Well, this new situation has presented itself with it's own challenges, to say the least. I am teaching the book of James to 32 second year students at the women's Bible Institute in Chetipalayam, Tamil Nadu, India. I reall enjoy teaching, and going through the Word with these girls, which goes to show, as my Dad put it, that " You are your father's daughter"!

Chetipalayam IS cooler than Dindigul, but only, I have concluded, because of the wind. It is very breezy, which is nice because the sweat output goes WAY down, but my room gets VERY hot at night, and that has resulted in some sleepless nights. Not good, considering that I require at least eight hours every night to maintain a healthy immune system. The effect have begun to show somewhat.

The orphans are so friendly! They are ALWAYS wanting my attention, and wanting to play. For some reason, they usually want me to sing for them. Now I love to sing, but this seems rather unusual, considering that I have never had this kind of request in the North (or anyplace else for that matter!)! Yesterday, some of the orphan girls asked me to teach their Bible Study that they have every night. The children have a very structured schedule that they must follow, and this includes one hour of secular study and one hour of Bible study every evening. I haven't really figured out what I will teach on, but I know that they will be attentive, whatever it is!

I hope this finds you well, and experiencing the rich blessings of serving our wonderful Creator!

I am sorry that I couldn't write sooner! I have been very busy with recovering from more traveling, and teaching ladies classes in the villages. After some dealy, we ( my translator, her parents, and I) arrived at their home in Dindigul. It is very nice, and I have my own room with my own phone and American bathroom!It's great, except the weather! Heat I can handle, but humidity, that's a different story! And it's very much like Africa, with the palm trees and mountains, and even lizards in the bathroom!

I have taught mostly Hindu women, teaching the very basics- about God and Christ, faith and the church. It feels like I am teaching the same thing in every village- Acts 17! It has been interesting because many times I will not know the nature of my audience until we actually get to the village. Sometimes this requires on-the-spot improvising, and being able to think on my feet! Quite a challenge at times, but I am so thankful that my parents taught me to memorize Scripture at an early age, because it has become quite useful in this work. Not only that, but I have surprised myself with how much Scripture I actually know!

The term "schedule" in India really is more definitive of the big picture rather than the details. So many things have been cancelled, moved forward/back/ times changed, etc., that I have learned to just "go with the flow". The Indians really are a laid back people; they don't rush around as the Americans do,like chickens with their heads cut off. Also, they are more family oriented. Family is a big thing, and many times the sons will stay with their fathers, even when they(the sons) have families of their own. Whatever the father does or does not do, usually the sons will follow suit. This can be a good and bad thing when teaching them the Gospel.

A typical day for me will go like this: We will leave sometime around 9-10 in the morning, go to the Bible Institute and pick up the American brother, go out to the villages and teach one maybe two classes. Coming back to the Institute at two, we eat lunch and rest until about five. Then we will head out again (it's cooler this time of day), and teach 2-3 classes. We will end between eight and nine at night, dropping brother Owens off back at the Institute, and riding 30 minutes back to Soniya's house, usually getting in around 9:30-10:00. I enjoy it, but it's exhausting! I think, though, that's that's more because of the heat, and not the teaching!

We're getting ready to head out again! More later.....