Updates from Ed Ross

Today we had a good teaching time on how to deal with conflicts/settling problems with people at the end of this course. As it was mentioned in the teaching time: it would be easy to think that as we are only going to see each other for another few days, we could try to just "cope" with anyone we have a problem with, but actually, it would be much better if we sort out the problems now before we leave each other.

The tips included:

• Identify the problem
• Take the problem to God in prayer, and recognise He is the best at solving the problem
• Confess your issues to God and maybe a trusted close friend/accountability partner
• If needed, gently let the person you have a problem with know, so that you can work things out together.
• If needed after that (if they won't listen), ask your friend to go with you to try again.

It was pointed out that the Bible makes it clear that if you have a problem with someone, you should go to them about it and if you know someone has a problem with you, you should go to them to sort it out.

We also talked about "Memory Stones" - some artefact we could create that will help us remember the blessings of God and what He has taught us individually in our course.

We also performed our "Community Care" tasks one last time. There is a new YWAM DTS school here (they started in January), who have taken on the duties now. It was funny stepping back in to my cleaning clothes again.

In the evening we had a final Cafe Night, where various acts performed songs and other skits for our DTS group. I finished off (having been requested at the time), by telling the story of how I proposed.

It's been a strange day - I know it is time to leave this place. I've been so happy here, and I know it was the right thing at the right time in my life to come here, but I'm just ready to move on now. To what, I don't know, but I know God will be there with me, guiding me - if I let Him.

And while I'm in a free country again, I'd just like to say something I couldn't for the last two months: Jesus is Lord!

Today marked the start of de-brief week back here at Holmsted Manor on
the YWAM DTS course. Yes, I was still on the course in India, even if
the blog entries (necessary) didn't make it clear. I couldn't say
exactly what I was doing (but now I can, so when I have more time, I
will try to do so!).

 Not only are we talking about our time in India, we are going to be
talking about the whole course too. It will be nice to have a reminder
of what we did before we leave!

 I'm still feeling very tired.

The flight from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow was fine, and we all enjoyed
being greeted by Team Poland, who had arrived back at Holmsted before
us. I am now very tired, so I am not going to write everything I could
do about the events of the last two days.

 I then went back to Portsmouth (via my parents' house for a while), to
spend today with my girlfriend. I asked her to marry me. She said yes.

I forgot to say before: I've never even smoked a legal cigarette, so I
wasn't likely to start my smoking life with whatever that guy was
going to try to sell me. I just said 'no', and walked out of the shop.
 
I'm in Abu Dhabi airport, waiting for the connecting flight to London.
All is well so far.

This is my last day in India. It's been great, and I wouldn't rule out coming here again.

A couple of days ago, at about 5am, we set of to the Taj Mahal. About half way through the coach journey there (two hours in), we stopped for breakfast. The cafe was such a tourist trap! The drinks were over twice what they have cost in other places, and the food was over the top, but that is the cost of going to a touristy area! I ordered a cheese and tomatoe toastie, and was surprised to find an extra slice of bread added between the cheese and the tomatoe. However, it was very tasty and satisfying, so it wasn't all bad.

Just before we arrived at the Taj, a man flagged down our minibus, and said he was from "the company", and he was our tour guide, and we should let him in to the minibus and he would take us to the Taj, and we wouldn't be able to get in without him. We said "no", and drove on. He got on a motorbike, and drove to the car park, where he tried this again with us, and this time also said we should leave all our iPods and other electronic (valuable) items in the minibus. He seemed to us to be nothing but a con-man. We did not let him go with us.

When we got to the ticket office, we found a friendly official tour guide, who didn't even charge for the tour. The buildings around the Taj, and the Taj itself were quite nice to look at. There isn't much inside the Taj though, apart from the tombs of a king and queen (I think - the tour guide's accent was a bit hard to follow). There was some nice artwork though, and of course it was quite fun to go to such an historic site. Such a big building for nothing but a tomb though!

I would say more about it, but I need to get out of the internet cafe soon!

Yesterday was pretty uneventful. I had some "South Indian" food for perhaps the last time, and had an interesting time haggling in the market. A guy pretty much begged me to go to his shop, in the alley way, saying people don't see it so he has to ask people to come in. I said if he saw me on the way back from the rest of my shopping, I'd go in. I went back and he seemed to have been waiting for me, as he saw me on the way back, so I went in to his shop, which had much of the usual knick knacks the rest of the shops have. I wasn't interested in any of it. Just as I was leaving, I spotted something that I thought could be a good gift for my sister, so I asked how much it was, and eventually managed to get him 30 rupees lower (after almost walking away, he had to call me back). I heard him mumble under his breath "you're hard work!". He called me back in to his shop to pay. Just as I handed over the cash, he asked me: "you like to smoke?", and smiled. It seems the whole shop setup is just a loss leader for harder stuff!

As probably my last post in India, I'd just like to thank you again for following along with my journey. I'll be able to say a lot more about what we've been doing once I get back to the UK. Please stick around for that. I'll probably be a bit busy when I get back (looking for a job for a start!), so it may take some time to say everything I want to say, but it will come, eventually.

I hope you are well. Thanks again.

Well, I've made it to the last week of the India section of the course! After this there is one more week at the base in England, and I'm done (though I'll have a lot more to say on the blog after that, especially with photos of the time away).

The train journey actually took about 24 hours - not the same 24 hours we were expecting (the train arrived about 90 minutes late), but at least we arrived in Delhi near enough when we should have done. Once here, we had to first find the correct end of the platform to exit the station, and then negotiate a price for the rickshaw taxis to take us the the hotel. The taxi experience is quite different here to the west. First, as I mentioned, you negotiate a price for the trip first (so they have a chance of getting more out of naive westerners, I think) , and then you have to cope with holding on for your life to anything you can grip on to in the rickshaw, which have no side doors. Our journey to the hotel was quite more intense than the trips further south. I've learned that two vehicles can somehow drive at each other and pass through one another, but here, they try to prove that far too often!

Anyway, we got the hotel and settled in, and slept.

The next morning (yesterday), we went for a bit of sight seeing in the city. There is a large mosque here, so we all went there to look at it. Again, remembering why I'm here, and who I'm here for, all I can say for now is, there is a lot of contrast! It all comes down to maybe one word: grace.

The rickshaw drivers on the way to the mosque did something our leader had warned us about: they first drove us to two shops for us to browse and maybe buy things from, before they took us to our required destination! They get commission. It is funny though: we have to haggle over the price of a rickshaw, then they take us to shops where almost everything cost over 1000 rupees!

Then we split up into different groups to see different things. my group wanted to go to the Costa Coffee they spotted previously, and as we passed some manual cycle rickshaws, they gave us what we thought was a reasonable price to go there, so we had fun being biked to Costa along the narrow, but busy back streets of Delhi. Or so we thought. Once we arrived at the drivers' destination, we were a little disappointed to find that they had taken us to the local McDonald's instead of Costa Coffee. "Coffee, coffee", they said, as they pointed to the golden arches of western imperialism. We had to get off the bikes and just be glad we had a fun experience. We didn't actually want McDonald's coffee though, so we started walking down the street to see if there was anything else. I spotted a "Cafe Coffee Day", a coffee shop they have here a bit like a Costa, so things were not too bad after that. There are several CCDs here. There was only one in Rajkot, the city we were staying in previously! After that, we went back to the McDonald's for some in our group to try the fries there, then we had to negotiate the price for another (auto) rickshaw back to the Hotel.

Soon after arriving at the hotel, we set off again for dinner. Our leader had kept our dinner locating a secret, but said we would all like it. It turned out we were going to a mexican resteraunt. I ordered from the "Indian" section of the menu, and had a fantastic meal: some Indian bread, with boneless chicken peices and masala sauce (a bit like Chicken Tikka Masla, but the chicken was served separetly to the sauce!). It was really tasty and filling, but it isn't really 'Indian' like the Indian food we have been eating previously. The others enjoyed their Mexican food. The waiters were dressed up like cowboys. They were cowboys and Indians at the same time!

This morning we have talked a lot about the last 8 weeks, helping to process everything we have been through.

Impressions of Delhi: scary driving from the rickshaw drivers. A lot more western than other parts of India (in fact, if you want to come here, you might as well go to London (or so it seems sometimes)). A bit cooler at night.

We are going to the Taj Mahal tomorrow, which should be fun (even if we have to leave at 6am because of the 4 hour bus trip!).

I'm looking forward to going home and seeing my girlfriend. This trip has been amaing.

We've been in northern India for the last week-and-a-bit and it has
been another fantastic time.
 
We've been touring around a few different cities seeing what they have
there. We've been able to talk to our Father about what we've seen
here. I'm so glad He's paid the price for that connection. It cost
more than I could ever pay. It's a long, long way home - but he feels
very much here with me.
 
Most of the places we've been to are on the west coast of India, and
so it has been really nice to see the sea again, just like back in
Portsmouth. The sun sets very quickly here, and seeing it descend
below the sea was a very beautiful sight.
 
On one day, we walked up a lighthouse, only to find the light had been
made in a town in Sussex, very close to our base! After that, we got
to ride camels (on the beach, not in the lighthouse). This was fun,
but I kept on thinking I was going to fall off!
 
The places we've been to are very nice, but hopefully something will
come that will make them even better soon - help them become the
places they were made to be. Tours like ours will hopefully help with
that.
 
It has been sad to see so many child beggers. All they want is a few
coins, but I just want to take them back home so they can have a
better life than what they can expect here. When there 20 kids
surrounding our group of 10 plus 2 guides, what can you do for them
all?
 
I've been having thoughts about the need to increase unity among
different groups in Portsmouth. Over dinner someone mentioned they
have a friend who thinks a group needs to be big before they can do
any big social activities, but I had a strong reaction against that,
and thought about how if each smaller group could come together in
unity, they could all work together to see the same goal achieved.
 
Talking of achieving goals: last Monday we went to Gandhi's house -
where he was born! You would think the town with that distiction would
make a bigger thing of that house, but if you didn't know it was
there, you wouldn't have guessed it. It is quite a simple house, with
low cealings. They have built an extra court yard next door, which has
a few memorials to Gandhi, but there really isn't much to celebrate
him there. It got me thinking how even a good man, while celebrated
while alive, is almost forgotten once dead. Why am I here? Who do I
celebrate? Who is still alive?
Such a contrast.
 
Yesterday we went to a dam where they store drinking water for the
city. Apparently lots of people go there to commit suicide (which is a
big problem in India), as most Indians can't swim. There was a small
zoo near by, which had lions, tigers and bears, which was nice (apart
from if you were one of the animals, when you should be out of cages
roaming free).
 
I finally managed to get my hair cut. The tour guide took me and the
other makein our group to the barbers he uses. It was perhaps one of
the most fun times I've had having my hair cut, but that isn't saying
much as I really don't like having my hair cut (although I know it is
better when done). Things started off a bit differently when we were
served tea and coffee (from one of the vendors on a street side stall
outside the barbers), and moved on to stranger, when my barber went to
have a sit down and a chat with the tour guide rather than getting on
with my hair! Apparently it is because they only use scissors so need
breaks every so often. Things got very strange for the other guy when
his barber offered to remove the hairs on his nose, which he did by a
strange technique involving twisting string around each hair, and
pulling the whole thing out! I was glad I didn't have to go through
that too. Things went from strange to painful at the end, when by
barber gave me a very vigorous head massage. I really wasn't ready for
such a thing. At least it is a bit cooler on my head now....
 
It is so hot here. Yesterday when we were at the dam, I just had to
find some shade to stand in. The heat here is extrodinary. And this is
the Indian winter! At night, it has got so cold I've considered taking
a thing jacket to wear over my t-shirt, but so far decided against it
anyway, and been fine.
 
This morning we went to some shopping streets (a bit like "The Lanes"
in Brighton, Sussex), but the Indian verson, so there were lots of
clothes shops, which interested the girls in the group a lot more than
me. I got to taste some traditional food though, which was very, very
sweet. The meals we've had during the tour have all been very nice
though.
 
We are now back at the hotel we started out at, and tomorrow even we
start the 24 hour train journey to Delhi.
 
I forgot to say last time: Slumdog shows an orphanage. While what we
saw wasn't exactly the same, but it was very close. I can talk more
about this when I get back. Go see the film though.
 
This tour has been very good. I'd even consider doing it again. It has
been good meeting the tour guides (the husband is from England, so it
has been good to speak to a fellow Brit for a while).
 
I hope you are all well. Thanks for reading this. I'll be back in the
UK on 13th, but I'll be having a lot more to say after then, so please
keep on reading for more updates in the future.

Having a great time on this part of the tour.
So far we have rested before the main part of the touring begins.
 
We visited a 'Western' coffee shop yesterday. It really was like I'd
stepped back into England (apart from the fact the most expensive
drink cost about a pound!). Even the menus seemed to have been written
by a westerner.
 
After that, I went to get some money exchanged for the group. In the
bank and the office I finally got the money from, the security guards
had some of the biggest guns I've ever been near - I managed to get
photos, so watch out for when I get back home and upload them. The
second office seemed so small the guard probably couldn't have even
lifted the gun to fire it anyway!
 
Also, we got to see the film 'Slumdog Millionare '. Even though we saw
the Hindi dubbed (with no English subtitles) version, it was easy to
understand most of what was going on. I seriously suggest you go and
see this film. It was a very emotional experience, especially seeing
it here, so close to the poverty, corruption, and hurt it depicts.
Having talked about the train ride last time a little, I can now just
say: see Slumdog, and you can have quite a good idea about the trains
here. Just add in a few amputee beggers (no legs = no job), and 36
hours, and you have a better picture of the journey.
(Oh, and at one point we were joined by a group of indian men in
traditional Indian womens' clothing!)
 
The film won't be for everyone's taste - the is a lot of violence -
but if you can cope with that, I really would suggest you go and see
it. I want to go see it again in English when I get back home.
 
Today we got to have some great 'all you can eat' Indian food, and
went to the house of the tour guide for an introduction to the tour.

Last Sunday evening we held a dinner to say thank you to all the
villagers who we have visited in previous weeks. It was very well
attended and all seemed to have a good time. It was good for us to be
finally serving them, after weeks of them giving so much to us!
 
On the Tuesday we went to an event for woman of a certain profession,
hosted by a local group. It was interesting to see the way things are
done here - quite different to what would be done back home, I think.
We got to share some experiences with them, which was good for us all.
 
We also continued with our village visits later in the week. I met a
lady some of the girls had been meeting mith previously. She showed us
how to make some traditional Indian food, which was very nice, and led
us in to the local lake for a wade around, which was fun for all
except one of the girls who cut her foot on a brick in the water! It
has been really good meeting the local people recently- another man
told us that we have become like members of the village! I'vw seen
changes in people and changes in my attitude that will be very
beneficial in the future.
 
We also got to play some more cricket with the kids in the village,
which was enjoyable.
 
We took our last visit to the orphanage we've been helping with too.
Compared to orphanages in the west, things are done very differently
here. It was good to be able to show the kids some love. I hope they
can hold on to the memories of us as we leave them there.
 
On Saturday morning, at about 9:30, we set off on a train to the
north. At about 7:30pm Sunday, we arrived! I think you probably have
to go on one of these trains yourself to really understand what they
are like, but I'm kind-of glad we only have to take one more train on
the trip (only a 24 hour ride this time, to Delhi). The fold up (or
down depending on whick bunk you got) beds were fairly comfortable,
and I managed to get some sleep, but it wasn't great. I just had to
remember who I was doing the journey for, and what they've done for me
already. We got to see a lot of the Indian countryside - useful for a
trip studying the culture. It seems Indians have a different attitude
to waste disposal to westerners: there were mountians of rubbish
laying by the track side.
 
It was interesting to see that even small tin houses - nothing more
than a hut - have satellite dishes installed!
 
I got talking to a software engineer on the train. I enjoyed hearing
about the types of projects he has been working on recently. Attention
geeks: the future is mobile!
 
I am so pleased I'm on this trip. It really was what I needed to do
with my life at this moment. I've learnt a lot being here, and I will
come away a different person.
 
Someone at work when I announced that I was leaving said they thought
I needed to do this course to 'get it out of me'. At the time, and
even more now that I'm so close to the end, I'm actually thinking it
is something I had to 'get in to me'. The whole course has taught me
so much about myself, others and life that has redically changed my
perspective on so much of the world. I'm happy.
 
Up north, we are on an organised tour of the area, staying in various
hotels. This first one has free wireless internet access, so I'm happy
about that too!

This has been quite a fun week overall.
We started off with a trip to a fantastic beach. It is better than many I've been to in England (it had sand instead of stones for starters!), and we were one of the only groups of people there. We had to take a boat to get to the beach, which was on an island. We spent a few hours there, having fun in the sea and relaxing on the shore. It was a great day off.

The next day, the guys on the team, along with our visitor from base and our contact here set off to a local TV station where our contact was going to help his friend with a show he was going to broadcast. At least, that is what we thought when we got into the car. While driving, our contact informed us that the meeting had been cancelled, so asked us what else we wanted to do instead! We ended up going to a local park, drinking some coffee from a traditional roadside stall, going to a bookshop and going out for a fantastic meal at a hotel restaurant. My favourite curry is Chicken Tikka Massala. I've not been able to find it here until that day, and the way they made it was fantastic - perhaps the best I've tasted yet. It was a shame about the TV station trip, but that meal just about made up for it.

For the rest of the week we continued our study of the culture through trips to the homes of local people, and meeting with the youth of the area. People here are very hospitable. Some of our group have just been walking down the road and been invited into people's houses for a drink or some food. I've also got to play quite a few games of cricket, which have brought back memories of my childhood. We have also sung songs and taught the kids a bit about us too. I think we are making some good progress. It is nice now being able to recognise some of the kids when I see them out and about in the village.

We have also continued our work in the orphanage. This week they had a visitor who worked there 6 years ago, soon after they started. It seems they have always had ambitious goals for the place. Meeting them is another matter. We have seen significant impact through our work there though, and our preparation meeting times before hand have also led to answers when we arrive for duty. It has been really fun getting to run around after the kids and bringing them some fun in their lives.

We are starting our last (and somehow fourth) week in our current location. Next week we will take the 36 hour train trip up north for next leg of the tour.

One of the thoughts we had about the trip before we left was "lasting impact", and I think that is what we are making.

It was really good having our visitor from home here this week. He brought us some goodies, including sweets and a set of Uno cards. We played a game a few nights ago. It was funny playing with people who had different ideas of the rules!

I'm so pleased that I'm on this trip. I really feel that is has come at the right time in my life, and was the right decision to make. I think it will have significant impact on my own journey when I return home.

Thanks for reading. Talk later, at some point when I can get online next!