Trip to India - Take One

Here we are, in the Chicago airport, innocent.

Innocent of the blessings and surprises.

Innocent of the physical stretching of ourselves.

I think we thought all the summers of enduring youth camp as counselors would prepare us ... but this was youth camp hard core.

We left for India on Monday November 9th, flying from DFW to Chicago.

We had a 5 hour layover in Chicago waiting for the rest of our team to arrive from all of the States - Chicago, Idaho, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, South/North Carolina.

We were tagalongs on a team of GFA volunteers since we missed going with our staff group in October due to Simon having the H1N1.

This was the trip we were meant to be on, though, and the volunteers were just as impacting to us as the people we met on the field.

PLUS, they are pretty serious about the H1N1 in India, and I doubt we would have been able to get off the plane. You have to fill out paperwork before disembarking that you have not had any flu symptoms nor been around anyone with the H1N1 recently.

And, that, would have been devastating - to make the long flight only to turn around!

Plus, of course, there was no way we would have wanted to risk getting sick there OR risk infecting anyone on our team, the field, or on the plane.

It was encouraging to see God in the details, that He orchestrated things for good, and we were tremendously blessed by this particular trip and team.

This snapshot was taken the next morning.

We arrived in Delhi LATE on Tuesday night and on Wednesday we attended morning devotions with the staff at the Delhi office, then we were treated to a tour.

The gentleman above is working on a radio broadcast/translation.

The gentleman behind the glass wall is recording some teaching in another local dialect.

The view outside one of the windows in the very well cared-for and organized building we were in ----

The dichotomy was striking.

And you could really see the core value of being a people of excellence being played out in how people in the ministry treated their surroundings versus the social norm.

We were able to visit a ministry GFA has that works with the government to help runaway boys get reestablished with their families (if possible) and they share the love of Jesus with them. These boys were so sweet! The workers shared that sometimes it takes a while for the boys to put down their guard, since being treated with love is new for them, but then most of them really respond to it.

The child here, second to the right, really captured my heart; he reminded me of a little boy we once worked with in Dallas that lived in an environment that equaled some of the slum environments we saw in India. There are some parts of Dallas that are just like the worst parts of India, with the exception being that there are less people here and the government has better systems in place to help them - sometimes.

There are people here in Dallas with a blanket strung up for a door because the door was kicked in from a drunken fight. There are families in Dallas who can't afford to get their plumbing fixed and they keep a bucket for toilet purposes - I have seen a toilet 'system' in someone's kitchen in Dallas - right out in the open. I don't understand that; I can't fully wrap my mind around it, but it is a true story.

The child we know here in DFW couldn't speak and had physical limitations probably from abuse from when he was in the womb and afterwards. Anyway, it really struck me in India that here is a child that reminds me so much of someone here at home who would also benefit from such a loving environment, protection, and schooling.

Sometimes I would feel overwhelmed by how little we could do, and now I am overwhelmed by God's grace that my family gets to be a part of helping so many street children and low-caste children in Asia.

The boys read something to us and sang a song for us.

On the right, sitting in a chair is Shane from PA. He is one of the incredible volunteers that was on the team. These people have full-time jobs or responsibilities, and then, on the side, they seek out chances to go to events or schedule events where they can share about GFA and try and get missionary or child sponsorships.

Outside the front of the Delhi office.

It was such a privilege to meet this dear Sister (I'm not sure if I am allowed to publish their names).

She is the wife of one of the leaders there, and she is one of the backbones to the Ladies' Ministry projects. It was neat to meet these people that we have prayed for; it was surprising to me that they felt like family.

Every time we were about to go to another site or meet new people, I had this sense of expectancy and familiarity - like we were meeting family we'd known forever. I was really surprised that I felt that way; I think I imagined I would feel like a 3rd wheel in my western appearance.

Some posted prayers at one of the Delhi Bridge of Hope schools.

Anti-theft system

The workcrew at the Delhi Boys' Street Ministry Home

They had serious expressions for the camera (well, except one in the middle) but, in action, their faces were full of love and the joy of the Lord.

I'm not sure who this gentleman was. I think maybe he was a local believer that was helping them by making uniforms. He was definitely making uniforms for the children, but I can't remember who he was.

This is at the BOH center in Delhi. The children presented us with flowers and much honor. It was humbling, and as our trip progressed, these little gatherings became more and more humbling as they sought to bless and honor us.

This little girl, was one of my favorites, so I was glad she was sent out to give me the flowers. I think she was one of my favorites because she reminded me of Evie.

Three children outside the gates who were watching the program - there was lots of dancing and singing. Then, a puppet show from some ladies on our team.

I thought it was poignant to see the dichotomy of the hope and joy and opportunity inside the center - and then right outside more children just waiting for the opportunity.

There is such a NEED for more sponsorships for these children - I hear the numbers of how many people GFA has on the field or children being sponsored, and it kind of seems like a lot, until you go and see the need and realize we have to keep pressing on and urging more and more believers to send resources to the unreached.

Then, the joy can be theirs, too!

I believe we were told that the BOH center helps train parents to make similar clothes - a useful skill and possibly one that can help them earn money.

Inside the classroom - the girl in the front right, in the purple shirt, is the one that I mentioned reminded me of Evie. I think it was her big, wide eyed, slightly expressionless gaze that reminded me of Evie-Grace!

Debbie on the far left is a volunteer in the Chicago area, and we became dear friends on the trip. It was nice that God planted a kindred spirit right there for me.

Jeannie (in the red skirt) is a very sweet woman of God who was very encouraging. She made the two puppets that they used in the show and she made 250 or so finger puppets for us to give out to the children at different places. The puppets were a HUGE hit - even the missionaries and pastors loved them!

She sells puppets at craft shows and sends the profit to GFA. I think for all of us it was so neat to be able to see the other end of all of these efforts - whether it was volunteering, sharing about the ministry, making crafts so raise money for the ministry, serving here on staff - we all were blessed to see the other end of it all!

You definitely felt a sense of kinship and camaraderie that comes from being on the same team.

Another member of our group was Philip - pictured above. He is a pastor in the San Antonio area and has 4 young children. It was really neat to watch the special kinship that he shared with the pastors we met there.

There are certain blessings and challenges that only shepherds can relate to!

They, of course, let the children waiting outside come in and watch the program, and they received a finger puppet and the bags of food that we handed out as well.

When this little girl came in, I was struck by how different she looked than the BOH kids who live in the same place she does, but I think the BOH children receive training on some basic health, grooming, and cleaning skills.

This child's hair was kind of matted together, her clothes had flies all over them, and, when you were up close to her, you could see that her mouth was foaming. We shared some smiles and it was a blessing to see her get a bag of food and a puppet, but then, your heart ached, because you wanted to do something more for these children.

Maybe I'll upload some videos of the dancing and singing one day!

Contrary to the pictures, I am very happy at this moment - just probably jet-lagged or something. This particular brother was a great host for us in Delhi and the beginning of the trip, and at the end, too, when we came back to Delhi for two days. He was so full of the joy, grace, and care of the Lord. He was really, really, happy and has the biggest smile I may have ever seen in my life.

At the end of our trip, when we saw him again, and were more in the Indian time-zone, he was visiting with Matt and I outside while we waited for a ride to the airport. He said that at the beginning of our trip, he thought Matt seemed quiet and very independent - like a person you couldn't really get to know. But, then, he said something really sweet to Matt. He said, "Now I see you aren't like that at all. You are the most friendly person here. You talk to everyone. Now I remember not to judge a person at first." We laughed and said, yeah, you should wait for the jet-lag to wear off before making an accurate assessment.

The fancy kitchen at the BOH center.

Wow, what I take for granted.

Matt, in his element of technology and making children laugh.

The children all raising their finger-puppets in the air for a picture.

If you look hard you can see another member of our team in the back left-corner.

Mike Chang from PA.

He was the giver of our group - always giving something away to us on the team. I told him that if we were in Kindergarten he would receive the "Sharing Award." He was so kind and attentive to everyone.

Plus, it was great that the Indian personnel at the airports always asked if he was Mike Chang, the famous tennis player - also from Taiwan ... funny!

Our friend on staff, Tony Rizzo, told us before hand how great Mike was. In fact, when Matt mentioned to Tony how he wasn't sure if we were sitting together on the plane, and that we might ask for new seat assignments so we could sit together, Tony quipped that Matt might not want to switch if he was sitting next to Mike Chang. Thanks, Tony ... Matt told me about that little conversation later ....

(turns out our seats were next to each other)

Above is Michael, another volunteer on our team from New Jersey. Matt and I were really impacted by his testimony and his close walk with the Lord. He is a new Christian (within the last ten years) and has that fresh urgency and dependency for the things of God that we lose sometimes. He also had some good marriage advice for us, and his sense of genuine care, love, and acceptance for others was a real picture of Christ.

Some tracts outside on of the GFA Bible Colleges, ready to be parceled out and given away.

It was neat to see all of the different ministries - tracts, biosand filters, Jesus Wells, BOH centers, RLM (Reaching Lepers Ministry), mobile team -- in action.

I was struck by how many areas in Delhi, Calcutta, etc, simply look abandoned - yet they are so many people living in an environment that if we saw here would just be abandoned.

Driving in Calcutta.

I am posting this pic for my dear cousin Sarah who shared a Europe adventure with me this summer.

Sarah - this is no Venice - but it reminded me of it, with the water going up to the doorways!

I definitely felt more at home in India than I did in Europe - it seemed like in Europe there is even more of the mindset we often see in America - the independent and self-seeking way of life. Everyone is looking out for themselves and is very separated from 'real' interactions.

In India, the people there seemed to be much more friendly and there was a sense of community in their way of life. I noticed this about everyone, not just the believers.

It made me realize the devastation that is very real to believers who are shunned from their villages for following Christ. In such a community-driven society, that excommunication would be even harder to bear.

rickshawing it in Calcutta

Right in the middle of Calcutta, an "H & M" store, jk, jk

Sweet sisters we shared some time with in Calcutta at the Bible College.

They were in town doing something with or for the Ladies Ministry.

I think they may have been on their internship from the seminary .... ?

A worship service/celebration at the Bible College

Auspicious - I'll have to look that up.

We were incredibly, beyond measure blessed to be visiting India around the time of the BOH's annual celebration. We attended 3 Bridge of Hope Annual celebrations - one in Purulia, one in Calcutta, and one in the West Bengal Islands .....

but, more of that in another post which shall commence with our train ride to Purulia to visit the RLM (Reaching Lepers Ministry).