Day 1

The Mission Team has made it to India safe and sound. We arrived yesterday afternoon, and with the exception of some long security and immigration lines, the trip was safe and boring. We checked into the hotel, then got a chance to see Bhavani Island, a small island with a very unique activity park where we were as much of an attraction to the local people as the park was.  Afterwards, we began what probably would have been a wonderful dinner that was going to be very slow, and when some of us started going to sleep at the table, we had to abandon. 

This morning we began with a worship service at the Vijayawada Prayer Fellowship where we helped lead a worship for around 150 disadvantaged children and their teachers. The children sang and danced for us, then our group sang and led worship, including teaching the children Zacheus was a wee little man and how to play four corners.  Afterwards, we had time to socialize and make new friends and give each child and teacher a small gift.  

Afterward, we went and did a medical clinic where we saw almost 100 people and offered medical advice and diagnosis from our team of medical professionals.

Finally, we went to a outdoor, night time Gospel Meeting near one of the wells installed by Pure Water Initiative. Again we helped lead the service and dedication of the well followed by a dinner at the home of the pastor and his wife. 

It is just after 11 pm here and it has been a very long day and we are still jet lagged.  Thanks to all for their support and prayers.  Tomorrow we have another medical clinic, and visit/dedicate two more well projects.

On Our Way

We have begun our trip.  Most of the group met at the church and we are at the airport where the rest of the group met us. The first flight leaves in just over an hour. Thanks to everyone for all the prayers and support. Please keep it up. 

India Trip 2018

It is almost time for our next Mission Trip. On February 15th, 2018, a team of 16 people will depart for a 9 day trip to India.  During our trip we will be hosting a pastor's conference, leading six medical clinics, visiting water project sites, leading gospel meetings and spending time with 250 children. We are looking forward to this exciting opportunity to serve others as the hands and feet of Christ and to spread his gospel.

We will leave Thursday afternoon and will travel approximately 32 hours to reach our final destination of the city of Vijayawada, in the state of Andra Pradesh in India. See below.

We will have Saturday afternoon to rest and orient ourselves and then we begin with Church on Sunday morning and then begin our mission activities Sunday afternoon.

This blog will serve as our primary means of informing people about the trip. We will try to update it as much as internet (and perhaps electricity) allows.

As we complete our final preparations for the trip, we covet your prayers. Specifically we ask for you to pray for easy and safe travel, good health, and good fellowship and camaraderie. But above all we ask for God to prepare our team, and the people we will be serving so that He will be glorified during our trip.

Rest and Relaxation

Monday Feb 3, 2014

Today was a fun day to get more acclimated to the time difference of 10.5 hours. We shopped in Visakhapatnam. While we were shopping our host Roa was picking Penny and Bill at the airport.  It was great to see them when we got back to the hotel.
Last night we had dinner on the patio. It was a Chinese sampler.  We got a sample of ALL appetizers and more of the appetizers we especially liked.

We got to know our host a little more and what he does.  He lives approx 220 from Vizag.  He arrived by train and has been a gracious host. A funny moment at dinner tonight. Jim Tarvin is asking everybody he sees where can he find a cobra. Roa related to us he has cobras around and IN his house all the time.  When asked how many times he has had a cobra in his house he couldn't count all the times. Then explained how to kill a cobra and that his children kill them all the time.  His children - He is guardian to 292 children.

Next week when he drops us off at the airport in Vizag he will hop a train to Kottayam for the Seminary graduation.  He said it will be about a 26 hour train ride from Vizag to Kottayam.

Tomorrow at 2:00 PM we head to Koraput and start our main reason we are here. A pastors conference and medical clinics. Until tomorrow.

Keep us in your prayers to have God show his love through us.

Finally... We are here

Later Sunday Feb 2, 2014 at 11:50 AM. 

We are now at our Hotel for the next 2 days. GREAT NEWS. Penny and Bill will be with us tomorrow. We are at the Taj Residency.  We left Atlanta at 5:45 PM Friday January 31. We are now in Vizag Sunday Feb 2, 2014 at 11:00 AM.

Second part most interesting.

Sunday February 2, 2:22 am

In Mumbai municipal airport. Our flight to Amsterdam was interesting. Penny and Bill got sick on the flight to Amsterdam. Penny got the worst of it. She was very weak. She boarded the flight to Mumbai and got sick again. This time the flight attendants asked them to get off the plane. So, of our 14 on the trip 2 are in Amsterdam and 12 are catching some shut eye on our 8 hour layover in Mumbai. One last flight at 8:25 am Sunday morning from Mumbai to Visahkpatanam (Vizag pronounced Vie zag). It will be the shortest only about 2 hours.

Our long journey into ....

January 31, 2014 4:04 pm 

Well, we are on our way. We made through check-in with no problems. Sitting in the International Terminal of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport gate E10. First leg will be to Amsterdam. Flight is 8 hours. (Less time than it took many of you to get home from work on Tuesday.) second leg will from Amsterdam to Mumbai.