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Attended the Bengali church this morning.   The gentleman behind filled me in about some of the message.   At least I could figure out the passage in the Bible.   The rest of the time I was a bit lost.

They do love to sing.   It is not necessarily on tune.   They just make a joyful noise.   They gather all the drums, symbols, and male voices and sing out loud.   The men sit on one side of the church and the women the other.   There are beams that run down the middle of the church; therefore, the pulpit is placed to one side of the church.   Mary was quick to notice that it was on the women's side.   We have debated many times way this is so.    Is it that they need it the most or are they the most attentive? You decide. :)

We had the LORD's supper, too.    Not sure what the grape looking drink was.   Smelled like Grape Ne Hi (sp?) but tasted like nothing we tasted before.   It was not bad, just different.    The bread was like the flat, round waffers used by the Catholics. Another new different taste.    But we did examine ourselves, too.

We were late for church by 20 minutes.   The only we missed was the music.   Mary and Margaret couldn't get their sharees on correctly.    Live for the men is much simpler.   Too many layers of the women to wear.   The idea is to hide the form of the women.   It works, if worn correctly.   The Muslim women still wear the black burka over this.   Talk about being hot and sweaty.    The women still wear this while swimming.   The men have it made. They can wear just about anything and take off nearly as much as they want.

After church, we got to visit the home of a Bengali family.   They attend the church.   They made it themselves from the mud in the river behind the house......and so proud of it. Reminds me of the Native Americans adobes in Southwest U.S.   The roof was tin with wooden beams to hold it up.   The kitchen was outside inside a wooden and leaf shack.   They had the clay ovens with sticks to burn to heat the water and cook the food. They stood outside the house while we ate the food.......their custom.    The family of six live in the two room house about the square footage of the church's workroom.   They are completely happy.  Obviously, the toilet was outside. The house was extremely neat and clean.   The laundry and bathing was done in the river.   We thought we had public restrooms.

The rest of the day was free. Margaret A. want me to tell a new story for the English church.   She pick the Lost Son [Luke 15].   It was new to me.   So, I spent the afternoon learning the story.    When the story got to the time when the father rejoices when he sees his repentent son.........I couldn't stop crying.   It was effective during that portion of the story.   I recovered by the time I got to the older son.   Then it was easy to get angry.   A little surprising, the Americans did really well on the activity time.   We Americans don't seem to get as motivated as most of the world.......at least when it comes to biblical activities.     The enthusiasm of the Nationals here makes me ashamed of my lack of excitment for the scriptures.

Tomorrow we travel back to Chittagong.   It is at least 3 hours of driving for a 60 mile trip.   It sounds like a song and a old TV show......"a three hour tour.!" :)   We have about 7 little sessions in three days.   But for the first time we will be in a AC room the whole time.........as long as we have electicity.   [It continues to go on and off 3-5 times a day.   You know when you get used to it, because you continue to do whatever you were doing before the outage.]   I won't feel like I need to take a shower three times a day.   Mary has to worse because she has layers of clothing to wear.   I love this man's world.

We were talking about the Cyclone that came thru here in the early 90's.   I clearly remember that time when about 500,000 Banglis died.    I said to Margaret that the pictures they showed in the states were mostly women and children......this helps with working on the emotions.    Not that men don't count, we just.....you know what I mean.   Margaret explained that reason for this was the men left the women and children behind the protect the house from looters while they fled inland for safty.   I just don't understand this.   One Bangli told a worker at the clinic that it did not really matter if his wife died, because he could just get another one......his wife was right next to him.   Now you know the value of some women in Bangladesh.    Boy, do I love my wife.

We may not have access to a computer while in Chittagong.   If not, we will see in Normal on Sunday the 12th of August.......unless you come to the Peoria airport on the 9th.    I am sure Walt and Carol will be there........they better!!!!!   It again will be about 40 hours of travel and lay-overs til we arrive in Normal.    Pray for our safty in travel, that the luagage will arrive [with us], and our recovery from jet-lag.   It is 11 pm here and 12 noon there.

We have some more shopping to do.    The gift list is not complete.   Since each of us brought a luagage fill of stuff for the Archibald's were have a empty laugage to fill.   Mary's is closer to that than mine.....but she has more to buy for.   At least that is her excuse.    She keeps reminding me of how many grands she has.

Thanks for all you prayers since we have been here.    We can see the effects of GOD's work thru us.   It is because of your prayers.    GOD still works today.

See you sooner......

Mary Grabow and Mark Campbell

P.S. Walt and Carol, please make copies of the blogs.    We did not write all of this down in our journals.   These are the only materials with the info about the trip.   And, we both thank you for letting us come.   We can't wait to share the experience with you.   About about a dinner?.........I am starting to get hungry again.....for American food.