Just a few quick notes about today that I thought you might like to hear:
Before I go on to my next point I have news for you all hot of the presses. An email from John Bobek literally just landed on my desktop, in which he says, “Thanks for the info. Your dad doesn’t even look close to being old enough to have a child as a missionary in India.” And people usually think having nine kids will age you faster.
2 – Item of interest number two. The man wearing the cap in the picture to the right is a pastor in the Koppedu district here in India. But he no sooner walked into the room this morning (actually I walked in he was there first) than I thought, “that man is an American in disguise.” And is it just me or does not that picture scream “Three American Floridians planning the day’s big fishing trip”? D. Paul with his glasses and mister all American with his hat and long hair. Okay maybe more like Cubans when you see the concrete style buildings in the background.
3 – My third note for the day has to do with cows. Those of you who know me know that tree hugger or even vegetarian are some of the last words that anyone would ever think of to describe me, despite the fact that Aaron and I spent three days working for the Sierra Club during which time we were asked why we hadn’t brought our fake IDs with us. That being said even I was a little disturbed by what I saw today. In India it is fairly common to see bull water buffalo with small logs (or maybe you would call them thick sticks) dangling from their necks. Their owners tie one end of a rope around their neck and fasten a thick stout stick to the other usually so that it drags along right in back of their front legs. The idea is if they get any ideas and start to take off running they will get tripped up on the stick. What I saw today was a similar idea but a slightly different variation. The rope is tied around their horns and instead of a stick dangling from the other end it was tied around one of their front legs. There was only about maybe two and half feet of rope between. This forced the head of the beast to remain a foot or two from the ground and every time he took a step his head was jerked sideways and backwards. Okay maybe it doesn’t make the top list of animal cruelty but it sure makes my neck ache just thinking about it. Don’t worry I don’t plan on staying up tonight plotting my revenge on the cruel owners.
4 – Last but by far the most important. Here is (see below) a picture of the village where I preached today. It reminded me a lot of a camping site in the US. Small gravel driveway next to a tiny barren spot of earth for your tent, or in this case hut aka home, communal water spigot, surrounded by forest, hills, and not much else. Most of the children were wearing clothes I wouldn’t even think to give to goodwill. Please remember them and all of our Indian brethren in your prayers.
– Matthew Ude