Pioneers and Indians

 About a month ago, in the middle of the intersection we cross daily where 8 roads converge into a spaghetti bowl of mass traffic confusion, emerged a mystery statue on an island hidden behind green screens. Little by little as the wind blew, the screens drooped and eventually sagged down and finally blew off, we could see that it was two men driving a wagon pulled by two oxen. It almost looked like something out of the old west or a pioneer museum. Except on closer look, you notice these are Brahmin cows with their distinctive hump. Also missing are reins and whip, so maybe these minor touches will be added once the official unveiling happens, after all what we're seeing is only the sneak peek.

It got us wondering what historical event this statue might be depicting or what other significance to putting it in the middle of an intersection for all to see. The running of Italy's Pamplona bulls? The Mormon Trail Pioneers crossing the plains? Maybe it's simply a subliminal message to slow down traffic, we see real cows saunter down the road all the time, oblivious to the frenetic pace of automation. Maybe it's simply an homage to the sacred cows who need no reins to guide them. At any rate, it caused us to reflect on our pioneer heritage every time we passed it. With the nearing of Pioneer Day in the state of Utah, it must have given us the subliminal idea to try teaching the Indian young adults a pioneer dance at our next District gathering. So try we did today. They were definitely skittish at first, especially the guys when we told them this was our aim. (Maybe that's why our #s were lower than normal if the word had leaked out beforehand.) Once we started, the girls kept clumping together in a huddle for security, boys were feigning sickness and trying to opt out but once we finally got it going and added the music and the clapping and the whooping, we saw some genuine smiles! The girls openly admitted they enjoyed it, the boys were mum but were not openly protesting anymore, thus we achieved the goal of getting them comfortable with interacting with the opposite sex and diffused the fear of (gulp) holding hands, along with a little teaching of Church History to boot.

(With 12 guys and 5 girls in attendance, there was absolutely no qualms on the guys' part to dance with other guys)

On a side note, one other really good thing came from this. We put up a sign to welcome anyone who might just mosey in off the busy street. 

In the middle of lunch, a man walked in and said he'd like to bring his family, including his teenagers to church. Brother Gibson gave him an invitation and an explanation of times and meetings and he said he'd come tomorrow. Well, if that didn't make it all worth it! Mission accomplished. Fingers crossed again. 🤞🏾🤞 🤞🏿

In our workshop we emphasized that they are the pioneers of India. They are the ones their posterity will honor for generations to come just like I do my pioneer ancestors; Wilford Woodruff, Benjamin Gunn, et al. I hope they realize the impact their choices and testimonies will have on others for good. I take strength in my pioneer ancestors' great faith to uproot and leave their homes and their newly built temple after intense persecution, and set off for an unknown destination. It makes coming to a predetermined foreign land on a jet plane feel like a cakewalk! 

Other great happenings this week: Last Sunday a member from Japan showed up to our Sacrament and Sunday School meetings- Dan Kawashima from Tokyo. He was in town on business and found the nearest meeting house on his own. It struck me that this is why we try to conduct much of our meetings in English because we're a global church now and anywhere you go, you can find a congregation pretty much anywhere in the world and understand a meeting if you speak English. It so happened we were asked to teach the English Sunday School class that he attended so afterwards we asked if he had somewhere to go for dinner and if not, would he like to join us. With not wanting to eat out on the Sabbath he was glad to accept our offer. We had the caveat that tomorrow was P-day when we do our shopping so we might be shorthanded on some food items, that gold and silver have we none, but such as we have, give we unto him. He was gracious to say that creative cookery wasn't a problem for him . We have recently found one of our absolute favorite starter meals here in India at the local grocery store:

Thanks Mares and Warren for introducing us to Tom Kha! It is now our favorite go-to meal here.

 We were out of mushrooms so we substituted brinjal ( little purple striped eggplant) and it didn't diminish the flavor or texture one bit. Add some basmati rice, American inspired tossed salad made with Indian vegetables and watermelon and voila, lunch! If a fortune teller had told us we might someday be feeding a Japanese man Thai food in India I would've thought fat chance of that ever happening. (That's like the Alamo having a basement!) 

Turns out Dan was a former Bishop and currently serving in his Stake Presidency and was a man of high faith and integrity. And true to Japanese tradition, he presented us a darling gift of a Nara coin purse with two hands and a bow. We found so much in common to talk about that produced instant comraderie. Isn't that just amazing how the gospel of Jesus Christ is our common ground that transcends all cultural differences? I love that about our international church and testify it is that very unity in faith of our universal Savior that will save the world and bring global peace to those who will believe in him. 

Another great experience of note was taking two of our young adult friends to the Geede Car Museum and then to Bangalore Juicy for a casual bite to eat. They've lived here all their life but had never visited it. (Kind of like Utahns who've never been to the Great Salt Lake!) It was a car lover's paradise. Even I, who doesn't give two hoots what kind of car a person drives loved learning the history of the automobile. We probably could've spent an hour longer reading every sign but Akash and Pugal just wanted the visual experience mostly. Here's a few photos for those that give two hoots.

Bertha Benz who took the first car ride ever in her husband's crazy contraption.

Friends Akash and Pugal along for the ride

It's Herbie!

Rob says Fiat stands for "Fix it again Tony"

See these all the time in historic British films

???

Sturdy and serviceable, just like Elder Dunlap

The Cadillac Stretchy Limo

In honor of Steve Dunlap

Scawy!

The only car Rob was hoping to see was the Indian made Ambassador but sadly, they only had this poster about it.  Whoever drew it sure knew their Indian culture!

Gotta do a close up to catch the details.

Amby Namby and Pamby

You can bet we'll be utilizing this saying

We'll end this blog with a screen shot of our Emotional Resilience class in action. The best part of this experience has been that of our growing friendship with Elder Bunga who we utterly adore and with whom we couldn't thrive. He is our IT man that makes our job look easy and who we couldn't begin to fulfill this assignment without. He also serves in his ward bishopric in Hyderabad and has a successful career so it's not like he isn't already busy but he is currently serving a service mission as well. It is a real honor he would call us his friend. Normally we only get one or two people per session that use their video camera to see faces so we can't honestly say we know the young adults by face who are joining us except him. He alone has made the experience so worthwhile.

 Honor, praise, and veneration to these founders we revere.

They the builders of a nation

Blazing trails along the way

Stepping stones for generations

                                       Were their deeds of every day

Building new and firm foundations

Pushing on the wild frontier

Forging onward, ever onward

Blessed honored Pioneer! 

Hymn #36