I read a quote once that 'traveleling is only glorious in retrospect'. This, i must say, is pure wisdom. Even as I look back on the past couple weeks I already begin to feel quite fond of my recent experiences. However, not enough time has elasped for the real experiences to transform into some glorious experience. Already I can say that I would not trade the 'experiences' for anything, but I hope I won't forget some of the realities as well. Take my journey from Kinnaur (eastern Himachal Pradesh) to McLeodganj (western h.p.). Kinnaur is a beautiful region set in the [View Full Entry]

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My goal is to stop my mind from seeing these people with pity and actually see them with compassion. There is a difference. A world of difference. I have read books about the poorest people in the world, i have heard stories about their way of living and the manner that the tight community works. But, still, I don't feel like my life is connected to theirs in a deep and meaningful way. I suppose, I would define compassion as a deep connection with another person in such a way that your life actually is united with theirs. I definitely want [View Full Entry]

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I try to be quite informed about world issues, especially those involving human rights. But, I quite overrate myself. My first day in McLeod Ganj, home of the Tibetan Government in Exile, was kicked off with in style. I observed a parade of a hundred Buddhist monks and westerners alike walking through the streets holding candles to a chant imploring the world to bring about freedom for Tibet. I knew a bit about the situation - after all, I read a book of the Dali Lama's teaching, I watched the movie 7 Years in Tibet...in fact, I even read the book! [View Full Entry]

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Narzyan told me with simplicity, "I didn't have any money, but I had to do what I could." If yiou are wondering...what he has done in 6 years is the following baptize hundreds, plant dozens of house churches throughout Kinnaur, found the only Christian school in all of the district, found a children's home, and sent 3 leaders off to Christian training colleges. Yes, all this was accomplished without any outside support, only by little profits provided by his family's humble apple orchard. Narzyan grew up in a Buddhist family and in a remote buddhist village. At age 16 he happened [View Full Entry]

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Krishan - "I too am a follower of Jesus." I entered into the Kinnaur Region of Himachal Pradesh with serious doubts about the possbililty of actually meeting any Christians. There is a church in Winston-Salem that has been touched by the evangelistical needs of Kinnaur and contacted a mission organizaton called Answering the Call who specializes in mobilizing nationl Christians in the most unreached areas of this world. Through a mutual friend I was introduced to the directon of ATC just two days before he set out to Kinnaur with the hopes of finding a strong Christian body who they can [View Full Entry]

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there are few details that I didn't include on couple of the past blogs that I wanted to simply add. First: What broke my heart the most about Moni was that when I gave her my journal to draw pictures of after she told me about her brother leaving...one of the first things that she drew was a picture of a Hindu temple. This really broke my heart, but because here is this girl, crying, who needs some great hope in her life and she draws a picture of, what i consider, to be an image of oppression on the poor [View Full Entry]

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I met a lifesaver and friend on a long and grueling train to Kolkata. Dulip. He is not much to look at - shaggy hair, crooked teeth, slim build, unattractive features. But he is a gem. I was laying on the bottom bunk awake at 5:50am because it is simply impossible to sleep as the boys go up and down the isle calling out for chai. Dulip was on the bunk above me and when his feet hit the dirty floor and his eyes saw this westerner a bright and excited smile crossed his face. I imagine that a confused and [View Full Entry]

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I couldn't make out his his name when I asked him. He was literally skin in bones; the type you see on late night tv and you change the channel because that is not what you wish to see. His cheek bone were as a skull, all his ribs were evident, and his eyes were dark. He asked me if I could rub his hair as he lay there looking at me. Of course I did this but I felt ashamed at my hesidancy to even touch him. After I poured a cup of water into his mouth he turned his [View Full Entry]

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My 15 hour overnight train to the epicenter for Hinduism arrived at about 9:30a. I spent the majority of the morning roaming around the ghats (steps) of the river Ganges and observing the multitude of people dipping their bodies into the sewage of a river. The irony of a water polluted with dead bodies and sewage is the same water which is said to cleans their souls and allow them passage into the afterlife. Foolishness. But, after some thought on this I realized that my own faith is founded on a similar irony that I have often overlooked simply because of [View Full Entry]

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No question about it, India is not shy. I had forgotten just how vivid the colors, the intensity of the smell, the feel of the heat, and the rawness of the people. It can be overwhelming but also intoxicating at the same time. India: fillthy but beautiful, chaotic but enchanting, traditional but modern, poverty but wealth, you hate it but you love it. Welcome to India. Arriving in the airport I connected with a very friendly couple from Canada. We all shared a taxi together, but perhaps picked the wrong driver. At first I thought, "sweet, this guy is the fastest [View Full Entry]

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