Bittersweet Symphony

That’s life. With each hello, we still feel the weight of those awful goodbyes. Amidst the happiness that comes with reuniting with loved ones, there’s an overcast of sadness that clouds the air. When I set out for India 5 weeks ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. All of us can attest to the fact that we had been given minimal detail as to what we would be doing; however, our Father had called us and we responded. We went to make an impact on the people of that country, but had no idea of the impact they would have on us. We went to teach the children of the slum, unaware of how much they would teach us. We went to share the greatness of God’s love with the people who have exemplified God’s love to us. We went to teach humility and we were humbled. We went to serve, and we were served. You want proof of our Father’s existence? Just spend one day talking to Aunty and Uncle. Spend a day talking to Tori and Chelsi. Spend one moment with Grace and you will ask our Father, “How can you create something so beautiful? You must be real!” WE MISS YOU ALL SO MUCH! And yes Shaun and Sonny, I’m crying while writing this.

On our last day at the ministry, we planned to wash the feet of the children just as JC washed the feet of his disciples in John 13. We ran up and down the house an hour before we left and searched for buckets and towels. Satisfied with the 5 buckets we had found and the two towels that had been shredded into 5, we left for the ministry. I had been preparing all day, but over the trip, I had learned that no amount of preparation would compare to power of our Father’s Spirit working in me while I spoke. Having reached, we made the familiar trek through the narrow slum streets. We marched up the stairs, still not sure of how we were going to get water, but totally relying on JC to provide. As we entered, the familiar “Hello Aunty, Hello Uncle!” rang through our ears. After two songs (“Father Abraham” and “Running Over”), the children were told to sit down and back up. Immediately, I felt a calling to read through John 13:1-17 instead of summarizing it. Its power would have been lost had I tried to sum up the gravity of JC’s actions and the Word, in itself is sufficient in displaying the face of JC. Having read the passage in English, Deepa (one of the students) read it in Kannada. They were given a few seconds to let the message sink in. After, we discussed the nature of our savior’s actions. How could JC, our redeemer and savior of the universe, bow down at the feet of mere men and take up the role of a servant? Clearly, there is no room for pride in our Father’s kingdom if He can humble himself to the lowliest position of a servant. And yet scum like me walk the earth basking in an ambiance of pride and arrogance. Oh Father forgive us! The children didn’t seem to truly understand so I asked them, “Which of you will take up the role of a servant?” “Who will come up and wash the feet of others?” “Who will come up and wash our feet?”

As uncle translated this, I could see the look of confusion on his face as the plan had always been for the children to wash our feet. Several children hesitantly put their hands in the air. I then invited five of them to come up and do as they had said. We filled five buckets with water, sat in stools, and the children sat on their knees at our feet. All at once, before they could start, we grabbed their hands and put them in the stools. I then explained that we would instead be washing their feet. For each of the 60-70 students, we prayed over them and then washed their feet clean. Some resisted at first, but we explained that we wanted to do this. One particular child who resisted, Pradeep, brought tears to my eyes. This is the same guy who asked about the meaning of “the Word” in John 1:1. Once Daniel had finished washing his feet, Pradeep asked Daniel if he could wash his feet. After a slight hesitation, Daniel agreed. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). He understood the message! If that had been the only miracle of the day, I would’ve been happy enough. That was already enough to move me, but our Father wasn’t done yet.

After all the children’s feet had been washed, one-by-one they approached us and asked to wash our feet. They formed lines in front of our buckets! With the spirit of a servant they washed our feet clean. When the water had gotten too dirty, they replaced it with clean water and kept going. One-by-one, we each started crying. “Uncle, why are you crying?” How could I not cry?

Eventually, we had to stop because it was getting late. Something stuck out to me about Pradeep. I felt a strong desire from within to give him my Bible, but quickly dismissed the idea as ludicrous. How could I give one child a gift and not the others? After the footwashing, some of the students had words of thanks to us as we were leaving the next day. I told myself that if Pradeep got up, that would be enough of a sign for me. I would give him my Bible. After all, Pradeep was too shy and there was no way he would get up and say anything. Wrong. The last person to speak was Pradeep. In accordance with his personality, he got up and spoke a few mumbled words of thanks. He was one of four people in a midst of about 100 children to say something. “Ok, ok Father, you win. If I get the opportunity to give him my Bible, I will, but there is no way I will be able to get a few minutes with him.” Wrong again. As we were cleaning up, Pradeep grabbed the buckets and escorted us to our car, walking with us every step of the way. With no other excuse available, I made my way to him and said, “I don’t know why, but I have been instructed to give this to you.” He quickly waved his hands and said, “No, uncle, its ok”. Paying no attention to his words, I put the book in his hands and said, “I hope it helps you find the meaning behind John 1:1.”

The children surrounded us outside the ministry and asked for our autographs. We each wrote down a Bible verse and then wrote our name below. Everyone wanted pictures with us and kept posing around us hoping that Alex would direct the camera in their direction. We must have taken more pictures that day than all the other days combined. Finally able to get in the car, the children still ran behind the car as we were leaving. When we reached home, we were greeted by a surprise party. Balloons, signs, food, dancing, and friends; what more could we want? Our new family spent a night of celebrating. We created 3 music videos, which I hope never reach the internet, for my sake. Haha, who am I kidding, I want to see them on Facebook. Shaun and Sonny spent the night with us. The entire next day was spent preparing a typical American meal for lunch. It was good to have our attention focused on something else that way we didn’t think about the sadness that was about to befall us. Eventually, however, it was time to leave. After giving everyone a hug and saying a family prayer, we left. Our journey was problem-free, but our hearts were in turmoil. On the flight, Daniel said, “I know we are landing at 6 AM Eastern time, but what time is that at home.” That place has become a home to all of us. And these people have become our new family. Our prayers and thoughts go out to all of you. We hope that we will see you all soon. We hope that you all will be touched by everything that our Father has done. We hope that more people will become witnesses of our Father’s grace. We hope that we will be reunited some day with our new family. “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25). So patiently we will wait for all these things. Our hope is in JC, and not once has he disappointed me.

Grace and Peace.

Real Change

As I sit and think about my time coming to a close here, many questions circulate through my mind. What am I supposed to do with all these experiences I’ve had over the past month? How am I supposed to communicate what I’ve witnessed, felt, and experienced to people who have not been here? How will my stories affect the people who hear them? Will these people really change or will they say “I’m glad you had fun over there” and continue sipping on their $5 coffee? Will they actually realize that they are part of a small minority of the world that lives such a comfortable lifestyle? Will they realize that despite their own thoughts on their amount of money, the rest of the world views them as rich? Can anything I say change the way people live?

I say no. People are so focused on their own comfort that my words will fall on deaf ears. The Father’s words, however, can change people. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of (the Father) is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The Father makes the poor rich, the weak strong, the sick healthy, the unrighteous righteous, and the rebel a servant. The Father has changed my life tremendously, and I’ve seen him do the same thing in lives here as well. These children worship the Father with a passion that many in the States would not even be able to recognize. Sure their knowledge of the Word may not be as deep as people’s back home, but I’m glad that many of the kids do understand JC’s gift and have made him the center of their lives. I’m honored to teach the rest of the Word to enhance these children’s knowledge of the Father they already love. This does not mean all the children are believe in JC. I’d venture to say the majority still does not have JC as the center of their lives, so I will continue to pray that their hearts be opened to JC’s love and mercy. I also pray that the believers be kept safe against the attacks of the evil one and they may continue to grow in their relationships with JC. I urge others to pray the same prayers for these children. Pray without ceasing. Look to the Father for guidance for everything.

Romans 10:14-15

Colossians 2:4-6

Hebrews 12:1-3

Philippians 1:9-11

We Will Remember

Monday was Independence Day…in America. Nonetheless, we celebrated here with a group of our fellow Americans. We made a trip to an amusement park called Wonderla with a family from America that has been living here for the last 6 years, the Mirabellas. Amidst the roller coasters, the water slides, wave pool, and rain disco, we had a great July 4^th! I will let you know; however, that these awesome experiences did not come without a tinge of awkwardness. “What’s more awkward than being the only white people in the park?” one might ask. And I answer, being the only brown person with the white people. I’ll spare you the details so that we can move onto a much more interesting story.

We returned to the slums on Tuesday to teach. Daniel and Alex spent all of their time with the second oldest group while I went straight up to the top floor. In my mind, I had prepared to teach math as I had become accustomed to this routine. Entering the room, I was greeted by the familiar, “Praise the Lord, uncle!” by every student. I returned the greeting and took a seat on a nearby stool. About five girls had surrounded the stool. I, thinking that they needed help with homework, asked them if they had any questions. They nodded their heads and just smiled. Asha, one of the girls, told me that they had already finished their homework. Another girl, Sindhu, approached me and said, “Uncle, we have memorized the verse! Can you test us?” I had completely forgotten about the memory verse and yet these girls had not only remembered, but went home and actually memorized them! I responded with a smile and asked her to recite the verse. She stumbled a few times, but got the general gist of the verse (Galations 2:20 in case you forgot). The next girl, Meena, said it almost perfectly, in English! Deepa recited the verse perfectly in the local language. Each one was so excited. Their hunger for the Word was not only prevalent, but also contagious. They said, “Uncle, can you give us another verse?” Oh, I was so happy! Each of them gave me their notebooks and I copied down Ephesians 2:8-10. Delighted, they asked me to explain the verses. So they were told about salvation through our Father’s grace, about our inability to be saved through works, about our Father’s gift, and about the good works that come about as a result of faith in JC. Honestly, my heart leapt for joy and I’m not even really sure what that means.

Another boy came up to me and said, “Uncle, John 1:1 talks about ‘the Word’. I don’t understand this. Can you explain?” Overwhelmed with joy at his curiosity I started to explain some very complicated theological viewpoints on the matter. I went back to Genesis 1 with the creation of the world and discussed the creative nature of our Father’s word. I then took it a step too far when discussing the Greek terminology of “Logos” and its ties to the principle of reason. Luckily, Tori and Chelsi were there to stop me because I probably would’ve kept going. I finally told the boy that if he really wanted to understand more, he would have to read the Word and pray. He seemed satisfied by that. Next, they wanted to hear a story from the Word, the story of JC’s birth. Man, I loved this day!

Blessed be the name of our Father! Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”. Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Our Father has taught me, through these children, the meaning of these verses. My brothers and sisters in JC, I want to encourage each and every one of you to seek earnestly the meaning behind our Father’s words. Seek and pray for only then will your hunger be filled and only then will your thirst be quenched. Praise be to our Father, for our prayers have been heard and answered! Praise be to the son, JC, and may the children of this slum believe that he is the Son who has redeemed all those who believe. May you be blessed, reader, for your continual support for this journey over the past month. Our journey has nearly come to an end. Remember, however, that for many of these children, their journey has just begun. Thus, as new brothers and sisters in JC, they need our continual prayer.

Grace and Peace.

Awake My Soul

This Sunday morning began much earlier that our other Sundays. Alex and Daniel made a trip to the slums early in the morning (at 6:30) to Skype with a camp back home. I woke up at 8 and got ready for church. A missionary family that is staying here came to pick us up at 9:45 and took us with them to their church. We climbed the stairs of an ordinary building and reached a room on the second floor filled with about 50 people. We took our seats as the pastor began speaking. The pastor referred to every member of his congregation as Brother or Sister and he knew every person by name. Not only did he know their names, but he also knew what was going on in their lives and what to pray for. This church truly epitomizes the definition of fellowship. It was like worshipping together as one large family. At periodic times throughout the service, any random member of the congregation would boldly pray out loud for our Father’s glory. Even in the middle of one of the worship songs, the band stopped playing and brought to the congregation’s attention a verse that had just come to his mind. The service was truly spectacular and the people’s faith is so genuine. At the end of the service, tea was brought out so that the members of the congregation could enjoy fellowship over a cup of tea. This is not unusual for many churches outside of the US. Upon leaving the church, we returned home, napped, and then got ready to head to the slums for ministry. Alex, Daniel, and I went straight up to the oldest group and started off with a few songs. The group gradually grew to a little over 100 children! When the Tori and Chelsi arrived, Alex started telling the story of Saul’s Conversion while we acted it out. The children learned of God’s ability to turn the least likely of us into witnesses for his glory and of Ananias’ obedience to God. They were able to retell the story in their own language while some of their peers acted it out. They also had verse memory today (Galations 2:20) and became aware of the concept of becoming a new creation in JC. After I had gone through the verse with them, some of the girls asked if they could borrow my copy of the Word. Unsure of what they were doing, I permitted them to take it. They took out a sheet of paper and copied down the verse so that they could memorize it at home. This truly warmed my heart! Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”. It is my prayer that these children commit our Father’s word, which is sufficient in portraying His glory, to their hearts so that they may “meditate on [His] decrees” (Psalm 119:48). Please pray for the children, that they might know their creator. Pray that our Father will awaken their souls to his presence and that He will be glorified. Pray that they will delight in His glory.

Grace and Peace.

TI Squared

Piled into a rickshaw with six people and a driver, there was nothing we could really do except laugh. With Alex upfront sharing a seat with the driver and five people sharing the back seat, you can imagine the humor of the situation. Better yet, you don’t have to imagine it…we took a picture. As ridiculous as this scene appeared to us, this situation is part of the normal routine for many of the people here. Needless to say, each day brings with it new experiences and yesterday brought many.

What started off as a normal Thursday of waking up at 4:45 AM and heading to the ministry to Skype with some camps back home turned into an eventful and eye-opening evening. The top floor was packed early that morning with tired yet joyful children. The children waved to the campers and sang a song based off of Psalm 23. After, the campers raised the arms, pointed their palms to the east, and prayed for the children, for the slums, for the glory of our Father. In between the two Skype sessions, Daniel was asked to “entertain” the children. Thus, he did one of those things that he does best: dance. The children were amused by his dancing (for those who want to know, he did “The Wop”). By the time we returned to the ministry at 5:30 PM, many children were asking him to dance again.

This trip to the slum was different in that both Suresh uncle and Latha aunty did not accompany us as they were both busy looking for a building to lease for Sunday morning worship. Thus, we just decided to spend about 30 minutes with each level. The youngest group was first. Their immaturity was prevalent and grasping their attention was, at times, difficult. We did our best; however to teach them English and Math. Confident that they had grasped an understanding of addition, we sang “Running Over”, prayed for them, and made our way to the next floor. The teacher was in the middle of a math lesson with the 5^th graders so Daniel and Alex taught English to the 4^th graders while I aided the teacher. They were learning even and odd numbers, in case you were wondering. I really respect the amount of enthusiasm that these children have for education. Its something that I think we are missing back at home. Tori ventured into our room to tell us that it was about time to head up to the top level with the oldest kids.

As I got up there, I noticed that there were about twice as many people as normal. A group of 8^th graders in the back needed help with math so I made my way through the crowd and tried to explain the concept of Base Number Conversion.

When Alex and Daniel joined us, we decided to start worship. We sang “Peace Like a River” and then Daniel started telling the story of The Prodigal Son while we acted it out. The extent of their attention was amazing, especially since our normal translators were not with us. After, Daniel asked them questions about the story and not only did they answer correctly, but they also seemed to identify with the story. All of us at one point identify closely with the younger son, but our Father, whose mercy has no limits, has rescued us through JC even while we were sinking in the depths of our own sin. What happened afterward was nothing short of miraculous. The principal led the children in worship in their own language. Their passion filled the air as they screamed out “Hallelujah!” at the top of their lungs, hands clapping, eyes closed, in complete reverence to the greater force at work. We all felt it. It must have been the presence of our Father because nothing else could be that beautiful. We left later than normal and without a car.

The principal stood with us as we waited for a rickshaw, but none came. No problem, after about 15 minutes of waiting, a small bus filled with people pulled up and the driver exchanged a few words with the principal. We were told to climb in and find a place to stand. “When in Rome”, right? So we did what we were told. For a second, I thought he was sending us on our own so I quietly whispered to Daniel to pretend that I spoke the language so that we wouldn't get ripped off. At that moment, I saw the principal in the bus with us and allowed my anxiety to leave. The bus made its way down the familiar streets and stopped at a much busier intersection. At that point, we were told to get out. After doing so, we gave the driver 30 rupees and waited for a rickshaw. When one pulled up, I assumed that we would send half of the group in that one and half in the other. Wrong. We all piled in, which brings us back to the description at the beginning of this post. Having reached home, we paid the driver, crossed the street, entered through the door, and ate dinner. In reference to the movie Blood Diamond where This Is Africa (“TIA”) is used, the term “TI²” (pronounced “T-I-Squared”) has become a standing joke amongst the five of us. Basically, we have learned to expect the unexpected here.

On a more serious note, Suresh uncle and Latha aunty have informed us that they may have found a building to worship in on Sunday. They hope to use this structure to build a church. Praise be to our Father! The story of how they came upon this building is another miracle and deserves a story for itself; however, I believe I have finally succeeded in overstepping your previous demands for brevity and will thus save the details. I only ask that you continue to pray for this building and construction of the new church. Uncle talked to us today about his desires to fill that place with those lost souls who do not yet know of our Father and His son, JC. Please pray that our Father’s will be done and that He will send those souls that He was chosen to this place.

Grace and Peace.

Let Your Mercy Rain

Our trip to the mall on Saturday was one of those experiences you can just never forget. Like much of our journey so far, our 1.5-hour rickshaw ride home through the rain demanded both patience and flexibility. Saturday night provided us with the opportunity to spend time with our hosts’ children (Sonny and Shaun). They like to think of it as being a “man night” because both Tori and Chelsi slept over at another missionary’s house. Sunday morning afforded us the opportunity to mentally and spiritually prepare ourselves for the children’s ministry. We all went over the story of creation and the fall of man (Genesis 1-3) for much of the day. The thing is, you can never quite be prepared enough…unless you’re willing to be flexible. At the ministry, our game plan changed a little, but this time we were ready. Daniel and I got the opportunity to teach the older class while Alex was able to teach a younger class and share his testimony with the widows. Monday was a typical day. When we got to the ministry we were told to teach math…another curveball (surprise, surprise). Little did we know that the methods of learning math here are different from the methods that we had learned. We did our best to adapt and, by the end, it seemed as if the children had understood complex multiplication. When we got home and finished our dinner, we were in for a treat. Latha Aunty and Suresh Uncle shared their testimony with us! For 3 hours, our minds were transfixed on the many twists and turns our Father had implemented through aunty and uncles’ life in order to bring them into ministry. Their story is, in short, miraculous. Previously on our trip, I had picked up a book, The Heavenly Man. While I had been reading this book, the many tales of miracles and a man’s steadfast devotion to JC had blown me away. Little did I know that a story just as compelling and just as miraculous was taking place in the lives of the very people I was living with. I hope to share their story with people in America when I return.

Tonight, we ask that you pray for the entire slum. On Tuesdays and Fridays, the people of the slums stay up all night making animal sacrifices to idols. Please pray that our Father might open the eyes of these people and allow them to experience the love of JC. Our hearts go out to those desperate souls. May our Father's mercy rain on them.

Grace and Peace.

Something Beautiful

The power of worship is inexplicable in nature and somewhat difficult for us to grasp at times. We ask ourselves, why would our Father force us to worship Him? Having struggled with this question over the years, I know the frustration that accompanies it. However, our Father has answered this question with one of an even more bizarre nature: How is it that I, someone so plagued by sin, have the opportunity to share in the joy of worshipping an all-perfect being? In this video, you have the chance to witness the joy of worship. The joy of children, who live in a slum, without the basic "necessities" of life and with a future that appears to be limited by confines of their bleak environment. Where, one may ask, do they receive their joy and happiness when surrounded by such darkness? Their joy is found in its most basic and original form. Their joy lies in praising the Creator of the heavens and the earth, our Father who sent his one and only son to reconcile our sins so that we might share in the eternal joy of serving His glory.

If We Are the Body...

We were up by 4:30 on Thursday morning and made one last trip to the slums before heading out to the village. By the time we got back, everyone’s bags were downstairs and ready to go. We loaded the luggage on 4 different vehicles and assigned people to a car. Overall, we had about 24 people heading out to the village. Suresh uncle prayed over the vehicles for a safejourney and we were off. I spent a good part of my journey reading The Alchemist (a great short read if you ever get the chance) and sleeping. About half way along our trip, I started looking outside and noticing the drastic change in the scenery. We had gone from a huge urban area to vast rocky hills. Huge boulders populated the land as far as we could see. Also, we got a great viewof wildlife on the way. Several monkeys played along the road and cows roamed the streets. My driver, and now close friend, Kumar pointed out that, at night, elephants liked to come out to this area. Amazing! Kumar expertly navigated his way through the village streets and then pulled into a small dirt road after about 3 hours of driving. I looked out of my window and saw a church up on a hill with a bright red cross. As we drove down the dirt road, I got my first real look at the school. It was a lot bigger than I expected. We arrived at the guesthouse last and unloaded our stuff. As soon as we got the opportunity, we went exploring. We climbed some rocks and saw some astounding views. When we got back we helped prepare dinner for the entire group and met some of the pastors. The next day, the alarm went off at 7 for breakfast and then it was off to work. Daniel and I went to the school to paint the classrooms while Alex went with some of the people from the group to purchase materials to build some desks. By lunchtime, we had one room completely painted and another almost done.

Our schedule seemed to fluctuate between food and work for the next day or two. In the evening, we always tried to leave some room for exploring new places to climb. We ventured up to the church one evening and witnessed our Father’s presence in a land that seemed so distant from what we were used to. Later, we learned that Suresh uncle’s father had actually built this church. I spent the next few days working on building desks, which was a long and tedious process at first. Once we had learned of the most efficient method, we created an assembly line and managed to build 15 working desks for the students. The village children assembled in the area that night for the children’s conference, which lasted about 3 hours. During this time, part of the mission team from North Carolina told the children the story of Joseph, did some arts and crafts, and put on a puppet show. We were then given the opportunity to serve the children food and, for many, this was their only meal of the day. The meal was simple, rice and sambar, yet it fed so many children. “More uncle, more” they called out. By our Father’s grace, we had more to give. Every child that was present was fed. Like JC did with the fish and bread, our Father enabled us to do with rice and sambar. Praise be to Him! Not one of the 200-300 children left hungry, not one. As I witnessed this miracle take place, I envisioned us being the body of JC. His arms reached out to those in need and served them. They have called and He has answered. This happened again the next night except now there were about 500-600 children! The plan was the same as the day before; however there was one complication: during the arts and crafts time, it started pouring. Discouraged at the missed opportunity to share the Gospel with the children, we headed into the house. But then, our Father reminded us why we were there. We grabbed our rain jackets and walked down to the unfinished school. The children piled into a tractor and were transported to the school where they filled the empty halls on the first floor. Famished, they sat in the hallways, backs against the wall, waiting for food. Another truck came with rice and sambar. Even in the rain, every child was fed. That is the power of our Father’s love. We returned to Bangalore the next day and had an “eventful” ride back. Some stories; however, are better left for later.

Thank you for your support and prayers over the past week. We have witnessed powerful moments and events that would not be possible without all of you. Praise be to our Father and to His son who died for us! Your continual support and prayers are needed for these children as they still are not aware of the power of our savior JC. After getting the opportunity to talk to many of them, we learned of their love for a different JC by the name of John Cena. For some reason, every boy here has an obsession with wrestling and a wrestler named John Cena. While we found this slightly amusing at first, our amusement quickly transgressed to dismay. How can this man be more widely proclaimed than our savior? Please, keep these children in your prayers. More specifically, pray that they learn of the true JC, the one who gave his life so that we may spend eternity with our Father.

Grace and Peace.

What I have learned

I know that I have not posted a lot on the blog so far. Instead, I have been listening and looking for what the Father wants me to learn on this trip. So for those who would like to know, here is some of what I have learned.

I constantly see so much darkness in this land. Everywhere I look, I see pain and emptiness in people’s lives. I know that this emptiness can only be filled by JC; however, these people do not know this and constantly search for what they think is filling that emptiness. People walk around with a mark on their foreheads, which means that they prayed that day, and temples are everywhere, even in the poorest areas. Temples flood the land, but I have only seen a couple of churches in my time here. In the United States, it is hard for many to comprehend the value of the church because churches flood the land there and so many are divided on issues that are blown out of proportion. I know that if I was walking down a street here and recognized Christian music playing, I would go running to find the source. While Christians exist here, they are scarce.

Not only do I see this darkness but I also hear about it. The couple that we are staying with told us that many of the people in the slums cannot afford to raise a daughter. The problems are that it is easier for a boy to find a job to earn money for the family and that the family has pay a dowry when they give their daughter off in marriage. Often times, girls are dealt with differently than boys because of this.

The couple also told us that on Tuesday and Friday nights, many people gather around the Hindu temples and stay up all night doing rituals. These consist of playing really loud music, sacrificing a goat, and drinking its blood. They say that many demon-possessed people show up to the temples on these nights. The crazy thing is that one of the temples where all this takes place is about 10 yards away from the school that we visit every night. We get the opportunity to teach basic subjects as well as the Word to children surrounded by such darkness. One of the things I have witnessed and learned is that when darkness is prevalent, the light shines even brighter. Tonight I will be teaching of the redeeming love of JC to kids 10 yards away from where sacrifices will be made to a false god. We love our time with these children because many know the Father and have a real relationship with him. When these children are surrounded by false religions, they sing to the Father and praise his name. Some may read of these events and think of the danger in this, but we have nothing to fear. If anything, we are excited because this is what JC calls us to do, to make disciples of all nations and put complete faith in him. I have learned that everything I hold to besides JC will eventually slip away, but the grace of our Father will last forever. Therefore, I surrender my life to his plan and allow myself to be a tool for his masterpiece he is creating.

Colossians 4:2-6

Where the Streets Have No Lanes

(I planned on posting this last Thursday but never got the opportunity to. New post later tonight). Cars honking, vendors yelling, cows walking…people everywhere. That pretty much sums up the market place here. We went with Suresh to the market place on Wednesday to purchase some materials for the village, which we will be heading to today (Thursday). Suresh finagled his way through the narrow streets into these tiny shops to buy things such as cloth, water heaters, and school equipment while we did our best to keep up. The air was so polluted that it caused us to cough. Alex said that the market place reminded him of biblical times.It would seem that the Jewish culture at that time does closely resemble our experience in these markets. In our minds, we could really sense the environment that JC and his disciples witnessed 2000 years ago. In fact, being here has reminded us of the true importance of the Scriptures, the sufficiency in our Father’s Word. In The Heavenly Man, the author makes a point which I feel compelled to share with you all because it has influenced our ministry here: “You can never really know the Scriptures until you’re willing to be changed by them”. Let me tell you, our Father’s word has absolutely changed these children and us! Another team arrived later from North Carolina. They consist of about 9 people and are here for the school dedication, which will take place on Saturday. We went to the ministry with this large group and the people in the slums all gathered around to see us. We went to sleep early so that we could wake up early in order to Skype with two camps back in America. The camps had about 700 people each! Now, we are about to leave for the village so the posts may have to stop for sometime. Please pray for the school dedication in the village as well as for the children and pastors. We are excited to see what our Father has in store!

Grace and Peace.

You Never Let Go

On our drive to the slums on Sunday, we stared out at the crowds of lost people and felt a conviction to be silent. I think our Father gave us this time to prepare mentally and spiritually for the service. We have been learning a lot about the power of silence. I love the way Alex put it: “Don’t be afraid to be quiet”. Our Father speaks in “gentle whispers” (1 Kings 19:11-12). We will hear Him when we are still and silent. On arriving at the ministry, we were directed to the top floor and began singing songs. These children love singing! “Uncle, uncle, can we sing ‘Running Over’?” The slums ring with their voices every day as they praise our Father. Today we told the story of Jonah and had the children act it out. They loved it! Laughter seized the room when the giant fish vomited Jonah out onto land. They learned about our Father’s continual pursuit after our hearts and His unceasing mercy. After the story was told and retold by another child (whose name is Sindhu), we played “Aunty and Uncle Says”, which is our adapted form of Simon Says. We headed back home and enjoyed a great meal of tandoori chicken, lemon pepper chicken, sweet and sour chicken, butter chicken and chapatti. It’s a good thing Chelsi, a vegetarian since the age of 13, began eating chicken on this trip! While we expected to go to the village on Monday, we were notified that plans had changed. Flexibility is essential! So we started Monday morning with reading, tea, and a traditional breakfast of idli, sambar, and vada. We got the opportunity to spend time with Monny, Latha’s 18-year old nephew, at a coffee shop. After, we went to the ministry in what we like to call The Mystery Machine because of its resemblance to the vehicle in Scooby Doo. We taught the children the present and past tense after Tori recited the the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Our father is really doing some amazing things here. We have so many ideas that He has poured into us and we can’t wait to share them with the children. Whatever you’re doing, it’s working. These children’s lives will forever be changed, as will ours. Thank you for all of your encouragement and prayers.

Grace and Peace.

Sunday Morning

Crammed in the back of a rickshaw, Daniel, Alex, and I observed a miraculous event on our way to the slums: driving in Southeast Asia. Honestly, just being able to get to your destination in one piece is a miracle. Three cars and a motorcycle share the same lane that would fit only one car in America. If that’s not crazy enough, cars also drive in the opposite direction of traffic. How we avoid accidents every time we step out is simply astounding! Anyways, the children in the slum are part of a much greater miracle at work here. Their smiles and joy every time we enter the school are contagious. Their energy and enthusiasm are like an inextinguishable fire. Thus, teaching on Friday had to be accompanied by many games and songs in order to complement their liveliness. After school, we traveled to Ramakrishnan Towers to see my grandfather and uncle. We had a fantastic biriyani dinner and discussed my grandfather’s life, which is way too eventful to summarize in a single entry. We had breakfast with my dad’s friend and spent the late morning at a school for blind and orphaned children. The kids put on a little show for us by dancing to Jai Ho, which was heart-warming. Our afternoon was spent shopping for traditional clothing (mostly for Daniel). Let’s just say Alex and I won’t be shopping with Daniel anytime soon. I’ve never seen a harder person to shop for in my life! After Daniel tried on every shirt in the store (multiple times), we headed back to Ramakrishnan Towers to pack up, say bye, and head out to lunch. We ate at a restaurant, which provided a plantain leaf as our plate. How awesome is that? Five chicken dishes later, we were all stuffed and ready to head back to Baby Grace whom we had missed dearly. It’s amazing how much an infant who can’t even talk can contribute to conversation. Well, that basically sums up the last two days. We are all so excited for Sunday! Our father has great plans for tomorrow’s service where we will be teaching not only children, but also widows from the slum. Please continue to pray for the children and ministry. Have a wonderful Sunday at home! O yeah, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRISHA!!!

Grace and Peace.

Standing in Awe

Today began just like any other day. I don’t mean that in a boring sense, but rather to suggest the development of a routine. After our individual quiet times and breakfast, we all spent a good amount of time reading our own respective books. It is truly amazing how much is revealed to you when you just take the time to stop and listen. Our Father is teaching us so much through our reading and quiet times. Well, I’ve been told to get to the point so we’ll just skip ahead to our visit with the children today. We really felt our Father’s power today as we got to work with the children in smaller groups. Through teaching them English, we were able to get to know them better and even learned a little Tamil from them! Each child is so precious to our Father’s kingdom and we want so much for them to realize JC's love. After teaching the younger children, we headed upstairs to teach the older ones. After some songs, Alex shared a message from the book of Daniel. They were taught about the story of the Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:1-29). I have never seen anyone grasp this message so easily. JC truly worked in them today. After this, I was given the opportunity to share my testimony with them. I hope and pray that our Father used it to work in each of them for His own glory. We can’t believe that tomorrow is Friday! Please continue to pray for these children. I promise you that your prayers are being heard!

Grace and Peace.

Amazing Grace

The sounds of barking dogs and car horns pierced the surprisingly chill air this morning. We headed downstairs for breakfast and were greeted by Baby Grace crawling around the living room. Playing with Grace reminded us of our own childhoods so we spent time watching old videos of Timon and Pumbaa singing Hakuna Matata and Tarzan swinging through the forest with Phil Collins’ voice ringing through our ears. Baby Grace sure was excited. After spending time preparing for our lesson of the day, we had lunch which consisted of fish, dal, rice, and spiced beets. Stomachs full and, paradoxically, energy drained, we accepted defeat once again and went upstairs for a nap. Jet lag had gotten to us once again! Our alarm never had the opportunity to go off because our nap was cut short. It was time to visit the slums. Tory and Chelsi reached the ministry first and were able to teach the first 2 classes. We arrived in time for the older children, just as they finished singing their last song.

It was time for Daniel to teach about the Ten Commandments. The children’s attention was laser-focused as they heard our Father’s Laws.

They were taught about total depravity, our Father’s demand for perfection, our inability to honor these demands, and, thus, our need for JC’s sacrifice. It was a truly humbling message that the children seemed to grasp. After eating dinner at Pizza Hut, we returned home to get some rest. Tomorrow begins a new day, a fresh start for our Father’s ministry. We look forward to sharing the story of JC’s love with the children tomorrow, the love which brought us here and the love which washed us clean. Our father’s grace, how amazing!

Grace and Peace.

View from Our Roof

Hey everyone, here is a view from our roof. Just thought you would wanna check it out!

This Little Light of Mine

We spent a good part of the day cooking lunch, which comprised of pasta with marinara sauce, chicken, and bruschetta. We visited a local mart, purchased the ingredients, then returned home to concoct the meal…and it was delicious! After lunch, jet lag finally caught up to us and, despite the valiant efforts of both our own will and the divine cure to tiredness (coffee), we took a 2 hours nap. At 5 P.M. we headed to the school ministry in the slums. Unaware of what exactly we were getting ourselves into, we traveled to the slums in a riksha with Latha and our new friends, Tory and Chelsea. People stared and smiled as we walked through the narrow streets between the structures. I don’t know quite how to describe the buildings. For visualization purposes, think of Slumdog Millionaire-style structures stacked on top of each other. We entered a room (about 15 ft by 15 ft) filled with 40 to 50 children. The children’s excitement was contagious as they stood up to greet the “aunties and uncles” that were coming to teach them. To be honest, I felt like a celebrity. They all wanted to shake our hands. We sang some songs with them and did hand motions so that they would understand the words. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!” The children’s voice echoed throughout the slums for all to hear. Each one of them exemplified a passionate desire to understand the words that escaped our lips. I was intrigued by the amount of joy and respect they possessed. It was truly heart-warming. There were 3 different levels with rooms like this in the school. Each level had a new set of children that were progressively older until we reached the top level, which appeared to have 12 and 13 year olds. Here, Tory told the children a story out of Luke 4 where JC overcame the temptation of the evil one. Latha asked the children if they had any questions or doubts; however, none of the children spoke up. Somehow we all still got the impression that they had doubts. This, of course, is expected. Tomorrow, when we return, we hope to share with them the greatest love story ever told, the story of our Father’s love for mankind. Please continue to pray for these children. Pray that their minds are opened to the news being brought to them and that their hearts are prepared for the love of JC.

Grace and Peace.

Here We Go!

So we landed at 4:00 a.m. local time, and now are adjusting to the time difference. But I should first address our layover in Dubai. Now that I think back to it, Dubai was mainly a blur because we landed there with about 15 minutes to make it to our next flight. Needless to say, we probably looked like the typical Americans as we ran to our gate. We owe the credit of making our flight to a gentleman who moved like a fox through the crowd and told the people at the gate to wait for us. We don't have a lot to catch you up on now. We already had some amazing coffee, and now we're going to force ourselves to stay awake so we adjust faster. We are all very excited to see what the Father does here. We appreciate your prayers and thoughts.

And so it begins...

"His palms are sweaty, knees weak arms are heavy, there's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti" HAHA! Hey everyone, welcome to the first official post of our trip. We are about to embark in a few hours and are truly filled with excitement and anticipation. Perhaps not quite what Eminem was thinking during Lose Yourself, but works just the same. I promise these posts will get progressively better as we get more acclimated to the process. For those of you who are unaware, we are heading to a region in Southeast Asia to teach the good news. Our Father has given us a passion to spread his word to this particular area. I cannot express how excited we truly are. If you can, please pray for us daily and follow along with our daily adventures. We promise to post entries daily when permitted as we were told to be flexible. The region that we are traveling to may have internet access sometimes and may not at other times. It is our hope that, through this blog, you will be made aware of the awesome things that our Father is doing through us and through your prayer. Please check again in the near future for our next post!

Grace and Peace.

Habakkuk 1:5

"Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."