Answered Prayer

Answered prayer (I will add pictures later as we are having trouble uploading them)

John trying to work the iPod Touch

Well our prayers were answered for uneventful travel! All our connections pretty well on time and the flights were smooth. The first leg of our trip, the flight from Rochester to JFK, started with an unexpected bonus – Delta was able to check our bags all away through to Cochin. The travel agent had told us we would have to retrieve the bags and go to the international terminal and then check through again. When we go to JFK we walked to the international terminal which wasn't very far even if a bit windy and chilly.

On the way to Dubai

The flight from JFK to Dubai, our second leg of the trip, was a delight! The plane was an Airbus A – 380 and it was huge! There were two stories  of passengers and in the area where John and I sat was only about two thirds full. John and I had I'll seats across from each other with no one sitting next to us. The service by the flight attendants was superb and with the meals and snacks they served it almost felt like we were eating the entire flight. Both John and I were able to get a little sleep. Well maybe was more like sometimes of half awake slumber.

In Dubai are layover was only about one hour so he essentially got off one plane and onto another. The Dubai airport is extraordinary. It is huge, sparkling, modern, with a couple of waterfalls and fountains in so many stores you would think you are in a mall.

The flight from Dubai to Cochin was about 3 3/4 hours in this flight was full. But it was still a fairly comfortable flight again with great service.

After we went through immigration we found our bags which all made it there and then went through customs. John was concerned that the two drugs of maple syrup that he had in his bag might've exploded or leaked but was not the case. We went outside and Shibu found us right away. We jumped in his car and headed out on the three-hour drive to the ministry.

The drive to Shibu’s was really interesting. It was about 4:00 AM and there was just light traffic to start. The first thing is that they drive on the left side of the road here. And as it was dark it was really disconcerting to see the headlight coming at us in what I believe is our lane! A good thing I wasn’t driving or I would have had a head on or been in the ditch!

The first part of the drive was  through in a more urban area and the traffic was light and it was pretty flat. Then it got more hilly and the roads twisted and turned over them. Every time we came up on slower traffic we would pull out to try and pass with everyone else doing the same. So it seemed to me at first that it was kind of like a demolition derby about to happen or everybody was playing a really big game of chicken! When John asked if they had a lot of accidents here I knew he was getting a little nervous. The further we went the narrower and rougher the roads got until they were what would be considered one lane at home. The “demolition derby” passing still went on no matter how narrow the road was! But you will be happy to know that almost all the roads we traveled on were paved, sort of paved, and mostly with asphalt.

We drove through Kottayam, a fairly good-sized city and then through Kangazha a smaller populated area and then on to the Kerala Baptist Bible College and Seminary and Shibu’s home.