kerala.....god's own country

[draruns...@gmail.com]

An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the
world.

So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to China.

On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he
noticed a
golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read "$10,000
per
call".

The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by
what the
telephone was used for.

The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for
$10,000
you could talk to God.

The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was in Japan. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the
same
golden telephone with the same sign under it.

He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in China and
he
asked a nearby nun what its purpose was.

She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000
he
could talk to God.

"O.K., thank you," said the American.

He then traveled to Pakistan, Srilanka, Russia, Germany and France.

In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same
"$10,000 per
call" sign under it.

The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel to up to India to
see
if Indians had the same phone.

He arrived in Kerala, the southern state in India, and again, in the
first
church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time
the
sign under it read "One Rupee per call."

The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.
"Father,
I've traveled all over World and I've seen this same golden telephone
in
many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but in the
countries I have vsisted the price was $10,000 per call.

Why is it so cheap here?"

The priest smiled and answered, "Son, you're in God's own country now,
it's
a local call".