Day Five

Today was our tourist day and it turned out to be an adventure. We took a train to the Bay of Bengal and had the opportunity to visit the beach. The trip down and the beach were both certainly different than what the US offers.

After lunch we had the opportunity to do some shopping, including a grocery store and an open air walk-through Indian market. 

We have all become quite accustomed to the density of people and the constant stream of horns as people move about, although crossing the street through the oncoming traffic is a skill that some of us have yet to master. Tomorrow we will begin our journey back. As at the beginning, we ask for your prayers for a safe, uneventful trip home.

Day Four

Day Four was the last day of our mission work.  We had each received a gift of a new set of Indian clothes from our hosts, so as we gathered together, we were surprised by the colors and styles of all the new outfits. We wore them as an honor to our hosts, Dr. BVR Rao and his organization.

We were able to finish the pastors conference and distribute the gifts graciously provided by people of First Baptist church.

While the pastor's conference was finishing, each was seen by the medical team along with additional villagers from the surrounding area. 

After lunch we had some time to relax and then visited one of the Ghandi Memorials on top of one of the local mountains. It provided breathtaking views of the city, but it also difficult to realize that 45% of the people live in the slums, which equates to severe poverty. We feel as though we have done as much as we could in the short time given, but the opportunity is there to do so much more.

Tomorrow is a tourist day, with a trip to the Bay of Bengal and opportunity for some shopping and additional sight seeing.

Day Three

Day three was another very busy day. The pastors conference started and several members of the team taught the pastors. The lessons included how we should live our life from Philippians, 8 life lessons from the book of Esther and an analysis of church politics. We even taught them a few yoga poses and exercises to strengthen their body as well as their minds. 

While the pastor's conference was happening, the rest of the group did a medical clinic for the local town population.

After lunch, we rode out the Chevuturu where we dedicated a well that was paid for by one of or team members. We also did another medical clinic for the towns people around the well.  Between the two clinics, we provided medical service for approximately 160 people.

We also found out that our team's visit, along with pictures, were featured in the local newspaper yesterday.  Tomorrow we will conclude the pastor's conference as well as provide a medical clinic to the pastors themselves.

Day 2

Today was an adventurous day. We spent a fair amount of time traveling between sights on some very bumpy, twisty roads.  We were told we went 25 miles during one two hour stint. We started by visiting a tube well project and dedicating the well and praying for the people and church at the site.  This well provided the approximately 2,500 residents with sweet water as opposed to salty water.

Next we traveled down to a different well site and participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony and inaugural activation of a water filtration system and reservoir.  This system would provide Florine-free water (we were told Florine causes joint and organ issues in the residents so this would greatly improve their lives).

This filtration system will help provide clean water to a town of around 3000 people.

Finally, we performed a medical clinic in the neighborhood.   It was a most unique experience and proof that God's work can be done in less than ideal circumstances.

So far, thing are going well and we start the pastor's conference tomorrow.

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.

2014 Mission Trip Begins.+

The time is here. Tomorrow January 31, 2014 we travel to Koraput, India. We will be begin the trip on Friday Jan 31 departing from Atlanta, GA to Mumbai via Amsterdam.  Once we get to Mumbai (Bombay) we will change to Jet Airways and fly from Mumbai to Vizag (short for Visakhapatnam). We will be in Vizag on the eastern coast of India on the Bay of Bengal for 2 days to let our bodies catch up then to Koraput for our medical clinics, pastors conference and dedication of the well.

I'll add to this as time permits along with pictures.

Until tomorrow....

Children’s Home – Saturday February 25

Saturday afternoon we visit the Seminary to meet Dr Kunjamon Chacko. We visit the classrooms where Team 1 taught the classes and met daily. Remember the little blurb about a week ago stating we made it, we’re here, talk later. It was sent from my iPad sitting on the steps in the hallway just before we left for the Children’s home. (Didn’t know that would be the last Internet until I got back to JFK Airport) At the Seminary we were treated to home grown pineapple, and banana nut bread. We then headed over to the Children’s Home to meet the wonderful children and have an evening with them. We arrived and the children gathered to meet us. They sang a song to us as we prepared to give them gifts we brought.

The courtyard

Meeting and greeting all the precious Children

Evening worship at the school. Songs were sung, roll was called and MANY were blessed.

Saturday February 25, 2012 – Travel to Kottayam

Our flight was delayed from Dubai to Kochi, India by an hour. It seems there was a little “unrest” in the country of Oman so we had to wait for an hour to get clearance to overfly Oman. We got to Kochi around 4:00am. We were hoping to be able to see the departing members of our 1st team but it wasn’t to be. They were at a departure gate not in sight of the arrival/customs area. We hit a little snag coming through customs. The customs officials didn’t look pleased to see a suitcase full of eyeglasses. He thought they were being brought in to sell. Penny tried to explain they were going to be given away. After a little while customs finally cleared the glasses after a small duty was paid on them.

As we exit the airport we are met by one of gracious hosts Sabu along with two buses to take us to Kottayam. After all the luggage is loaded we load up and head to Pearl Regency Hotel – Kottayam. The trip to the hotel is an adventure by itself. Saw many sights and got to see our first Indian sunrise (through a bus window but still beautiful).

Here are a few of the sites along the way.