Home!

Our team arrived safely home to KCI this evening around 6:30 PM. Waiting to greet them were many family members. The laughter and stories and sharing as the group came off the plane were a joy to hear. They gathered for a final prayer. Only one bag was lost and that was between Dallas and KCI so we are hoping that will be returned tomorrow. The snippets of stories that we heard reveal a trip that was beyond expectations. They will have much to share. We will have time in service to share their experiences but for now we rejoice in their experience and are thankful that all are home safely.

Sounds of India

When in India, as I am sure you will hear, the sounds are constant and very different from sounds we hear in the US. Everyone who visits India remarks on it. Joe decided to bring some of India back with him and in this picture is displaying his "Dual Sounding Indian Car Horn" for his car. St. Joseph will sound a little like India to those who know!

Safely Through London

Received two messages this morning. The first that the team had arrived in London and then Chad sent a quick email that they were on the plane for Dallas. Just checked British Airways site and the plane will land in Dallas around 2:45. Praise God! They are scheduled to arrive at KCI at 6:00 PM tonight.

On the Way Home

This is the reception area of Good Shepherd hospital. On the patio and driveway out front, the entire Good Shepherd family gave the team a talent show Thursday night, followed by a meal given by the team in thanks for all their hard work and care during the two weeks. The team served 350 people, with the preparations taking most of the day.

Praveen's wife, Anita, does beautiful handwork. She decorated the team mission shirts by hand for all the team members. Ashley chose to have her hands designed with henna by the mission children.

The team left for Chennai Friday morning and spent the day in the city. Picture transmissions were limited so these few are posted with more to follow as a wrap up on their return Saturday evening.

In Chennai, they went to St. Thomas' mount. The Apostle Thomas traditionally was martyred in Chennai. They saw the Bay of Bengal and the Indian ocean and did a little shopping. They planned to eat at Pizza Hut (yes, Pizza Hut) before going to the airport. At the airport many of the other Good Shepherd staff and family arrived to see them off. Their flight left two hours ago for London.

This picture is of the VBS church in Gavindapalem, dedicated in July 2008, taken from the top of the little mountain on the morning hike. Please pray for our team as they make their way home.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 (TNIV)

Preparing to depart

It is Friday morning in Puttur and the team is packing and getting ready to spend the day in Chennai before going to the airport late evening. Thursday was spent doing a little more touring to a waterfall and then the afternoon preparing and serving a meal to the entire Good Shepherd family. This was followed by a talent show - kids and adults alike. The photos have not come through yet but the following are a few pictures of friends and Puttur.










Henry's son Praveen is shown here with his wife, Anita and son Sam. On the right is the flower vendor in Puttur. Those garlands are a sign of honor and welcome wherever the team has gone. The bicycles are part of life in India and this street scene is in Puttur, where Dean says they did their best to keep the "economy ticking" when they had time for shopping. Paul, who grew up at the mission and is an integral part of helping in every way at Good Shepherd, is cooking for the feast served on Thursday night. Reese is walking back to the mission after the hike and a friend tags along. So many moments shared by the team and the Good Shepherd family. These pictures represent only a tiny portion of what we will hear when they return Saturday.

School Visit

Wednesday also included two primary school visits. The first was in Puttur. The second school was in a poor tribal village and had five classes in one room, two teachers and 50 children all sitting on the floor. The picture shows how the schools use the walls of the school for education, maps, spelling, math tables, etc.. The students were served their noon meal at school consisting of rice, egg, and tamarind soup. All the students eat sitting on the floor. The team was invited to visit with several teachers who had worked for Henry when he was district superindendent. They treated the group to a roof top meeting and gave them neck scarves honoring the team's service to the poor in India. The meeting also included singing and dancing by students.

Bone Setter's Hospital

Wednesday the team visited the Bone Setter's hospital which is well-known throughout India. Patients come to the hospital for treatment of broken bones and are offered traditional medicine which involves a poultice of eggs, oil and other products. The first picture is of the rooms where the patients and families stay and the treatment picture is of the bone setter working on a broken ankle.

Medical Camp at Puttur Jail

The team had an opportunity to conduct a small medical camp for the inmates at the local jail. The jail was very spartan with each cell having a cement floor, squat toilet, fan and light, no beds. There will be 3-6 prisoners per 8 X 12 cell. Conditions are very different than US jails and sentences appear to be much harsher for given crimes. 6 months for stealing a cell phone, or public drunkeness. The team handed out treats during the camp - bananas and sweets.

Wednesday Morning Hike

The men on the team decided to take an early morning hike up a small mountain that is just east of the mission compound. It can be seen in this picture behind the mission as the sun is just rising. The hike took about 20 minutes and provided spectacular views of Puttur and the area surrounding Good Shepherd. About 10 minutes after they got to the top two mission boys arrived also, hiking barefoot and bringing hot tea and 6 ceramic cups. What a treat!

Connecting

One of the many blessings of sharing time with the Good Shepherd family is making new friends and also connecting with the members of the team.

Helping Build the HIV Clinic Cottages

The team worked on Tuesday morning helping at the building site for the new HIV/AIDS clinic which will function as a hospice for patients suffering from this disease. The construction process has started and the team had time to do some manual labor and assist in the building process.

Monday Evening at the Hospital

The Good Shepherd hospital provides free cataract surgery to the very poor. This procedure enables those with little to no vision to be able to regain their sight and take care of themselves. The staff screens candidates. In these pictures of the 25 screened 12 were selected. The team went to the hospital on Monday evening to pray for the patients while they were waiting in the hospital ward. The surgeries were done on Tuesday and in this picture they are waiting their turn for the procedure.

Monday Medical Camp

This sign announces the medical camp in Telugu - the language spoken in the state of Andra Pradesh. The medical camp was in the village of Naymbakam, very poor place. The team immunized 49 children and the physicians treated 497 for their medical needs with medicines purchased from the funds given by WPCC and Grace Evangelical.

Annetta shared these thoughts with us:

Today started out just like any other day. We bath, ate breakfast, and had a devotion led by Laura. we drove to Naymbakam. When we arrived I felt something different. As some of you know children are very special to me and I love playing with them. At the medical camps I have been helping hold children while the get their Hep B vaccination. Usually I have been helping with the babies. Today I held the bigger kids. One of the very first ones laid their head on my shoulder while getting their shot and cried. Even after the shot was over they just laid against me crying. It was at that moment that it hit me that God wishes we would come to him like that. To just lay our head on his shoulder and cry. To let Him comfort us and tell us all will be OK. My favorite verse is Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Sometimes we do not read the full verse and we stop at "I can do all things," today I was reminded to finish reading the verse, "through Christ who strengthens me." To stop and lay my head on his shoulder just like the child did today. Annetta H. -super teammate.

Sunday Evening Gavindapalum Service

On Sunday evening the team worshipped in one of the churches built by the VBS children at Wyatt Park. Brother Dean brought the word and the group had time to visit with this congregation. The team was then invited to dinner at Rathna's home. Rathna is Henry's brother and works tirelessly with his brother to help run the mission, as do all the brothers. The picture below is of the group getting ready to eat. It was quite a feast and an honor for the team.

Playing with the Children

When they celebrate the children and adults love to dance. In these photos, Chad and Thom are joining in and then also Chad organized a congo line.

The team also took some balloon games and made balloon shapes and animals for the kids. Chad was throwing the balloons off the balcony to the children with Ashley standing in the middle.

Time with the Children

One of the joys of visiting Good Shepherd is spending time with the children who live at the mission. Good Shepherd in Puttur provides a home for 150 children who have either no parents or parents who are unable to care for them. The hostel in Kolladam run by Henry's brother Prasad does the same for 30 boys. In the picture on the left Laura is spending time with some of the girls.

Ashley shared the following:
Our team had a little free time this afternoon so a few of us decided to wander over to the children's dorms to see what the kids were up to. As always, the boys were occupied playing cricket, but the girls were thrilled to see us. After lots of handshaking and hugs the girls decided that it would be fun if everyone joined in a rolicking game of "capity" They organized us and themselves into two rows facing each other. Then, in one collective motion, they all began to sprint around as the game of "capity" commenced. Thoroughly confused as to the rules of "capity," I decided my best bet was to just stand still and observe. Wrong. Out of nowhere I was plowed into by a group of laughing girls. Apparently, this meant it was my turn to be "it." I was escorted to the center of the game between the two lines and was instructed to "run!" I turned to one of the girls and asked for further clarification. She explained everything saying, "Sister Ashley, just capitycapitycapity, yes?"
A lot of our communication with the people here has been similar to this, difficult and confusing. Regardless, we have learned to communicate and have had a lot of fun together. I still Have no idea what the point of "capity" is but it doesn't really matter.

Chad describes giving the gifts to the children on Saturday evening:

"On Saturday night we had an event with the Good Shepherd kids. We gave them the gifts that we brought. Each child also received a set of clothes from us. (The clothes are not ready-made. Everyone over here buys fabric at the textile shop and then has a tailor make the clothes. I had 2 shirts made for me and I paid the tailor $4 total. I splurged on the fabric because it cost $6 total.) It was bittersweet watching the kids get their stuff. They were excited to get these trinkets. Hair ribbons. Pens. Calculators. Markers." All the purchased gifts were donated by members of Grace Evangelical. The clothing material was donated by the team members.

The mission also houses several elderly people who have no where else to go. Some of these are lepers but others have disabilities that prevent them from being able to work. They have a home and are fed and cared for and given basic medical attention for their needs. This gentleman has lived at the mission for at least 10 years and the children all help care for him.

It is Monday there now and the team has a large medical camp.

Sunday Morning

Every team who visits Good Shepherd worships in the village of Nindra, which is a small rural village where Henry spent his teen-age years. Henry's father was the pastor of the Lutheran church in Nindra for many years and that is Henry's church home. The ladies are all given sarees from the mission as a gift. Once in Nindra, the team is escorted to church riding an ox cart and led by a band. It is quite a celebratory entry into this little town.

Saturday Evening - Gifts for Children

One of the joys of visiting Good Shepherd is bringing gifts and items for the children who live at the mission. These children have a good home at the mission but have few material things. They received gifts for Christmas but little else during the year. Our team brought several items collected from Grace Evangelical and also brought funds to purchase things the children could use. Susie is handing out gifts while the staff organizes the items. One team member donated their Christmas and their family purchased t-shirts for all the children and staff at Good Shepherd. These are the same team shirts our group wore during the dedication services Sunday January 4. The mission boys all have on their shirts, which have a picture of Jesus and scripture on the front.