Money matters

 I was talking to the students last week here in Kerala, and they told me that people are becoming more and more like those in the West. 

What do I mean by this? Well, due to testing and preparations for yet another event, there were a few students in the class. They asked me about my smartphone. They were very impressed, as it is considered extremely expensive here.

In the past I would have basked the adoration and their impressed expressions. Not anymore! I saw it as a potential stumbling block for them and myself. I quickly told them that while it might seem so special here it actually isn't. I told them about how they depreciate in value very rapidly. (I love this as I can get older folding phones cheaply). I explained that all smartphones are amazing. I then explained how a large portion of the USA is actually poorer than they think. I explained how in USA and South Korea based on my own experiences how people are actually poor but they look rich. 

I am teaching my sons these things as well. Actually, patience helps here as well. Today, that thing we like 100 dollars. But 6 months later they release a newer version and boom you can get it for only 30 dollars. Second hand markets are one way we can deal with these times that are critical and hard to deal with. 

In, South Korea in 2024 14872 people killed themselves. I am sure the actual number is much higher, and I am sure the love of money hurt a number of these people. I hope Jehovah gives them a chance to see the real life we have in store under his tent. 

I am constantly looking at ways to reduce costs. I am currently looking at second hand desktops that are cheap that when you add a GTX 1070 or GTX 1060 6gb card plus plenty of extra ram over time you get a cheap but very solid system. I need to over haul George's smart phone (new battery), and replace Jeyo's with a solid second hand unit. In the coming months likely near the end of this year the fold 6 and fold 3 will be looked into. But, we will see at this time they are on lower priority. High priority is setting this place up here and getting the boys here. All the while being busy in the ministry, making meetings, and spending time with our brothers and sisters. 

I must put the kingdom first! If I do not I am just wasting time. 

/tata

Update time!

 The boys are still in Lucknow, but they have been getting ready by packing and looking into the papers Oscar needs to travel with. Yogita and I have been getting things ready here by seeing how systems work here. Shopping is a breeze, and shops will bring chicken, beef, seafood, or mutton to your doorstep. The price? Very affordable. In fact, prices here are much better than in the North. We will get a desk and cot with mattresses for the boys soon. I might do this as they are heading down here via train. It would give me more time to find something nice and even have a shop keeper order something that meets our needs.

So right now we have completed about 1.5 months here and the next phase will be getting the boys down here while learning more and more about this region and passing that information on to the boys.

I am happy that they are excited to come but I am also happy that this experience is helping them to practice patience. If this were South Korea, we would have moved together. Here, patience is needed. Even for myself, I have to practice this fruitage of the Spirit. When I rushed and did things, I failed. When I took time, things turned out so much better.

For example, my GPU. I always wanted this graphics card. I learned it is better to just wait and keep an eye out. During COVID, that is back in 2020 GPU prices jumped to crazy levels. I was walking through the neighborhood and saw a pc shop that was always closed. This time I walked in with Yogita and saw that he was selling GPUs of course not the one I wanted. But it was cheap! I bought it and it will be used in the boys next desktop. It took about 10 years for me to finally get the GPU I wanted. I even bought it at the same price I got the gtx 1060 I bought on that walk with Yogita. By the way I got those back in 2019 the GTX 1060s. So they are sill running strong seven years later. Patience really does pay off.

So unlike South Korea's rush rush culture here in India things take more time. It is not like 13 years ago, but still what can be done on the spot in South Korea or the next business day. India, it might take two or three days to complete. 

So phase one is complete and phase two is underway. 

/tata

Jehovah supports us all. An encouraging visit.

So it was a Sunday and after the meeting a couple invited us over to their home. 

They have a very nice comfortable home. They never once bragged about it or told us how much it is worth. They were very down to Earth. 

We ate a very tasty lunch together and talked at length about thier experience. I wanted to share ours but I discerned it was not the time for our story to be told.

Our sister has a background that would make is difficult to learn the truth about the bible and Jehovah's will for us on Earth.

She prayed to Jehovah to help her. She received the help she needed. But she had to really work hard and think outside of the box to take advantage of the help she was given.

She then had to make a choice to give up her comfort at that time, rely on Jehovah and take a leap of faith. She did this and every prayer was answered.

Every, single, one, was answered. The prayers were not only answered in a timely way others were taken care of before she made the request of Jehovah. 

This experience has taught me by yet another living account that our prayers are answered. Just not always in the way that our lower level of thinking and knowledge feels it needs to be answered. At the end of her story she was living comfortably with her husband thankful to the true source of her comfort.

/tata

Teaching here shows us a reality.

Teaching in South Korea is good way to support oneself or a family.l

In, South Korea there was a prestige that came along with it. The community gave a lot of respect to teachers. Now, over 26 years later teachers are getting little to respect. They are bullied by students and parents. 

Today there have been a few famous cases where teachers have committed sucide. They did so in such a way that the school authorities could not cover it up 

Now, we do not work for private institutions. We work for a private English Medium School.  

The education is terrible. There are so many events that take time away from education. Frequently, we have to pause what we are.doing. Many of these events have no real educational purpose. Teachers often use the time to chew the fat and just relax.

In South Korea many private schools rely on what I call a script. As students learn it or rather memorize it they become like parrots. They seem to understand but ask them anything outside of that script and they are like a person who never never spoken English before.

Here, teachers have such poor English, they pass poor English speaking habi5s to the students. It is crazy. The principal sees it and tries to turn things around.

This tells me one thing; we do not know what we are.doing. The bible tells us that learning needs to be at home. Most kids I see really want to spend time w8th thier families. 

Where I was in South Korea wasting class time checking homework here I am in another broken system. We need Jesus's kingdom to show us how to live.

We have no clue!

/Tata 

When will the end come?

 The funny thing is, the end has already come for many millions of people. The end that crept on them came in the form of death. Yet, the bible speaks of an ending of a system of things. That Satan is very angry because of this. He misleads many, and in fact, his activity has been intensified. 

Many people around the world have read Matthew chapter 24, and other passages that accurately show us the season we are living in.

But when will it come? The Bible tells us! It gives us a word picture. It is written that it will come like a thief in the night. I still remember a friend of mine telling me that certain prophecies have not come true yet. He then told me, exiting my car with a grin, "Brother, we have time!" 

If I am to stay awake and keep a watch for the thief who will in the end surprise me, which mindset should I have? I think listening to the faithful and discreet slave and the elders is the way forward. They point to the bible and remind us that one: there are things about the prophecies we do not understand at this point in time. We are also told that this is ok not to get stressed out about it. 

It is dangerous to think we can accurately track Jehovah's movements. What is to prevent me from focusing on matters of making more money? Or perhaps go back to my old way of life, just for a short time. I would be making a snare for myself based on my own sinful desires and neatly placing my neck in it and then locking it tight. I am sure that friend of mine will come to his senses. 

/tata

Bible principles and Jehovah's law

Bible principles pull from the foundations of Jehovah's laws. Today, many people play around with immoral acts, thinking that they are not violating the Bible law.

Under the law, a man and a woman once married are allowed to have sexual relations. 

The world's view using the penis to physically enter the vagina violates this law if the two people are not married.

Bible principle: sex outside of marriage is wrong. When people engage in behavior that results in both persons feeling sexual release outside of marriage, this too is wrong!

One way I saw this is when a family relative told me it is ok to engage in these sexual like practices. I then asked that person, "How would you feel if they did the same thing with someone else?" 

The response was a strong view that the act itself, being done with someone else, would upset them the most. Ah, so we can see if it was OK, why feel bad if others are doing the same thing with the person we did the act with initially? This tells us that marriage and sexual relations belong only there! 

These things are all of a sexual nature. The law stands strong, the principles makes us think of similar situations in which we should or should not do something.

There is another area where, when we meditate on biblical principles, we can help others around us and even ourselves. 

Drinking in moderation is one that comes to mind. In, South Korea, it is a point that people are proud of if they can drink a few or more bottles of soju without "feeling or looking drunk".

The bible tells us to use moderation, and that there is a time for everything under the sun.

If my friend can only drink one bowl of rice wine, and I can drink five. I will drink one bowl slowly with him. Then, once finished a short time later return to my home with my family. 

The world's view? Drink and be merry, for tomorrow we will die. 

The result? That friend gets sick drunk, and causes a scene. I then go home and cause even more problems for my family.

Moderation? I go home enjoy some leftovers from our pot luck party. Maybe drink some more with my wife and sons (moderation is the key). 

The result? The next day we are all happy recalling the events from the day before. The next day we all carry on our regular activities with no ill effects. I remember Sunday mornings having breakfast with my family, then making our way to our Sunday meeting in a peaceful manner. Then after the meets sometimes going on in the ministry, or returning home and enjoying our evening. 

I am happy to obey and eager to learn more about bible principles. With out them...it is truly a nightmare!

/tata

Kerala a beautiful place!

We have been  here over 3 weeks. We went to the local kingdom hall last Sunday. It felt like home. Our brothers and sisters helped us to get to a store to buy some groceries. Later we ordered burgers ...it was not all that good. I know the boys will not enjoy it. The French fries were good. The pizza was not good at all. We could have made it more delicious at home. 

The place we're we live is really nice and cool. The weather is much better than lucknow! I think the hottest months here will pass much easier than the 40 to 44 degree weather in lucknow. We don't even need an AC, just the ceiling fan.

In this area we are surrounded by forests which are rich in greenery. Here are some pictures: 

The last picture is of the event being held today.

The food is very interesting as well. I will be posting some pictures of the food of Kerela here as well.

The boys are still in Lucknow and will join us in about a month or two. They will enjoy it here as well.

Ok I have.to go.