NANCYE: The Thorats were merciful to those on our team unaccustomed to spicy food and provided American-style
for several days. Prepared by a local man who has cooked for foreigners for forty years, all our food was very good.
The Indian food was especially delicious, I thought.

We had been prepared by our leader for culture shock in India. Perhaps due to years of reading National
Geographic, and most certainly because of the Grace of God, Robert and I felt at home in Nagpur. The culture is
certainly different than the United States, but when we do not think ourselves superior to other cultures and people,
then different translates into interesting rather than weird. I became so used to the cows in the streets that by the
end of the week, I barely noticed them (except for the one that licked my arm).

The children are the jewels of India. Their bright friendly smiles greeted us everywhere: on the streets, at the
churches, in the schools and in their homes. Although usually more reserved, the adults were most gracious to us.
Many of the Hindu people would quietly smile and say, "Hello."  They love cameras and we waited for one young
mother to dress all her children for a family photograph (below).
Newsletter Archives      
Rhema Mission Trip to India 1998
Where Are The Cowboys?
ROBERT:  Cows are everywhere, roaming or laying, chewing their cuds. Walking to church later that day, we
chuckled as a cow bumped the door to a house with her nose. The door sprung open and she peered inside, then
wandered on down the street.
Justs before this cow licked Nancye's arm
NANCYE:  The sweet-smiling girl who brought
our hot water that morning is named Kusum
(at right). The water was a major blessing to
our travel-weary bodies and there was time to
rest awhile before walking over to the dining
house for breakfast.

neighborhood. Beautifully colored linens,
drying in the sun, hung from the house
behing, as children played on the roof.