A Few Words From Mom and Dad...A Few Teardrops From Their Child Who Seems to Be Growing Up, but Will Always Be Their Baby

The houseboat we rented for an overnight cruise on the backwaters of Kerala serves as the setting for this blog entry. We have witnessed some of the dramatic diversity that makes India a fascinating and wonderful land.

When we arrived in Delhi we saw the India we had come to know through television news spots – heavy traffic, crowded streets, intensely interesting markets, and a cosmopolitan mix of people of all ages and races. We also came to know a bit about Delhi that is not a part of our news diet. We saw some wonderful examples of Delhi’s history. We toured some of Delhi’s most famous religious buildings and witnessed the great diversity of faiths that give India an exotic and wonderful atmosphere. We enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of Delhi’s people. And, we cannot forget the rooftop restaurant at our hotel. Delhi also served as our train station to and from Agra where we visited the Taj Mahal and other famous historic buildings.

After our days in Delhi we boarded a plane for Cochin. We arrived to find the green palm trees that Charlotte had told us about along with heat reminiscent of August in Illinois. The southwestern Indian state of Kerala is as diverse as it is different from the bustling city of Delhi. Kerala, while busy, is noticeably more peaceful than the country’s capital. We are very glad that we started our trip to India in one of its busiest places so that we could end our trip in one of its most peaceful places. From the deck of this houseboat I am awed by the amazing topography of this state. We were in tea country just a few days ago and saw the world’s highest tea plantation with tea bushes growing more than 7500 feet above sea level in cool mountain air. Now, on these backwaters, we are at sea level and in the summer-like heat that greeted us upon our arrival.

The people of India are friendly and the hospitality of those working in the tourist industry is warm and welcoming. But India is not for the faint of heart. The broad diversity of people, culture, food, language, and traffic calls for the alert attention of the traveler. I highly recommend India to those who have a love for adventure and a desire to be challenged by the country’s variety.

That last statement brings me to the most important part of this blog, Charlotte. I am proud of her willingness to leave well-known comforts behind. I am even more proud of her growing confidence and comfort in her new home. Charlotte has discovered the beauty of her Indian home and the friendship of people of all ages. We have heard time and again the statement, “Charlotte is our friend.” And we have witnessed time and again the warm greetings she receives from those she has come to know. I could not have wanted any greater discovery in India than to know that she is thriving in this exotic land.

As we prepare to leave our tour-guide and daughter, we leave her knowing that she has done well in this place and has represented family, church, and country with integrity and courage.