Jack and about 60 Priesthood holders from the 4 Bangalore Branches were involved in a large humanitarian aid project for flood victims in the middle of the country. There was a lot of monsoon rain, which was more than a dam was able to hold, the government had to let out the excess water or lose the dam. The people were warned to evacuate (stories vary on how much time they were given), the villages downstream were destroyed by water. The water level reach the roof of schools and churches. Most homes were made of mud so they just dissolved. The branches here prepared 900 sacks of food (rice, wheat, oil, etc. hygiene kits, blankets, buckets, etc). It was was hauled on a huge truck and a van of members went ahead of the buses of members to set up the distribution lines. They went from home to home and gave a ticket to each household, without the ticket you could not receive the aid. They also whitewashed a small Methodist church, gave some of the food supplies to an orphanage where the children cried because they had been eating spoilt food for a month and a half. So now you know where some of your humanitarian funds have gone :) and it was a huge project and a village of 700 people received enough to keep them going for a week.
this activity also was a "first" for the members in India. They do small 1/2 day projects in their area but this was a large scale, massive planning, involving the priesthood. This will be a major way for the future leaders to learn and grow in helping themselves and their people. I think 20-30 years from now, they will look back on this as a turning point in learning self-reliance, etc.

This young man is Rakesh Prasad. He is wearing the traditional men's wear for a wedding. He is Shilpa's brother.

Shilpa Prasad (my twin). We bought my sari from her Mother's store. She was soo excited that i had chosen the same material - she wanted us to dress alike for the wedding-notice that the saris are wrapped different in front. You purchase a BIG piece of fabric. The blouse material is attached to the end of the fabric. The "taylor" then makes the blouse to fit (she was perplexed that i insisted that my blouse go all the way down to my waist--a true sari has just a short blouse-you are suppose to show your waist!)

This is David Micheal (he was baptized while we were here--his daughter Rita and family--they also have been baptized. Jennifer was first, then Mom and brother. We now home teach this family and giving the new member discussions. Peter is the Dad (he was not attending the reception).

Bride and Groom coming into reception-over hour late!!-per custom. She is now wearing all her gold (dowry) and a wedding sari.

Us at the wedding--I'm wearing a sari!

Us at the wedding--I'm wearing a sari!

They are placing garlands around each other's neck--this is part of the "government" wedding ceremony. It is done after the church ceremony. He ties a gold medallion attached to many gold threads around her neck - instead of a wedding band.

Here Violet is coming into the chapel for her wedding. That is her Mother walking beside her. We could take pictures because the chapel is also dedicated as a cultural hall. Violet is a PEF student who finished her schooling in nursing. This couple will now be part Branch 2 Bangalore.

Branch 2: 3 couples who have been sealed in the temple-and all three married for love (not the traditional arranged marriages). Srilatha & Jayaraj Sarita & Pinto Sonia and Bobbie
This is Pinto and Sarita's 1st wedding anniversay-they are leaving to go to the Hong Kong temple on Sunday night-so they can be sealed on tuesday. We taught them the temple prep lessons. All 3 couples have been married 1 year or less. We attended Srilatha & Jayaraj wedding reception.

Mysore Palace in background

E/S Asplund and our elders, Indian and American--Elder Satyadi, Elder Bartlett, Elder Turla

Our branch 2 elders getting ready to leave on the day's outing

Went with the 12 Elders who serve in the 4 Bangalore branches to Mysore for a day or being tourists

Children performing a dance before recieving their hygiene kits

Children greeting us as we came to deliver the kits

a small band led the way through the two rows of children. They first presented us with leis.

Visiting with the children who live in the orphanage. The sister (Nun) in blue took my hand earlier and led me into her home where she and two other sisters prepared a full meal for us.

The typical home for the nomads

the tiny birds they catch and sell to make their living. The government gave the nomads 100 acres of land and told them to stay there and no longer can they roam through the farm land

School children performing dance before receiving their hygiene kits put together by Bangalore District Mutual Young Men and Young Women
The school children lined up to greet us. A small band plays and leads us through the lines of children. We had leis placed around our necks.

Along the roadside towards the village the people are harvesting Ragi--it is a protein food, much like wheat-eaten every day. Main staple food for the villagers. They place the dried plants on the road. Hope enough cars run over the plants to loosen and harvest the ragi seed. It is small and black, just larger than a mustard seed

Semmadu's primary--the Branch President is the gentleman right under the picture of Christ.

Church at Semmadu

Relief Society in Semmadu, India.

Joseph Raju and family: Sister Raju is R.S. President. Joseph was India's first Indian missionary -they have a son serving in India on a mission now.

The couple under the umbrella is India's oldest members of the church in India!!!--and yes, they are husband and wife. This tiny branch has had many General Authorities visit. The primary children came to church 1/2 hour early. They sat with their arms folded in the Chapel for the 1/2 hour and were very reverant. Sister Eichelberger played the keyboard for Sac. Mtg, and the Branch President asked her to bear her testimony and he translated in Tamil.

Baptisms

Maria Sumathi Kristy was baptized by her husband Emmanual Kristy. We were able to help the Elders teach the discussions to Sister Sumathi. She dressed in her very best sari and jewelry for her baptism. The Kristy's were married right after we came to Bangalore. They attended our Family Relations Class and then we were asked to help teach her the discussions.

This is the Baptism of Mark- 16 year and his Mother Maria, Dad-Harry was not baptized that day but he has had the discussions and gave his permission for the baptism of his Wife and Son. The Elders are Garcia and Singh; both elders are from US but Elder Singh is Indian. His grandparents came from India. These are two of the Elders that came to our home on Sundays for lunch. Elder Singh is a Zone leader. We helped teach a couple of the discussions to Mark and Maria. Mark gave his first sacrament meeting talk with a member of the Area Presidency visiting! Maria is taking english lessons from the missionaries and keyboarding from us.