Saying our goodbyes

I’ve moved a lot in my life, so I’ve said a lot of goodbyes. However, after living in Littleton for 26 years, most of my recent goodbyes have been to other people leaving—until coming on this mission, of course. And since our call was for 18 months, I knew we would have to say goodbye to India sometime next spring. Five weeks ago when we decided we just couldn’t complete our mission here without seriously jeopardizing Elder’s health, we started to say our farewells. It’s been hard—we have both shed many tears. We truly love so many of the people, active members, inactive members and investigators alike. Add in the two visits from our kids (2.5 weeks of the five since our decision), and the time has just flown by. Here are a few pictures from this time:

Dwarka goodbyes:

With the Primary kids

 With the Young Women:

At a mutual activity:

With the Relief Society:

The front of our church building--we use the top two floors--see the sign :

With President Vijay and his family:

With First Counselor President Rajesh and his extended family, plus friends:

With Second Counselor President Jitender and his family:

With First Counselor in the District Presidency President Pandey and his new wife:

With the Talwars:

With the Sharmas:

With Brother Akram Shah and later with his wife and baby son:

With Sahil Sharma:

With the Sambaria family:

With Nicolas Massey:

And of course with a branch of 350 members, we have worked with and love many whose pictures aren't here. Some we neglected to take a picture with. Some we weren't able to see 'one more time.' We love you all and will miss you. I am crying as I write these words. Know that you are in our hearts. And the same goes for many we have worked with in the District. We will continue to pray for you all.

Noida goodbyes:

Our last week there was during our son's visit. They even brought a "Good Luck Allens" cake.

With the whole group of members following church:

With the missionaries:

With President James and the Gupta sisters, Monica and Ruchi:

With Sister Barnabus and Brother Rajiv:

With the Hukil family:

We also had a last District Self Reliance Committee monthly meeting with District Councilman Brother Paul Frost:

And District Self Reliance Specialists Sisters Honey Rai and Nicole Goldrup:

All of our Indian friends have a special place in our hearts reserved just for them and we will truly miss them when we leave.

Of course we had to go see some sights with Jon, Marci and McKinley:

Old Delhi is always crowded but this day it was extra crazy:

We finally saw the Lotus Temple here in Delhi--striking design and beautiful grounds.

We saw the Taj and Agra Fort again, but this time in Jaipur the elephants were riding to Amber Fort so we all hopped on:

The next day it was time for a camel ride:

Back in Delhi, Gandhi museum was a favorite:

Kinley found her favorite brand of bottled water:

It was great doing fun things together, but my favorite was the time we had for visiting. Thanks for taking the long plane ride to spend a week with us.

Last Sunday was Diwali, the Festival of Lights and stores go all out decorating:

Last night we had one more senior couples FHE activity at the mission home: cutting out the last of the fleece blankets we started a year ago. Notice what the men use of weights at the corners—pretty clever us of Institute manuals!

Now you might be asking yourself a question about now like, “Did I miss something? I don’t know where they have been reassigned to.” And I would respond, “Nope, you haven’t missed a thing. We haven’t received our reassignment yet. We have been assured that it is coming this week and after its arrival, we should be out of Delhi within a couple of days.” So once again I must end with a stay tuned. . . . . 

Change in the Air

The latter part of September was very busy. There was Seminary Graduation,

branch presidency training about the Self Reliance program from the Littles, the senior missionary couple over self reliance in all of India,

a breakfast with the Country and Asia Area Directors of Self Reliance,

and a Primary Activity where we practiced all the songs for the Sacrament Program.

We also helped put on a temple preparation fireside for the district and received training from Elder William, an Indian Area 70 who thinks we are getting close to being ready to become a stake! Yeah!

Of course we continue to visit families in their homes. In one of the families out in Dwarka, the Patils, the husband is a brick worker and he has single-handedly built his family a new home right next to the one-room they have been renting for quite a few years.

His wife is so excited and it really is very nice, though it was dark when we got our tour so the pictures don’t do it justice.

We also visited Br. Robinson, his wife, and baby son. Tradition here is for the expectant mother to return home to her village about 2-3 months before the baby comes and then stay about 5 months after their birth. It was pretty exciting to finally meet the little fellow in person and also be introduced to the Indian Baby Sling.

We were told that babies sleep in these slings for about 2 years. What a cutie!

The very end of September, our eldest daughter and her family came for a ten day visit.  We saw a few sights in Delhi--including church in Dwarka-

-then took a 5-day road trip to Agra (Taj Mahal and Agra Fort)

and Jaipur (Amber Fort, elephants, snake charmers, working camels, etc.).

Of course the best part of it all was visiting with kids and grandkids! Next week our son, daughter-in-law and their oldest daughter (10) will join us for a week of fun!

With October, the temperatures begin to drop, especially at night. It is now getting down into the 70’s, though still climbing into the 90’s for highs. The humidity is also dropping, so it no longer feels like you are entering a sauna when you step outside of your flat. Yeah! And the biggest festival of the year, Diwali, the festival of lights, is October 30 this year. The stores are already putting up their lights and selling sweets and other gifts for people to buy. There will be nights of fireworks as it gets closer.

Today marks the first day of our second year here in Delhi. We have loved it! But unfortunately, we won’t be here much longer. Last month during routine check-ups (you have quite a few after heart surgery), both Elder’s regular doctor and cardiologist advised him to stay inside with an air purifier during the winter months here when the air is so bad (worst in the world last year!) They emphasized that the pollution has long term chronic implications for the lungs but short term acute implications for those with coronary heart disease—which now includes our beloved Elder. What to do? The mission doctor in Hong Kong agreed with our doctors here so we made the painful decision to ask for a reassignment for the last 5-6 months of our mission. Our request was relayed to Salt Lake City the last week of September.  President Hodges talked to President Funk (Asia Area President) a day ago and learned that he expects to hear where we are being sent within this next week.  The decision is made by one of the Twelve Apostles, just like our original mission call. Stay tuned…..

Random pictures: A truck with eyes painted on its front.

The building by the Dwarka Branch continues to grow upwards.

A goat or two in an auto rickshaw.

Elder with a couple of the guards that work at our flat or the mission building. They are so helpful!