25. Aizawl

Had a great day in aizawl today. Started off the day with meeting a couple of the girls at the church and then went on to the market. I was able to pick up a few things including a new shawl for myself to wear at church tonight . The days are warm but the evening can be quite cool . We did some sight seeing after that including going to the local museum. The Mizo people used to be tribal headhunters before they became Christian, so it was very interesting seeing the history of this place.
I was invited for dinner at the new church so went back to the hotel to get ready for it and then headed to the new church. For those of you who don't know, it was the dream of the church here to build a new church, and Peter, the doctor that I have done the medical clinics with in previous years, and I , committed to sending them money every three months until they were able to do so. They finally finished the building last March and wanted us to come for the dedication service, but neither Peter or I could come at that time.
When I finally saw it today for the first time, surprise !! I cried ! What a beautiful, beautiful building . I had seen pictures before but to see it there before me was amazing. Took lots of pictures that I will post when I get home.
Dinner was delicious . They felt they had to buy me special chicken from the hotel I am staying in but the food they had was just as delicious or more. We had rice, a long green gourd with spikes on it boiled (Heidi we saw these in the market ), boiled pork with greens, and some really delicious bamboo shoot. It had peanuts mixed with it and that might have been my favourite thing of all.
After we rested at Thangtei's house and then on to the church. They had a wonderful service and presented me with more gifts . I am going to need a new suitcase to bring things home! They presented both myself and Peter with plaques thanking us. I got up to speak and managed to mangle my way through reading a Psalm in their language. Then somehow I also got talked into singing with one of the girls ( thankfully in English). Many pictures were taken after.
Have one more day in Aizawl then leave the next day to go to Kolkata. Will spend the night there and then on to Mumbai where I will take the 0300 flight back to Boston via London.
I am hoping that the black beetle that I picked out of my bed when I returned this evening has no friends and I will be able to sleep and not think of him too much.....