Saturday Adventure

Our trek began with a one hour drive to Turipathi. What a huge city!!

After clearing the toll booth regulations (not sure who they were looking for as we had to get out of the vehicle) we began the 22km drive up. The mountain is about 8,000 feet or be one of the adventurous who walk up--oh my gosh!!! On an average day(& we were average), 40,000 people come to the Temple to give sacrifice and pray to the God(& often upwards to 100,000). 12,000 people work at the Temple. This shrine is said to be the most visited in the world even more than Jerusalem. The top of the mountain had so many dormitories and cottages for people to stay. A ticket is for 3 meals and a time in line to go through the Temple. No Disney fast passes here.




We finished our trek to Tiramula with lunch at Hotel Bliss. First thing, what else---diet coke

Everyone kept watch over Maureen so that she didn't step off the curb oand break her ankle. You know, Paris all over again. We tried to convince her to shave her head and give her hair to the God for a blessing but she declined. She is NOT a team player.

You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. -Nehemiah 9:17 (NRSV)

Friday Night Vespers

Evangelist John singing at the service.






Praising God






Praveen interprets Vicky's message on the Power of Protection taken from Robin Roberts from Good Morning America. She told the viewers that she begins her morning with this prayer.
The light of God surrounds me
The love of God enfolds me
The power of God protects me
The presence of God watches over me
Where ever I am, God is







Following along with the scripture reading







So here we are before the blessing!! (go team!!!!). You will have to wait to see what we all look like when we arrive home!!

The psalmist wrote, "I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." -Psalm 9:2 (NRSV)

Today was a day of rest. We were so tired from Kolladam yesterday. Henry says it is unusual for the weather to be this hot. We spent the morning watching eye surgeries AND a baby girl born by C-section.WOW!! She is the second little girl born while we were here. Yesterday we stopped before leaving for Kolladam to see the 1 hour old baby. We all got to hold her. Her father just watched all of us women with a huge grin on his face.


Kelly writing with some of the girls




We can't believe that there are road rules in India. But dont worry, our driver, Bosha, is the best. He takes really good care of us.

Jesus said, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." -Mark 6:31 (NIV)

One of the most beautiful dedications was held this evening in memory of David Miller. The beautiful church in Yanadivettu near Kolladam was charged to Prasad, Henry's brother, to help with the building of the church and in mentoring the Evangelist with his ministering.

Michelle leads us in prayer inside the church.

Michelle opens the curtain to display the plaque

Michelle is speaking with Prasad, Henry's brother, before the service begins

The King will say, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." -Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

We had a medical camp in a very small poor village, Racheralla, near Kolladam. We saw and made many children cry. We also played with the children. The dentist came along to the medical camp and had at least one tooth extraction. Peggi saw several people--high blood pressure, reflux, diabetes, and joint pain. Maureen explained to a woman how to stretch keloids(scar tissue) caused from burns suffered on her arm and legs three months ago. As a result she had very limited movement in her elbow and leg. If she does not break down the scar tissue soon, she will have limited mobility for the rest of her life.

After the medical camp, we were served a wonderful lunch in the church at Kolladam.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. -Luke 17:15 (niv)

Last night we distributed gifts to the children at the mission. We brought these gifts along with us from the US. The children were so excited and appreciative. They were hesitant to take more than one item. We had so many things for them.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. -James 1:17 (KJV)

Comment from Kelsey:

Giving clothes and food to the poor and needy was an unexpected overwhelming experience. Never before have I seen people so grateful for one new outfit and a plate full of food. As I walked around the room helping serve food, I noticed that I was tip-toeing around the water and food spilled mess of a floor. Being a fan of socks and tennis shoes, I cringed at my food crumbs and dirt covered feet. How selfish of me to feel dirty after walking barefoot for maybe two hours, when these people go without shoes all the time. As the night went on, I stopped watching the floor in front of me as I walked and instead stepped through whatever was in my path, because I know that no matter what lies in my path and no matter what I go through, God is right there with me through it all.

Boys preparing a type of salad --------------------- Mixing Stew

Mixing a cake for Paul's and Babalu's birthday

Mike with Sam

Kelly working on Henry

Jesus said, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." -John 13:14 (NIV)

Comment from Linda Swope:

It was amazing!!! Each Evangelist of the Good Shepherd Mission picked their poorest men and women to receive a new outfit (saris and dodis). Some men and women were brought in vans while several walked.

One woman arrived early Tuesday morning so she wouldn't be late. Many limped, many used sticks as canes and crutches, many were blind some with cataracts that clouded their eyes. As the lines formed and clothes were passed into their worn hands the people were so grateful.
I could feel God's presence in the room. They couldn't say "thank you" but I knew they meant it by the spark that lit their eyes and their body language of folded hands and bowed heads. One woman even kissed the palm of my hands. My heart broke.

This will be the only clothes most of these people will have for about1 year. Their old one was worn and thread bare. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve God's people in this way.

Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. -1 John 3:18 (KJV)

Comment from Vicky Gentzell:

Jesus said "if you love me, feed my sheep."

Jesus was telling Simon Peter what was expected of him after Jesus was gone. Now, Jesus didn't actually have sheep! He was talking about those people who followed Him. The people Jesus cared for, the ones He loved...loves. Even now Jesus is calling us to feed His sheep.

My mother and father were believers in this scripture. Moma would say, "we'll all just feel better if we just eat." Daddy would say "feed these kids some real food." They fed us four girls as well as any stray family or friends who needed a meal.

On Tuesday evening July 16, 2008 we "fed His sheep". They came from Puttur as well as from surrounding rural villages. They were the poorest of the poor chosen by the evangelists to join us for a meal and clothing distribution.

The Good Shepherd Mission staff had prepared the meal. Each person received a "plate" made of "eating leaves" which were about as big as your hand. The leaves were stitched together like a big round placemat. On this plate we placed two giant scoops of seasoned rice. Then a meat stew-like soup was ladeles on top. There was also a mixed veggie cole-slaw like salad, banana, and "sweet". Everyone ate their fill-some with seconds and thirds. Glasses of clean water to drink. It was marvelous.

Feed my sheep! It would have pleased my Moma & Daddy and I know it pleased Jesus!

He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. -Isaiah 40:11 (NRSV)

Comments from Kelly: "the big , beautiful brown eyes of India tell their story. The eyes of the mothers and fathers from the villages show times of hardship and desperation and a hope of a better life for their children. They eagerly hand over their babies for vaccines or to the mission for a better life than what they could provide.

The eyes of the children at the mission are full of hope, graciousness, curiosity and strength; but most prevelant is love. Their love is an overflowing love for others, God, and life. They know the true meaning of being God's servants to others. I've never seen a happier group of children, beaming with smiles and laughter. They have learned this kind of love from Brother Henry's example. He has shared his love for God with the children and opened his heart to them. I have never met a more humble, compassionate and generous man. His eyes shine with God's love and he is truly a generous man. His eyes shine with God's love and he is truly a man of God. What kind of world would we live in if everyone had a heart and eyes like his?"

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:16 (NRSV)

Food Glorious Food

The sleeping/living/eating area is on the second floor of one of the mission buildings. There are three rooms with multiple beds and the porch to these rooms has a built in table for eating etc. The meals are prepared and served by Mission staff and children. Breakfast occurs at 8:30, lunch at 1-2 and dinner at 8:30. The pictures above are left to right, top to bottom:

Dining area

L to R. Parma serves & cleans up, Mary cooks, Rathna Kurani serves tea every morning in our rooms and also helps serve and clean up

Ajay helps serve and clean up

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Give thanks to the LORD. . . who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. -Psalm 136:1, 25 (nrsv)

The children from the mission were given excused tardies today to receive Hep B shots. The mission children have never been immunized.
The boys and girls were very brave and everyone received "chocolates" (aka tootsie rolls) as a reward. Even the hospital and mission workers along with the student nurses received shots and chocolates.

Jeanette and Beth help hold one of the orphans at the mission while Juli administers shot

Prem is explaining the medications Peggi has described for this elderly couple. The woman is blind with eye pain. So many people we are seeing have acid reflux, high and low blood pressure, respiratory ailments, and infections.



Maureen and Sagar, who is a physical Therapist and Henry's son in law, discuss treatment procedures for a parapalegic. This young man fell out of a tree. Later Maureen removed dead skin from a wound caused from extensive heat therapy and redressed it to aid in healing



To [God] who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church. -Ephesians 3:20 (NRSV)

Comments from Beth Zahnd & Juli Nelson

We were humbled to be part of the dedication service for the new village church in Govindapalem. The church was built through funds collected by VBS children in 2007. We knew it would be a celebration when we drove up in the mission van and saw the multicolored lights adorning the church. However, we had no idea exactly how overwhelming of an experience it would be for us. We told the people of the village about our 2007 VBS week, the children who came to hear about Jesus and the money they generously gave for the mission project.

As we stood at the entrance to the new church, in Southern India, we could still visualize the WPCC children coming each night, coins in hand, to give for GSM and the new church. We were filled with joy as we heard Brother Henry thanking us, asking us to please tell the WPCC children thank you and that he loved them!

We know people will come to know the Lord in this new church. And what a blessing for us to have a small part in God's work from the beginning. It was an honor to cut the ribbon and to be the first to step into this new place of worship.

"He said let the little childrn come to me...and He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10:14-16

The roof of Kakavedu needed to be replaced and the Sunday school children from Wyatt Park raised the money. The church was built in 2000. There was singing, dancing, and a wonderful story, the five finger prayer, by Vicky. Afterwards we prayed with the people of the village.

Erin & Kelsey present the plaque

Linda is cutting the ribbon to the door of the Church


Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. -Matthew 7:7 (TEV)

This man came to the medical camp held at the DMV for Andra Pradesh
Maureen saw several muscular problems including 2 parapalegics

Gave about 75-80 Hepatitis B immunizations and saw several people with high blood pressure, depression, acid reflux, and joint pain. Linda filling syringes and Jeanette providing dates for follow up shots.

Michelle holds an infant while Juli gives a Hep B shot and Vicky watches

Michelle--it is hard to find the words to adequately describe this place. It is the most beautiful landscape dotted with gorgeous women in vibrant saris living in villages of thatch roof huts. At first I felt pity for these people. Now I feel compassion. To pray over someone and see the gratitude in their eyes humbles me. I truly feel blessed to be in this amazing place. My world view has changed and I better understand my place in God's family. 07/14/08


Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. -Psalm 143:8 (NRSV)

Tonight we dedicated the church sponsored by Wyatt Park VBS in Govindapalem.

Mission team with Pastor Yesu Padum and his family inside the church.

Before the church dedication, Henry took us to see the land for the HIV hospice. It was pitch black out so it was hard to see but it looks like a nice location. The well is dug and they are ready for the first building. Tomorrow is the first PT day.

God said [to Moses,] "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." -Exodus 3:5 (NIV)

Ready for Church

Kayleen "I think what I'll remember most about India is the scenary. The sky is expansive and blue, and although I can't see the sun, it's making its presence known in the little streams of water running down my face and back. The land, a rich mixture of greens and browns, is very flat but near and far it rises abruptly to form mountains, rolling and climbing to touch the sky. The mountains here beg me to come explore them, but it is the people who capture your heart. Their big eyes, the look on their face when they see so many white people, the women's colorful sarees--no two alike - but most of all, the beautiful smiles that quickly light up the children's brown faces when you smile and say hello. That is the picture of India that I see now and will carry with me."

Paul wrote, "We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens." -Romans 15:1 (TEV)

Michelle & Beth on the way to a Sunday celebration in Nindra

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.-1 John 3:1 (nrsv)