I wrote the previous blog sitting at Mumbai airport waiting for the rest of the team to arrive - and they did, along with all their luggage, and they are a lovely bunch!
I cannot fault their resilience and flexibility and enthusiasm - whether it is getting soaked whilst walking to the top of an old fort in Hyderabad, or coping with the stall holders all keen to sell their wares whilst feeling very tired and jet-lagged, or lugging 55 suitcases on and off the coach 6 times in 2 days, or trying out new and unusual foods whilst just wanting to go to bed - they are brilliant!
Today has had its share of slightly nerve-wracking moments, including getting to Hyderabad airport to be told that the flight would probably be cancelled due to the weather (start praying, and watch the clouds gradually lift). Once at Rajahmundry we were greeted by the expected school bus and driver, but only one 39seater school bus, and not the extra vehicle I had suggested might be useful given the amount of luggage we had. Hence the need for arrow prayers - Lord please do a miracle expansion of the capacity of those 9 spare seats to hold all the bags. 45 minutes, and 2 hot drivers, later all the bags were on and there was room for us as ell - just!
So the journey to the hotel began, and I'm sure the driver did know the way, but some seriously flooded roads, and badly potholed and broken up tarmac made some roads impassable resulting in several diversions -and he definitely didn't know the way for all of them! So, after several turning rounds, stopping and asking locals, and long bumpy roads we eventually arrived at the hotel - to unload again, and lug bags up to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th floor depending on room number.
Tomorrow is church and then on with the show on Monday. Please pray for the team - they are all doing brilliantly, but some of them are struggling with the food, and the week will feel very long if they can't get the hang of eating rice etc!
Just so you can picture them all, and see the state of the roads, here's a couple of pictures
I cannot fault their resilience and flexibility and enthusiasm - whether it is getting soaked whilst walking to the top of an old fort in Hyderabad, or coping with the stall holders all keen to sell their wares whilst feeling very tired and jet-lagged, or lugging 55 suitcases on and off the coach 6 times in 2 days, or trying out new and unusual foods whilst just wanting to go to bed - they are brilliant!
Today has had its share of slightly nerve-wracking moments, including getting to Hyderabad airport to be told that the flight would probably be cancelled due to the weather (start praying, and watch the clouds gradually lift). Once at Rajahmundry we were greeted by the expected school bus and driver, but only one 39seater school bus, and not the extra vehicle I had suggested might be useful given the amount of luggage we had. Hence the need for arrow prayers - Lord please do a miracle expansion of the capacity of those 9 spare seats to hold all the bags. 45 minutes, and 2 hot drivers, later all the bags were on and there was room for us as ell - just!
So the journey to the hotel began, and I'm sure the driver did know the way, but some seriously flooded roads, and badly potholed and broken up tarmac made some roads impassable resulting in several diversions -and he definitely didn't know the way for all of them! So, after several turning rounds, stopping and asking locals, and long bumpy roads we eventually arrived at the hotel - to unload again, and lug bags up to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th floor depending on room number.
Tomorrow is church and then on with the show on Monday. Please pray for the team - they are all doing brilliantly, but some of them are struggling with the food, and the week will feel very long if they can't get the hang of eating rice etc!
Just so you can picture them all, and see the state of the roads, here's a couple of pictures
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