Morphology of a banana plant

Banana Flowers

19 Aug 2021

Two.flowers appeared the same day. One is further to the left. One is front is more visible.

Two new inflorescences appeared to.my great delight. Not very visible; hidden with the leaves.

24 August 2021 Flowers started to bend after 5 days.

27 August 2021 flower started opening its layers. Young banana visible now. Two hands seen.

28 August 2021

5 hands appeared

30 August 2021

8 hands visible. Perhaps all banana fruits out now.

31 August 2021

9 hands appeared. Perhaps that's the last one. Now will see how they grow each day.

4 Sep 2021

9 hands ready to become banana fruit. They move upwards. The rest of petals do not grow and they fall down.

14 Sep 2021

Now major change is elongated flower and increase size of fruits.

6 Nov 2021 

Almost 3 months now, the banana is almost matured. The other bunch is not visible as nee shoots overgrown.

21 Dec 2021

The flowers are now ready for harvest. Some bananas have ripened.

From tomo they will go to our kitchen.

Encourage

Bible mandates us, "But encourage one another and build each other up.." (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Two words are given together - encourage and build each other. 

What does encouragement include?

1. God said to Moses. "...your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it." (Deuteronomy 1:38). Then added "...commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see." (3:28). To encourage then is to enable a person to take on leadership position. 
2. King David used his words to encourage his army. In 2 Samuel 11:25, he said "Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.". This was a word in upsetting defeat situation. And in 19:7 when David did not come to welcome after the victory, the army was upset. In this case, David just stood at the entrance and welcome them. Similar idea is in Job 16:5 "...comfort from my lips would bring you relief." Paul comforted sailors and ate food together (Acts 27:36). To encourage is to alleviate an upset situation with relevant words and actions.
3. From a prayer, "You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." (Psalms 10:17). Similarly in Isaiah 1:17 "Encourage the oppressed". To encourage is to listen to the desires and pain of those in trouble.
4. In Acts 15:30-32 "So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers." The Antioch church needed specific clarifications on the new faith. They were encouraged when they received it. To encourage is to guide in faith so that the believers are strengthen. It can come by letter or speaking.
5. Ephesians 6:22 "I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you." Similar method is in Colossians 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 3:2. To encourage is to share news of our lives and affirm the teachings of Scriptures. Personal visit or a representation was used. 
6. Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18, also 5:11). The teaching of the Bible in general and specifically the coming of the Lord is a great encouragement to Christians. To encourage is to open the word to affirm and re-tell fellow believers.
7. Encourament is a major function of a church leader. It is mention with preach, correct, rebuke (2 Timothy 4:2) The leader is to encourage by giving sound doctrine (Titus 1:9), encourage the timid (1 Thessalonians 5:14), teach the young men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:6). This is to be done with all authority (Titus 2:15). 
8. Barnabas went to Antioch. "When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." (Acts 11:23). Paul and Silas did the same at Lydia's house (Acts 16:40). To encourage is to affirm what the believers are doing good is right.
9. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.(Acts 18:27). To encourage is to recommend, sponsor, so that one can do the Lord's minister better.
10. Paul was greatly encouraged when brothers came to see when he arrived Rome as a prisoner (Acts 28:15-16). To encourage is to visit the lonely.
11. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.(1 Corinthians 14:31). To encourage is to give God's Word.
12. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.(Philippians 1:14). Paul's example produce courage in believers. In 1 Thessalonians 3:7, faith of Thessalonians encouraged Paul, the church founder. To encourage is to be a model of Christian faith. 

The Bible recognized people who are gifted to encourage (Romans 12:8). But we are all commanded to encourage each other (Hebrews 10:25) because believers can influence each other's faith (Romans 1:12). That too on daily basis (Hebrews 3:13). 

Remembering Promises of God

Departure of a beloved member is a great pain for all of us in our church. During this time, there is not much we can do to comfort each other. But it a good time for all of us to remember, the promises Jesus made to all those who follow him. I would like to mention just three of them as reminder for us who believes in him. 

First, Jesus promised heaven. Jesus said, "In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3 NIV). May our heart be fixed for that place where we will spend eternity with our God.

Second, we have hope for resurrection our mortal bodies. In John 11:25-26, Jesus said, "'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die." Physical death is not the end for us. 

Third, there won't be death. "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (I Corinthians 15:26). Physical defirmities and death reign all creation. But there will be a day when our Lord shall abolish death. 

These words are short but all has reference for our future existence. Our God has plans for us beyond the earthly life. He is long-term focussed. 

May our heart be comforted with these words. 

(Shared at a memorial service of a member of our church, 29 August 2020).

Gandhi Puk

I learned a new name of an insect – Gandhi Puk. I knew in my language. We called it Lachi. In another language it is called Taari. The insect is another variety of this insect, Tessaratomidae. But this one live on leaves and trees. The one I mentioned lives under rocks. I wish I know the scientific name.

Photo: Thaibugs.com

It can be consumed and usually found under rocks by the river banks in winter during the day. Towards evening the insects would fly in low heights. Kids often used sticks to hunt them.

Children had a different strategy to collect the insect in Seppa town. See pic

While it is considered a delicacy, I know a couple of people who suffered food poisoning after eating this insect. So it is now a couple of decades I had not eaten.

Condition of Two Schools

Dear Editor (to AP Times),

The Arunachal’s results of the CBSE this year is not surprising. We have not given the foundational schools proper nurturing. “Reap what we sow”.

I am sad to share this case of two schools which are not given care.  

I visited the Punnyabhumi village under Miao SubDivision on 18^th June. The village has about 100 households and located 10 km from Miao without any road connectivity. Then the next day I was in other village Brajapur under the same SubDivision which is much more remote than the other village with 53 families.

The Primary Schools in the two villages are still closed. No admission process has began. While the school at Miao town started admission process since June 1^st they are yet to have their children enrolled in school.

Efficient support for them and many other like villages are needed. Otherwise we cannot expect our children to shine in higher education.

Liahey

Internet speed at Miao

Yesterday my sister’s result was out for her BA exams. I wanted to check her result. But when I browsed the website (NEHU) the University did not allow one result download. Instead I will have to download the whole list of students’ results  in PDF, that amounted to 7.7mb.

With my limited connectivity I have been trying my luck since yesterday. I tried once... then halfway through the connection disrupted. I left last night. Hoping to get a better line this morning I have trying seven times till now with no success. Without much option, I am trying again, perhaps and again... until I see the result.

This is the situation we are in.

I will remember this link that took lots of my time getting downloaded: http://exams.nehu.ac.in/Downloads/BAGB2016.pdf

Updated a day later:

Subsequent to posting the above, i tried several rounds to download the pdf file. It did not work. So I called up a friend in Shimla to help out. That helped with minor complications - his electricity went off a while while downloading that file!

Also I learned that the NEHU website has options to just enter the Roll no and the Year of studies and that generates the customized result for each student.