Hyderabad Begins!

This week in Hyderabad should be HOT, HOT, HOT! ...and not just the weather!

Marigold Hotel is where the YSA Conference will be held on Friday and Saturday.

It's right next door to Green Park where we are staying.

 This is our hotel room.  It's very comfortable.

 Elder Kellerstrass has been amazing with the preparations for the conference.

 The couples are gathering.  Elder & Sister Hatch, ZoBell & Tiefenbach are eating lunch at the buffet at the Marigold.  It is so delicious!

 Kellerstrass' joined us and Elder & Sister Gibb for lunch.

 Elder & Sister Sharma are visiting with Elder & Sister Gibb on the outside steps.

 It's a wonderful buffet. On the right is the dessert buffet.  I particularly liked the rose petal ice cream which tasted like roses.  It was very good.

 This is the front entrance to the Marigold.

 The details are nicely done.

 Brother Sunil, President Gutty & President William (my boss).

 The brethren are also in need of nourishment. President Funk is on the right, Sunil on the left.

This is the stage prepared for a child's 1st birthday celebration.  It is super elaborate.  It is interesting, but not part of the All India YSA Conference.

Today's Latest

I just like to stay up to date on the blog whenever possible.

I am busy in the office, and it looks like the future is gonna be more so.

We are so super excited about going to Hyderabad next week to help with and take part in the "All India YSA Conference" and the Hyderabad Stake creation.

"Arise and Shine Forth" is the theme!  Go Hyderabad!

I get to be the mission's official photographer as well as helping with the family history computer room.

I will be taking the photos for the Church News article that Sister Kellerstrass will be writing!!  

Wow, can you believe it!!  I am excited!

I am going to attach the photos from today.  Elder Wigg and I got up at 12:30 am to go to the airport to pick up a sister who was returning from her mission home to KGF Branch.  She has been serving for 18 months in the Philippines.  (We got back to bed by 3:30 am!)

 This is Sister Armugam who has returned from her mission, posing with her parents and 3 younger siblings.

 This is her family including her Aunt and Uncle.  They are from KGF Branch, which stands for Kolar Gold Fields.  KGF is part of the Bangalore Zone.

 Elder Vinck is tons of fun to have around the Office.  He is the new Assistant to the President from Melbourne, Australia!

 Elder Sharma, from Bangalore, is the other Assistant to the President. He's a pretty smart IT guy and great to have around the office. We really enjoy the Assistants.

 Elder Chelladurai, from Chennai, comes into the office regularly and helps with many jobs.  He saves us a lot of time through his service.

Elder and Sister ZoBell, who are currently residing at the "Wigg Residence", will be helping with the YSA Conference in Hyderabad, as well as all the mission couples.  Afterwards they will be going to Visakhapatnam for their mission service.  We are so excited for them as we love Vizag.  They will be staying in a nearby hotel until an apartment can be rented for them.  We know they will love the people in Vizag, but the spicy food could be a challenge.  "Give me a mountain to climb!"

lovin' joggin'

Even after nearly 40 years, I am still lovin' my early mornin' joggin'!!

Some things will never change. Well, I can hope that's the case.  But really, as I get older, it gets harder.

Odds & Ends

Sometimes there are a few photos that I want to blog, but they don't really fit into any theme.

But I want to post them anyway...so here goes...

 One morning before coming to the Office, one of the Assistants, Elder Sharma, made me some Gulab Jamun.

 You buy the mix, well, at least, Elder Sharma did.  You mix up the pancake type batter, deep fry it, then place it into previously prepared sugar syrup.  It is so good. And only about a hundred thousand calories per bite.  

I should learn to make this!

This is Elder Sharma, my gulab jamun cook!

Zone Leader's Council

 Elder Miniyappa, Elder Patel & Elder Srigiri

Elder R Kumar, Elder Ganaparam

Elder Patel, Elder Srigiri

 Elder Raja, Elder Westwood

Elder Ram, Elder Badireddy

Elder Miniyappa, Elder Katuka

Sister Funk took this photo on her new camera.  It works well, as you can see.
These Zone leaders are an amazing group.  They are all Indian or OCI (overseas citizen of India).

Shankar, the office help, is helping Sister Hatch with her Flat Stanley.  It's pretty funny.

 Elder & Sister Wigg posing with Terence and his newly baptized mother, Rita.

 And Elder & Sister Tiefenbach with Terence and his mom.

 Terence was only baptized a few months ago and now he gets to baptize his mother, Rita.  

That is so exciting and wonderful!

Terence and his Mom, Rita, posing with Elder Fitzpatrick and Elder Kumbhakar & Mike.

Elder & Sister Allison out to dinner with Elder Wigg and his Indian Bride!!

And now, Friday night date night at the 4 Seasons restaurant with Elder & Sister ZoBell.  So fun!!

Well, folks, that's it for today.  Catch you bloggin' next time!

India Bangalore Mission Tour 2012

For 1 week in March there was a tour of the India Bangalore Mission.

President and Sister Funk traveled throughout the mission with President and Sister Watson.

They counselled, trained and encouraged the Elders in each Zone in the mission.

Here are some of the photos taken during the tour.

 Rajahmundry & Visakhapatnam Zones meet during the Mission Tour for instruction.

 Bangalore, Coimbatore and Chennai Zones meet together at Bangalore 2nd Branch building.

Hyderabad Zone meets here at West Marredpally Church for the mission tour Zone Conference.

Photos supplied by Sister Funk.  Great job, Sister Funk.

Family Home Evening

The Bangalore 1st Branch Young Single Adults had Family Home Evening at our house.

It was tons of fun.

First we ate stew and bread, fruit & chocolate cake and ice cream.

Then we baked some chocolate chip cookies.

Next we played uno.  It was great to socialize, just visit and have fun.

 We had a great time playing uno. Most had never played before so it was fun to teach them.

 All in preparation for the photo!

back row: Jasmin, Zack, Richard & Jennifer (my new VT partner)

front row: Sister Wigg, Elder Wigg, Elder Allison & Sister Allison

What a great little group for Family Night!

The Canadians are Coming...Still!

It's pretty amazing that more Canadians are coming to serve in the India Bangalore Mission!!

 Elder & Sister ZoBell arrived without any glitches.

 They appear well and happy even after 35 hours of travel to reach Bangalore.

 This is a nice shot of the newly arrived couple.  

They were tired, but will have plenty of opportunity to rest from their travels and adjust to the time difference.

 The ZoBell's and the Wigg's after breakfast at the Mission Home.

Elder & Sister ZoBell spent the day with President & Sister Funk doing orientation and training at the Mission Home.

CRICKET!!!!

It's May 1st in Bangalore and it's a Holiday!

The tradition has been to form 6 cricket teams from the young men in the 3 Bangalore branches of the Church and practice for 3 or 4 months prior to May 1st.

Then, at 7:30 am, they gather, and begin play at 8 am.

We arrived at noon and watched a few hours of Cricket.  It was really fun!  I loved taking pictures, of course!  And we loved visiting with the saints as we watched.

The photos are in random order, as I took them, so I hope you enjoy them.

Prem took this photo before the matches started.  It is fun to see the colorful shirts and the eagerness of the players to get started.  Have a great day of cricket!

Manny is growing up, loving cricket!

 And he loves Elder Wigg and I, too.  He's like our own grandson, at times.

I am helping his mother, Teresa, learn how to bake and sew.

 President Thomas

 Vivian is beginning his run as the bowler...

 ...and now he's finishing the bowl (or pitch).

 President Thomas with Raj Kumar

This is the dugout.

Only in India does a herd of goats invade the cricket grounds.

Sister Jennifer with Rani and Gracy.

 Some 3rd Branch Sisters. I know Usha is in the middle.

 Brother Ragu with a sleeping child

Uday chilling between matches.

 George sitting with Brother Thomas and Timothy.

Jake is on the left.

Karthik visiting with his girl.

 Cute kid, enjoying the event.

 President Steven hanging out in the dugout with some of the players.

 Lovely little sisters, President William's youngest daughter.

This is one of my favorite shots, so pretty. This is President William's second daughter.

 Terence appears to be deep in thought.

Sister Serah in the center with Visali on the right.

So, Vivian is ready for the ball...

Oops!  A swing and a miss!

This is Ragu's wife and son...so cute!

Jerry Louis and his wife.

Okay, everyone is eating ice cream bars!

Mmm...that was so good and cold on a hot day!

Such little cuties with colored tongues. This is Kandi.

Elder Mattes getting into the spirit of it all!

Cement bleachers, but it's an attentive audience anyway.

President Thomas' brother David

Selvyn

Elder Newbill, Jerry Louis & Elder Sampara

 Elder S. Kumar doing business on the phone.

 Prem & Teresamica watching between Prem's matches.

 This is how you hold the bat.

 Is this how?  That looks uncomfortable.

 Wo...there's the ball, now swing!

 Elder Wigg is getting into the swing of things!

 That looks like pretty good style, I think.

Thanks, Terrence, for teaching Elder Wigg.

I think Elder Wigg enjoyed the cricket instruction.

 Richard is bowling.

 Ragu is the batsman.

Here we have the Captains of David.

 Manny had such a fun day, and slept all the way home in the car afterwards.

Go Sons of Jacob!

They are recruiting Elder Sampara to play with them. Go sons of Nephi!

 He acknowledges the crowd.

 Elder Sampara has seen me taking his picture.

 Ready, keep your eye on the ball, and you need perfect timing.

 It can be quite a stretch for a batsman.

 Scoring 2 runs, running there and back.

 One gorgeous little girl, cute as a button.

 Sam was an official when he wasn't playing.

 George, leaving the field after his match.

 Richard is doing well as the bowler.

 Richard with his bowler follow through.

 These 2 guys work upstairs at the Service Center, Prem, on the left and Sam.

Prem is ready for the bowl.

 There it went, past him, wide.  Not a good bowl by the bowler.

Each runner has to touch the line with the bat then run back, to score 2 runs.

 Running between the wicket lines scores a run.

 Karthik is ready for the ball, but you can't always tell how high it is going to bounce. He is a good batsman.

 President Doraiswamy watches on.

 Running between wickets scores a run.

 Good hit, Elder Sampara.

 Brother Teki fielding the ball

 Elder Sampara loves cricket and he's pretty good at it.

Getting ready for contact with the ball.

 I like this shot of President William, at full swing. He played cricket in college.

 President William loves Cricket.

 He is ready to go...waiting patiently.

 The bowler, Selvyn

 I love this shot of Selvyn...he's airborn!

Cheering from the outfield

 Sam, the referee, signals a 6

Karthik as the bowler.

 This picture is taken after the batsman makes contact with the ball.

 Sam keeping his eye on the ball, makes a good hit!

 Vivian bowling.

 That looks painful.

 Vivian at full tilt as the bowler!

 Brother George enjoying an ice cream bar.

 Elder Newbill watching and enjoying the experience.

Vinod

 Richard with a good move.

Elder Sampara with a direct hit. He is a good batsman.