The Phone is Ringing

Well, things are truly starting again.

I had hoped things might be quiet for a couple of weeks until the monsoon moved out and the tourists moved in...but the phone has been ringing.

Gave a lecture yesterday, and had some patients call today. So we will be busy.

On the home front, we got the house looking pretty good and stuff mostly put away. We had lots of offers from people offering to bring us a meal, but we actually declined, getting a few days in as a family together.

Still hot, but daytime temps under 100 F (35 C).

But we were home

The train ran four hours late, and the kids were going a tad bit stir crazy, but we got home.

It was pouring down rain when we got off the train to find a rickshaw to our home, but we got home.

There was no electricity when we got home, but we were home.

Hoorray, we are safely back in our flat in our fair city, and everyone is happy.

Back in India

We are happy to report that our family, along with all our stuff, made it to India without incident.

We will be in New Delhi for four days, before hopping the train to Varanasi.

It is REMARKABLE how two guys on a part bench can solve so many problems.

I like to read Jim Lileks, and that is a recent quote of his.

Having spent more than a few hours on park benches in the past couple of months as we have visited so many people, it makes sense to me. In topics ranging from Child Discipline Methods to George Bush to Indian History to Favorite Hymns (sometimes all of those things in the same sentence), we can cover a lot of territory.

If only the world would listen to a bunch of middle aged guys on park benches.

Thank You

Thank you for all the folks who came to our openhouse. What a blessing to see you.

A good time was had by all. I totally lost track of the kids for a couple of hours, but they emerged bright eyed, un-scarred, and talking a mile a minute. Not clear what they actually ate, but presumably involved a lot of Oreos.

HUGE APOLGIES

Wow.

We have been all over and seen so many people in these past two months. It has been rare to have a simple meal together as a family, as so many of our meals have been spent with family and friends.

And there were still lots of people that we did not see.

I am sorry. Sorry that we couldn't make it to see a lot of you all who mean so much to us. Wisconsin, Tennesee, northern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Indiana, etc, all had several families that we wanted to visit with, and were not able to make it.

Let's plan on making up for that in heaven, and spend some extra time together.

Prone to Melancholy

David Brainard (spelling? Ok, there are loads of spelling mistakes here) fameously said that he was "Prone to Melancholy".

Makes sense to me.

As we have had a fantastic time these past two months, seeing so many family and friends, all the goodbyes and hectic schedules make for some feelings of sadness to be leaving them again.

Nora Grace has been saying for a few days now, "It's time to go back to India again, Daddy". She is also a bit overwhelmed, I think.

PS: I do not meet DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Episode. I am just a bit down in the dumps about leaving again. This is exacerbated by being tired, jet-lagged from Thailand, and a bit stressed about some last minute plane ticket issues. Emergency counceling is not needed, just a simple prayer will suffice. :)

Open House this Friday

The Amazing Larson family will be hosting an open house for us this Friday evening. Love to see you there.

Andy and Jodie Larson
1700 3rd St. NW
New Brighton, MN
651-636-3303

I am not sure when it would start... 5 or 6PM. Nora Grace will be partying as late as we let her. Who knows, she may even stay up past 9.

What can I say?

Anna Skye, Nora Grace and Lily Rose.

Twisting truth

One of the greatest lies that the evil one has managed to spread across this earth, is to take the message of the Cross, and change its basic meaning. He has taken the message, "I love you enough to die for you", and twisted it into, "I hate you so much I will kill you."

What amazes me is how many people have bought into it.

Miriam on a Horse

Despite the look of apprehension in her eyes, she did NOT want to get off the horse when it was someone elses turn.

Pictured here with Grampa Samson, who (it turns out) is quite good at reading books to little girls. There are few ways to endear yourself to Nora Grace and Miriam then to read to them.

Nora Grace and her Great Grampa Samson

Nora Grace is quite fond of her Great Grampa. It appears th feeling is mutual.

What happens when Plain Mennos and Amish type folks go crashing into Modern American Culture?

Black Bumper Hummers.

Michael Sattler and the Deathly Hallows.

GI Joe Doll (conscientious objector edition).

Quilt-by-Number kit.

Menno Simons Action Figure.

Easy Bake Oven (More with Less edition)

Aromatherapy Fooltwashing kit.

(Thanks to the CMC Conference Crier)

Resolved: to study the Bible

When I was a young man, I spent huge amounts of time studying the Bible, and knew the Bible incredibly well. And I loved this. And I was arrogant about it. Perhaps my arrogance was just the benign arrogance of a young man who can do something well, but it was truly a pride issue.

In recent years, my time in the Bible has been much less. The reasons are the usual ones (kids, work, life etc), which is to say, no excuse at all.

And I miss it.

I have been impressed with those around me who are obviously drinking deep in the Bible. And I long for it. This is what I crave and yearn for.

So I write in this public yet anonymous place that I will delve deep, rummage around and drink richly.

Not sure how I will do that. Changing habits is difficult.

Made it to Thailand

As Amy and I will not have much email contact this week, we may use this as a way of communicating with each other. So, hey, made it to where I am supposed to be without any undue problems. Other than missing the fam, of course.

Lowell off to Thailand

Lowell flies out to Thailand for a conference today, returning August 15th.

Amy's Dad had a heart attack and needs bipass surgery, so Amy is trucking down to Omaha.

Whew, this summer is a whirlwind tour.

Our sincere apologies to those phone calls we are not returning or making.

They are NOT Luddites

Just because one is Amish, does not mean one does not have access to some of the modern technology. I am amazed at the number of cell phones among my relatives, and loads of them have internet accounts (just not at their homes). And the Bishop doesn't seem to mind.

At least I have an excuse for not being on-line as much

I have been spending a lot of time with relatives, and my internet connection is not always available. Oh well. I think I have a good excuse based on the pictures below. (They are not actually my pictures (Thanks Uncle Carl and Aunt Lyd) but at least they do show some of the Frundschaft)

Aunt Lydia, how does one spell "Frunschaft" or whatever that word is for all those Stoltzfi?

Did your book come yet?

No Boring Days

We have all kinds of days in Varanasi. Lots of good days and occasional bad days. But no boring days.

In internship as a new MD, one of our themes was, "Boredom is good" (that meant that no patient was crashing and burning anywhere in the hospital). That makes sense as a Dad, a Doctor, and as someone living in Varanasi. A boring day would be a welcome respite.

In many ways, a good riot in town would be very helpful, because it would mean we would need to stay inside and not have phones or visitors. But we have been pretty peaceful in Varanasi for some time (give or take the occasional bomb or assassination). So I should be careful about wishing too much for a Boring Day in Varanasi, but that could have pretty negative overtones.

No Boring Days in Varanasi.

Nora Grace cried a bit in Church this morning

Nora Grace was sitting beside me in Church this morning, when she got sortof downcast, and curled up into my lap and started crying just a little bit.

"What's the matter?", I asked.

"We have to leave tomorrow," she replied sadly.

And indeed we do. She has had such a delightful time in Big Valley. Up till sundown each night, running uninhibited in the long grass, talking and laughing with new friends ( and a few old ones). And tomorrow we are off traveling again.

I understand.