After multiple set-backs and advances, I've been assured that we will have our specified roof supplies delivered here Friday afternoon... after the job is scheduled to be completed. The good news has been no rain (so far), although I find it hard to believe that air with this much moisture isn't pouring down rain.

Last Friday I found the needed material on-line, and it is manufactured in Bombay. Not exactly W.W. Henry's from California, but the manufacturer is much, much closer. I ask that the material in the correct quantities (as approved by Raja) be ordered. Monday they get around to it, but by that evening tell me that the manufacturer wants the CMC permit number (resale license?). Since the CMC doesn't have such a number, the manufacturer won't sell to us. Okay... can they contact the manufacturer to inquire to dealers in Chennai? Tuesday they get around to asking about that, but we have to wait on the answer. Tuesday afternoon, I'm told there are no dealers in Chennai. I suggest that since this is a great product that will fill a big need, perhaps the Christian Media Centre become a dealer and sell some to make a little operating income. Ron Jetter is afraid that might violate the Centre's 501c3 tax status. We sure wouldn't want the wrath of the IRS coming down on them, now would we? Meanwhile, I go back to looking for a substitute product.

The city of Chennai has 10-12 million people (I've lost count). The Chennai Yellow Page phone book is an amazingly huge 1" thick book.

Wait, what?

1" thick? Yep, that's it. No listing for "roof coatings". No listing for "coatings" period. About 40 listings for paint dealers, but unknown how many speak English BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DISPLAY ADS. About half that many listings for "roofing", and most are for metal dealers. The yellow page ad salesman job here must be a really bad business to be in. So, back to the internet. Please, God, bring us a solution!

This morning I'm told that the original manufacturer has agreed to ship our order by train. Not sure why that made a difference, but if thats what God wants, well OK! Our Hindu contractor happened to be here when we arrived this morning. I told him I needed to speak with him about the roof, but we were going to be having our chapel service first. I invited him to join us, and he did!

At the end of chapel, the Nationals brought in a box that they said was for me. Inside was a birthday cake, in the shape of Mickey Mouse. Now, I'm not going to read any thing into that. However, I did learn about an Indian birthday tradition. They take a handful of frosting and smear it all over the face of the birthday boy. As a further display of the high esteem they hold for me, they then placed a dunce cap on my head. I was told it was more like the Pope's tall cap, but I know what I saw. Watch out tomorrow, Steve.

So back to the roof. The contractor will have a crew of four here Saturday morning early to start applying the coating. I'll come over about 7:00 to get them started. They should get the first coat done that day, and the second coat on Monday after we have headed home. In the meantime, he's sending over two of his men tomorrow and Friday to help with painting and cleanup. We still have A LOT of painting and cleanup, with just two more work days scheduled.

I'm to go tomorrow with Raja in one of the auto rickshaws of death to order the carpet, which is to be installed Friday overnight (why?). We will also order tile for the entry floor which will be installed Saturday. When we tried to tell Raja that at home ordering material and scheduling installation could take weeks if not months, well, it was like I was talking a foreign language.

Labor here is so very inexpensive, because there is so much available. We are paying about $10 a day for each laborer. One of our assigned tasks was to enlarge a window from the studio control room looking into the sound studio. Not a big problem, but the wall is a 14" thick masonry wall. We had pulled all the acoustic framing and covering off both sides of the wall last Friday, and I spoke to the contractor about having a couple of his guys work on removing a 2 1/2' wide X 3' high section of the wall this week. We came in Monday morning, and it was done. By hand. No power tools, just a chisel and hammer. It was not only done, but the mess was all cleaned up; and they had poured a fresh, smooth coating on all the rough edges. $10 a day. What a country!

Working beside the Nationals, many who are Hindu, gives us an opportunity to share our faith. They see us joyfully working hard; our girls singing, praying together, and our morning and afternoon devotions. Look for a new video of our mission coming to a theater or church near you soon!