This week we've done a lot of tourist type things. We've been to a few more temples and traveled to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.
We've also had opportunity to hangout with some nationals. A great coffee shop called Costa Coffee has employed quite a few deaf people. Two of them quickly befriended our team. One of them is a Christ-follower and the other is Hindu. The Hindu friend, Rajeev, told us that we much see a temple called Ashratam, so we asked if he would take us and show us around. Both went with us on Thursday. It was horribly hot but the temple was immaculate. ...In the US I had watched and IMAX film with Paula (Aaron's mom)about an Indian boy who traveled through India and became a Yogi... it turns out the boy that this boy was the central focus of worship in this temple. The temple had the IMAX film for us to watch as well as a ride (Pirated of the Carribean style), and an exhibition that walked through the stages of his life. Many of the things he was know for sounded a lot like the things Jesus did - cared for the poor, lived simply, taught peace, etc. It was all quite interesting. We talked with the two deaf boys more about our experience when we went back to Costa with them.
I've also grown fond of a girl named Sonia. She's Hindu but very modern. She walked us through the ISKCON temple this morning. She kept telling us "...but this is mythology, and I don't really believe it." And she pointed out that she thought it was pretty ridiculous that this huge temple was build so nicely (and expensively) but there are still people starving right outside of its doors. She admitted that she only really held onto Hinduism slightly because it seems to give her some soft of peace in hard times.... very interesting! I have her contact info and I really hope to keep in contact with her. She's a really neat girl outside of those things too. Very nice, very gentle, and so giving.
Tomorrow we leave (in the late evening). I'll admit that I'm pretty excited to go home. I miss feeling "at home" and I have been dealing with this weird heat rash thing that I've never seen before. Aaron is also sick with a flu of some sort. We miss our cat and we miss the comfort of our bed :)
So... soon we shall see you friends! SOON!
Signing off,
Spotted and Eager
