Safe Arrival

Ashley has safely arrived at the mission. The team is ready to start Wednesday. As photos arrive from our correspondent, Chad, we will post more updates. For now, we rejoice that all are assembled and ready to serve.

Tuesday Medical Camp

The team headed to the village of Kassamita and held a medical camp. The doctors and nurses saw over 200 patients with 54 children receiving Hepititis B vaccinations. During the morning a baby was born at the hospital and Susie and Laura were able to hold the baby before it was an hour old. The group started the morning sharing about their experiences and how God is working in them. This evening some will go to Chennai to pick up Ashley and then the entire team will be there!

Morning at the Mission

On Tuesday morning the group waits on the porch for the days events. It is warm and sunny in Puttur. The day starts after the 5:00 AM prayers with the group getting ready to go. Today, they are headed to a village to conduct a medical camp. They are relaxing while waiting for the van. Some of the men choose to have their morning shave done for them. Reese is being tended to by a mission boy.

Word from the Field

Just received word that the team is doing fine - all are fine and they are being fed very well. The medical clinic yesterday administered 60 vaccinations for children, plus the many people who were seen by physicians for their concerns. The team had a welcoming service from the chidren last evening and they handed out cake as a treat to all the kids. Then their first full night's sleep, though our field reporter was up early because of Henry's 5:00 AM prayers over the loudspeaker. Evidently the Mausolfs slept right through. They are off to a village in a few hours for another medical camp. More will be posted as I receive word.

It gave me great joy to have some believers come and testify to your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 3 John 1:3 (TNIV)

First Day at the Mission - Medical Camp

The team arrived at the mission and after a short rest conducted a medical camp at the Good Shepherd Mission Hospital. This helps the travelers recover from jet lag - keeping very busy. Joyce is administering Hep B vaccine with Thom's help. The team also toured the mission to see the many aspects of service the mission provides to the people of Puttur. Joe had time to meet and get to know three of the mission boys.

Morning at the Mission

The team has safely arrived at the mission and in this picture are enjoying tea (more tea) on the porch with Brother Henry. It is morning there.....7:00 AM and warm. This is where the team will eat all their meals. As they settle in and see how the day unfolds let us keep lifting them in prayer.

On the way to the mission

A quick post to let everyone know that they are all there and right now on the van en route to the mission. Stopped for some "tasty tea" and looking forward to their arrival. Pictures to follow soon.

The Team is off to Chennai!

The team gathered yesterday at WPCC to load up vans and head to the airport. All went very smoothly at KCI, with bags checked through and boarding passes issued all the way to India. The flight departed at 1:20 for Dallas with a connection to British Air and on to London. Received this picture this morning of Dean and Thom on the BA flight - and the note that they had landed in London. Expected arrival time in Chennai is approx. 1:30 PM Sunday afternoon (St. Joe time) which is 1:00 AM Monday morning in Chennai.

A Time to Worship

Members of the team attended all worship services at Wyatt Park January 3-4. Pastor Scott led the congregation in laying on of hands in prayer after Dean introduced the team. The Grace Evangelical team members attended their church but all hearts are ready for departure on Saturday January 10. The team will fly from Kansas City to Dallas then connect to London and Chennai. The will arrive in Chennai at 1:00 AM Monday (or 1:30 PM Sunday afternoon).

Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path...Psalm 27:11 (TNIV)

Time to Pack the Bags

Saturday, January 3 eleven members of the mission team gathered at Wyatt Park Christian church to pack the extra suitcases with supplies and gifts donated for the staff and children at Good Shepherd mission. The supplies were sorted, packed, weighed, re-packed and re-arranged to meet the 50 pound weight limit required by the airline. The 11 team members made short work of the packing - only Sirish was unable to be there as he and his family were out of town.

The guys weighed the bags. Team leader Dean was very pleased to see 12 full bags that will carry much needed items to the Good Shepherd Mission and hospital. Grace Evangelical donated many of the items for the children. Others gave medical supplies and t-shirts for all staff and children. The funds raised will go directly to the medical camps in the rural villages surrounding Puttur.

All posts previous to this post were for the July 2008 trip. Posts from this date forward are for the January 2009 trip which departs Kansas City January 10, 2009 and will return January 24, 2009. Twelve team members will continue the mission outreach at Good Shepherd Mission. We welcome you to follow their trip.

Erin and her mother Maureen traveled to Northern India by plane to see the Taj Mahal. They will be returning home on August 6. Erin will spend this last week helping Brother Henry with correspondance and Maureen is very busy in the physical therapy clinic. Erin writes about the Taj.

"We left the Mission Monday night and drove to Chennai where we crashed at my Uncle's house. We got up at 2:30 that morning and slugged into the airport for our 5:00am flight to Delhi. It's only about a two and a half hour fligh and by 9:00am we'd collected baggage and were greeting our first Delhi friend: a man who would drive us to Agra and back. The drive to Agra was a painful 5 hours but we arrived to Paradise - that is, a Holiday Inn. I know, right? And onwards, to the Taj. It is, yeah, everything you hope it is. You're so caught up in the bustle of it all - dog tired, and pushing, shoving tourists (Yeah. Westerners. I think I actually said, "Look Mom - White People!) and kids peddling Taj Mahal snow globe key chains (you think I'm kidding?) - and then it hits you: THIS is the Taj Mahal. This IS the Taj Mahal. This is THE Taj Mahal. This is the TAJ MAHAL.Par la grace de Dieu, we arrived exactly two days before the birthday anniversary of the emperor who built the Taj, which meant that we were there on the first of a 3 day celebration which included free admission to the monument. A day earlier and we'd have had to pay, a day later and we'd have been in the throng of Now Aware tourists. It was perfect. Better yet: The Taj was constructed as a monument and burial site for the emperor's wife. They are both buried in an underground room that is sealed to the public but because we were there on this special day, they allowed us to go down and put flowers on her grave. Unfortunately photography isn't allowed inside the building. "

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. Acts 17:26 NIV

The teams flight left Chennai at 12:15AM Wednesday, July 23. Their flight to Brussels was eight hours. After a three hour layover they left for Newark, NJ arriving there at 11:30AM on July 23 having been in the air for 16 hours.

It was with some sadness that the team had to say goodbye to Helen Hartman (from Reading, PA) who was picked up by her husband Jim at the Newark Airport. It is a two hour drive from Newark to Reading, PA. Unfortunately, a severe weather system grounded all Wednesday flights out of Newark and the rest of team was forced to spend the night sleeping on the floor of the Newark Airport. This was definitely pushed the "flex and flow" motto of the team. It was difficult to be a 3 hour flight from home and being forced to stay put.

The next morning Jeanette, Peggi, Mike and Kelly caught the 6:15AM flight to KCI. Kelsey and Kayleen were able to catch the 2:45PM and Beth arrived home at 2:00AM. Juli, Beth, Vicki, Linda and Michelle were able to get a hotel room on Thursday. They were able to get a shower and a reasonable night sleep before catching the 6:15AM flight on Friday morning. What a way to end the trip. Amazingly, ALL of the luggage actually arrived in KCI before the team members.

Most of the team was in church on Sunday and the joy of being home seems to have blunted the tough wait in Newark. All are celebrating what the Lord has done through them at Good Shepherd.

Erin and Maureen will return to St. Joseph on August 6.

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!" Psalm 40:16 NIV

We are in the airport and have 75 minutes til we leave (not sure when we board). The airport has really changed since our last trip here. It is a bit more comfortable. Pray for safe travel.

Mike says good bye to (l-r) Bosha, Prem, Paul, & Rathna

Jeanette and Kayleen say good bye to Henry.

Kelly, Erin, and Kelsey spend time with Anita

Sam charms Julie, Beth, & Michelle while Praveen watches

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. -1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

We are at the Chennai airport.

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. -Psalm 25:4 -5 (KJV)

Standing in front of an anian tree which is 150 years old located on the mount of St. Thomas where St. Thomas was speared. We didn't have time (due to Chennai traffic) to go to the Basillica (only 10 km away) where he ran to and died.

My angel will go before you to the place I have prepared. Exodus 23:23

Before we head to the airport, Kelly, Mike, & Helen head back to Spencer's mall in an auto rickshaw. It costs us 60 rupees ($1.50).

Continue to live in [Christ Jesus], rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. -Colossians 2:6 -7 (NIV)

Our limo to Chennai (2006 trip had a purple bus). We are now in Chennai and at our Hotel. We now have hot water and pressure for showers.

We had breakfast at Vijay's and Grace's house. Everyone was there--- Ma, Grace's sister, Winnie (home on holiday from studying at the university) & Minnie, Paul, and Ravie. We had a feast--the spring rolls were out of this world.

We said our good byes with many tears. The people of Good Shepherd work so hard and have such faith in God. Please keep them in your prayers.

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. -Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Praveen gathered us for the Evangelists and their families to thank us for our work we accomplished during our stay and to pray for us and our families. What an honor!!







What a way to spend our last day at the mission. We wrapped gifts for the Evangelists(material for white shirt and pants) and staff(shirt & pants or saree).






The children treated us to a talent show. Lots of dancing!! Afterwards, we passed out the gifts.






We served over 400 staff families and orphans in gratitude for the work they do and for taking such good care of us during our stay. GSM is so lucky to have the good hearts of all these people.






Even though it was a day of rest for the staff, staff members still helped the hired cooks for today's meal.

Our little helper, Padma, enjoys a BIG helping of food under the careful eye of Henry's brother, Rathna. Padma took good care of us with serving of meals, helping with our clothes, getting the wash to the dobi, putting flowers in our hair, shopping, and most of all the henna decorating.

Jesus said, "If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." -John 13:14-15 (NRSV)

Sunday

So we didn't shave our heads for a blessing at the Temple. This morning in church, we sang Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord and Amazing Grace. The service was wonderful in both Telugu and English

We worshipped at St Paul's Lutheran Church. The girls sang Beautiful Words, Wonderful Words (not the correct title)

O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. -Isaiah 64:8 (NRSV)