Well, not without a few delays in the Omaha airport, a scare in the London airport (because we couldn't find everyone), we finally made it! I'm not going to lie, those 8 and 9 hour plane rides pretty much seem like forever! But it is all worth it....we are finally here!
Our Indian brothers and sisters were at the airport waiting for us with open arms and brought us to our hotel this morning. We have all taken our showers (as if you can really call it a shower) and now we are headed out to a Special Sunday service.
India is such an incredible place. As we drove on a bus to our hotel (yes, it is like the big yellow school bus with absolutely no shocks), you could just see all of the majestic beauty in one spot and the next place you turn it is absolute devastation and poverty....absolutely amazing.
Okay, we have to run. I will try to write more later.....but we are HERE! Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
It's GO time....
Well, of course, our flight is delayed out of Omaha, but no worries, we have have a three hour layover in Chicago.
Today is the day we embark on the journey of a lifetime.
Today is the day 14 people let go of everything they know and every comfort of America....for, well, we don't really know.
Today is the day we put every ounce of faith we have in Him for guidance, love, courage, and hope.
Today is the day we open our hearts to our Indian brothers and sisters.
Today is the day.
Today is the day we embark on the journey of a lifetime.
Today is the day 14 people let go of everything they know and every comfort of America....for, well, we don't really know.
Today is the day we put every ounce of faith we have in Him for guidance, love, courage, and hope.
Today is the day we open our hearts to our Indian brothers and sisters.
Today is the day.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Day After Tomorrow
Day after tomorrow, and that my friends is close. Have started packing and that makes it real. Cameras and electronics first, then snacks and nic nacs, finally clothes. Have a million errands to run tomorrow not to mention packing all those supplies that so many of you have so generously donated. A special thanks to all of you!!!!!
Will try to have the first of many photos and possibly a video posted by Sunday, no promises. It is my hope that all who read of our adventures either here or on facebook will pass them on to all of their friends, remember the motto of TEAM India..."Untill the Whole World Knows", we are going to need your help on that one. The photo is of our team, two are missing Kate and Casey.
Keep us in your prayers and we will keep you posted.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Our Tentative Schedule
Here is a list of our tentative schedule while we will be in India.
Nov 1: HELLO India....we arrive in Bangalore at 4:00 AM....yep, early morning!
Travel to our home away from home (a hotel somewhere...) Carla says we get to have some chai and then we head to a Special Sunday celebration. Carla to deliver a message and we have the privilege to distribute books to new believers. Then it is to the market to buy some of our very own salwars!!! (We will be sure to post some pics)
Travel to our home away from home (a hotel somewhere...) Carla says we get to have some chai and then we head to a Special Sunday celebration. Carla to deliver a message and we have the privilege to distribute books to new believers. Then it is to the market to buy some of our very own salwars!!! (We will be sure to post some pics)
Nov.2: We will attend a Wives Conference. We will get to provide talks and skits on preventing infectious diseases (germs, TB, HIV/AIDS, etc), do a little skit called "Tippy Tap" for hand-washing, and Carla will provide a talk on healing from abuse. In the afternoon, we will hold our first mini-medical clinic! Should be quite an experience....by the way, Sarah, Janer, and Katie get to be in the pharmacy....please keep us in your thoughts and mostly our Indian brothers and sisters who receive the medication we give! :)
Nov 3: Our first real adventure in Indian traffic....I've heard it's an adventure!! We get travel to new city to hold a Women's Empowerment Conference.
Nov 4: Medical camp at a Dalit Education Center
Nov 5: Evening children retreat...Suzie will be performing at her finest here and ensuring these kids get all the love they can get from all of us....we will be teaching the little ones about hand-washing and how important and valueable they are to this world!!! Should be fantastic....
During the day....possibly a visit to the Indian International Justice Mission office. They are doing wonderful things in India.
During the day....possibly a visit to the Indian International Justice Mission office. They are doing wonderful things in India.
Nov 6: Fellowship meeting. A couple of our married folks get to tell all about their fabulous marriages and how they travel on their journey together! And, umm, our Indian brothers and sisters have invited us to a wedding reception...this will be fun!
Nov 7: Another short travel for a wives conference in the morning and another mini-medical camp in the afternoon....hope the pharmacy works out okay!!!
Nov 9: Mini Medical Clinic
Nov 10: Mini Medical Clinic
Nov 11: Fellowship conference
Nov 12: Visit Slum and Tailoring School. (Not sure what that is, but I'm sure we will fill you in!) Farewell dinner with our Indian brothers and sisters!
Nov 13: Depart for home....hopefully, we can get everyone on the plane!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Why go to India, isn’t there poverty and injustice right here??
Basically, I am going to Bangalore because injustice is there. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus sayth the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.
Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Norfolk and not be concerned about what happens in Bangalore. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives on this planet earth can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.
With the exception of 7 words this is a direct quote from Martin Luther King Jrs., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”. It was true in April of 1963 and it is true today. And so I go.
Meddy
Basically, I am going to Bangalore because injustice is there. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus sayth the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.
Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Norfolk and not be concerned about what happens in Bangalore. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives on this planet earth can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.
With the exception of 7 words this is a direct quote from Martin Luther King Jrs., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”. It was true in April of 1963 and it is true today. And so I go.
Meddy
In 10 days....
members of TEAM India will be boarding a plane to fly thousands of miles on a journey only a few in this lifetime do....or even imagine....
On October 30, 2009, a team of 14 community members of Northeast Nebraska will embark on a journey to Bangalore, India, and other villages throughout Southern India to be the hands and feet of the Lord. We will spend our days among the Dalit people, conducting women empowerment conferences, providing medical care at a local AIDS Clinic and among inner city slums, while enjoying opportunities to celebrate life with the young Dalit children through sports clinics and interactive learning.
This blog will hopefully give you insight to our days in India and help many understand the injustice and oppression the Dalits face each and every day. We are blessed to be on this journey and are excited to share our experiences with the world!
TEAM India
Until the Whole World Knows
On October 30, 2009, a team of 14 community members of Northeast Nebraska will embark on a journey to Bangalore, India, and other villages throughout Southern India to be the hands and feet of the Lord. We will spend our days among the Dalit people, conducting women empowerment conferences, providing medical care at a local AIDS Clinic and among inner city slums, while enjoying opportunities to celebrate life with the young Dalit children through sports clinics and interactive learning.
This blog will hopefully give you insight to our days in India and help many understand the injustice and oppression the Dalits face each and every day. We are blessed to be on this journey and are excited to share our experiences with the world!
TEAM India
Until the Whole World Knows
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