Bangladesh Adventure

Up fairly early and after a quick breakfast, headed out for the Square Hospital where we were getting our tests done. We went by CNG which is like an easy bike but is gas peered rather than battery operated. Never ceases to amaze me how they can possibly drive the way they do and it actually all works. We didn’t see one accident the whole time we were in the country. But if you would put Americans driving in those conditions....ummm.... no way it would work. Neither did I ever see one working traffic light or any stop signs whatsoever. They wouldn’t have used them if they would have been there. Testing went ok other than it just takes so long to do anything here. So much paperwork and then that all gets entered into the computer and the people for the most part are not skilled in typing. At least not here they aren’t. So it just takes so much time. We got there about 8:15 and left around 10:30. Here it’s a nasal swab in one nostril and then a throat swab. Wasn’t the most comfortable te...

Today’s the day for the long drive back to Dhaka. Left the house soon after 7. Feels sad to be leaving here knowing that it’s very likely we will never be back. But it’s so nice to be able to picture where cherith lives now. Even though they will soon be moving to a different house.  The trip was pretty good except for the first couple hours, there were a couple of the crew who were not feeling well. Had breakfast of eggs and ruti at a little restaurant along the road. Ruti is    Another kind of fried tortilla like dough. Very tasty. The line for the ferry was not nearly as long this time and we even got on a nice big one. Ate lunch at a KFC when we got to Dhaka around 1:30. On to the flat where we just chilled for a bit and then our family went out just as it was starting to rain and hailed two rickshaws. Was that ever quite a rickshaw ride!! They were trying to keep up with each other and it started to pour rain just as we got off and had to wait for quite a long time u...

So it’s worship day again. Which means open the gate at 8:30 and let the children come in the yard and play until 9 or so when it’s time for SS. Usually it’s a flannel graph story and a few songs. Today was quiz day. Every few weeks they give a quiz on the last few weeks’ lessons. If they can answer most of the questions, they get a prize. They all write their answers down on paper. There’s much shuffling and whispering... you have to watch pretty closely cause they don’t seem to have much conscience against cheating!! We had bought shrimp last night and so had grilled shrimp kabobs, potatoes, and salad for lunch. Yum.  Had some quiet time and then it was time for church.    Out the gate we wait for one or two easy bikes to come along and they drop us off at the path that goes down to the little tin church. After the service, we went over to Shantos where we helped Shati roll out and fry many little balls of dough. Much the same idea as fry bread but smaller pieces. It’s ...

 Shortly after 9 we all piled into the trusty Hyundai van armed with water bottles, sandwiches, oranges, and lemon bars.... after an hour or more of rough bumpy roads and more of the fantastic scenery of Bangladesh, we arrived at the river where we were to get a boat to take us across to the mangrove forest of Bangladesh. This is an extremely dense forest of mangrove trees and thick vegetation. Home of spotted deer, crocodiles, monkeys, and supposedly Bengal tigers. They have built up a boardwalk through part of the forest so that one gets an eerie sense of quiet danger lurking as you walk through places where tigers and seemingly cannibals live. Monkeys are around and alert for anything they perceive as food. The only crocs we saw were in cages. But back to our arrival... we found a place to park the van, and almost immediately Travis was surrounded by about 45 men. They came from all over, here and there and out of nowhere it seemed. One was holding an umbrella over him, and they...

 Today we left after an early lunch, and honked, bumped, and lurched our way through what seemed to me must be the heart and soul of Bangladesh. Green lush rice fields, drying jute, colorfully dressed people, and dusty palm trees flood the countryside. Past brick factories, and schools and lots of market places. And into country where by the looks and stares and shouts, a person wonders if a white person has ever before traveled back here. We come to a stop alongside a cactus fence, and crawl out of the vehicle checking to make sure all limbs and body parts are still attached to us. Then down the narrow brick path into the yard of a dear brother and sister who are eagerly waiting for us. We take off our sandals and sit down on the mat under the awning of the porch. They have a little hut i will call it with two beds inside. Maybe some type of cupboard or dresser, and that is just about all. This porch hangs over the front side of the hut and provides sleeping shelter for the childr...

 Monday and Tuesday Miss Cheri had school with her class. Merv was with Travis at the gate with the people all morning. Looking at eyes, handing out formula, giving skin ointments... the rest of us just lived here. Laundry, cleaning, playing, cooking....  Monday after school, we loaded up and headed to Golpolgang where Kelly and Lanae Friesen live. They had invited us for supper. An hours drive in and out of traffic and people.... the house there is beautiful I thought. The yard is mostly brick with some yard for a garden and flowers. Big trees. I thought it was just so pretty there. But the downside is that they live right up beside a very busy road. So it’s noisy and dusty. Had an enjoyable evening there. They have a boy just Nicholas’ age and did they ever play together!!! But oh my the drive home after dark..... that made my heart jumó into my throat numerous times! Some vehicles with no lights, some with brights on blinding you, lots of people, many rickshaws and very few...