interesting tones and musical combinations. i met God there and prayed that she would journey back with me.

not your mama's holy land - part I

in two weeks, i got less than 15 mosquito bites...a record low for me.

for 15 days i ate some of the spiciest dishes i've ever had. bionic woman had nothing on me and my incredible stomach...i didn't get sick a single time.

for these two, and so many more blessings, i know the Lord was definitely with me.

i feel like counting down the days until i return to india - my first holy land - but i have no date...sooo i guess i'd just be counting days.

why the connection? what accounts for my need to return? let me tell you a bit about my trip through south india.

we began in chennai (madras) and hit the ground running. our first day we went to visit a slum 15 mins away from our hostel. the greeting there of course was lavish and extremely unnecessary. i know what it means to be in a poor asian slum (barrio) and to have "important" people come and visit. you break out the soda bottles with different colored plastic straws. you bring out the garlands made of fragrant, vibrant flowers. you assemble plastic chairs for your guests to sit while the children present a song and dance. this is normal for me -- not ever necessary, but i'm accustomed to it. the difference in this place however was that there were flowers everywhere. in kids' hands, on us, drawn on the ground; everywhere. the drums that began our short processional were soooo loud, my ears lost their hearing for a moment. we were welcomed into folks' homes and asked them questions about their family life -- wide-eyed, when they mentioned who all lived in the 6 x 8 ft space; puzzled as we tried to decipher what a head bob meant (yes or no?).

while in chennai we visited different churches and para-church organizations. the most notable interactions were with bishop devasahayam (church of south india) and the three hindu priest brothers at a temple built in the 10th century. bishop devasahayam laid out very clearly the makings of what could be his next book. in a systematic but inspiring way, he presented his thoughts on a new consciousness for being church - the makeup of Christ's body and what responsibility we have to them; how the Holy Spirit has moved through history in south india; the evil of the caste system and it's basis on inequality, segregation, and the denial of human dignity; the impact of globalization on dalits; and implications of new ecclesial consciousness that recognizes dalit identity.

needless to say, i took notes like a madwoman. man i wish i had a digital recorder.

we also visited a general hospital, specifically their hiv/aids clinic and listened to patients share stories on how they contracted the virus. heartbreaking stories of a partner's infidelity; the social pressure on one young male and the curiosity that left him feeling used and cheated by a sex worker; and an unknowing woman who now has to deal with the stigma of being barren on top of her status as hiv infected.
then the Lord said, "i have observed the misery of my people...i have heard their cry...indeed i know their sufferings, and i have come down to deliver them.."(exodus 3:7-8)

we left the first phase of our trip very tired, but thankful for everything that we saw, ingested, felt, smelled, inhaled, and processed.