Here I am, in India

Group shot - Girls + Deepa & Mary &?

Pauline Aunty leisurely reading paper

First day @ Shunem

Elle, Cals, Leah, Ness, Kate & Ab.

Camela Aunty much altered since last year

Really can't believe it. I'm here once again. Back at Java Green in Hyd.
Ness and I were saying this morning, as we sat outdoors and ate Brekky with Camela Aunty (see above picture - a much older lady in a wheelchair now) that it just seemed so normal to be there. To be on the crazy roads again, to be eating chappati and potato curry for brekky (even though not the sought after egg curry) to wake up at 6am and want to find the children, to see how they've grown..to go to prayers with them...and then to meet some of their parents as they came to take them away for holidays.
To be tugged at by a beggar, and be over the Indian 'i'm not going to give' philosophy. We can say no... and then realise that if we gave 10 rupees then we'd only be giving 1/3 of a dollar to someone who really has nothing. So this morning I gave, and then watched the crowds grow larger when the word went out that there was a rich lady who was giving money for the beggars. If they could read, then I'd give them a leaflet..but these people would be able to be employed if they could read.
'Silver and Gold have I none...' is my preferred catchcry.
Induction is occuring.. 3 newbies...all being acquainted with the Indian ways. Have done the punjabi thing. Now need to find a tailor to sew sari blouses.
Looking forward to seeing Beck Paul. I can't believe that I still haven't seen the girl and we're in the same country now. Bit of a let down!!
All in good time.

It's nirmela's birthday tomorrow.

We need to have lunch and also take back a few things to Shunem that will help us be a little more sanitary and clean in the new bunkers :-)

If a place hasn't been lived in there is always a thick layer of dirt and critters.
Plus, for those who aren't used to the conditions... it's nicer to clean up.

Tim and Sarah are preparing for the house next to theirs to be the new mission flat. Unfortunately, the process began yesterday and then Sarah went out for shopping and it started raining. By the time she got back, noone had taken the things back inside and so all the books / mattresses, etc were all practically ruined. But of course, we're trying to save them. The first room in the new house is full of books drying. Sorry those of you who left good books to be read by others..I'm not sure what state they'll be in by the time they are semi dried.

Anyways, there is much to be done.

Abi akka.

I'm trying to believe

That it is only one week and I'll be flying..past the leaving, but in the jetplane :-)
I picked up my tickets today.

I also answered my mobile, and spoke to Becky Paul ..wish there was more of the oversea's calls, 20 mins before i should go home while I'm at work..that just totally reenergise me.

She's arriving 3 hours after me, after not having seen each other for 2 years :-) GW I'll be praying we get there safely, but even more so for the return of Christ.

Tonight was southern YG>
We learnt about pre modernism, modernism, post modernism. Our world is now happy and accepting that we are religious.. as long as we don't air our views, or disagree with any other religion on any topic.
BUT, are we still showing that we hold on to truth, or are we allowing ourselves to blend into that mould. The accepting of anything mold. What is our truth? Our black and white is that our King is coming, and hopefully very soon. Our world needs him.
The best way to preach is to show our faith, however small it may be. So glad to have strong examples to learn from :-)

To continue to build each other up until that day... to be an example... to remain separate... to encourage.

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes?

Oh to be strong like Paul. What a man. To be able to come close to Christ's example.

Time to rest. This is the last weekend. So many things to do.

Abi akka


ps - I've nearly learnt the Telegu constantants. Now that is getting there. Then it's just learning what the letters look like with the 10 vowels added to the symbol. Yes, I have a long way to go :-)

Speaking of Prayer

We had such a wonderful youth group last night. Brother Jimmy Sawell on prayer.
We spent the first 5 minutes, making ourselves comfortable. He suggested that we all take our shoes off (which didn't leave the room smelling so good), then we all got into one line and wove round and round until we were in a close spiral of people. Kneeling down, we began the evening in prayer.
The first half of the talk focussed on our lives being worthwhile by forgetting our problems and focussing on praying for others and how Paul found joy in the midst of his loneliness by praying for other people. He also talked about how communal prayer brings people together.
We had a drinks break about half way through (i think to break the evening up as he didn't finish very early!) and then the 2nd half of the evening was spent brainingstorming on 3 themes and then praying about them.
The themes were Worship, Welfare, & Wisdom. We started the final section of the evening by singing a hymn on the theme, doing a couple of verses reading to focus the thoughts and then a brother gave the prayer with all of our prayer requests.
It was just amazing. The closeness you felt to the people around you, knowing that the suggestions had come from the group and that the brother truly was praying on behalf of the group. Reminded me of KCY so much.
I was a scribe for the welfare theme, and by the time we came to the prayer for it, I realised I probably had about 50 more suggestions of people to pray for, but in the big group, we needed to pray for people that we all knew as a whole.

'brothers & sisters, my hearts desire and pray to God for you is, that we all might be saved' :-)

India becoming reality GW

It's Saturday morning &
in 2 weeks today, GW, I will have woken up in Hyderabad, and if invited, would be eating Sarah's maid's egg curry for breakfast with Chapatti :-) WOW

I still can't believe how amazing it will be to share another trip through India with so many Australians, as well as Lois, Beck, & Ruth Laben. And it seems like Wes from Canada is joining us again this year. We now have 2 more brothers from the UK who have expressed interest in being able to join us in Kolkata which is fantastic as the bible week brethren duties will now be able to be shared out :-)

I'm praying that we will be blessed by safe travel.

Baptisms... in abundance

On Sunday, my dear friend Laura O'Callaghan was baptised. Such a joyful morning - I woke up feeling like it was my own baptism :-)
We were exhorted to be like Barnabus, to be nicknamed 'encouragement'.
The afternoon was had sharing fellowship we had an ecclesial lunch at the O'Callaghans as the hall needed to be setup for the SS examinations.
Another sister, taken on the name of Christ. 'Dead to sin, and living to righteousness' like all of us are trying our best to do.

And tonight - my sisters best friend got baptised. Such an amazing thing.
She has just the most explosive giggle. Her dad happened to miss a word when he was saying his bit before she went under...anyway, she gave a nervous snort and with that he chucked her right under :-) I'm not sure how she managed not to swallow any water!! Her laughter is contagious.
But another sister. Another runner of the race... let's all continue to encourage one another and look to the author and perfector of our faith.

Can't believe it. It's been such a strengthening time. We've had baptisms 3 sundays in a row (and not just one person at one ecclesia :-), then one last Thursday, then one tonight. Let's hope the finish line is near.

'While we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen fade away but the things which are not seen are eternal'.