Life experiences

Riley walked to church

2011-06-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

a week earlier (he loves sugar fruit and just finished one)

walking out of the room to go to church

after church

On Sunday, Riley and I got dressed to go to church. He wore his futua and his stockman and was already outside waiting for me. He acts so big, behaves like the grown up kids. He is yet to form words, letters that he can sound are putting togther to make words such as mama, and meme (goat) and daddy, bye,and ba (bus). He understands what I say and follows immediately either in obedient or not. He's been trying to hit me on the face when he is not happy about something and I have flipped his fingers and that has stopped him now but may be he will continue again, who knows.

He is one kid that wokes up quite awake. This morning I woke and walked out of the room to go to the rest room. He was fast asleep, and as soon as I closed the door of the room, I heard him asying mama...I just stopped thinking that he'll go back to bad. Nope, he walked out and tried to open the door. When I helped opened the door he smiled and said nana (his breakfast). oh, nana is his nannys' native language meaning food

Above are some pics i took on sunday (05/06/11). he is now 1 year 5 months 13 days old.

Rileys Pics

2011-01-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

The four pics were taken 16th of Jan 2011, 1 & 2.5 wks old.

after a long swim he was really hungry n gave him riped plaintain. (1 yr & 1wk old)

a day before is birthday..he loves his car!(25th Dec.2010)

a week after his birthday...(saturday)

Boxing Day

2010-12-21T21:34:00.000-08:00

The Boxing day is very special to me this days because of my son's birthday. He was borned on the 26th of December 2009 and he will turn one the coming Sunday. I know I havent posted any pics of him lately and I apologise...I dont have a camera right now. So Ill just give few words of whats been observed. He started to slide down of the bed by himself when he was only crawling. He then goes to the window and starts to scream at his mate who is three years old. The three year old than walks to the window side to reponds to him and its so funny watching him get so excited and puts him both feet to climb the glass. Of course I go for his rescue. Then about two weeks ago he started to walk...kind of...took few steps and then falls. Just yesterday he was walking smoothly on the lawn and I sat and watched him while he was having fun with the other kids. All of these to say that he is growing faster than I expected. Very soon two of us will hand in hand walking together, doing shopping. marketing..etc. So everyone Ill put some pics if I find a camera...much Love and please celebrate safe this festive season. Wishing you all A Very Merry Christmas and Prosphorous New Year 2011!

Reflection

2010-11-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

Today I sat back and remembered what had happened so far. I left Bangladesh with pain in my heart because of this huge guilt...I was frustrated with myself but I knew that I wasnt in the position to undo what was done so I came. Just after few months to be specific I got here may 28/05/2009 and my dad passed away september 14th 2009. Its 1 year and a month and other two died in my family...when you talk about family relationships...it goes all the way to the roots so to say that, there has been other deads in connected relative but very close just this year....about 2. I know that we are living in two worlds (christain and the demonic worlds), my leaving, I thought was that tragic but than I realised that, I would live and work in a more painful life if I wasnt present in person with my family during these time of deads. It was for the better, although dying of these people not fair as many would say....the all knowing God knew that and brought me here and there are things that I need to contribute to the family. Everything happens for a reason and I belief in that. I am looking forward for next year what it will bring is in the hands of the Lord All Mighty.

Peace to you all!

(By the way this year has been a year of dead...I dont know if you have heard or seen about so many dying...my country has had alot of dying this year alone).

Two Deads in the Family

2010-11-01T22:22:00.000-07:00

On the 24th of October 2010, was my second eldest brother's barial. After one day of rest, my elderest brother's daughter passed away, both from illnesses. It was such a tragic.... The cost of the casket for both, food for the mourners...it is quiet an expense, but the pain of loosing them is such that, I thought I will not make. But its a week now and I am couping. My family is right now going through alot of emotional pain....every time I reach home, just getting into the trand of being so tired...this is what I am experiencing. please think of me and my family in your prayers.

Thank you

7 months old Riley

2010-08-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

Betty with Riley. Jerry with Riley.

Nayamo with Riley. The 3 of us.

Baby sitter and Riley. Me and Riley.

These photos were taken on the same day...the baby sitter, me and riley are infront of the lab...the other pics are taken at the dept. conference room... The pics were taken about three weeks ago.

Five months old Riley

2010-05-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hi and 26th of May is Riley's 5th month of suriving externally on the planet earth. He is such a blessing!!At five months he can sit and doing all the turn overs...In the mornings I get up late and he is fully awake and when I looked at him, he gives this warm wide smile that makes my day!...

Riley is Growing!

2010-05-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

Riley smilling to the camera

Riley's baby sitter

So, Riley is four months, 2weeks and five days old from today. He is weighing aroung 7-8kilo. He smile to everyone that he knows. If he doesnt know that person, he starts to inspect from the person's toes and upward later. Thats kind of funny but he does that to most of his strangers. He Yesterday he did a full turn over, It is fun watching him grow....it like I just held a fregile and its gone...so soon. found he strength and kicking and talking(in his strange language), and smiling. So to say that he is growing so fast...
Thats all and put some pics later...

General happenings

2010-03-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

So I ve been beaten by a dog and down with typhoid. Grrh the dog bite me and walked away that easily. If only I had something in my hand, the dog would have died there. I am fine and well today...although I am elaggic to the drugs i am on. I have been busy all these two months. Having a baby is a bundle of joy as well and hurdle. I am not complaining...I love my baby, its that extra responsibility has added to me.

Anywhere, we had a long staff meeting today and now I am happy that we are done....but had pizza for lunch which is not normal here so yea!! for that. Other than that my past work have been so great too. I have done some DNA extraction using the machines that are here in the lab...which makes me a little pro...more to learn though. The DNA extraction was for pigs and chickens within the country. The samples were send to Australia so we'll see the results when we get the samples back. This is to count for the diversity of the gene pool in the country.

Too much have been said so Ill leave it here but Ill catch up with you later....Blessings!

Down with Typhoid

2010-03-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

A week ago, I felt really sick and I thought It was malaria. The symptoms were just like malaria's. I went to the hospital and the nurses thought it was also malaria and I was on malarai drugs for a whole week. Just then I thought the sickness was going to over, but never did so went back to the clinic and went throught whole blood count and found out that all these days of sickness was typhoid. Now that I found out I felt better but than the medication or the drug that I am on is legick to my body. My body is so itchy and I just couldnt get it of my hand. Now they gave me the other drug to control the itchy part but its more of a sleeping drug and I am soon going to go to bed...thats so sad. I feel like my body is full of drugs. What can I do, I just have to go along with it...because typhoid is really bad. I got this sickness from the cramped up little room that I am stay and sharing toilet and bathroom with everyone...which is sad at the same time....oh well, I'll let you know of my progress later. baby is doing just fine except the mom...thats all for today...Peace!

A Boy

2010-02-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

few weeks old one month and two weeks old

So on the 25th of December at 10:30pm I went to the hospital for. The baby was borned on the 26th at 9:55am the next morning. Well now he is one month and 3 weeks old. He smiles at me and hears peoples' voice and reacts to them. I would like to thank those of you who prayed for both of us. Special thank you to Merideth...ur special and your in our hearts and of course your his aunt. Mer we got the package two days ago, they great! I (we) love them. The little boy has a baby sitter and she is just wonderful to the little boy. oh, she just started this week and I have been visiting them on my lunch breaks. Also, the school gave me a small room to stay, and for now we are happy about that. I am back to work and its starting to get busy now that the students are here. I will put some pic of the little one later. Love and blessings,

Mind's Battle

2009-11-09T18:02:00.000-08:00

Its the mind!
Travels way faster then the speeding bullet, discovers the wonders that you would never do it in reality. Its the mind that makes you sad, happy, causes troublesome, brings fantasy right to your door step. Oh mind, words can not describe you to your full potential of what capacity you can destroy a man and mend a broken person. Most of the time I think only with my mind, not involving the heart, thats when I feel like I can travel for ever and experience the unseen things of the world. I am in my fantasy world, but when I am back from that world, its a pain.. then comes the questions with the conditional word "IF" only I've done that, or these. Trying to bring me back to my self yet I dont have the power to do so sometimes so I continue to fantasy. Mind can finish a book within few minutes and yet in reality I can only finish a page or two...oh MIND!!

My New Job

2009-10-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

I am doing tissue culturing. Infront of the pathology section with my friends.

I have started working in a biotechnology lab as a scientific officer. The name sounds so complex...but what I am doing is not that complicated. What I have been basically involved for the past few weeks is doing media preparation for plant tissue culture either for regeneration or for multiplication. This is basically puttting together nutrients (both macro and micro) plus hormones for growth, root and shoot formations. This are then put together with agar which is a sea weed that holds the nutrients togther. This is then poured into small vials and put them in for use. Another thing I do is the plants that are kept in the incubation root, are brought out for regeneration. This is basically maintaining the germplasm collection so that the plants species there are kept alive and are not lost.

Thats what I am doing so far...hopefully I will come up with a proposal to work on something of my own.
Thanks for reading

2009-10-16T21:50:00.001-07:00

Respect!
I thought that by now my elder brother should respect me yet not. I am so tired of living my old life again.Trying to make him like me and respect me. In the name of peace, I am growing tired of this and anger is grwing inside of me which I need to deal with. I have never, asked anything of him and I dont know what he wants to see that would make him respect me. Maybe he is just up to him self that he has no care at all for others. Today I am so frustrated just dont want to see his face. I see why my other brothers and sister never come close to him. I need to get out of his side....Lord please help me to come to a good decision that will not hurt the other.

Grrrh!!!!

New Working Area

2009-10-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

Well its been a month now I am working as a scientific officer. here are some pics of me, friends and the lab. I work doing tissue culture. Most work that I was involved for the past few weeks are doing taro regeneration tissue culture, potato media preperation, sweet potato media preparation. Currently I still dont know what I am doing yet...my job description has not been given out yet. So I should say I must have a patience. I am still looking for a house to leave in but other than that I am still trying to catch up with this slow phase which is irritating sometimes.

Thats whats happening right now but I will put out what the outcome of my next visit to the doctor next week.

Blessings!

7 months pregnancy

2009-09-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hellow all,
On the month of April I found out that I was pregnant and so I had to leave. I know I didnt tell everyone that I know before leaving because I just thought I wasnt ready to let everyone. But I know that such news leaks out or it break its way out so I know that by now most of you know the reason I left. Those of you still dont know, well this is the reason. I apology for not letting you all know, I hope that youll forgive me.

Well, not that I am growing big and heavy now. By the way I am 29 weeks into my pregnancy and that is about 7 months. The baby is kicking and making lots of move inside me while I am writing right now. I just met with the doctor and went through the scaning and I have mentioned to me that its a she. We could exactly tell whether thats a she or a he. Anywhere, I am not sad, I know that the life is growing in me and I am looking for ward for it to come out and see the light. I still have few months (2 months and few weeks) before delivery. I will try my best to put out some pics of me later.

29 weeks (7 months) old..in my room
I thank those of you who are praying for me....God is great and I am still connected to him.

Peace!

Word of Apology and Appreciation

2009-09-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, its been so long and I havent been upto date with my blog. I am just happy that now I have an internet excess and I get to write down whats happening in my life as time goes by. But for this I have to recap the past happenings and try as much as possible to put down the brief details of the past three and a half months.

I left Bangladesh on the 27th of May 2009. Before leaving Bangladesh, I had only one week to say good bye to my friends there. My apology to most of my friends that I didnt visit due to time limitation. Those that I manage to visit, I know I didnt give much time to them so I also apologise to them too. I am so thankful that I get to work and hangout with very great people, and I appreciate you wonderful encouragements. Anywhere, I left with sadness but I will not regret the decision that I made to leave, it was a good course for me. I will let you know why in my next blog.

Leaving Bangladesh

2009-05-18T01:29:00.000-07:00

Well, today is 18th of May and Iam leaving Bangladesh on the 27th of May. This is so soon to leave; I haven't completed my three year commitment, but I must go..soon..soon the better. MCC is working on my flight fare and I am right now packing and finishing up things before I live. I did not think this would be me..but it happened and I have to leave. O well, I have to think about the positive sides here, though I feel lost and lonely but I know one day that there ll be an opened arm saying, come my child I don't care about your wrongs you've done, no longer I remember, no more...will that be so amazing to hear? Well, I just called my guardian's and said do come home....i am going home with burden, but I will right now let future take care of itself and I will face it as it comes...I thank those of you have been praying for me, and reading this blog...I know I don't post things often but you have kept with me. May God's grace increase in you lives. I have a life that is springing in me and I cant wait for that...though I know I am not ready for it...but I know that we'll manage.

God's love and peace to you all.

Lena

Easter weekend

2009-04-20T04:36:00.000-07:00

My easter's journey started in Dhaka, Mohakhali mymensingh bus stand. We got there at the Bus stand where, workers of different bus companies coming over to us (me and Gloria) asking us to buy their bus tickets. But decided that we would get a bus that a friend had told me to get. Once we got to the bus stand, there was already a long line awaiting for us, and to say that it was almost 115 degrees of so, and such a high humidity I had no patience to wait. We walked pass the line and there came this guy, walked to us and told us the seat numbers and get in the bus. We got in and paid him later for the seats. Amazingly it worked for me, I didnt want to stand in that long line so...nothing to loss although I felt little of those feelings u have when things like that happens.

Anywhere, we reached mymensingh, just than I realised that I had never been to that bus station. I made so random calls for help but no one was their to pick there phones. So the first name that came to me was bridge and I mentioned that and the rickshawlar said he knows the place. He said he would take us for 25 taka, which later I realised that wasnt far from the bus stand, anywhere, I gave what was agreed. Anywhere got there and found a bus that was just leaving. Got in the bus, but this is much more smaller so everthing were all squashed in and left. Just to say that it was an hour bus ride..and I manged through.
Got off at 25 miles and took a van ride which was rough but still I could feel the cool breeze as the van passed through the shadows of the trees. Reached Pirgach at 5 ish and had our meal. That night I get to wear shari and went to mess and it was fun with all the candle lights. After that got back, at around 11pm everyone went to their rooms or their homes, and everything was quite, and I was just lying down on the chair that was placed in the center and counted the stars , the moon in the clear sky and felt the cool breeze as it brushed through. Just being out in the open, felt amazing, you just want to forget about everything..I went back to bed at 12pm...The families were great, they hosted us very well.
After the second day we left for our different areas. Me and Gloria came to mymensingh and the two Bogra guys came back to Bogra.

All in all it was great for me.

sheared sheep wool

2009-04-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

MCC reap Bangladesh involves with mostly agricultural activities in which you all know that I am mostly involved with. One of the major areas that we have been working with is called the Monga Project. Part of this project buys live animals and distribute them to farmers that have less marginal land. We have provided about more than 1300 sheep in that area. Its been almost two to three years now and Iam working on setting up a wool co-op for them. And this last week I have been involved with shearing the wool. This first sample will be used for washing, weighing and using them for finding buyers. Right now the wool quality is not know yet and so, I will post later about the wool quality. Just within half day I finished 10 sheep shearing their wool...I amso amazing by myself that I can use a clipper and shear 10 half a day. Anywhere, I am starting to look for buyers now...whether it may be a international buyer or local buyer. Once I find and settle with the agreements than I will continue with the rest of the wool shearing but this will not be done by me, itll be done by the farmers/rather a selected farmer that will be specialised doing that later. Hope all will go well as I look for buyers. The pics will be posted later.

A wanderer, a traveller, a sojourner

2009-04-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

I am a wanderer, a traveller a sojourner! Since i came to bangladesh I realised that I travelled alot. My comfort I find is with my MP3 player as I am stared down..I have set this invisiable walls that I see nothing and hear nothing and the only thing is my music. I rested my head on the local buses several times and awake by the thunderous sounds of the bus honks. I have make.created my resistance to the problem of staring, nothing more to say rather a boundary of silence. Local bus is now my place for thinking and the guest house is my resting place. Road side hotels are my dinner table or break fast table..every conductor is my friendly tour guide.

Books have been my friend and MP3 has been my listening versel. What can I say, this world is not my home and I know that I am just passing through.. its a song and it has become my reality. So, here I go...a traveller, a sojourner, a wonderer!

Cant wait for the best stored for me!!

Peace,

Jesus I believe

2009-03-20T00:33:00.000-07:00

So this is a song that always touches my heart every time I come to God. I'd like to share this with you all.

Song

Like a ship on trouble water many sail alone. Mothers' weap for sons and daughters pray that they come home. Soon it will be harvest time and all the storms will pass. Oh what joy Ill find when I see you at last. O o o, you are my resting place along the narrow highway. You are my bridge across the open sea. You are my saviour and my passage way to heaven. Oh Jesus I believe in you, o o Jesus I believe.

Father you have seen my struggles, you have known my fear. Though the world laughs me, says I am just a fool, I will bow my knees and worship only you. Ooo, you are resting place along the narrow highway. You are my bridge across the open sea. You are my saviour and my passage way to heaven. Oh Jesus I believe in you, oooo Jesus, I believe.

Bridge:

I believe that youre the answer to lives questions. Lord help me keep my heart in the right direction...ooo. You are my resting place along the narrow highway, you are my bridge across the open sea..you are my saviour and my passage way to heaven..ooh Jesus I believe in you..oooh Jesus, I believe.

The Retreat

2009-02-27T02:07:00.000-08:00

So...we had our expetriate country retreat a week ago. It was very nice to be out of very plain areas to at least sort of mountain country side. Its a different kind of of setting apart from the very plain but green bangladesh that I am used to now. The people living there are totally different and of course there is rainforest, which we went for a walk. Seeing monkeys and drinking seven layers of different coloured tea twices, is something to remember. Then having our group devotional/sharing time together was very helpful. I should say that most of my lives living is on denial, but this doesnt make me a bad person.. rather finding the common ground to share is very much needed. I should say that when sharing with one another on common ground really helps thus relieving our exhausted mind partially or completely. While I am still in the Grace period, I have to learned how to serve whole heartly. This was the word of the Lord came to me during the retreat.

So, the retreat was fun, walking through the woods and smelling the dead leaves was the highlight for me. Then of course sharing, playing games, just hanging out with the group and drinking seven layers of colored tea.

Rabbits kidding

2009-02-13T00:51:00.000-08:00

The Rabbits
Its been five months and three weeks when the rabbits have started kidding. My specific job title was/is livestock researcher, and was told to work with rabbits and pigs since they are the major issue with the tribal areas which MCC is mostly working with. But has decided that rabbit could be introduced to the muslim community and I have been working with the rabbits to solve or find the cause of not being pregnant or not kidding. I have bought twenty eight rabbits twenty are female and eight are male. Since I bought them at the early age, some of them were sexed wrong. This is because, a month ago, I found out that one of the males is female which reduce the number of males down to seven. As some you remember that I have mentioned about the housing designed that I was working on. Well the results collected, I am still working on it but I am writing this to share the good news that one of my housing design is great or highly significant. This is because most of the females that gave birth are from one of the housing design. I have one mother with four kits that I am right now taking care of these will be used for breeding purpose. As I was coming to closure of this research, I have selected farmers to take the rabbits that are not going to be used for breeding. I am so happy that most of the rabbits have been taken by the settled families and starting to build the recommend housing to raise the rabbits . So far thing are getting better.. and hope that the muslim community with start to eat the rabbit meat. Or and these rabbits that are given, are to the muslim community.

Thanks for reading and God's blessings everyone.

Pig house construction

2009-01-25T04:35:00.000-08:00

The Prolonged Project, 16 pens are under construction using tools that are avaialble there.

The flooring was about to finish, i hope you can see the slope from this pic...its a 3 degree angle slope.

The prolonged project has started. I actually went and did the ground breaking which wasnt part of the plan and I was surprised too. So they asked me to start laying one block and then the mixed cement. Well I am feeling good now that it started. It will take at least two months to complete and start with the data collection after that. Here are some pics that I got.

Materials/tools used here are used everywhere in Bangladesh...there is no big took for big constructions, its all the same, big or small, same kind of tools are used. These tools are very simple are very interesting yet the error made is not much significant. here are the tools used.

a wheel barrow weighs about 40kg: water level, very interesting tools

carrying @ least 200 block: man carrying sand

First Visit 2009/Shukurer Ghor

2009-01-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

Yeee. my first out visit for the year 2009 started Saturday the 10th January. This is suppose to be weekend but anywheres who cares, I went anywhere. Started my journey as usual, meaning last years travelling..local bus with lots of people...hoping that people will not sit on your lap. made it savely and started my next project for this year which is pig house. Before that while sitting in the bus I saw lushy wheat grasses coming up, and then yellow heads of mustered plants scattered in one area to the other. Its nice to see some fields are as bright as the sun as it seems like as your passing through the field like youre in a roller coaster and others are brown as the dust. Some parts of the area have just harvested rice and left untouched, and I saw goats, sheep and cattles on it, but to tell you the truth nothing is there and I was wondering why there were lots of animals there till it clicked in my head that they are eating the fallen rice grains. Back to my pig house construction, its been on for three days now and its looking good. Have set the foundation for the partions and then the flooring and flooring comes Ill need to be. while the housing is going fine I found out today that people who bought/brought the piglets in the mission had brought lots of male which we didnt need. I am frustrated about it but I still have the time to sale them or exchange for female as these words I am tell myself so to calm my self down. How can you work with people who says yes when you ask them the question you understood and thendont down what you told them to do. Anywheres, other then that we have started fine and hope to have my piglets move into their new home not only their new home but to their individual rooms.

Christmas & New Year

2009-01-08T00:03:00.000-08:00

So I got back from Kolkota. I should say that the month of December worked on my favour. After that vacation, the 23rd was another long trip for me but than I wasnt alone. Before leaving I had this wonderful treats of christmas cookies from Marita, Marita, thank you so much. We (coworkers) left around 11pm for Bandarban. The night bus ride doesnt work for me. The whole night I didnt get a good sleep, the reason is because the AC in the bus was turned on eventhough it is freaken winter, cold. We got there save and had our break fast. It was way to fun, we took a canoe ride and sang christmas songs, and swam with my orna, I am not proud of what I did but this to say that it is a different world there, where no one was staring, and under good music we had a dinner in Joyce's (Bengali coworker) home. The 25th we attanded a mass and took our bus ride to Cox Bazar, this is one of the natural long sandy beach here in Bangladesh. We reached the place in the afternoon, and celebrated christmas there on the beach, stayed there till 8:30pm and went to our motel. The next morning was our next island visit and the bus picked us up and another bus ride, may be for an hour, but worth it.... alot of bus rides though. Anywhere we got there on time for lunch and got our room but a bed for each. Played, laughed, swam, boat rides, night sky watch, had quite time...all in all I enjoyed everything....

The New year was fun also, I got back with 6 piglets from Dhaka to Birampur, and bunch of my other bedeshi friends were coming the next day before the new year. We had our little dance party while waited for the year new...Yep there go now you know what I did..thanks for reading and for all your wonderful prayers.....n looking forward what ever this year will bring!!!

KolKota

2008-12-12T04:24:00.000-08:00

I took a night long bus ride out I came to Kolkota, a place we hear a lot about. I pass through the long lines of check in and check out, changing bus at the border. I am able to move around the Kolkota on my own, I am able to speak the written bangla very well hear, Iam understood well hear, and Iam able to move free here. I went shopping on my own, not being asked a single question. Iam so happy that I came and that I am renewed too. I am not say that the poverty here in not worse than Bangladesh, but there is a greater difference here. They mind they own business (the beggars)...this is something I didnt see in Bangladesh. I have visited several places and its so amazing to see great pillars that hold houses that were build some hundred years ago...Its amazing. I will put out the pics later. It is a city of buzzling with noises and I should say that you will hear it all through out the day and night. But there is no chaos about it. I am ready to leave tomorrow for Bangladesh and hoping that I will come back again. I saw a baby with another baby lying down right beside the dump, the very little one was crying, screaming its head off, no one could hear her, it was bright day light...and as I continue mt walk I was thinking the mom must be out there some where looking for food....I lots of stuff but I cant share them.. its just too much...So Ill leave it here and put the pictures out later.

Eid 9th and 10th

2008-12-08T04:11:00.000-08:00

So Tomorrow is Eid day. I am running away from the killings/sacrifice. I know I should stay for my first Eid celebration of witnessing the slaughter but I have to go because I just needed to get out of here for a while. So preparation for Eid started three days ago when bucks and bulls on the road. Every street I passed, men with one to three of the mentioned animals walking not giving you way if you are driving so you have to honked from far to warned them of your coming.

So, last night I traveled from Bogra to Dhaka and it took 7 hours...it was one of the longest bus ride ever from Bogra to Dhaka. This is totally because of Eid, there is no other explanation what so ever for the lateness. So today I walked around little and have seen bucks, bucks, bucks and bulls, bulls, bulls...here, there is no restriction of animal in a city, so it just looked like the farm except that the places are surrounded by tall buildings. So most of these animals will give their lives away for the name of Eid.. which I will not see it. Sorry to say but not pics because my camera battery is weak or rather I need to buy new batteries. So the sacrifice will take place only when the Imams will announce the sacrifice only when the lunar cycle is confirm right that is why also two dates picked, because don't know when will it happen. However, the celebration continues for at least threes.

Litte Accident

2008-12-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

Well, I have not told some of you that I had an accident last week. I am totally fine and traveling to Kolkota. Anywhere the reason I am sharing this which I didnt want to sharing is because, this accident had opened my eyes. First of all, women are not threatened but having false statu statements about them being well respected when they are at home or not riding a motorcycle or are they that poor to be out on the streets riding motorcycle which they were told. So back to my accident that occured a week a go. It wasnt my fault, but I was left alone on the road. The road was quite frankly full of men no one came for my help. So I got up and lift my motorcycle and started it. How amazing ha...I was happy that I was ok, and that I was able to ride it back. But this made me raise questions like what would have happened, if it was a serious accident? would that make the men to come for help. I mean...I dont really know. So I went back to the office and asked my boss about what had happened and he sad that in this culture men are not allowed to touch a woman. So thats so scacry dont you think. I am right now seeing what the women here are seeing. First I thought, they just have to come out of it, but no, not when its a physical and mental fight the women have to put up with, it takes energy, time, money and support. Two weeks ago, the whole MCC Bangladesh had a training on gender issues and talked about nurturing the women. Really how can we do that? This is my question now. After that I have talk with a particular lady, about how she is handling this struggle. She mentioned that we women who are out there are strong ladies. There are things that we have done which most women here have not done, and we want to do more but we can only do if only our bosses, male co-workers and our husbands (families) are with us helping develop more. So I mentioned that they (ladies) have to be mentally prepared and that also they are competing with the male opponents in terms of crimbing the position, so they have to be ready for that. So now is my question left unanswered and that is how can we nurture the ladies. To be mentally strong to withstand the culture and with the competition with the hierachy position especially with the men.

Two hours van ride

2008-11-12T04:32:00.000-08:00

Two hours van ride

Two hours van ride I go. Left Dhanjuri Catholic Mission at one pm. came out I at the gate and waited the van. A brown copper bag was laid just for me. I appreciated after ten minutes ride. So I asked the Van driver, does he knows the road to my next stop which is Khalipur and responded with a head shack as a yes. So I went and sat as comfortable as I could till after ten minutes of ride, I thought may be I made a mistake to hire the van. By the way, van for those of you don’t know the van I am talking about is a three wheeled transport similar to a rickshaw except that it has a flat form for sitting and is made for rough roads, so I don’t regret the ride but, I should say that it was a rough ride. It was going to be an hour of rough ride, which I saw later after an hour. So the van went swish, swish as it continued its motion. The fields were filled with golden brown ready for the harvest. I saw in the distances motion of heads of men going up and down was just an indication that harvest had started or rather to completion. Pass through canopies of bamboo as tall as the sky. I thought, were are the people, men that we talk about in Bangladesh, saw two or three school girls walking with books or scattered around or kits in their hands as they started laughing when they saw a lady with sunglass with two bags of course sitting down uncomfortable which I hope they didn’t see that sign. So I put a smile and gave a little wave and they all wave back with more laughter. So I continued my ride, wishing that time would fly and so to get there fast. But it seemed so forever, I thought of singing but decided not to after an hour and thirty minutes ride finally came to a stop and hip hip hooray I arrived, gave a fair amount of money for the save journey and wished him save travel back for I know the person and my bags were helped carried by this awesome man of Khalipur to my rest home.

Men is more wanted than women in the Muslim World

2008-11-12T04:28:00.000-08:00

Men is more wanted than women in the Muslim World
Country like Bangladesh or another Muslim country wants many boys then girls in their families. This kept me thinking as woman. All I have been thinking was that the men are greedy, selfish and self center manners since I arrived here. And it took me a while to see the real reason why boys/men is wanted in the family. Every where I go, Shops, markets, rickshawals, drivers from big trucks to CNGs, on the road, is all about men. Even in the village, men are working double hours job working from sunrise to sunset and yet come home and go shopping. Old men ranching, young men with hoes and middle age men in rice field harvesting or planting. The Beautiful princesses stay in their homes relax and wait for the princes to come home and take them to go shopping. MMMM.... don’t you think this is one sided. I shouldnt blame the women but this is how it has been since, this is their culture. Well, in the Muslim world it is said that women are more respected than men. I really dont know whether this is true, but Ill go with it for now. Just from hearing stories from some of my friends, women are well protected by their laws and are greatly valued. Just to clear this sentence that during marital ceremonies the man agrees to pay the woman great sum of money according to the type of job the man does. This money is paid in installment as time goes by to the women’s use. This money is decided by Muslim leaders accordingly as I have mentioned. If something happens and the man decides to leave the lady then he has to pay that agreed amount before he leaves her. And I can see as bad side and good side. Good side is that there will be no divorce but on the other hand the man might decide to do some much damage to the woman because he can do get away which I have seen a lot here.

Anywhere back to my wanting men/boy more than a girl is because (this reasoning is totally my opinion and it does make sense to me) men are the bread earners for the families. This I have seen so far. Some of you will disagree with me.. so to say that please do write what you think in the comment box. In towns or small towns still it hard for a woman to get/find job therefore it is understandable that men provide for the family but how about the village life. Yes, I have seen trial areas women work hard, just remember I am talking about the Muslim world, where women can help the men more work with little time they have. Both of them can get more work done then one person. The women can water the plants or break the dirt with hoe or .... so here I pen off but ..not completed.

Making Decisions

2008-11-12T04:26:00.000-08:00

Making Decisions
I have been living in Bangladesh for almost a year now and I should say that I have no good thing about it. When January 3rd comes will be my first anniversary here in Bangladesh. All I have negatives only. Most of you, who read my blog, have seen or read the bad sides only. Well, I have been thinking about this for a while and have decided for my next two years, I want to say good things about this place, the people, the culture, food and everything. I am praying for long suffering and increase patience’s in my life. I pray for love and self control, pray for strength to take me day at a time. When I am faced with dislike, I want to bless them. I want to be a living testimony now. Lord, I once again pray that you will continue to provide and extend your sufficient grace to take me through. Lord help me to be a salt and a light, let my light grow brighter as evermore. Let me be a salt that doesn’t loose its taste or goes bitter.... Amen

Those of you who are going though the same process or have gone through it and haven’t decided to change it or have similar cases but not exactly the same why do you do the same, pray for greater love, patience and humiliation.

Peace

Motorcycle ride for 2 hours

2008-11-08T02:50:00.000-08:00

I had a rabbit nest box to deliver to Namuja. Its about two hour both ways. So today I decided to take my motor cycle out there. Some of you have seen how crowded the streets with ricksha, well I feel like I am The Pro...I gave no space to anyone..heheheh..no actually I gave way to the big guys, its so hard to keep going when they are right at your tail and having loud noise. I now know that I can drive safely. Comments that I got were not bad, like apa go right or apa go left...that feels good. I dont know what thee next ride will be like, hope to be just like today. So I delivered the box and hope to do more sinces it well fits the housing design. Before, this ride I had a Bangali friend who gave me a surprise visit and stayed home with me last night. It ok, till she kept pestering me to go to her village during EID, which I told her, I will think about it but she doesnt get it. I know this is Bangladesh and I have to be firm about what I say but...she just have ro respect my rights. This is making me dont like the people sometimes. So, this is say that I have been speaking Bangla whole night and the morning till at 10 am she left. I am relief right now and even better with my motor ride....ye.double koodos to myself.

2008-10-25T06:43:00.000-07:00

Today is my holiday (weekend, Saturday), I am suppose to be resting have decided to go visit my project area. Around 2pm, I left and got there at 3 and have discovered that one of my rabbits was very sick. I watch it crying out, I have never hear or seen, Rabbits cry and I did today...I am so sad right now because I know that it is going through alot of pain and evetually die. My Assumption is that it is attacked by the tape worm and it has got into the brain. The story I heard from the farmer who take care of the rabbits is that they found it last night around 10 pm paralysed. Today, it didnt move but was just lying down and peed itself on its legs, how terrible is that. In the past years I have fallen in love with vegetables just because they dont move or make a sound so that I cannot be touched by their emotions..anywhere right now I dont know what to say about animals and with my position with the animals...So while I am writing this maybe I am lossing it or may be tomorrow but hoping for miracles to happen because in literature there is no cure for this parasite attack... and I am say a short pray for its life.

Also today is day when I felt winter is near. Its so cold the temperature went down to 75F and this afternon's wind cold.

lap being a seat

2008-10-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, Bangladesh has good staff happening, but doesnt happen during my travel. Here is another story happened today, on a CNG. Coming form Namuja, I was sitted in the middle back seat guy on my left and women with her son on my right. After traveling for 20 minutes, one of the guy in the front seat was dropped off. Its the custom here that women are not allowed to seat at the fron seat, rather its me that I have seen women sitting at the front seat, because I have sat in the front seat once. So an elder lady walked to the drive to drop them off at the next drop off place. Ok, I am using "them" which I realised three full grown adults later when they came in to sit. So the guy next to my left moved to the front to make space for the lady, and there came one, two and three very elderly ladies. I just opened my mouth, because those of you know how a CNG looks like, yeh, it was packed. There were five full grown adults and a kid of may be 9 or 10 years old on his moms lap. So I made the allowance for the 2nd lady to sit on my lap since there was no space. What a day today.. sometimes thats how crowded I travel. Anywhere, Bangladesh is not that bad, may be... I think there are some good sides of Bangladesh, I am still discovering. So lady and the kid got off later and I had little space to seat but, the lady was sitting on my lap.

Very Unusual Stare

2008-10-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

Today I went on my normal day as usual to visit one of my regular sites that I visit. I got a rickshaw and went straight to the CNG stand. Found a CNG and waited for two more people before heading. There came in a mother with her two boys and her daughter. As soon as she entered, she started from my toes and up to my clothes, every part of it even the stitched of my shalwa kamizes. Ok, I have been stared and asked questions but this was very unusual. She came to my face and towards my heard/hair. I was wearing my sunglasses and was observing every bit of her facial expressions. So I got out my camera and got some pictures of her to distract her but most importantly I wanted to post it on the web blog. When she was done with the staring she physically moved my head side ways to see my ears and then my nose. Finally she asked the questions that I get every daily move of my life either from men of women; am I married, do I have children. So I answered her questions the same way I answer the others who ask the same question. I said, I am not married and not ready to get married now. She paused for a while and she asked...is it a problem, and my answer was not a problem at all. The reason I am sharing this because people here can do what ever they want to do to you... This was my extreme part of experiencing Bangladesh.

Nepal Trip

2008-10-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

One week Retreat in Nepal

This is Nepal, in Dhelikhule a small town where we had nice time there. We walked to the buddha temple and we almost ran back to the guest house back because was getting dark. These flag like things hunging on the third pic above are prayer flags.

Ghoripani Trekk

Berinthi

These pics were taken at the begin of our loop.

These pics are Himalayas range

These pics were taken from the room where we were staying; amazing. We woke up at 4:30 am next morning to see these view again together with the crowd but never cleared up and never saw them again. It was a walk of 3 thousand pulse meter up.

Chromrong rest area, nice houses and a little walk down and found the hot spring.

The fourth day pics, heading back to the loop; can you see the rainbow clearly...amazing place place

These are the sturdy ladies, walked the steep hills..yep people there call hills 9 plus thousand feet tall hills.

Motorcycle, Nose pierced, Rabbit housing and Ramadan

2008-09-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Motorcycle

I have not been so faithful with my blog so I will try as much as possible to fill you with what I have been doing so far. First thing is my motorcycle, I practice in the morning but lately have not because I have been so tired. Its kind a scooter version, and is wel suited for me, its the right size for me... not that I dont want to try the bigger enegine motorcycles.

Nose Pierced

Another thing I did here is that I got my nose pierced. I have never done piercing before so this is my first move. Anywhere, they didnt do it well and I got it off my nose. I kept it for three days and the third night I went to a friends friend to take it out because it was hard for me to take it out. Its was painful and was swollen...how sad is that. However, I have a small black hole on my left side of my nose... so I gues thats the sign that will show that I have got my nose pierced.

Rabbit housing

I have started my project with rabbit housing. I thought this was going to be an easy job.. small size houses and will take less than two weeks but no...its taking for ever. Its pretty small and takes so much time putting these small pieces together. However, they are coming together finally and hopefully next two days I will finish it. By the way I am not the one building them, but a farmer who was selected to do the project with is doing it. I am having problem with downloading pictures and hope put the shorts one at a time. There are about five treatments that I have come up with but time has not allowed me to carry on with one of them so I am slipping one and doing only four. There are bamboo mud house, bamboo house, wire netted and half bamboo half mud house. There are about seven replications and hope that they turn out well.

Bamboo treatment only but mud and wire is yet to post

these kids come watch me every day as we work

Ramadan

Is the big month for the Muslims. It started two days ago and will last of this month. This is the month when most of the Muslims fast, no water even if its so hot or, and of course not a single edible thing goes in their month. I did follow some of the things their did in the beginning of the Ramadan, like using a neem twig to clean my teeth, by the way it actually worked. I talked with someone mentioned that as early as five year old kids start the fasting. They start their fast after their prayer in the morning at 4:30 and have a heavy breakfast and go without food for the rest of the day and break their fasting at 6:30 after their prayer. Along the road there are speacial sweets made a wait for the breaking of their fasting.. people would buy as much as they can and share with everyone. Thats the fasting days/month and then the killing of cattles will come after that...

Rice

2008-07-30T08:40:00.001-07:00

Rice, rice, rice, rice fields every where, no men is rested, back bended, covered with dirt up to their knees and faces. Rice is everything in Bangladesh, as I have mentioned in my previous blog that its the main staple food and it is also the staple food for most of the Asian cuntries. Well rice is really something here, its a lot of work planting it. Its not just the planting part but your first harvest you will not eat it as soon as it comes out from the field but has to go through a lot of process. Drying, washing, drying, turning and eventually its pulp but may be after your second set of rice planting is done. How sad is that, waiting for three months of rice growing period till harvested and one month of fallow period and a week of preparing the land for second planting and three to four weeks of tranplanting...yes its alot of work. I see why Bangali spare no grain on the plate because of the hard work, and this makes me appreciate rice in someways, knowing how much work it involves. I was just talking with a Bengali that one should come up with a machine that can plant the rice seedling. So its the fields of rice you pass through as you go to work or just field visit and its rice.

Seasonal Fruits

2008-07-15T01:50:00.000-07:00

Its the next season of the year, summer. Although people have mentioned that Bangladesh gets pretty hot heavy rainfall during the summer season this year has been a great change. Its been raining but not downfall and its not terribly hot. Although there was one time I remember down fall was really heavy that we drove so slowly because we could not see the road at all. Anyhow, summer season is the season for second planting of rice and farmers are out in rice fields working their guts out. There is not much machine is involve, the rice fields are big yet it is cover by rice seedlings at the end of the day by 5 to 10 men working. Since rice is their main staple food, the other crops are season, rice is at least grown threes times a year.

The season for mango is almost gone and season for delicious Lichie (same family of Rabutang) is gone. While waiting for the mango season to arrive we have been eating pineapples from the one specific area Piragacha. These pineapples are very juicy and of course so fresh. The other crops are mostly grown in one particular area in bulk and sold. I have visited this area and have seen rows and rows of pineapple garden, taro garden banana garden and sugar-cane garden trees and it is so refreshing. Here are some pics I took, and I visited when it was pineapple season.

Pirgacha Pineaple, the pineaple season, its almost over now.

I have a house

2008-06-08T01:38:00.000-07:00

Recently I moved to my new house in Bogra. I may have mentioned that the whole office in Sirajganj moved. Anyhow, my move was very easy since I have so little stuff to move. but then I had to look for new stuff to fit into my new home for the next 2 years and may be few more months in Bangladesh. Its small but new, has two bed rooms with kitchen and two toilet and I am having the kitchen to myself, whow, I love it. It needs more furnitures and more face lif but I will do that as daysgo by but for now who cares I have my own house and I am so excited about it.

transportation system

2008-06-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

Here in Bangladesh, there are so many different types of transportation. From the smallest to the biggest and driving is so crazy, I mean you as a foreigner, you have to be aware of everything when you are on the road. Even if it is the big highway, you just have to cross the road raising you hand as a sign to slow them down, isnt thats amazing. I mean it fricks me out but it works here. The road is not just meant for vehicles or anything with wheels but its also made for human, both men and wheeled things.

There are transports for longer trips and transports for few minutes walk to your office or you home. When a person is walking on the road you have to honk for more than five times or rather continuous honking than they move aside to the side walk. If you have a big truck or tranportations that have big engine than the two lane road is all yours. Anywhere, I should stop here and say something about each of the transports.

Far trips

Big airconditioned buses or not conditioned, trains and airoplanes are available for long trips like going to districts. Train is the cheapest for the three transportations for long trips.

City transportation
Small buses, open vehicles that have been changed to carry passagers, taxises, CNGs, rickshas, vangari. The cheapest transports are ricksha, vangari and the local buses but slower so when thinking of going faster, take a CNG or a taxi. Some times they will reap you off because youre foreigner. Of course if you have you own vehicle/bicycle, motorcycle, scooter which also adds to the trasnport systems here.

Mobil Gari, local bus and CNG

motorcycle and Black taxi

Outskirts of the city
outside the city lots of ricksha, vangari, tempo gari and mobil gari(car) available for moving around and of course person transportations are also included.

village transportation
There is ricksha, vangari and tempo gari available.

Van Gari and Tempo

Ricksha is mentioned in all sectors of this country and therefore it is most popular transportation in the country. it is very strong unlike bicycles. It has a crank shaft which is powered by man. it can take you to a 5- 10 km and if youre good bargainer then you almost get there very cheap. However, rickshaw is now allowed in some roads, but they do a good job taking you where you want to go if the rickshawal knows the route well. CNG stands for compressed Nitrogen gas and it is enviromental friendly. it is a three wheeled trasnsportation which a hard seats built to it and it an carry one person to four.

What Am I Doing

2008-05-27T02:50:00.000-07:00

What have I done? How much have I done?

So little may be, or nothing at all. Oh no!!! I have my first attampt and wasnt successful. What have I been doing the pass few months... I am thinking so hard trying to assess what I have done. Eating, sleeping, talking, walking, waking, simple daily chores but is that why I am here....I dont know. Who am I going to ask for help to put me back to the right track... ........

I have been fighting... fighting so hard that no blood is shed... Whats is this? Is this somekind of joke.. no it is not.... yes I have been fight but not physically involved, like throwing or hiting or arguing, its just been my mind. I ask God why have you created me? I dont want to go through this life that I am right now in... Yes I tell my self about the mercy of God and what God wants me to do... I feel like I am in the right track..... being with the poor and serving them... but whos taking care of my problems... Yes I have this huge problem.... a problem that I feel like so huge that it chocks me in..... I am trying harder... and praying harder asking God for wisdom... but in the mist of bombading my problems to God, it seems like God is not there or rather I am far away from God. Whats happening to me.. does that mean I am in sin... that God is not talking to me because of some hinden sin.....maybe, I dont know!!!!!

So I come back to myself again, where am I really???? What am I really doing????

Blessing in Disguised

2008-05-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful that God brought me into this world 28 years ago. I am so blessed with such wonderful friends that God had provided in my life. Being in Bangladesh is a blessing in disguised. Each day of my fours months being here is such a heart ach. Every day in the bus or travelling in a train or just walking few block down my apartment, I see pain, a pain that comes with compassion because I see kids with no arms, no legs, mothers with half off their bodies melted away, young men without arms, legs begging. Sometimes its overwhelming that I just want to close my eyes and ears completely and walk away, sometimes I pray for God to interven in this suituation. However, I am so thankful that I am among this group and I am so blessed to be with them.

Visiting families

2008-05-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

My past few days have been visiting families who have no land at all. They work for rich farmers who owned big acres of land. This particular group of families are special because after the seasons of harvest they have no work so they basically go hungry. What MCC did/doing is provided/providing livestock as well napier grass to them. Not just anyone but the selected families through a survey conducted two years ago. Its is such a blessing to see their happy faces as we entered their Basa (house/home). They are very much eager to provide you with anything and its sad because they are providing their best and I can not say no for that. We walked through villages to villages families to families for three days visit and have seen some amazing things they've done. They have done their best to take care of big animals like a heifer or a bull or goats of three or four. they have tried their best to try grow the grasses where ever pieces of land they can find. There was one family that I felt sad becaues their boss can not let them use unused land or even the side walks to grow the grass, but still their heifer is suriving but struggling. I am so thankful for everything that I have seen and involved with, its a great honor to be part of this group of families.

Thoughts exhaust the whole body

2008-04-24T04:59:00.000-07:00

Today I go about my day to day activities then I was reminded of something that happened last night. Its not just last night it often happens to me but I try not to think about it. Anywhere. Last night I decided to go to bed early at 10 pm. Thats a normal night time for some people but not for me. For the past few months its been crazy. I've tried to go to bed early but never happens till around 1 or 2 am the next morning, so tired fighting my thick brain of to sleep. So last night was one of those nights. I bet sometimes you have that too. I didnt get to bed till 2am, I mean completely blank, not aware of what happened till to getup by the sound of your alarm clock the next. During the process of fight my thought, i physically got up and hit myself so hard on my head then i remember, a topic "letting the mind take over your soul and spirit", preached by one of my youth pastors from home. He said that mind is really dangerous and that involves mr I, if only you let your heart decides things and following what the hearts desire is can see the true nature of the world. so I talked so loud to my self for two minutes and told my mind that you are not off your own and that you are part of many parts that work together and your are bound to work together. Then I took a few moments to just silent myself and then was gone. all i am trying to say is that thinking can be contagious if we let the mind take over thus exhausted the whole body. so take a break and do a short meditation to clear off your thoughts, a short breath in breath out and expanding the second or matra, Lectio Divina...or other meditations that your know of.

Shubho Nob Borsho (Happy New Year)

2008-04-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Today the April 14th the first month of the Bangladesh calendar. We celebrated their new year today. I just learned the word Shubho nobo borsho yesterday so that I can say it today. In Bangladesh there are 6 seasons and each season has two months. Right now we are begining our summer and its going to last for two months and than the rainy season starts. Its been quiet a while to get use to the system here, but I am getting better at it each day. Basically, this morning was a quiet morning then as afternoon back, the streets came a live, lots and lots of noise from people scream to one another or rickshaws clashing to each other. We took a rickshaw ride to the river and we couldnt get through so we were dropped off at a different site and we walked to the river. Today there was no street empty, was quiet a day, people were walking so close that we could smell their body odor. Although it was packed and sweaty People were well dressed mostly in red and white, even their kids wore sari which is a women's clothing. It was colourful though, and we had a great time passing through people and just getting picture.

Easter Day

2008-03-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

Theres something I learned here from my co-worker a muslim friend, mentioned that the Friday 21st of March, in their calendar year this year is their special day. The day when their prophet Isa (the shorter version) was borned and after 40 years on the same date he died. To the muslims, its the day of Eid-e-miladunnabi. We as christains also have celebrated in remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ's dead on the cross, the same date. Both religions celebrated the day together but with a different meaning. To the muslims, this is their fourth prophet who came 40 years ago and died, and dead forever, but for the christains Lord Jesus died and he rose up the third day. He is living today and forver more and soon coming to judge the living and the death. During our sunny rise service on Sunday it was a double blessing for me, a blessing to celebrate the ressurection of our Lord Jesus and celebrating with a good number of christains where you would think very less or few hundreds. To me it seemed alot especially when it is a muslim dominated country, figuratively speaking christain population is .4%.

New Place

2008-03-18T01:49:00.000-07:00

I have moved to my new working area, Sirajganj. It takes about three and a half hours bus ride from the main city Dhaka, however, mostly traffic jam so most likely takes four to five hours. I am currently living with one of my another co-worker. She is nice and wonderful so I am comfortble to leave with her for few months before I get my own house. I still have few more months to complete my language class and I feel like I am slowly saying the words. Someone just talked with me this morning and mentioned that to start learning new things has to start from the body parts, then to food and then to household staff. this is what she is doing to her baby, so just to say that I am starting from the beginning, like a baby. But sometimes being a baby is frustrating because you dont get to say what you what to say. Anywhere, my work right now is reading alot of reports and ofcourse studying my Bangla which offen doesnt happened. I am so thankful that I have such a wonderful individuals and groups out there in the world praying for me. God Bless you in this Great Easter.

Ants in the Sugarbowl

2008-03-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

So send I you:

to ants in the sugar bowl
to things that fly, creep and crawl into the house
to uncertain water, sporadic electricity
to long hours, sweltering heat, exhausting days
to uncomfortable vehicles, crowded jeeps, smelly buses
to noisy, early, Early mornings
to rice, rice, and more rice
to poverty you didnt believe existed
to masses of people like you have never seen
to know and work with people who have never know comfort

So send I you, and I expect you to adjust.

So send I you:

to people who will give to you from their poverty
to friends that will embarrass you with their generosity
to pastors that will entertain you from their lack, with bounty
to hungry, receptive, questioning people who want to know God
to study, to teach, to learn from your study and teaching
to probe your own motives, values, and beliefs
to learn about yourself and the culture that has reared you

So send I you.

Are you going? I'll go with you all the way.

-Elizabeth Givens

Retreat to Bandarban

2008-03-01T03:35:00.000-08:00

It was around 11pm on the 26th of February we left Dhaka for Bandarban a tribal area around in Bangladesh. I am not really good at travelling in a public bus in the night for more than 5 hours but I knew that the best was waiting for me, so me with my great images of this foreign place we started our road ride. In deed I was preparing for this retreat few days a head early. Anywhere, we reached the border area and there we were held for 20 minutes of filling necessary informations before crossing the border. Once we entered the guest house, I was ready for nasta(breakfast). We all haulded at the dining hall for breakfast before settling into our rooms. Not long breakfast was served and I ordered porota and vegetables and omelet, mmm...and that was great. To make it short we were there for three days and we have seen some of Bangladeshes great views especially mountains, rivers and nice people and that has refreshed my mind of these bad images that I have been storing for the past six weeks. I really enjoyed the site seeing, hiking, walking and visiting the villages. The meals were great too. The three days there was really refreshing from all those site seeing but also from the morning part of meditation. My great thank you to those of you that are praying for us who are doing serve work, God bless you all.

Meeting Friends

2008-02-24T21:03:00.000-08:00

Its been so far great. The past few days have great in the sense that God provides. Well, I met this wonderful lady name Serah and together we've spend few days praying and its amazing that God does provides. Iam feeling better and that prayer is amazing. Prayer is such a energy giver, its the power house and I am refreshed once again. I have few days left before moving to Sirajganj and I am looking forward for that. I think I am getting use to the surrounding atmosphere here in Dhaka but I will leave soon and that really good for me. The 26th of this month Ill be out for a retreat for the foreigners and I am looking forward for that. We'll be there for three days and be back on the Saturday. God is great and He is Jehovah Jire, he provides.

Picnic

2008-02-19T01:29:00.000-08:00

this pillowpass game is mostly played during picnic: are'nt these kids wonderful, a visit to the botanical

rice paddy in the village: Lots of Rickshaws

I feel like I am changing every day as I figure out what to do next as time goes by. I feel like my life is like water vapor evaporating as it is heated to the maximum. It'll be gone and gone forever if it is left to boiled to its maximum. But again I am reminded that the vapor condenses and returns back to earth as rain and it nurtures the bio-diversity, how amazing is it. Anyhow, past few days have been busy, not that I worked hard but hunging out with friends and their friends. Its good to have friends but as an introvate, its also overwhelming, its tiring at the end of the day. We did several things, went shopping, just talking or playing games and had dinner together so thats great. This is also funny, I cant remember the exact date of our Dhaka Staff Picnic, but we had the picnic like few weeks ago. I thought it was going to be those typical Bangali picnic but was so different and I am happy about that. We played soccer and children had wonderful time with many games that were organised by the sport committe. Any how, all in all things are going fine and my language class will be done tomorrow that is 20th of Feb 08. Hehehehe, thats good but I am not done with my speaking practices, so that'll be done in the village.

A month Old

2008-02-02T22:46:00.000-08:00

Well, today is special because I am celebrating my 1st month being here. It was quite a trip, but I made it and that its one month from now. So I have seen the good and the bad sides of Bangladesh. I have seen and experienced the traffic jam and I have seen people who have no bones at all, may he/she does but than its all flat. Smog doesn't go away, and everyone say that its always been like this. I do miss the fresh air but that can wait. The pass two or three days I and some of my co-workers have been invited to attend a village Bangla Wedding and we did. Its so amazing, they have three full days of celebration. They feed most three thousand people, everyone that attended the wedding. Here, everyone in the village is invited. Anyhow, being in the village was refreshing for me. Yes, away from the busy streets of Dhaka, was really great. Oh, I saw this amazing creatures, wild monkeys in the village. On top of that I saw lots of lush green color and paddy fields that had men working.

Using CNG to Class

2008-01-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

Well, today I got some shorts. I am getting better now with my traveling on CNG and I took my camera today and here are some of the pictures that I took. You can see the picture of a CNG that I am referring to. Its that green colored three wheeled transport. Anyhow, here I am also dressed in arna and other Bangladeshi clothes but not yet on sari, this will take a while for me to get them on. I can read the scripts now and understand few words and that about it. Well I will keep posting so I will leave now.

Bangla Class

2008-01-14T04:05:00.000-08:00

Well, today was my second day of taking CNG on my own to language class. The language (Bangla) is very hard but it worth trying. So far I can say few words and also I was communicating with the CNG driver. Thats a bonus for me. It seems like things are going good, but the test will come when I leave Dhaka for Sirajganj, its more of the remote place and the people mainly speak Bangali. All in all today was great.

Peace