Home In Guntur

We have made it "home", safe and sound. Home is: in Guntur, has an American bathroom, has a fridge that we fill with water and Thumbs Up, and a bed we call our own. The journey to get here started at 5:30 yesterday morning, so  5:00 pm. MN time. Which wasn't bad due to the fact that our sleeping is no where near normal. Our trip began and as the sun rose it was a deep orange almost red, due to the pollution that covers India. We stopped to eat at a little rode "hotel" and got our classic breakfast, puri with coffee. Then started our journey again. We drove through the Nagarjunasagar Left Earth Dam (pictured below), which used to be the largest dam in the world and as we climbed up the little mountain we saw monkeys! Like crazy, moments ago in the car I had said I wanted to see more monkeys this trip. And then they appeared, tons! So we slowed the car and I took some super quick pictures. Six hours later we got to Guntur, dropped our bags off at the little house we stay in, and head over to the bible school. All the students and almost all the local ministry leaders from surrounding villages had come to welcome us. We got two roses each, and all got lays full of flowers, gave hugs and then headed to lunch. Lunch was at the wonderful pastor's house, his wife is an amazing cook. The meals here are 2-3 times larger then 1 meal in MN, at least for me. But if you tell them you only want a little (which is a normal portion) at least 4 times, they will listen. There was two different types of curry chicken, with fried chicken (not what you think, but the best), green bean with goat, and scrimp curry with white rice! After we finished our delicious meal we headed home to unpack while the man went to some business. After cleaning and changing sheets, plus unpacking, which felt wonderful, we took a little nap (still trying to get used to the time) and then ran to the little store. We got some juice and a couple of little snacks, along with eggs and other necessities. then off to dinner, again at the bible school, where we had chicken curry and potato curry (which is my favorite). We went to sleep last night with our windows open and the fans blowing. Listening to the little white yappy dog barking outside the window. And woke up this morning to the sound of the temples singing the good morning prayers on the loud speakers. We are waiting for today to begin. It will be our only day around the house as we have lots planned for the upcoming week.