This is Chris' Birthday. Our landlady, Mrs. Pande brings us flowers for Chris' birthday...even though Chris, Nicole and Esther are in Lucknow, a 6-hour train ride away!
Janis paints a border and trim in the staircase of our flat; Chuck works on his painting of St. Francis & the Sultan for Chris' website, Negashi.
We take a walk over to the "J" Block Market to pick up a few more household items from one of our favorite storekeepers.
Sunday (10/14)
Even though we had planned to attend Delhi Bible Fellowship this morning, Janis is not feeling well, so she sleeps, Chuck works on the St. Francis & the Sultan painting.
After lunch, Ankit drops by. Ankit is a young man Janis met at a local coffee shop while studying Hindi. He's been staying in touch through some transitions he gone through and visits us occasionally. He is now in training for a position in reception at Max Med Hospital.
At 4:00 pm we leave for evening worship at Kingdom International (KI), which meets at 4:30 in the same building in Nizamuddin where Chuck's office is and Janis' language classes are. This is a very young congregation and reminds us a lot of Mosaic in Pasadena. They've asked Chuck to bring a devotional on Tuesday morning to the full time (11) and student (8) staff of KI's parent organization, Touch India Trust.
Monday (10/15)
Chuck has an early morning meeting at Metro Delhi International School (MDIS) in Greater Noida. He's supposed to catch 1 of the 2 buses that picks up students and staff in Delhi. At 7:05 am, our autorickshaw driver, who was supposed to pick him up at 7:00 am to go to the bus stop, calls to say he can't make it today - "Ghari (Hindi for, "vehicle") trouble." Chuck has trouble finding another auto- but finally gets one. The only problem is when they arrive at the destination, the driver insists on 2-3 times the reasonable price!
The meeting concludes about 12:30 pm, and Chuck catches a ride back into Delhi with one of the others who attended the meeting and returns to the EWEF office where he works until about 5:00 pm.
Janis usually teaches art from 4:00-5:00 pm to Vivan, our landlady's 5-year old grandson, but he is out of town this week with his family.
Janis meets from 5:00-6:30 pm with Divya, an art student here in Delhi who shares many of Janis' interests in the role of art in a culture.
Tuesday (10/16)
Janis has Hindi Conversation from 8:00-9:00 am, then Hindi Class from 9:00-10:30 am. She returns to our flat to study Hindi and art.
Chuck brings the devotional to the KI staff from 9:30-10:30 am. He returns to the EWEF office after the devotional. Usually he has Hindi Conversation from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm and Hindi Tutoring from 12:00-12:55 pm.
Janis meets with Mrs Pande for informal Hindi tutoring in the evening. The original arrangement was 7:00-8:00 pm, but is now stretching from 7:00-9:15 pm! [Mrs. Pande refers to Janis as her friend. On the days when they don't do tutoring, she usually comes up for an hour or two for unannounced visits.]
Wednesday (10/17)
Chuck usually leaves every morning for the office at 7:15 am, but today is another exception. He's scheduled to arrive at 8:00 am for an all-day physical as a pre-requisite for the In Patient Medical Coverage we're applying for. This is the same physical that was postponed earlier due to the illness that led to hospitalization [notice the irony of the timing!].
Janis has Hindi Conversation from 8:00-9:00 am, and Hindi Class from 9:00-10:30 am; art lessons with Kritika, Mrs. Pande's granddaughter, from 4:00-5:00 pm; and informal Hindi tutoring with Mrs. Pande from 7:00 to whenever!
Thursday (10/18)
Janis & Chuck travel together to EWEF/EWLI offices where Janis has Hindi Conversation and Class from 8:00-10:30 am.
Chuck gives the devotional at the weekly EWLI Staff meeting at 10:30. Staff meeting lasts until noon.
Janis meets with Mrs Pande again tonight.
Friday (10/19)
Janis stays home today to catch up on Hindi study, art study, and any household errands that have piled up during the week.
Chuck goes into the office at the usual time. He is scheduled for Hindi Conversation from 10:30-noon, and Hindi Tutoring from noon - 12:55 pm. Today he is also supposed to meet with the Finance Subcommittee from MDIS at one of the member's flats who is a block away from the EWEF offices. The time for this meeting is still pending, though it is a very important meeting!
Hopefully, that about wraps up a week in our lives. Can't say it's usual, because there doesn't seem to be anything "usual" about our time here in Delhi - there always seems to be a surprise lurking in the wings somewhere!
