HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

The time has come to post on my blog - here we are in 2008 already - almost half way through January. I just completed a very extensive holiday together with Gloria my friend from Canada. She came Dec 12th and left Jan 10th. In that time we visited Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort) and Delhi. We travelled by Train, bus, rickshaws, and taxi. Then we got back to Lonavala Dec 22nd and left for Goa Dec 23rd. This is my favorite place to enjoy Christmas and New Years. We really enjoyed the sun, sand and surf! There were lots of others there. We were blessed to be able to stay in a friends flat for only Rs400 per day - wouldn't be able to afford it any other way. This wasy we could occassionally eat at home and then eat out on other occassions. The nicest was to be able to eat dinner in a shack at the beach and enjoy the sunset and surf. We drove down to Goa and experienced two different roads - going was a horrid road that seemed to take forever but coming back was very pleasant going through lovely country side. We cut about 4 hours off driving time going this way.
Now we are starting the enxt quarter at the base. We expect about 85 students for 4 schools and from many different places in the world. The place will really be humming for the next few months while they attend their classes. It is exciting to see such an increase in attendance.
We are really enjoying lovely weather these days - lovely warm days and cool nights - can even use a quilt to snuggle up in.
That's it for now - wishing you all a very properous and joyous new year!!!!!!

Early Season's Greetings

Hi everyone - I realize that in the west you are well into the Christmas activities and celebrations. Even getting some snow in the Okanagan!!! And here I am with warm sunny days and cool nights - cool enough to have to pull the quilt up before morning. How cozy is that?!?
Actually this is my favorite kind of weather - although this year I am missing the snow - can you believe that???
I am excitedly awaiting my friend Gloria's arrival - she comes from Vancouver via Heathrow airport and arrives in Mumbai on Wed 12th Dec at noon. This will be the first time I have someone from home who gets to see India from my perspective. We will get to do some traveling while she is here - of course to see the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort and then following a tradition that I started many years ago - going to Goa to relax in the warm sun enjoying the sand and sea, and of course all of that wonderful seafood. We will be staying at a friends flat - I have stayed there before - so that keeps the cost way down. Gloria will be here for about one month.
The schools that are running have almost 2 weeks to complete their lecture phase. Now staff are starting to leave for home - and the Christmas holidays - some have to travel 3-4 days by train - can you imagine?!???! and then often by bus (horrendous roads in those parts of the world). But it is very exciting for them to spend time with family.
That's it for now. I will try to post some pictures from my travels.

GOT MY VISA

Wow, it has been a couple of months (almost) since I posted anything - these have been a couple of busy months with daily work, meetings and making a trip to Thailand for a visa run. I ended up staying in Thai for almost 2 weeks because I forgot to sign one place on the application form and this was missed by the clerk checking it. Can you believe the Indian Embassy has outsourced the visa process !!! And wouldn't you know it - the day I was there was the first day they were functioning - yuk!!!
While in Thai I got to spend a couple of days with Jonah (a former IPHC student who has been serving in Korea for the past 3 yrs) - it sure was great catching up with what he is up to. He was just recovering from some pretty extensive dental surgery but we managed to get lots of talking done - in spite of that.
I sure didn't feel like I needed a holiday yet but had no choice so decided to make the most of it. Was great to be at the Juniper Tree again - although this time I went to the guest house up in Chiang Mai - what a lovely setting that is. I met a number of interesting people coming from different locations. In Bangkok I stayed at the Alliance Guest house - also met a number of interesting people.
Was very happy to come back home once I got my visa - but as result of poor communication on my part there wasn't a taxi waiting to meet me so had to find a taxi which delayed my getting home - only getting home by 4AM. But was able to stretch out and have a good sleep so could get into the base by the next morning - 10AM - it was great seeing all my friends there. The welcome was wonderful.
We are really enjoying the best weather of the year - warm during the day and cooling down real nice at nights.
I am really looking forward to Gloria coming for a vist in Dec - we will be keeping really busy with travelling etc while she is here - going up to see the Taj Mahal and Red Fort and various people in that area. Then of course go to Goa for Christmas - this has kind of become a tradition for me - so it will be great to introduce Gloria to this lovely tradition as well.

Enjoying a cup of coffee with a friend

Where does the time go??!???

Many people gathering to pray for different leaders in our mission. This is in the new hall that was completed enough for us to use. this hall can seat up to 500 people - and will be used as a multipurpose hall for the UofN.

David Johnson (first leader I had in 1998) and Lalram -(IPHC student in 1999 school) Both are now serving in Dakha, Bangladesh. It was great to see them and to participate in seminar with them.

This was the theme of our workshop - Carolyn (worked with me at Okanagan base and is now staffing IPHC in Kona - she stayed with me for almost one month here in India- was great to spend time with her. She is now in Cambodia with the rest of the staff and students from the IPHC running right now in Kona - they need your prayers.

Can't believe that we are almost at the end of Sept already - the monsoon is still dragging on - but really quite mild - soon we will just have sunshine - that will be nice. Thankfully the weather will now start getting cooler - though although we have sunshine it will be cool.

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Lovely Isn't it?

Have you ever seen such a large hibyscus (spelling)? Couldn't resist taking this picture - good I did because the next day it was wilted and dead! So much beauty for such a short time.

Well, it seems our lovely weather has stopped and the monsoons have returned - kind of disappointing since we are now having the UofN Workshop with over 500 participants attending! There are people here from 35 different nations and we are having a great time - in spite of the rain. The large hall that was under construction was completed enough to use it. and what a beautiful hall it is - even though it isn't completed.

We are now half way through the workshop and although it has been exhausting it has been good. The workshop finishes on Sunday and then there are smaller gatherings for specific groups - such as the College of Counselling and Health care which I will be attending - not only attending but also taking the minutes of those meetings.

I have Joanne from USA - worked in Pune with us for many years plus Carolyn - IPHC staff from Kona (prior to that was at the Okanagan base with me). Has been fun having house guests.

I can hardly believe that I have been here almost 4 months already - before you know it I will be travelling back for a visa run. Time just flies too fast. I am just loving being back here and am starting to really feel at home in Lonavala - it has taken an adjustment since it is really much more like a village as opposed to Pune which is definitely a large city. But here the air is clean and the hills are green - really very lovely. and definitely cooler - which is really great.

Hello from rainy Lonavala

Here we are mid Aug already - I just can't believe how fast the time flies!!!!!! You have probably heard about all of the rain in the north east of India and Bangladesh - well thankfully we have enjoyed (actually) a relatively mild monsoon. Although it has rained there are many bright times - not actually sunshine but brighter. And the rain hasn't been constant! Thankfully. The stories on the news about the people in the north east are tragic!
Well, it is only 3 weeks now till the workshop - all energies are now being focused on preparation for that. We are expecting approx 500 delegates at this workshop so we will be very busy for the first week of Sept. Then after the workshop are various meetings planned by smaller groups - since people will be coming from all over the world it will be an opportunity to network and discuss various issues related to our work.
The DTS will be finished their lecture phase next week - they have had a great school - they will be going to Pune area for a couple of weeks to do outreach - then coming back to participate in the workshop - for many of them this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity. We are excited that our founder will be here plus a number of the top leaders. We are just hoping that this mild monsoon will remain during the workshop - or even better just plain stop during that week. It will be quite a challenge with so many people if the rains are there. Too much muddy water around!!!
Yesterday I went to Pune for the day and came home completely exhausted!!!!! This shopping is for the birds - I just don't enjoy it. But a few of the gals came down with me and we had a great lunch together at Sunmoi - my favorite Chinese place in Pune!! What a treat that was since no matter what cusine the restaurants here in Lonavala claim to be they are all basically pretty Indian in flavors! Things are so different in a village than in a metropolitan city.
My car is still working great and I am enjoying being taxi for 4 gals.
Well, it is Saturday and the laundry needs to get done so will close for now. Would love to hear from some of you. Thanks so much Sheri for your faithful comments and keeping me motivated to keep posting!!!