Ruben2India

Namaskaar!

Pranaam aur namaste.
As you're on this blog, you probably already know who I am. If not, my name is Ruben - nice to meet you.
I'm on a mission, a mission to learn Hindi.
Here you'll see some reports to read about my travel around India (like you've got nothing better to do).
Once you're done, please do leave a comment as I'm really curious as to what is going on back home.
Cheerio.

To follow Gracy and Nick's adventures, go to:
http://tkoppeltje.shareyourstory.nl/

JAN

How I got to Jabalpur

India vrijdag 8 januari 2010

Hi everybody.

Right now I'm in jabalpur. I have been here for about a week. How did I get here? Let me tell you...

Back in belgium, about a week before leaving, we were all preparing my trip. I packed, that is to say, my mom packed many things in my maroon suitcase. So many gifts and presents and practical stuff was packed that my luggage ended up weighing over 3KGs. It might pose a problem.

Nevertheless, on the 29th of January we (dad, mom, sammy and me) went to brussels airport. I checked in and we headed for passport control. Then, the moment we all hoped to postpone had come to pass. Time for Goodbyes.

With sadness in my heart I left my family behind knowing i won't be seeing them for 7 long weeks. I departed from Brussels and Belgium and arrived in London Heathrow where my sister/cousin Priya and another sister (who's name escapes me) picked me up. I stayed with Nitesh, Priya and lil Jude for 2 days. I got to go iceskating with the congregation (which i loved). All in all, it was great.

Then, on the 31st (yes, on newyear's eve) Nitesh dropped me to the airport with my heavy luggage. It was Heathrow terminal 4 which was more crowded than ever for some reason. I flew with Gulf Air to Bahrein and after waiting about 2 hours I caught the flight going to Delhi. At the Indira Gandhi International Airport i was picked up by (uncle) Norman Davis (Nitesh's father). We drove to Gurgaon which is a small distance outside Delhi but which is fairly close to the airport. After enjoying a nice meal with him and his wife, I went to bed and fell off to sleep; i was knackered and exhausted.

I woke up around 7 by my alarmclock because my flight to Jabalpur was scheduled for around 9 AM.

When Uncle had dropped me at the domestic airport however, i still had to wait 3 more hours for my flight because they all were delayed due to a thick fog. When it finally was announced that my flight was boarding, all the passengers for that flight were led onto a bus. I couldn't help but notice how few were on the bus and thus taking that flight. I was pleasantly surprised when i saw that the flight was the tiniest i had seen. Instead of jet-engines, there were twin-engines with propellers. I must admit that i felt a little nervous at the sight.

I got on the aircraft and after some time it took off with a roar. The flight was about two hours. It touched down in Jabalpur Airport. It was the smallest airport i have ever been to. All there was, was a runway with a couple of buildings. One was the tiny terminal, and the other dingy building was the traffic control 'tower' with the words, "Air Traffic Services" being displayed on its front. I had to surpress grinning. What a delightful experience!

When I crossed the hallway in the terminal building, there brother Gautam was, waving Watchtower and Awake! magazines at me. I still recognized him from when me and my family drove with the car from Belgium to India and we had stopped in Punjab to see him and his wife. They're both special pioneers, and every five years or so they are assigned a different territory in India. So there I was walking with him towards his Jeep. His Jeep is one of a kind. You feel like you're about to embark on a safari. My guess is it's about 30 years old, but it still drives well.

We drove more towards Jabalpur and arrived at the appartment building they are staying in. And here I am.

Field service here is different but varies a lot, and that's what makes it so interesting. There are all types of people here: rich, poor, hindu, muslim, christian, big, small, fat, thin. I'm currently working on a presentation i could do in Hindi so i can take more part in the ministry.

The Jabalpur Congregation is lovely. The brothers and sisters here are so humble and down to earth and they're like a real family. An elderly sister had fallen recently and broke her shoulder, there would have been nobody to help her (she lives alone) if the congregation had not acted immediately and seen to it that she be taken care of properly.

Everything I experience here will no doubt last for a lifetime.

Next week I'll be travelling by train to Bangalore to visit my uncle Joel and his family. It'll be a 36 hour journey being both adventurous and mind-boggling. I look forward to it.

Until then,

Firmailenge

(see you later)

sheeba awale

Geplaatst op 16 januari 2010

Hi Ruben,
am here again. hope by now u must be speaking fluent hindi! guess even better than me.. , but its so good that u r doing all this effort for kingdom work! so enjoy this trip and hoping to see you soon! Take care & Jehovah's blessings!
Love from Tim, Matthew and me.

Hey Brother...
Its very good to see that the SMALL boy i had in mind has grown... Much more then his shoe size ... Bro you take care of yourself and remember all the special advice i gave to you about India and of course I remember your advice for Belgium... Of course I being imperfact like others kinda fell a bitt into Satan's trap but hopefully everything is now okay.... Well the good thing is that i like our family have the fighting Sprit so you use it well too. And come back soon the Hindi Group Here is waiting for YOU! Be Good, Safe, Well and most of all happy. Because we are happy to see that you are happy... Love you brother.....
A.R.
And really Sorry But All of you are wrong
Its- Phir milen-gay (See You Later)

Sheeba Awale

Geplaatst op 9 januari 2010

Hi Ruben,
Its a surprise to know about yur trip to INDIA!!! Wauw!! So my children together with me, we pray for you, & all the best & lots of Jehovahs blessings. Ofocurse like yr parents mentioned: Ps 55:22 is my favourite scripture! So take care and our thoughts are also with you! Hope u meet lots of people to whom u can pass on the KINGDOM MESSAGE!!! Take care of yourself & be carefull!!! Jehovahs Blessings!!!!
Return back safely & may Jehovahs loving hand safeguard you!!!!
Hope to see you soon!
Big hugs & kisses from all of us!!!!

martin en rebecca

Geplaatst op 9 januari 2010

Hi Son,
Finally, nice to hear that you're getting used to the place and that you're adjusting. Keep up the good work and rely on Jehovah for everything and use the opportunity to the full to gain experience.
We all miss u sooo much but we are happy to see that you are ok and doing your best.. We love u son and are so proud of you, do not worry about a thing, neither about here nor there, just keep Psalms 55.22 and Phil 4: 6, 7 always in mind. We are with you dear son with soul and spirit and enjoyed your beautiful report.. Just one thing, it is 'Fir Milenge' (see you again). A big warm hug from mum and papa and lots of love and kisses. Mum and Dad.

Nick & Gracy from Costa Rica

Geplaatst op 9 januari 2010

Nice to hear from you!
We are very happy we can follow you as well as well as you go through your adventures. Keep us updated!
Enjoy your stay and use every opportunity to learn about yourself.
Keep us updated!
Big warm hug,
your Bro & Sis!