Erin's experiences a tradional Hindu wedding ceremony. She was included in an invitation that was extended to Henry's "household":

I often feel... out of the loop. I'd say a great part of that is owing to the fact that all decision making happens in a language I don't understand, but it's not uncommon for me to get into a van and not know where it's going. We pull up in front of some place and I say, "So we're there?". That's the way it was with this wedding... Henry told me that an old friend of his (Christian) was getting married and he would like for me to go with him, but he didn't know when it was. A few days later he said, "There's a wedding tonight" so I assumed it was the same one. Because I don't have a sari that's nice enough for a wedding, I went to Henry's daughter's house where an army of Indian women pulled and tucked and pinned and I came out looking like an overfluffed chicken. I had no idea what was in store. We loaded into a van that was already populated by Henry's brother's family (Vijay, etc.) then stopped to pick up a few stragglers. When we stopped to pick up Mary (who I thought was out of town!) I said, "We all know this couple? Mary, how do you know them?" "I don't." She said. And that was how the night went. We arrived at this great field that was full of lights and flowers and loud music and the smell of rice. As it turns out, this was a different wedding - a Hindu wedding - and the guests must have topped 2,000 people. To my stunned face, Henry said, "Invitations are given out by household, and 'household' is a very loose term." In our case, "household" meant anyone Henry is related to or considers as close as family. A lot of people. More and more people kept showing up that I knew, uncles and second cousins and people who worked in the mission. Even a few orphans made their way onto the list - Ajay and Rajashekar, the boys who sleep in the next room, were there. "Ajay! You were invited?" It was raucous. There was more food than anyone knew what to do with and loud music - more like a carnival than a wedding. Hindu marriages last for 3 days and we were only there for the first night - a night of celebration. The actual CEREMONY is the next day (as I was told) which I didn't see. I did, however, get to have my picture taken with the "happy couple". It's rare that you'd get an Indian to smile in a picture and I didn't want to be the only grinning idiot (read: American) up there, so before we went onto the stage I begged people, "Please, will you smile? Are you gonna smile? You have such a nice smile!" I tried my hardest to keep a straight face but I kept laughing. It was impossible not to. The evening turned out to be so much fun, so unexpected and crazy.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 NASB

After several weeks in a far away place a little taste of home is always a pleasure, even if it is just a little bit different. Erin shares an experience of travels to the city of Bangalore. Bangalore is a major Indian city and is a center of commerce and Information Technology (In the picture is Henry on the left and his son-in-law Sagar):

About a week ago Henry, Sagar and I went to Bangalore to order some supplies for the new PT clinic. Sagar used to live in Bangalore so he did most of the ordering, Henry and I did some sight-seeing. Bangalore is a beautiful city, full of high stone walls and overhanging greenery. Also, it's something of an international city, so there were lots of American restaurants and we treated ourselves to some delicious KFC. Though not exactly American KFC, it was generally the same and I enjoyed it a lot. We all did. It seems that everyone loves fried chicken. Sagar said, "When I was a bachelor, I used to make sure we came to KFC at least once a week." I told him he's not so different from American bachelors.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household... Eph 2:19 (NIV)

The Good Shepherd Mission staff responded to the needs of a rural village.

Erin writes:

"It was in a village that believed they were under the spell of some witchcraft and they asked GSM to come pray for them. We went and afterwards Henry said, "I have tended to their spiritual needs, now I want to take care of their physical needs." So we loaded up the GSM van with doctors and set up shop in a one-room school house."

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 NIV

Ready for the School Day

Good Shepherd Mission staff make sure that all children attend school. Henry hires tutors to come to the mission compound daily to help with homework and school lessons. These girls are in their school uniforms and ready to head off for the day. A typical routine is home from school and two hours of free time and then dinner. The tutoring sessions begin after dinner.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Tim 4:12 (TNIV)

Erin is settling into her new digs quite well. The two lads in the photo have been posted outside Erin's room by Henry. They have taken their duty very seriously. The two have also help Erin rig up her new mosquito netting. The technology is simple but effective. Here is what Erin has to say:

My new mosquito net. It's not quite as romantic as you'd hope (as I hoped) the way they look in all those steamy monsoon movies. But it works. These boys Rajashekar and Ajay - are the two who sleep outside my room. They helped me rig it up. You might notice that the cords that suspend it above my bed are at about jugular height. My room instantly became a gymnasium. But it works, you know? I laid in my bed and watched the little buggers land on it. Ha!

Erin shares another story of hope given to one in need:

I met Renuka when I was here last. She is a pretty perfect example of the sorts of people Henry hopes to help with his new Care and Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and TB patients. Renuka contracted HIV after her husband got it from a prostitute. Now a widow she is very sick. She came to GSM with the intention of turning over her kids and then committing suicide, but Henry convinced her that she had a reason to keep going and that she should dedicate her life to Christ. Today, though very sick, she is a Christian and would like to spend the rest of her days "helping people like her" - preventative education. There's a pretty sizable stigma in India about AIDS/HIV patients - either they don't understand it or it's a conscious ostracization - but they are treated very poorly. Most people will not touch them or come near them, so the people at GSM go to extra lengths to hug her and hold her. She and her two children live in Tirupati (20-25 miles) where the kids go to school, but Henry sends them 3000 rupees (about $75) a month for her food and medical bills.

Editors Note: Renuka and her children do have an American sponsor.

Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress;have mercy on me and hear my prayer. Psalms 4:1

Indian Transportation Systems

India has a broad array of transportation options. Erin visited her Uncle in Chennai for a weekend. Auto Rickshaw was the mode of transportation in the city. The three wheeled motorcycles have two-stroke engines and are ever present throughout most towns and cities. Henry sent his brother, Annand, to escort her back to Puttur. They traveled the 70-80 miles back to Puttur on a third class train ride.

Erin describes her experinece,

Picture 1 -- what it looks like from the inside of an Auto Rickshaw. I always wanted to take one, and now I have. In fact, they were our main mode of transportation in Chennai Picture 2 -- The train station in Chennai. I have also always wanted to take a train, and here it is. Picture 3 -- Anand and me on the train. You can contrast Anand's feelings about the train with my feelings about the train via the looks on our faces. I got a window seat! (Don't think we didn't have to fight for it.) Picture 4 -- This is what it looks like on an Indian Train. It's not quite like the movie "Darjeeling Lmtd." but then, we rode 3rd class.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9 (NIV)

Caring for the "Least of These."

Erin and Prim (long time mission worker and "mission boy") are preparing to observe a cataract surgery at the GSM hospital. Surgeries are performed on a sliding scale with free care offered to the poorest patients.

"Prim and I, just before we went into the Operating Theatre to see a cataract surgery. I nearly passed out. It was hot in there and the optho. was REALLY attacking his eyes. Oh man. Afterwards Henry said, "I don't think you should go into medicine, Sister." Prim, I happily report, was very professional."

Henry has recently retired from his position as mandal education officer (district superintendent) for the Puttur area. Mornings are spent listening to the needs of and caring for the poor and needy that come to the mission. Erin is relating a story about this grandmother and her grandson in an email to Jeanette Mausolf, July 2008, Mission Team Leader.

"I don't really remember their story, but this old woman and her grandson (I think) just came to the mission the first few days I was there. I'm not sure if they've been admitted or are just staying around for a while. Very sad. Oh Jeanette, the people I've met. Every morning Henry and I sit on the porch and take tea and EVERY morning there are new, sadder people. At first it made me sick, but now it's like I've come to expect it. I don't know how Henry does it. If anything, this trip has given me a very clear image of what Henry does."

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Mathew 25:40 (TNIV)

Erin's Good Shepherd Routine

My days go like this: wake, shower, breakfast, hospital, lunch, rest, ______, dinner, sleep. The blank could be any number of things, from going back to the hospital to shopping to church services to a rousing game of Indian Uno, where we basically throw cards at each other until it is apparent that one of us is victorious. I have never won a game.

I think about you often. Probably everyday I start to think about home, wonder what I'd be doing if I'd just gotten a summer job, stayed home, rented old movies. I miss America. But then, almost immediately, I remember why I'm here and how good it is.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Cor 15:58 (NIV)

Erin Raffensperger, from St. Joseph, MO and a student at the University of Minnesota is spending nine weeks working at Good Shepherd Mission. Erin traveled with nine others in January 2007 to Good Shepherd as part of a medical mission team from Wyatt Park Christian Church. Erin felt the call of God to return this summer to South India to work at the mission with the mission founder and director Henry Bhaskar. She will be joined by a medical mission team of 14 others from St. Joseph the first week of July. Here is Erin learning the finer points of eating a mango (sucking the day lights out of the pit).

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. Titus 3:14 (NIV)