People of India - Babu

On my Blue team, we had an abundance of young boys. The most out-going of them was boy named Babu. With an infectious smile and a contagious enthusiasm for everything, his name was one of the first that I learned.

Babu took a self portrait on my camera.

He was one of my zoo buddies and we RAN through the zoo at the pace of an energetic 10 year old boy.

Babu and K-man, my two zoo buddies.

By the end of the week, Babu was a constant companion of mine.

At the end of the week, Babu received the boldness award. He is a natural leader and my prayer is that he grows up to be a man who uses that enthusiasm and energy to lead people to Christ.

The People of India - Kalavani

Do you have anyone in your life who has a beautiful and infectious laugh? Someone who has so much enthusiasm that they scream whenever they think something exciting is about to happen?

On our trip to India, that person was Kalavani. She was a ball of energy, enthusiasm, and laughter in a tiny package. Whenever you would walk up to her, she would scream and rush into your arms because she was anticipating fun and, possibly, a tickle fight.

Kalavani was maybe 5 years old, but she left her mark with her contagious laugh and big hugs. I did my best to capture her laugh in the video below - enjoy!

The People of India - Kasi

On the Blue team, we were blessed with the opportunity to have the village elder on our team, Kasi.

Kasi became a Christian because of Life Mission reaching out the village of Kalavai. He was the grandfather to most of the kids on my team, and he told us his most treasured possession is his copy of the Bible in Tamil. It was amazing to hear members of the GCC team tell stories of how Kasi was in the past. Apparently on past trips, he was not engaged and he even caused a lot of division between the Mission and the people of the village. We experienced the complete opposite of that.

Kasi helped to lead the Blue team all week.

Kasi was often seen moving his cow around the village and he would speak enthusiastically about the Lord and the Lord's blessings to our team. He loved the game of Little Sally Walker, and he made sure everyone on our team had a chance to play.

Kasi playing Little Sally Walker

When the blue team was given the van with the A/C on the way to zoo, he gave a sermon to our bus about how good Jesus is because He gave us A/C.

At the end of the week, Kasi sought me out to pray blessings over me in Tamil: an amazing God-designed moment that I will always cherish.

Kasi brought us a lizard to play with and they were preparing to eat it when we left.

The People of India - Ammu

I will get to the details of what happened in India soon, but in the meantime, it is the people of this village who have my heart.

Meet Ammu.

This little girl has a piece of my heart. She and her brother, Tharangasu, were on the blue team with me, and about day 2 she attached herself to my hip.

Note: Ammu all day long would hold my arm around her waist. Jay caught this candid shot that demonstrates how inseparable we were most of the week.

 Ammu is an orphan. Her father is unable to care for her and her siblings and her mother ran off on her family. Ammu was more timid than most at first, but once she warmed up to you, watch out!

She gave her love and her kisses freely, and at the end of the week, I couldn't bear to leave her. I was the last one into the van because of lingering in tears and prayer over this precious child of God.

First Day of in India, Last Day of 2012

It is hard to believe that we landed in Chennai today. Granted, it was 1 am when we landed and it is now 9pm, but it was still only today.

As you hopefully have read in previous posts at www.gccindiateams.blogspot.com , we arrived safely and without incident and a cyclone went through this region yesterday evening, altering our travel plans for getting to the village.

After collecting all of our luggage (for a while it seemed like our team bags wouldn't arrive) and making our way through immigration, we were greeted with heavy humidity and heavy flowered garlands from Raj and his team. The picture below is of Sarah receiving her garland.

We were allowed a few hours to sleep in the hotel before we were up, showered and ready to go for the day.

Lunch was the traditional Indian meal of Pizza Hut and then we went to see some different St. Thomas sites. First we climbed high above Chennai to visit the St. Thomas Mount. As the story goes, Thomas was martyred praying in front of a cross that he had carved on the mount because the Gospel was radically changing the people in India. We learned that Thomas had a heart for the poor and loved them because Christ loved them first. 

We also went to the cave that St. Thomas hid in when he was being pursued. The picture below is of our impromptu tour guide telling us about the spring that has been flowing since the time of Thomas.

As a team, I believe these two stops and the stories around them re-centered our focus and vision for this trip. We will love the people we are working with because Christ loved them first and He loves them so much more perfectly than we ever could dream.

Please pray as we travel out the village tomorrow and for the ministry we are planning on doing there. 

We will do what we can and God will do what we cannot.

Living in Community and Chaos

The view of the food table at the staff fall party - GFS and I are close, personal friends

As I lay awake in bed last night, my mind all cluttered with everything from conversations with friends to preparations for the week ahead, I realized that my life is centered around community, service, hospitality, and ultimately utterly chaotic . . . and I love it.

I wouldn't trade an evening with friends, for a evening alone. I wouldn't refuse to host so that my house could stay clean. I wouldn't trade a sparse schedule for my super full one.

I am, at times, forced to make those trades as I recognize the need for rest, solitude and retreat, but I don't want that to be the norm.

I thank the Lord for bringing so many different people into my life and for providing the means that Jay and I can open our home and our lives to whatever and whoever He sends our way.

Merry Christmas everyone!

For a limited time only . . .

36 Days until we leave for India!

These past few weeks have been so full of preparations (a.k.a. shots - yuck!) and planning that it seems so close all of a sudden. 

What is coming up even sooner is our support deadline. We have been so blessed with support and out of our $6,000 ($3,000 each) goal, we have raised about $4,000.

(Imagine that I am now my infomercial persona)

Have you been wanting to give and have just forgotten, or have you wanted to give, but didn't feel like your contribution would count?  For a limited time only, you have a chance to double your gift. 

For the next 24 hours, we have two donors who are willing to match every dollar given up to $500!

This is good from November 22, 12 noon, to November 23, 12 noon, so if you haven't given yet, this is your window.

The easiest way to give is to  visit the donation page: GCC Mission Trip Page and click on December India Trip. (You will be asked to create an account.) and you get to pick a person for your money to go to.  Again, thank you for trusting your dollars to the Lord and His work.

(this is a picture from our Luggage Simulation in South Bend. We were "late for our next flight")

And Remember to hurry - this is a limited time offer:)