Elder and Sister Condie Mission Blog: September 13, 2015

We love Sri Lanka!! As much as we enjoyed our trip to India, we are sure glad we live in Sri Lanka! Here are a few of my observations:

India has less trishaws

India has more motorcycles

In India, most of the women wear sari’s

There are huge buildings in India and many are very nice

The majority of people in India are Hindu. We didn’t see and Buddhist statues around

The traffic is similar

No one is selling lottery tickets in india…it is against the law.

There are more highways in India

There are more Suzukis in India, more Toyotas in Sri lanka

There are big fancy malls in India…lots of Americanized stores

There are many American factories and offices in India….HP, Honeywell, Apple, Adobe

The homes in India are very colorful

Many people speak Tamil in India…some in Sri Lanka

The weather is cooler in India…not much humidity

But our few days with the new senior couples and Pres and Sister Berrett was wonderful! We had a fun Pday planned for us on Monday. It looked like it could rain but we went anyway. We split up in the 2 mission vehicles and headed on our 2 hour trip to the Zoo! It had a zoo and a safari part of the zoo….which is what we went on! We went in 2 different jeeps to see the animals! We would enter big areas where the animals were roaming free! We first saw the fancy deer, followed by the elephants. We saw bears….where one actually jumped up beside the door I was seated by. We had the window open a bit and it kind of scared me a little. Closed it fast! Pretty cool though! It reminds me of the old days in Yellowstone Park! We saw Lions, White Tigers and Bengal Tigers! We then went into a Butterfly Pavillion. There were tons of butterflies and beautiful flowers and shrubbery! It was quite a warm day but really fun. We had packed lunches that morning and ate them before heading back to the mission home. When we got there, Steve and I went around and took pictures of the church and the surrounding area. We found one of the doors open on the side of the church so we decided to go in and use the restrooms. Steve went in the mens and as I went into the womens….I found a man laying under the sink area. It totally freaked me out so I hurried and ran into the mens! We got out of there and tried to tell the guards outside the church…who are guarding the church….but they had no idea what we were saying! CRAZY! We got all changed and then had a wonderful session with Pres and Sister Berrett. Pres Berrett is such a great teacher and Sister Berrett has such a loving, kind way about her! Their housekeeper made us a traditional Indian dinner that night. The AP’s came and ate with us and showed us how to eat with our hands…Indian style! It was a fun evening! Tuesday morning, Pres Berrett made waffles for everyone! They were really great! We had another teaching session with Pres and Sister Berrett! We then got a tour of the service center and met all the employees that work for the church there. After lunch, the other couples began their duties and figuring out what they were going to do. We went to the distribution center and picked up things that some of the members in the branch had ordered. Before long, it was time to pack and head out to the airport. Pres Berrett suggested we wear our civilian clothes home. That was sure a lot more comfortable!! We got home pretty late but it was sure a wonderful trip! I also forgot to say that I have this huge rash on my face! I really think I got bit by something in the night! It got me quite a few times on my forehead and into my hairline. It itched like crazy. But as the days went on, I think I had a reaction and got some infection. I got big sores down the sides of my face and neck and it is not pretty! Everyone that would see me would go…Oh My gosh…what happened to you??!! Pres Anton looked at it and gave me some cream and an antibiotic. It doesn’t seem to be helping the itch or making it go away very fast. It is almost as if it has to get ugly and huge before it starts healing. So I look pretty scary!! We talked to the kids on Wednesday this time! We then headed to our appointments with Inoka and Shanika’s families. We went to Negombo after to visit the elders there! I think they needed a little pick me up and we had cookies that Sister Berrett had made for them! It was fun to see them! Thursday was the start of Matts big opening weekend for Kneaders. We were able to facetime Kim who was able to go to Arizona for the big Friends and Family free food night! It was packed! There were people lined up clear around the building! It was so wonderful to see! Jamie was busy cleaning tables to help out and Matt was busy managing! So proud of them! Jana and Nick were there as well as my cousin, Nancy! Jamies family was also there! We had a great surprise when we finally had our furniture delivered! We love it! Looks and feels great! Doesn’t quite match the curtains anymore…..but….oh well!! The elders came to help us get the old stuff out and bring the new stuff in…so we took them to lunch. Steve then went on splits with the elders. I taught piano and had our English class. Steve and the elders went to Pres Nishans to help him with some things and then to bed with another late night! Friday, I was able to go with Eashani and Inoka to visit Sister Rosemary! It was a fun visit! I had piano lessons in the afternoon. We got a call from the American couple, The Cordells, and they asked us to come by their home. Their 4 year old daughter, Claire, was getting ready for school and her Dad noticed that one of her eyes was kind of stuck in one place and wasn’t moving around like normal. He took her to some doctors here and none of them could figure it out. So the Embassy was flying them out to Singapore so they could get an MRI and see a “better” doctor. Kim and her younger daughter stayed behind. Steve was able to help Don give Claire a blessing. They were very worried and anxious. Felt so bad for them. Saturday brought a wonderful day with the branch young men and young women. We had 13 of the youth go and 6 adults. We went to Habarana….a village about 5 ½ hours away! We were able to bring clothes and food to some of the underpriviledged kids that live there. Then we had a fun day reliving Sri Lanka of old! We rode in jeeps, we rode in boats, we rode in a bullock cart with huge ox type animals and then had a Sri Lanka meal cooked over fire…and things that were grown in the grounds around this little hut. I really liked the pumpkin dish. We had fish and rice and other things I am not sure of but they were good. They were served on lotus leaves! It was good! We were able to go to a hotel after and let the kids swim for a bit before heading home…and after having ice cream! Then the long journey back home! Fun day….long day!! Sunday brought church and wonderful meetings there! We found out that the Cordells daughter, Claire, had some preliminary results from the MRI. They found a tumor behind her eye in a very hard to reach spot. They are going to have to do a biopsy in a few days and see what they are dealing with. Most likely, they will have to return to the U.S. for treatment. If it is serious, they may not be returning at all because each of them and their children have to have a medical clearance to take on these foreign assignments. Kim was having a hard time of course. She and Elyse were flying out later in the evening. She asked for a blessing so we went over to her home. I feel so bad for her and their family. We just pray that things will turn out ok. The elders came over in the evening and we made them a huge meal of fish curry and chicken! Not many days left with them!