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This will be the first post in a series of posts about my trip to India. I decided the most accurate way to share my experience with you would be to posts entries from my actual journal. The beginning entries mostly act as summaries. Later on my posts will get more anecdotal and descriptive. I don't plan on editing anything out of my journal, but presenting it in its entirety, with the addition of pictures and video. Hopefully I won't bore you to death. If I do, just leave me comments and I'll leave some out :) Anyhow, without further adieu, let's begin:

Ride into Kolkata late. Around 2 am. People are sprawled out everywhere! We pass by quite a few men herding goats. The streets are quiet, but not void of people. Even children are out playing with friends. The city looks large, but I would never have guessed it is home to over eleven million people. We pulled up to our hotel, an old "boy's club" from the era of the British raj. Big room, hard bed.

Wake up to an entirely new city. People are everywhere! Taxis swerve through large flocks of people, cars, rickshaws, and goats.

Jain Temple - Inside was a flame that has been burning for over 190 years. Temple feels ancient. Italian marble floors seem misplaced. I begin to align preconceived notions of Jainism with reality. While we were in the temple, Melanie made a big group of friends. We take a picture with them, and exchange phone numbers.


Move to new hotel. Hotel Diplomat:
- Not very clean
- Good TV stations :)
- Marissa and I sleep on one halve
- Big hole from outside into bathroom
- Nice to have our own room

Sunday Services:
Branch President: Brother Tappas
- Seven in congregation, including the five of us
- The other two are two guys from BYU, here on a grant
- Sacrament meeting highly spiritual
- Topics: love, trials & afflictions, and the history of the church in kolkata
- One of the best church meeting's I've even been to --- the spirit is EXTREMELY strong

Some thoughts I had during the meeting:
- We can't follow the greatest commandment without following the second
- In John where he says that love casteth out all fear, perhaps love here is symbolic of Christ. Christ's atonement conquers fear. It gives us all the knowledge of redemption.
- Gospel = good news = atonement = love = two great commandments
- I don't think my father-in-law understands me spiritually. I think he views my ideas as belief needing a cure, instead of legitimate.
- So, to be in accordance with God's will, we need to love others, thereby loving God for his love
- It seems that God wants us to use our agency and life to love others. A lot of commandments detract from these more important, overarching commandments. They become pet topics, instead of the topics that truly bring about our salvation. In other words, suggestions defeat commandments. I need to love other people more.

Lunch after church: Chicken. I don't eat innards.

Kahli Temple - Area surrounding temple way cooler than actual temple.

Mother Teresa's Mission - I'm glad we came. Wonderful woman. They called her "saint of the gutters." She gave of all her substance to bless the poor and afflicted.


Big Park - Once again, tons of people! We took a horse carriage ride and watched a monkey dance.



India, and much of Asia for that matter, produces completely new ethical dilemmas for the westerner. You see things that are highly tragic. Of course, many of these things are especially setup for the tourist. Young and old women with infants ask you for money --- and not much either. However, most travel guides suggest that you do not help them. It becomes a way of living for so many people, preying on tourists and never working. Nonetheless, images are shocking. They are especially shocking when you don't know if you are turning down a sincere person in need of help. Every time someone asks you something, you quickly respond 'No!,' before you realize they just want to know where you are from. You get edgy about manipulation. It's difficult to break from the paradigm that everyone wants something from you. However, at the same time, the little money they are asking for would hardly hurt your pockets. Women follow you for miles, sometimes a shorter distance, their baby (who you're not sure is really their baby or rented) cries incessantly. If you give them money, you may hurt them, irresponsibly trying to be kind. If you don't, you feel heavy hearted. We donated at Mother Teresa's. It made me feel a little better.

Last day in Kolkata:

Walked around market for a while. Once again, lots of people and lots of people asking for money.

I realized these same beggars exist in Thailand. I don't really "see" them anymore.

Food is good to give. It still fuels the problem, but at least you know it goes to that person, and not some evil mafia guy behind them.

Life is really tough for so many people. The quiet are among those who have it the hardest. What am I doing to contribute to the problem? Tons. What can I do to help? Not sure yet. "Help" is among the most complex and unsure of language.

A man with one arm told me 'you have no good heart!' I knew it wasn't true. I knew he was just trying to make me feel bad for not giving him money, but it still hurt my feelings. Why do people manipulate empathy (sympathy)? They must be in a bad place. The caste system, combined with reincarnation theology, does little to help them.

Dream = tempted by cheating. I don't cheat and I feel wonderful.
Message = Appreciate Marissa

Nana would've loved to hear of my travels. I wish I would've told her more about my mission --- more about Nepal.

Train station = CRAZY
Train ride = nice

Kolkata ----> Gaya and Bodhigaya