Hi Everyone --

It has been another nice week here in India. We have had lots to do and experience. It is fun to have Michelle an Ryan here and we are looking forward to Craig arriving next Thursday (Dec. 20).

Yesterday was Ryan's birthday. He did have to go to the hospital, but we had a special birthday breakfast for him -- pancakes and then he got a great gift -- a woofle cricket set, with even the wicket included. He is very excited for Craig to come and a day off to play. Then we saw the camel man on the way home from shopping and we made arrangements for him to come to the house at 6 p.m. for a camel ride. All the Indians think it's pretty funny to see white people riding a camel in town, but that's ok. Where else would you get such a great experience? They went up and down our lane and laughed and waved at everyone. The really great part is the jingling of the bells on the camel's knees. So could a birthday get any better? We went to a party of John Deere expats that night and had birthday cake and ice cream. The special candles they have here in India are just great -- they come with candles, music and fireworks in one special lotus flower on the cake. I don't even think this describes the entire event that happens on top of the cake! We will put a picture on the blog.

Today at church we had 10 people -- with 2 non-members. We were here in Pune, because the other 5 people have no way to get to Mumbai and our car won't fit all of them (even though they would like to think they could fit!).

The Christmas packages went out this week by special John Deere courier -- a nice guy going back to the US took them in his suitcase. He is laying over in Atlanta before he heads to Mexico, so he said he would mail them from Atlanta. Julia's and Pearl's went via the pouch 1 and 2 weeks ago. Please watch for them and let me know when they arrive. Amber and Emily's will come from Atlanta.

I have had a little trouble with the pouch mail -- letters that I sent a month ago still haven't arrived at their destinations. That's a real worry when it was bills I was paying. I keep praying and hoping they will arrive at their destinations.

Michelle and I went to the Tulsibaug Market this week. We were looking for all kinds of things and found many of them, but we also found some really great things we weren't looking for. I can't disclose them now, since they are wrapped up for Christmas. What a fun day that will be! I was also looking for a burgundy sari with lots of gold embroidery and "bling" for a Christmas tree skirt. When we asked one storekeeper if he had sari's he said for us to follow him -- "Come, Madam." We crossed the alley, passed the 2-wheelers parked there, turned the corner, went up some old wooden steps, to the second floor. Around another corner and we were taken inside a sari shop. The guy tried to sell us everything he had, but he didn't have what I wanted. He told me they would all look nice on me. I told him I wasn't going to wear it. He asked if it were for a friend. I told him no, it was for a decoration. He couldn't understand that at all! Finally two nice girls came in the shop and tried to explain what I wanted and he just didn't have it. They took our picture, we took some more pictures and then headed back down the stairs. Michelle was sure we were never going to be seen again.

We also went for pedicures this week. Michelle considered it 40 minutes of torture since her feet are so ticklish. I thought it was great -- also had a paraffin dip. Wonderful! Totally unnecessary, but wonderful! The price was $8.75.

We have more shopping to do this week -- hopefully we will have a car and driver so we can get it done.

We sent our passports off to get our new visas and we hope to see them again soon. We were assured by John Deere that they will be back by next week. I am skeptical, but Doug is hopeful. If we get them back, we have plans to visit Delhi and Agra and the Taj Mahal while Michelle and Ryan and Craig and here. That will be a fun trip if we get our paperwork back. If not, we may be hanging around here.

We hope everyone is well and happy!
Have a wonderful week!
Love, Lucinda


p.s. Doug went to a farm show this week. It was similar to a midwest farm show - seed companies, fertilizer, tractors and emus.