5/30 9:05 AM our time
thank you all so much for praying for us. He is doing awesome things. our tickets got upgraded to RAC tickets last night, so we had guaranteed spots on the train, but for the first hour of the ride it looked like we might be sharing a sleeper bunk. enough people didn't show up though, so we each got our own bunk at opposite ends of the train. which made for one of the best nights of sleep thus far. rest is good
the train ride was awesome yesterday as well. it took about 19 hrs in all, so we got a lot of reading done, listened to a teaching, and also spent some time in preparation for the final part of the trip. the indian countryside is incredibly beautiful; i took some pictures, but they do not do it justice. especially since i wasn't quick enough to get any pictures of going over the rivers. tons of jungle all around, felt like indiana jones, which we might even get to see this week. everything had adventure written all over it, it was tempting to jump from the moving train and see where i end up, find my way looking through the jungle. i wanted to go looking for mogli, sheer khan, and baloo. it was incredibly beautiful. i'll try to take better pictures when we head back up north, now that i know whereabouts most of the rivers are.
speaking of which, on a more serious note, we have confirmed train tickets for the journey back up north to hyderabad, so we won't have to worry about that like we did for the train here.
i think the prayer requests for here are:
for us to more acclimate and adapt to the culture, and to not offend our family here too much. we've already had several awkward moments, most of them caused by me (mike); eric's had a really good laugh with that. i think for God to prepare us for what is ahead, but for us to still fully live in the here and now is a good prayer. this should be a good week of rest, so that we would just be able to accept that and receive that is important, as to be consumed with busy-ness is just so programmed into us.
much love,
mike and eric
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
southbound
5/28
hey everyone,
thank you all so much for sending your love and encouragement, it means a lot and is so good. last night we had our sending off and most of our uga family left. it was awesome, the kids did a bunch of dances for us, and we did one stomp clap song for them. it was a strange feeling. eric and i set out after lunch today. almost right away it started pouring, and we had to hike about a mile to catch a rickshaw. we got pretty wet from the sideways rain in the rickshaw as well. so now we're in downtown bangalore, and need continual prayer for the train tickets. we'll be on the train regardless, but if room doesn't open up in the sleeper cars (have fans as well), then we'll be crammed in the other section. and its about an 18 hr trip. nice and hot, can't really sleep, because stuff gets stolen. it'd be nice to sleep. and be a few degress cooler. thats the big prayer right now. also for the family (aneeth's) we'll be staying with. this will probably be a pretty fun week though, we're thinking we want to take them out to indiana jones if they're up for it and a nice dinner, and we'll get to experience yet another side of india
pray for:
safe travel for the group right now, both flying and driving. they're probably over western europe right now;
preparation for us;
the changing political winds in karnataka (this region) and its implications in religious issues;
and the whole family (they're about to start school again, and busy with lots of things)
if this is confusing/cryptic, i apologize, but i definitely cannot be specific, as you never really know who's listening/reading/onlooking. praise Him, for He is good at what He does, and so faithful
much love,
mike (writing) and eric
hey everyone,
thank you all so much for sending your love and encouragement, it means a lot and is so good. last night we had our sending off and most of our uga family left. it was awesome, the kids did a bunch of dances for us, and we did one stomp clap song for them. it was a strange feeling. eric and i set out after lunch today. almost right away it started pouring, and we had to hike about a mile to catch a rickshaw. we got pretty wet from the sideways rain in the rickshaw as well. so now we're in downtown bangalore, and need continual prayer for the train tickets. we'll be on the train regardless, but if room doesn't open up in the sleeper cars (have fans as well), then we'll be crammed in the other section. and its about an 18 hr trip. nice and hot, can't really sleep, because stuff gets stolen. it'd be nice to sleep. and be a few degress cooler. thats the big prayer right now. also for the family (aneeth's) we'll be staying with. this will probably be a pretty fun week though, we're thinking we want to take them out to indiana jones if they're up for it and a nice dinner, and we'll get to experience yet another side of india
pray for:
safe travel for the group right now, both flying and driving. they're probably over western europe right now;
preparation for us;
the changing political winds in karnataka (this region) and its implications in religious issues;
and the whole family (they're about to start school again, and busy with lots of things)
if this is confusing/cryptic, i apologize, but i definitely cannot be specific, as you never really know who's listening/reading/onlooking. praise Him, for He is good at what He does, and so faithful
much love,
mike (writing) and eric
Sunday, May 25, 2008
5/23
so life's good. vbs ends, and we talked about who we are in Christ. really good ending to a good week, talking about fruits of the Spirit with the kids, God's heart to heal, comfort, encourage. i feel like i've seen a lot of change in my kids over the week (mike talking, but i'm sure eric would agree with his group). kids are enjoying their last few weeks of summer before heading back to school. we're starting to realize this portion of the trip is nearing an end. a lot of the team is preparing for the return. i think we all want some american food, as T ma said we'd be going to a hard rock cafe (just opened in bangalore) monday night. probably going to see indiana jones as well. i know it sounds like we're really roughing it over here with all these movies and playing.
5/24
we had the official america vs india volleyball game today. it was so close but they beat us, 3 games to 2. it was 10 people vs 6 though, but we were bigger, so it was a really interesting matchup that came right down to the wire. did laundry today. i'm horrible at indian style laundry cleaning. my clothes don't look very clean. but they smell so much better. i'm thinking i should've brought another shirt or two, but we're going to buy some jupas when we get a chance (indian shirt). we had wrestlemania with the boys tonight. it was interesting: we played a game where there were heroes trying to rescue a baby doll being lowered from the ceiling into a fire (stool). apparently the idea is from the movie sky high, if anyone's heard of that. those kids are tough. it was a brawl, and boy was it fun. i expected this trip to be demanding, but not really from that specific physical standpoint. the kids are all really successful at what they do. they pretty much sweep everything academically and athletically for their school and entire area because of the way they're raised. and most of them are just as passionate for the Lord. praise God. you pretty much gotta see it to believe it.
5/25
went to a church in Tamil this morning. they translated the sermon for us, going back and forth between languages. their worship and the message was awesome. we got to lead some songs in english. it was amazing, but this shop is about to close. keep praying for our train tickets, that those work out, as well as for safe travel for everyone else back to the states
much love
grace and peace
<><
mike
so life's good. vbs ends, and we talked about who we are in Christ. really good ending to a good week, talking about fruits of the Spirit with the kids, God's heart to heal, comfort, encourage. i feel like i've seen a lot of change in my kids over the week (mike talking, but i'm sure eric would agree with his group). kids are enjoying their last few weeks of summer before heading back to school. we're starting to realize this portion of the trip is nearing an end. a lot of the team is preparing for the return. i think we all want some american food, as T ma said we'd be going to a hard rock cafe (just opened in bangalore) monday night. probably going to see indiana jones as well. i know it sounds like we're really roughing it over here with all these movies and playing.
5/24
we had the official america vs india volleyball game today. it was so close but they beat us, 3 games to 2. it was 10 people vs 6 though, but we were bigger, so it was a really interesting matchup that came right down to the wire. did laundry today. i'm horrible at indian style laundry cleaning. my clothes don't look very clean. but they smell so much better. i'm thinking i should've brought another shirt or two, but we're going to buy some jupas when we get a chance (indian shirt). we had wrestlemania with the boys tonight. it was interesting: we played a game where there were heroes trying to rescue a baby doll being lowered from the ceiling into a fire (stool). apparently the idea is from the movie sky high, if anyone's heard of that. those kids are tough. it was a brawl, and boy was it fun. i expected this trip to be demanding, but not really from that specific physical standpoint. the kids are all really successful at what they do. they pretty much sweep everything academically and athletically for their school and entire area because of the way they're raised. and most of them are just as passionate for the Lord. praise God. you pretty much gotta see it to believe it.
5/25
went to a church in Tamil this morning. they translated the sermon for us, going back and forth between languages. their worship and the message was awesome. we got to lead some songs in english. it was amazing, but this shop is about to close. keep praying for our train tickets, that those work out, as well as for safe travel for everyone else back to the states
much love
grace and peace
<><
mike
Thursday, May 22, 2008
more concise notes
by the way, food is off the chain here. soooo good. which is really good, because if that was bothering us, well, there's still well over a month to go.
5/20 VBS about faith this morning. sometimes its hard to get them to talk, but they're doing well i think. they're retaining head knowledge, so praying that that would be heart knowledge is good, and that it'd manifest into action.
5/21 rode the motorcylce today. and it was extra fun because indian traffic is crazy. we were weaving all over the place to get to the train station to get tickets. we're numbers 8 and 9 on the waiting list for thetickets we need, so please be praying that would work out. we won't find out until then pretty much. but apparently thats not bad on the waiting list and should happen.
5/22 today we have a lot of chill time, and time to go after the Lord for ourselves, which'll be really good with all the reading i want to do. we taught the kids on prophecy this morning, and i think it was very encouraging to them. tomorrow we'll be continuing and then moving on to healing. basically we're focusing on Holy Spirit empowerment, and Christlike character, particularly His heart for people, and how we've been changed and equipped to do as He did (John 14:12, Acts 1:8). the younger groups (eric has 11-12 yr olds) are focusing more on just the fruits. anyways, big things to be praying for: train tickets, God working in the kids, and transition as most of the team nears returning, and we head to another city. thats not for another 6 days, but its realistic that we won't be posting before then. much love from india,
mike and eric
5/20 VBS about faith this morning. sometimes its hard to get them to talk, but they're doing well i think. they're retaining head knowledge, so praying that that would be heart knowledge is good, and that it'd manifest into action.
5/21 rode the motorcylce today. and it was extra fun because indian traffic is crazy. we were weaving all over the place to get to the train station to get tickets. we're numbers 8 and 9 on the waiting list for thetickets we need, so please be praying that would work out. we won't find out until then pretty much. but apparently thats not bad on the waiting list and should happen.
5/22 today we have a lot of chill time, and time to go after the Lord for ourselves, which'll be really good with all the reading i want to do. we taught the kids on prophecy this morning, and i think it was very encouraging to them. tomorrow we'll be continuing and then moving on to healing. basically we're focusing on Holy Spirit empowerment, and Christlike character, particularly His heart for people, and how we've been changed and equipped to do as He did (John 14:12, Acts 1:8). the younger groups (eric has 11-12 yr olds) are focusing more on just the fruits. anyways, big things to be praying for: train tickets, God working in the kids, and transition as most of the team nears returning, and we head to another city. thats not for another 6 days, but its realistic that we won't be posting before then. much love from india,
mike and eric
next 3 days
hey guys, lots going on, and we've been farther away from the internet, so this will be a pretty concise summary.
5/17 got to the home at 6 in the morning. train ride through the night was cool, it was hectic at the station. we were all way on guard against theft, and worked up a good sweat carrying everything. the home is beautiful and the kids amazing.
5/18 went to the village to call home. kids have been talking lots of smack about volleyball and want to have a usa vs india game. fasting and prayer tonight, and we all wrote down things on paper that still ensnare us. kids are intense when they pray and worship, and God delivered a lot of people from different struggles tonight.
5/19 1st day of VBS: talked about love with the older guys, and it was very good. moving on to other fruits of the Spirit to come, probably also into spiritual gifts, which might better be called spiritual empowerments
5/17 got to the home at 6 in the morning. train ride through the night was cool, it was hectic at the station. we were all way on guard against theft, and worked up a good sweat carrying everything. the home is beautiful and the kids amazing.
5/18 went to the village to call home. kids have been talking lots of smack about volleyball and want to have a usa vs india game. fasting and prayer tonight, and we all wrote down things on paper that still ensnare us. kids are intense when they pray and worship, and God delivered a lot of people from different struggles tonight.
5/19 1st day of VBS: talked about love with the older guys, and it was very good. moving on to other fruits of the Spirit to come, probably also into spiritual gifts, which might better be called spiritual empowerments
Thursday, May 15, 2008
full day in india #2
today was another powerful day. we went to a women's home for the destitute and dying. many women there were very uplifting and optimistic, and encouraging to us. we sang praise songs with them, and some of them even began singing some in tamil. it was amazing having some so emotionally moved, as was the fact that we were communicating completely nonverbally. we were praising Jesus in different languages, and that was all that mattered. the nuns were very hospitable there, and it had a very bright atmosphere. we're going to another home for the destitute and dying tomorrow that is supposed to be far worse, and we'll also be heading to bangalore.
after lunch, we had part 2 of the amazing race, where they dropped us off at a mall and told us to get back to the hotel by rickshaw. we thought the competition was which team spent the least, but it was for whoever got the cheapest rickshaw, so teaming up with another team did not win it for us, though we ended up spending the least per person.
it has been an emotionally charged few days. God is teaching me not to carry burdens that are not mine to carry, and a lot of that has been lifted from me the past 24 hrs. a lesson i have learned before, yet must learn again and again it seems. the Lord has taught me so much more, but my time is short. please continue to pray for us as a team, to have His eyes and His heart, to continue to grow (it's been awesome) in team unity, safe travel, and whatever else the Lord puts on your hearts. much thanks, love
mike
after lunch, we had part 2 of the amazing race, where they dropped us off at a mall and told us to get back to the hotel by rickshaw. we thought the competition was which team spent the least, but it was for whoever got the cheapest rickshaw, so teaming up with another team did not win it for us, though we ended up spending the least per person.
it has been an emotionally charged few days. God is teaching me not to carry burdens that are not mine to carry, and a lot of that has been lifted from me the past 24 hrs. a lesson i have learned before, yet must learn again and again it seems. the Lord has taught me so much more, but my time is short. please continue to pray for us as a team, to have His eyes and His heart, to continue to grow (it's been awesome) in team unity, safe travel, and whatever else the Lord puts on your hearts. much thanks, love
mike
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
chennai
monday night we arrived in chennai, and even after midnight, it was crazy. people everywhere, i can't even imagine what that airport must be like during the day. the heat is intense, we go through several liters of water each every day. it feels like we've been here a lot longer than just a few days. i feel like i've forgotten that i'm a student, that seems so far away
tuesday we met everybody, and as our "orientation," we had a scavenger hunt planned. we had to go and buy different items in the streets (there are strett vendors everywhere), and work on negotiating the best prices. we met that meeting and compared, and it was hilarious when we found out how badly many of us got ripped off, even though the most anyone spent was equivalent to about 5 american dollars.
we visited the mother teresa children's home that evening. i'm having trouble describing that experience. the kids had different disabilities, and many were wailing, shaking, and cowering in corners. i think a lot of us just didn't know what to do, how to react, how to interact. i ended up making up a clapping game with one girl who was cowering in a corner. we would just clap each others hands, then our own, and repeat in a beat, eventually clapping our own two and then three times. she seemed to love it, and was slapping my hands with some strength by the end of it, where she had been doing so so weakly at first.
we went back to the home today, and the girl i was looking after wanted to go walking outside. she tried to eat dirt and leaves there, and so finally i got her to play with this ball for a long while. a lot of the kids just wanted to be held, or touched, or basically loved. it was very uplifting to see Jesus in others on the team. and even the kids. my initial reaction yesterday was wondering how God could be exalted in that place. i knew He could. i just didn't know what that would look like. but He was.
we don't know poverty. not the first thing. its different here. mud shanties line the streets in many places. we ate a meal for 11 people for about 14 dollars today. i'm realizing how much a lot of these things i will have to describe in person. or won't be able to at all.
mike
tuesday we met everybody, and as our "orientation," we had a scavenger hunt planned. we had to go and buy different items in the streets (there are strett vendors everywhere), and work on negotiating the best prices. we met that meeting and compared, and it was hilarious when we found out how badly many of us got ripped off, even though the most anyone spent was equivalent to about 5 american dollars.
we visited the mother teresa children's home that evening. i'm having trouble describing that experience. the kids had different disabilities, and many were wailing, shaking, and cowering in corners. i think a lot of us just didn't know what to do, how to react, how to interact. i ended up making up a clapping game with one girl who was cowering in a corner. we would just clap each others hands, then our own, and repeat in a beat, eventually clapping our own two and then three times. she seemed to love it, and was slapping my hands with some strength by the end of it, where she had been doing so so weakly at first.
we went back to the home today, and the girl i was looking after wanted to go walking outside. she tried to eat dirt and leaves there, and so finally i got her to play with this ball for a long while. a lot of the kids just wanted to be held, or touched, or basically loved. it was very uplifting to see Jesus in others on the team. and even the kids. my initial reaction yesterday was wondering how God could be exalted in that place. i knew He could. i just didn't know what that would look like. but He was.
we don't know poverty. not the first thing. its different here. mud shanties line the streets in many places. we ate a meal for 11 people for about 14 dollars today. i'm realizing how much a lot of these things i will have to describe in person. or won't be able to at all.
mike
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