One Week In Ongole And I'm Now Almost A Native

This is breakfast in Ongole:

It's called 'Tiffin' - my wife Ann makes Tiffin and it's nothing like this! Where's the chocolate, the crushed biscuits and the occasional sultanas? - You can't even put milk and sugar on it - more like Gaviscon for first thing in the morning - Breakfast????!

Then there's the early morning wake-up call from a street band - I call them 'No Direction'

 If it's not them waking me up at an unearthly hour it's a neighbour several streets away singing at the top of his voice presumably while listening to the local radio. Mind you - I got out of bed because of it at 6.30 am to see this lovely view - so thank you Mr or Mrs Mullah

At the start of my trip - firstly in Hyderabad and latterly in Ongole, I initially stayed in my shell - not venturing out, just trying to do work, which was why I came. However, as I've grown in confidence, I quite happily go for fairly long walks - almost the only white face in town unless I'm with another western worker - which isn't often. It's crowded, noisy and a whole spectrum of types of life - from the cows, street dogs, oven ready chickens (they're alive but seem plucked ready for the table) to the beggars, street people, ordinary workers, people who probably are relatively wealthy and the children - whole school busloads who want you to shout 'Hi' back to them of 'High Five' them if they get chance. 'What is your name?'. 'Where do you come from?' they always want to know.
The people in stores and small roadside shops are friendly to you and seemingly very honest - I bought 6 eggs (yes Ann darling, I am trying to eat the right things) from one chap - I thought that he said they were 37 Rupees - which is what I gave him (less than 37p) and he said,"No" and gave me 10 Rupees back. In supermarkets they want to carry my basket around for me (do I really look that old - or do they think I'm a shoplifter?) - friendly, pleasant, helpful and reassuringly safe to be with.
By the way Ann, I think that today, totally on my own with nobody around me and in a remote(ish) location, I may have done a deal on 2 very large old tractor tyres - he wants 600 Rupees and I may get them for 500. I'm not sure if I'd have to declare them at customs or how much excess baggage it would cost - so I may just use them as planters at Victory Home (if so - reassuring photos will follow). Mind you - they could look great on the rear axle of my Morris Traveller,

Whilst I'm trying to help at Sarah's Covenant Homes, India - I've been privileged to have met groups from 'World Race' teams. Groups of young Americans who go to 11 different needy places around the world over 11 months - funding their journey themselves. I never met this group - but every single one of those team members that I've been involved with are AWESOME. Watch the video on this link and have a box of tissues handy!

http://vimeo.com/85816370

All along, I've felt like 'What real difference am I making? All I'm doing really is simple stuff between all of the waiting around' - I'd previously asked Sarah if it might have been better for me to send the money for the cost of my trip and was told 'God will provide that - it's important that you come' - I thought yeah, me - I'll make little difference and even now that is still the case to a point. 
BUT
Seeing that video made me see the differences others are making in being here and doing the simple things. It's perhaps easier to see it when it's other people like that - but it brought it home to me - that in a way, I may be having a similar effect in some small way and that God is using me too  (even if only to make people smile at my jokes - although that may only be politeness!).

This is a fairly short blog - they're coming thicker and faster at present. In a few days, I'll be sending another one to show the changes that me and my team of women from the World Racers are making at the Victory home.