I was asked to do some games at the branch activity. I decided to teach them how to do the Virginia Reel. They had no clue but it turned out to be a great laugh anyway. Here's Fred and I trying to get them to go under the bridge.

Another funny sign on the back of the auto driver's seat.

Fred with his two seminary students who successfully completed their year of seminary. The next picture is of all the seminary students in the district and the cake that Sister Valetta made.

We were driving down the street in a new area when suddenly we saw this man. Even our auto driver was horrified. We drove down just a bit further then had the auto stop so that Fred could jump out and get a picture. Fred hid behind a car so the poor man wouldn't be aware that he was getting his picture taken. We think these hideous swellings must be tumors.

Wanted Edugated Sales Staff. We get the biggest kick out of signs here.

Elder Puri was the Santa Clause at the Branch Christmas party. He was so funny. I think his folks will enjoy these pictures. They have my blog address now. Elder Puri is from Scotland and one of his grandfathers was a Sikh from India. He's so cool.

I don't think I ever put this on the blog before. I happened to scroll down and came across some old Christmas pictures. How do I look as Santa Clause. pretty good huh?

This is the stand where we get our freshly squeezed pure sugar cane juice drink. It's the most delicious drink in the world. We're finally getting to be brave about eating and drinking at places like this. I tried the fresh mango juice the other night but they put some black salt in it and the black salt tastes like the sewer so it kind of ruined it for me. It was still good but not as good as it could have been. We have to tell this sugar cane man to not put that salt in our drinks. He thinks we are crazy.

Cattle and people all living together in harmony while New Delhi tries to beautify the city before the Commonwealth Games in October.

I'm not sure if this is the same fellow I've seen before. There's another one who walks around in this same area who is completely bent over at the waist. I only saw this one today so I was lucky to get a picture. Terribly pitiful sights we see on a regular basis.

This is how I like to eat mangos too. Notice all the juice on the steps below his feet.

It was quite the night for us last night. I got to ride an elephant, see the champion green coconut breaker perform and make a new record, and I met and shook hands with the chief minister of New Delhi, Mrs. Dikshit. I had read in the paper many times about Mrs. Dikshit but didn't think I would meet her personally. I was really mad at her at one time for saying she wanted to do away with all the auto richshaws. They are my favorite form of transportation here in the city.

The green coconut breaker was really something also. He would take a coconut in his left hand and break the coconut with his elbow. Some of them he broke with his knee and his forehead but mostly he used his elbow. Mrs. Dikshit was the big dignitary at the event but I didn't notice a single body guard with her. I just went right up to her and talked to her. Pretty amazing. I actually think India is a safer place than America.

We walked to a place called Dilli Haat to meet the Gagan John family and just as we were crossing the busy highway we saw the elephant. Fred grabbed a 100 rupee bill out of his wallet and waved it at the boy rider. Our friends were yelling and saying it was illegal to ride the elephant on that road but the boy was determined to earn the money. He gave his command and the elephant stretched out his front legs clear across the road and laid down. A big city bus had to stop and all the traffic got backed up while Fred and the boy did their best to hoist me up. An elephant's head has big scratchy whiskers and they were poking me pretty hard but I was determined to take a ride. It was sort of embarrassing to think about the funny scene I must have made getting on and off of that elephant.

I like to take pictures of these construction workers especially when there are little children and babies right there living on the edge.

The following pictures are of the slum we visited. Remember to click on to older posts at the bottom of the blog to see the rest of the slum pictures