The Taj Mahal glows in the moonlight. It is called the most beautiful building in the world, and the love story of all time, the tear drop on the sands of time. It is located in Agra India, and was built for the Empress of India. Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal were inseparable lovers. She died giving birth to their fourteenth child. They are laid to rest side by side in the Taj. He was going to have a black marble exact copy of the
Taj made for his own tomb opposite hers, but his son over threw him and took over the throne. He spent the remainder of his life as his son's prisoner at Agra Fort, a luxurious palace where he could look out the windows of the fort and see the Taj Mahal, where his Empress had been layed to rest, until his death when he was placed next to her in the moseleum.

Some more of the Taj that I took as we left the area.

Dad and I could hardly believe that we were there. We had a professional picture taken on a bench, but we like this one on the porch just before going in to see the carved tombs. No photos were allowed inside by the two tombs, but here we are just before entering the building.

The Taj Mahal was beautiful, and the Indian people flock to see this ancient marvel. It is constructed of while marble inlaid with many precious stones to form flowers and designs. There are also carvings of flowers in the marble.

The Branch's out door baptism font at the back of the chapel, just before the first baptism. We had ten baptisms on the 14th, four on the 21, and we have more scheduled for the 28th.

Elder Shepheard is playing the post lude as we finish the meeting before our 10 baptisms.

This skit was "is there really a Santa, with an investigator wanting to know and his two teachers.

Taj Mahal to Christmas Party

The Elders had good skits also. They really got into it with this skit showing some Yoga moves.

The couples put on quite a show. Elder Brown had a hard time hanging his head over. Dad is next to him. It was based on the Grinch who stoled Christmas.

Oooooooooooh I can't believe I'm doing this!!!

The Elephants were trained to take your money from the bus window. Some Indian's believe that when the elephant lifts it's trunk to you that he is blessing you. Actually the men who own the elephant is getting blessed with your rupees. They also have monkeys on leashes climb on the bus and find an open window, put their hand in and beg for your rupees.

The escaping snake with it's fangs heading straight for grandma. This man is still a wnat-to-be-snake charmer.

If the first snake isn't going to perform, then bring out the big boys.

Only for my grandkids would I hold this snake for this picture. I was saying OOOOOOOooooooh, and thinking of all of my grandkids who love snakes and small critters. This one is for you!!!!!

Now this is Grandpa

This was a great trip and we did get to see many animals. Grandma is being really brave here. She has no idea that this snake is going to eat her alive! We will be posting more later about this great trip. This was a once in a liftetime oppoertunity for us.

Photo's for the Grandkids India's Animals

At Agra Fort, monkeys were running around in the courtyard of the Fort. One young monkey had tipped over the garbage can and had come up with a bag of cheese balls. She sat quietly against the wall eating the cheese balls until another monkey noticed her. Then the monkey began to shriek and jump around. This brought mother monkey on the run with her baby riding on her back to see what was going on. Now all the monkeys were shrieking and jumping around. Dad monkey finally came on the scene and the ruckus was settled in a minute. Dad rules. Half way to Agra we had a potty break at a place that also sold souvenirs. We did’t buy any of the overpriced trinkets, but we did see a snake charmer just off the property and plenty of monkeys playing on the rooftops. I thought about all of my grandchildren who just love snakes and my promise that I would find a snake charmer and send a picture. So Grandpa and I paid a visit to the snake charmer. The man with the snakes opened his basket and grabbed his flute. The cobra slowly raised up from the basket to greet the snake charmer with his back arched and his hood spread, but just as the man began his music, the snake slithered out of the basket and made a run for it, right my way. The man was able to lean over and grab the end of the cobra’s tail; I had the fang end my way. He put the snake back in the basket and put the lid on to settle it down, and after a short time he tried again. He took off the lid and removed the cloth. The snake gracefully raised his head, arched his back, spread his hood and then quickly slithered out and headed straight for me again. The snake charmer was able to grab the end of the snake’s tail for a second time. He told us that it was a new snake and wasn’t completely trained yet. I think that the snake wasn’t the only one new at this gig. I wasn’t willing to go three strikes and I’m out, so I didn’t get the traditional picture, but wait he had more. He lifted the lid on another basket and took out a young python. Would I like to hold it? Honestly, I really didn’t but then anything for the grand kids, right? Hey, why didn’t someone tell me to take off my sunglasses?

Sweat Equity

I think that the title of sweat equity really suits this photo. Just before we left for India, we tried to help Jason get his home built. He signed up with Dennis for all kinds of sweat equity. Dad with much help from the family and Jason, was able to get the wiring mostly done. But there is a danger that lurks with sweat equity. Do we REALY know what we are doing? Just as we did with Jason's house, the women of India work right along with their men. Women with tiny babies are seen participating in the building. (Does that help you to bond with the women of India BreAnn?) The only difference is that it might not be their house. Double click on this picture and see if this building would be approved by OSHA.

We have been house hunting for the missionaries. We went with President and Sister, and their driver. Here is the view of one of the apartments that we looked at with the wife of the Landlord posing for us. I just couldn't resist including some of the building construction next door. The city is at a great disadvantage not to have bamboo in plentiful quanities. The Chinese would never stoop to using tree limbs, India just doesn't seem to get it right. Our construction where we live is the same as this. They are adding another apartment to the top street, and dad's jaw just drops open everytime we pass it. The hod carriers use baskets and carry all of the cement up on their heads. We saw a woman working on construction dressed in her colorful sari. In fact, I got a picture. We don't have a picture of the men carrying the cement up. We wouldn't want the union men on our backs. Jason, we hope that you and Breann enjoy your new home, and we also hope that you appreciate Dennis Nelson.

Apartment Hunt

These two enterprising men have started up a sidewalk business. They are using irons that open up and are filled with hot charcoal. We went on an adventure with President and Sister Ricks to find an apartment for Elders in the Pitampura area. We saw four apartments and many other things along the way.

It is fall, and apples are everywhere. The fruit vendors have plenty of apples, usually bananas and other fruit.

This is Sister Fernandes and her 6 month old baby, Emanual. He is such a big chunk of a baby, so happy. Miss all of our sweet grandchildren.

Many carry their loads on their shoulders. Many men wear the white clothing as this man is wearing.

I am hoping that this picture is one you can click on and enlarge. The one below you can not enlarge. Pres Ricks sent both to everyone, and I put the wrong one down below. This may be a wrong one to! We sure enjoyed Elder Perkins.

What's in the News?

When we walk to the "carts store" at the edge of our complex, we always pass this old abandoned car. If you can't get your car to work anymore, just park it along some road, or in this case our apartment complex, and it will just stay there until it rots away. You will see other autos just left at the side of a road to rust.

This is a photo of our India New Delhi District Conference with the just the Indian Missionaries. President Ricks and Elder Perkins had traveled to Pakistan earlier in the week. Later President went to Nepal and Bangaldesh. I am partially hidden, but standing right next to my Elder Zaugg. This was taken on the patio of New Delhi 1st Branch. Behind us is the baptism font.

A "sacred cow" wandering around in our complex next to the school wall. It is a better choice to wander here than in the middle of a busy road.

This monkey showed up on our front gate. He has been seen by the Missionaries before. One day he saw his own reflection in a window of a neighboring home and jthought he had found some friend al last. He jumped right against the window with a loud thud.

Veiws from the Street

On our way to church this morning, I took some pictures from our fast moving auto rickshaw. I put them in Photo shop and cropped them. Here is a younger man, perhaps a son, helping an elderly man on an early morning ride in his wheelchair. He seems to be happy in his service.

The sideway is a popular place to build a home with whatever materials that you can find. This is a larger than typical home constructed from "finds" along the road. Bricks, rocks and dirt are piled up with tree limbs and a tarp to construct this multi family dwelling. We have many of this kind of shelter in the bottom half of our complex, and also in a field accross the road in front of our complex located right next to the road market.

The last picture is of a family who lives on the side of the road. They have their belongings in a pile on the sidewalk. The children are naked in this picture. They move from one side of the road to the other depending on where the sun is and if they want it or not. They had crossed to the other side of the road as we rode by them after church, the children still had no clothes on. It is a difficult situation that we are certainly sensitive to.

This is how dad and I get around, our little three wheeled LP gas operated "auto". Some of the auto drivers sit cross legged on the seat. All of the operators drive their little buggy full bore. On most of the autos, all the controls are operated by hand. 90,000 deaths occur on the streets of New Delhi each year. We will never go senile while we are here serving in New Delhi because we see our lives flashed accross our minds so often.

This sister and her young daughter has come to conference in her best sari. The members of the church do not wear veils over their heads and faces, but most have the red dot or jewel between their eyes.

This sister and her fine family come to church on a motor cycle. This is luxury travel, and it looks like a lot of fun, but it is very dangerous. I was wondering how her long skirt keeps from getting wraped up in the works.

District Conference

These are some pictures associated with District Conference. We are with President Ricks and his wife, standing alone, and Elder and Sister Perkins standing with dad and myself. To your left, Sister Mickelson talks with an older woman.
Below , Dad and myself,

The young single adults of the first Branch. I really haven't taken any pictures since conference. I will make it a point to do so.

Dad talking to Elder Mickelson before the conference. President Katuka is the new District President. Priesthood leadership.