The unforgettable train ride!

So after we left the conference center, we spent an evening at Brother Gabriel's house which was lovely. We had a nice time of fellowship and brother Gabriel's drove us to the train station. Of course we are an object here because there are no white people here much less mixed couples. The train station was full of people, mostly men, who had no problem staring with their mouths open at me and the kids. Maybe I was not in the best spirits on that day but it was hot and we were all sweaty and tired.

Paul was not able to get us seats on the AC train so only God knew what I was getting myself into lol. At the train station, I had an older man come up to me and say, "In India we have many states and many languages, but we are one family." I smiled at him and said, "I can see that." lol The problem with trains here is that the train doesn't stop for long to pick you up. You have to fight your way through the masses to get on to the train, much less get a seat. As the train came to a stop, Paul immediately started instructing us to hurry up and get on the train because "You don't know how these trains work Leah!" I fought my way through the masses with both kids as Paul tried to make a space for us to step on. Once we got safely on the train, I was relieved to be done with that ordeal but now to find a seat for all four of us. I looked into the coach compartment and there were no seats so we just stood up for a while. The train was filthy but there was a nice older woman who made room for the three of us while Paul stood up and watched the luggage. After the train had stopped a few times and let some people out, there was finally room for all four of us in the middle of three Indian men. Relieved, we sat down. Within a few minutes they started poking the kids and playing with them. I tried to be a good sport and accept that the culture is different here and that touch is not a taboo. I was cringing inside as one of them was playing a spider game up Sophia's arm and she was laughing. I thought I had taught her not to talk to strangers and that she was in control of her body. I guess she knew that  didn't apply in India. The other man was busy giving us parenting advice due to Rohan's misbehavior. I was tryng to stay cool as they all touched my children until a different man came up to where we were sitting and took Sophia's seat. Before I knew it, she was standing up wondering what had happened to her spot.  To make matters worse, he  was patting his lap and making kissing noises for her to sit on his lap!!! Ugh...what was I to do? I just gave him a dirty look and Paul was just ignoring him. The kids were fighting quite a bit and Rohan Kenneth was being very difficult. The icing on the cake for me was when the same man who took Sophia's seat gave Rohan a little spank/pat for misbehaving. Well it was really more of a pat but he looked at Rohan with stern eyes and I was very upset that a complete stranger would spank my child. It was all I could do to grab my son and take him out of that compartment and go stand up in a different location. In my mind I was thinking about what would Jesus do. Should I go give him a piece of my mind and tell him to "Never touch my son again?!!!" I thought Jesus would be a peacemaker but maybe he would have given that man something to think about. Rohan and I held eachother with dirty blanket and nana and calmed eachother down while we watched the Indian countryside go by. Later on, Rohan and I sat down next to the nice older woman who had made room for us earlier. I think she saw what had happened and felt sorry for us. Then Rohan did something most unexpected. He took his shoe off and simply threw it out the train window. I looked at him shocked and told Paul what he had done. Paul said, "Well, let's throw the other one out because there is no use keeping just one." Paul got up, took Rohan's other shoe off, and threw it out the window so that someone could use Rohan's shoes. Dear God please help me to survive this journey I prayed. In the end, we all survived and learned one thing. Never go in the coach compartment again!!! : ) On a more pleasant note, I am now enjoying a wonderful vacation with Paul and kids at a top notch exotic resort! : )