Blessed to be a Blessing....

I believe that God has given us the things He has because He has a perfect plan for us....and that plan is not to be self absorbed i.e. me me me, concerning ourselves with only our advancement and what we can get out of life, but....that plan is to be a blessing to those around us both locally and internationally.

The best part of my trip to India was...knowing we were helping families escape poverty housing and potentially making a difference in lives for generations to come.

It was hard, sweaty work carrying bricks and sand for the best part of five days...but it was soo rewarding and we were happy in our work...knowing that a difference was being made....we weren't changing the world but we were helping to change the world for families both right now and in the future.

A typical day was....wake-up at 7 am or so and shower before breakfast at 7:30 and then head off to the worksite at 8:30 where we would arrive at about 9:15 ready to start work by 9:30.
We often had a break at 11 or so for some fruit...but needed numerous water breaks throughout the day as it was warm and humid, say 26 degrees with high humidity mmmm one day I drank 4 litres of water!!!.....then a stop for lunch for an hour at 1 pm before working another 2 hours in the afternoon, unless we were going sightseeing or visiting. The bricks were pretty heavy and could be carried by one...but we mostly used two people or several in a train, we carried the bricks and sand in buckets...which we gradually wore down one by one. On occasion we were helping to lay mortar, carry windows and took turns to mix cement and sift sand.

This is us arriving from Delhi via Mumbai at Trivundam airport. The Green machine is the trusty vehicle that carried us around for the next 7 days.

Area where sand was carried to and then sifted and where cement was mixed. This lady was a neighbour and helped at the worksite every day we were there. She was a hard worker and had a lovely smile.

The foundations of the house were done before we arrived and now the site is ready for the brick laying to begin...so better get those bricks then hey!

Some progrees being made.....

More progress.......with plenty of sweat....and possibly a few tears.....

This is as far as we got to see the project due to our limited time on site...but...the building is up...

The carrying and building team....

The happy family...well they were smiling off camera!

It was a real blessing to be able to help these people and very exciting to see them realising a dream of owning their own home...one that will last for generations to come.

Farewell my black beauty.....

You served me well fair lady and I shall miss speeding along in your comfortable seats as your engine purrs its sweet melodies in my ears.

So at last my one "Nice" car has been sold.....I guess with me only being able to drive it for 3 weeks out of the past 10 months.....I have gotten used to it not being around......but there is still a wee place for it in my heart and it will always have special memories for me. I never took it on any really long road trips (mainly because most of my holidays during that time of my life were taken overseas) but the times we did zoom up to Taupo...over to the bay...down to Wellington....up to Hamilton and down to Masterton were special times with mates and will always be remembered (along with trips to Marton and out to farms with special people and life-long friends). I received my one and only speeding ticket in this car....and avoided many more...not overly proud of this but...there is something about putting ones foot down and receiving a timely response that makes one want to repeat the experience!...often...

So farwell my black beauty...may you enjoy a long...well looked after life with your new owners and may the wind always whisk through your tyres........

I believe in a better way....

Thats what Ben Harper sang last night....and I was singing along with my hands in the air...jumpin up and down.......agreeing with him.

Wow! what a concert...this guy sings with passion, urgency and an intenseness that at times is overwhelming. He has a spirituality that oozes out of his music and his songs...when he sings something....one is moved...you know he believes in what he is singing about and he makes you a believer too. Harper is all about the music...he moved with precision between songs to get ready for the next one....and when performing he gave it his all....no holding back and it was all left on the floor.

There were mostly Japanese in the intimate surrounds of Namba Hatch in Osaka.....a few Gaijin....mostly loud and obnoxious Australians. The Japanese were right into it...mostly die-hard fans by the looks and they had a good time. There was no trouble...no idiots bashing into each other...no drunken people making fools of themselves.....fans, wanting to lose themselves in the music of their musical hero. Girls next to me were crying during the slower songs and that was something new. I have to admit there has been the odd moment during a U2 show where I have felt overwhelmed and a tear or two has escaped the eye...so i guess i understand the emotion. I really enjoyed sharing my night with these people and I look forward to other concerts in Japan.

There were moments during the show when I felt I was singing in a church service....there was a spirituality there i have only experienced in church and other worship times...and I was moved!!
Harper sang about faith and the gospel and believing in a better way...i knew what I meant when I sang those words and I felt that when his eyes found mine...that we were on the same page.

The concert was well paced...never staying too long on one genre but moving between rock...acoustic and being a mix of blues and reggae inspired beats. Harper can rock out with the best and then he can draw everyone real close and intimate with just an acoustic guitar...sheer brilliance was on display and when He came right out front from behind the mic....wow! something special.....He just yelled out the words to the crowd...in passionate bursts that made one simply stare in awed disbelief at what was taking place......an amazing meeting of artist and his audience.

Standout songs were....two hands...the Gospel....Better place...Burn to shine and Burn it down.
The buildup to a rousing creascendo in the last song was "gotta experince it to believe it" stuff...the audience around me was one in spirit...and in action...jumping up and down in unison and waving fists into the air.....we belived in what Harper was singing about and we wanted to experience it. For me...that way is Gods way of loving others...thinking of others before oneself. I can't help but feel that Harper believes the same thing....music has the power to speak to people and bring about change....Harper sings about things that matter and one can only hope that his audience will grow and listen...and maybe...change.

To Seoul....

Goodbye Leah my Love.....it was so nice of her to come to the airport and wave us off!

Short flight ot South Korea....Mary, Ben and i were all excited and looking forward to our adventure.

Incheon airport is an hour and a half from Seoul so we were stayting near the airport. Sooo cool to catch-up with Joe and Kate and to chat with them over a meal. They met us at the airport which was Sugoi!!

Seoul is BIG! dusty and a wee bit grimy....but full of life and and much colour...especially in the markets. i was on a mission to get an SD card for my camera and found one on the top floor of a large department store....sorry ben...no time to shop for tee shirts...we have a plane to catch.

why India?

I have travelled to India before so why go again?

mmm good question. Well most of my travels have been by myself...pleasing myself and I have felt for a while now that I have had enough of travelling alone and just looking after No1. I went to Hong Kong Jan 2005 on a short term mission to help a charity there for 3 weeks and wanted to do something like that again. So when friends here mentioned that the Habitat for Humanity (HFH) trip they were going on to India might have space for 1 more...i jumped at the chance.
We were off to Kanyakumari in Southern India to contribute towards the cost and help build a house for a family who...if not for HFH would never be able to afford a decent house of their own.
God has blessed me with soo much and I have come to the understanding that He has done this....not so that I can sit back and soak it all up thinking oh how wonderful am I...nor has He done so for me to just be part of some exclusive christian club in some well-off neighbourhood........He has blessed me...to be a blessing to others...where I live and overseas. I want to be a part of helping to eliminate extreme poverty and whilst I know I cannot change the world....I can change the world for one person or one family!

So this is why I wanted to go back to India....but first there was a short stopover in South Korea.

India.....

India.....a place that never lets you feel comfortable. Well....if you are lounging at the pool at the Raddisson Hotel or any other first class establishment you may feel comfortable...but venture outside and......

The heat in summer is stiffling...the crowded busy streets...the constant noise from loud speakers blaring out the latest campaign promises at election time or blasting some religious music at you or from people beeeping their horns constantly....the need to watch what you eat and drink least you catch any number of nasty bugs...the hassle from people in the street just trying to make a buck...the smell of rotting garbage and spicy food mixed together with a million other smells....the lurking threat of mosquitoes...beggars holding out their hands for a few coins...
All this and more...........

There is sooo much colour...soo much to see and experience.....sooo many stories to hear and to tell....soo much diversity in food, language, religion landscape and climate.......sooo many reasons to visit such a fascinating country...

India may never let you feel comfortable but this is the very reason that makes it such an exciting destination.....and where I went for 10 days this past April.

Ross's Birthday...

Ross is a dude....well part of Dudesquad anyway....but....actually a Dude regardless. He has singlehandedly sorted out two weekends away at the famous Okayama Villas both of which have proven to be good times away with friends.

This time around we were off to a villa not too far from the sea in a place...of which the name escapes me (well at least i rhyme?).

Bit of a train ride to get there...but whats a wee bit of adventure hey? mmm was slightly concerned when the taxi driver didn't know where he was though???

Wow! this place is Big...like a Hostel....I have my own room...cool!

Leah...my Love...you are a star! and the Brownie we had for supper was yummie scrummy.

The next day was rainy...and there wasn't too much to see. We spent the morning mucking about in the Town hall signing forms...what about...i have No idea??? but the games with the girls were fun.

We had ice cream and wandered about....Leah and i bought groceries....mmm as did others...we had plenty of milk at least!

Leah and the girls provided a tasty dinner and we watched Mrs doubtfire till way past my bedtime! Oh not to mention my victory in the indoor tennis championships!!!

Sunday was oh so lovely, fine and even warm! Mary, Leah and i stumbled across some courts and got some good hits in before it was time to say goodbye and jump on a bus and a train.

Happy birthday Rossco and ta for the Easter Eggs Leah.

p.s. Place name and photo`s to follow.