LOOK WHAT WAS OUT MY FRONT DOOR THIS MORNING!

We walked out of our apartment building and this is what we saw! We have seen camels here before but it was while we were in an Auto driving down the road. The one picture is a bit dark, but the camel was eating leaves out of the tree. When he saw us, he turned and looked at us. The boy wanted to know if I wanted a ride! I wasn't sure what the mission regulations were on that and I was wearing a dress so decided to pass! It was fun to think about!

Outside our Apartment

There is a club just outside our apartment. People come to party all night long. The swimming pool is part of the club and kids are swimming by 6:30 in the morning. In the afternoon it's very quiet at the swimming pool. Then at 6 p.m. people are back in the pool. It's a nice view for us. More pleasant than a lot of streets that have so many cars rushing by.

The stairs.......there are 4 flights that we go down everyday. We're on the 4th floor.

The last picture is a place called Paradise. Doesn't look like Paradise does it? There are a lot of outside markets in this area and so we will frequently shop here! This place is usually packed but we went early enough in the morning to have it pretty much to ourselves.

THE WEATHER

We've been asked to tell you a bit more about the weather here. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are hot! That is about all we can say about it! It's REALLY HOT!! We run our air conditioner day and night. We don't remember turning it off since we got here! It will get hotter before the next couple of months are over. Many of the people take a few hours off in the afternoon during the hottest part of the day. You will see auto's along side of the road with the driver inside sleeping. Many times we have needed an auto in the afternoon and it's harder to find one because so many of them are napping or sitting in the shade. If you ask them to drive you they will tell you NO. When it's nap time or sit in the shade time they don't do work!!
We are finding people have different schedules here. When the sun goes down it cools so many come out at night. Because of this from 6-midnight the price of an auto goes up!!
The temperature has averaged 100 degrees since we came to Hyderabad. There have been a few days where it was 103-104 degrees. They tell me it will stay this warm until August then it starts to cool. (probably in the 90's!!!) The next few weeks will turn into Monsoon season! Rains where some places in India the Elders wade in water up to their thighs and waste. They said not as bad here!
Bangalore where the mission home is cooler. It rangers in the 80's to 90 degrees year round. Sister Messar who is secratary of the office said she brought a sweater to Bangalore and has never put it on! I also brought a sweater and doubt if I use it.
We walk from our apartment to the 2nd Branch Chapel. It is about 10-15 minutes. We get in the church and are usually very warm after walking in the hot air for that long so we go stand right under the air conditioner. The members laugh at us. We tell them we will be happy when our bodies adjust a bit more to the warm weather.

Our Friend with 2 eggs

This picture gives you a better view of where this little bird built his nest.

Mahi

This is a better picture of our friend, Mahi. I have been teaching her piano. She learned from Sister Finklea before we came and she has done about 75 pages out of the book.

Mahi leaves today for a city near Bangalore. I think I mentioned she landed a good job and will have to travel 4 hours by bus to get to church on Sunday.

Our New Friend left this

Off our kitchen is a small balcony. There are some pigeons that come by to visit from time to time. I thought they were cute so I fed them some bread one day. After that they came back everyday. Yesterday morning Iwent out on the balcony to check out the morning! This is what I found.

Old Hindu Temple and Science Museum

The 1st and 2nd pictures are Mecca Masjid one of the old Mosques in South India. The massive doors arches were carved from a single slab of granite. It was completed in 1687.

The bottom picture is a science museum. It's huge and we only got to see part of it.