BaNgLaDeSh 2012 -Getting Situated

      Nomaskir! Hello everyone! I’m so sorry! It has been such a long time, but hopefully this post will help you understand what I’ve been up to! I’m going to split up these blogs so then it will be easier to read them and follow with me as I inform you how life is going!
   So Here I am! BANGLADESH! When you first arrived, it was like nothing I had ever experienced before! Coming off the plane already a crowd of people swarmed us like we were famous, just staring hahha this is something we have definitely had to try to get used to! (although you never really do) ;) And even though I know their culture is a lot different, I kinda don’t blame them. The odd time we see a white person it’s like you are in another world! They are so scarce, I think with the outreach being a little over half done I’ve seen 5 total who aren’t on our team! 

     Wow to say that outreach is half over, man where has the time gone! I cannot believe it, but we have already done so much! 

     We stayed in Dhaka for the first three days getting situated and adjusting to the culture. All right I’ll d my best to try to explain the city life of Bangladesh. One word: CRAZY! One of the first things that I saw was the traffic differences. Basically, they have no rules of the road. Hahah there are no lines on the road, no lights, motorcycles are the kings of the road! They squeeze through the tiniest spots. The fastest form of transportation though for groups however are these things called c&G’s. Anyone ever been on the zipper before? Okay you are literally in that zooming past all the buses experiencing near death situations and close calls constantly! Hahah I have yet to see an accident though! I just don’t understand! But it is like a “dry” culture and they always drive very aware! You don’t even need your license driving those things! I love it though! 

    There are a million buses, and people are packed as much as they can, including hanging on the roof! 

     In some respects, it reminds me a lot of when I was back in Nicaragua; But completely different at the same time. However, they both have a commonality with the pollution. I think Dhaka has more though, garbage surrounds the streets, and some of the plants even have a layer of dust over them! I wonder how photocynthesis happens sometimes.. Haha I’ve gotten used to the hacking that is a part of the culture here, and although we weren’t in Dhaka very long, we saw many beggars with many deformities. It was so sad and broke my heart. 

    I’ve been very warm pretty much my entire outreach! There was a few cold mornings in the village but hahah I always seem to be warm though;) 

     On almost every street corner is a tropical fruit stand which I love (ps: it’s kinda like a jungle climate;) ) and you kind find markets to malls. 

right off the plane in the airport people stare

     Everyday, I wake up and get to put on my Princess Jasmine outfit! I actually love it, and I’ve gotten some made for me! My everyday outfit is called a shawir camis. But there are also saris and tribal dresses that we can wear on special occasions.  Because of this being the culture tradition moreover many women are still under Muslim influence as Muslim is the main religion here. But it’s fun seeing normal men stores here while there are Bangla women stores only to be found for girls fashion! I love it though and I bought my first tribal dress the other day that I’m pumped about! 

    Dhaka is nuts! Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated nations in the entire world. I need to look it up, but in Dhaka alone there are around 15 million people in the city at once. 

      The Food is amazing as well! The food here is spicy and super sweet! But my tastebuds have not been having a hard time! Rice is a tri-daily dish usually, with either a chicken, beef or the odd pork currie. I love daal! dall? Not sure how to spell but so good! And because it is more-so the vegetable season, we usually get many vegetables.   So many potatoes that I love! Breakfast is my favorite especially when we were in Dhaka! Naan and Purata galore! Oh, and I forgot to mention that we eat with our hands! Usually our right hand: because of the culture! 

     I couldn’t wait was in store for me and my team! How God was going to use me and what I was going to learn about him. But already I had fell in love with the country and I couldn’t wait to get to our first location: Fatikchuri. We met our translator, Trishna, she is so tiny! Even smaller then Suzy back at the base! It’s funny how I feel tall in Bangladesh! 

Me in my Unlucky sawra camies!

in a cng!

     The hotel we stayed at in Dhaka was fun. Man I’ve almost forgot what sleeping on a real bed feels like since we were there! We had a balcony that overlooked into an alley and we played worship outside overlooking the busyness going around us from afar. I prayed that God would open doors for us and prepare a way for us to speak to these people. Taylor was just starting out with leading worship and we were just getting used to our new jobs! I also learned there about the importance to always making sure you have your orna (scarf) with you!

      So many opportunities awaited our team! Soon we would discover what God had in store for us!