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)

Saturday Medical Camp

Juli & Beth providing comfort

Kayleen & friend

Mike is filling syringes while Juli is getting ready to give a child a Hep B injection.

Beth, Linda & Kelsey waiting to leave for camp

Quote from Jeanette Mausolf about the trip so far--"this is my fifth trip to India. Each trip has been unique and exciting but with 14 people(10 of which is their first time), watching them experience the Lord's work at Good Shepherd and the Indian culture brings a lot of joy. Sometimes I wonder why we organize trips but as soon as we get here and see our friends and watch the team begin to bond, I know exactly why we are here. The teams are learning by stepping out in faith across continents. A journey that enriches our own personal walk with Jesus. I am already looking forward to the next trip"

The apostles said to the Lord, "Make our faith greater." -Luke 17:5 (TEV)

Friday Night Service

Henry's sister in law opens the service praising the Lord. Many from Henry's family sang Do Lord, I Will Celebrate, Praise Him, and the team sang Open the Eyes of My Heart. Afterwards the children came to ask for us to bless them.

The psalmist wrote, "I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth."
-Psalm 40:10 (NIV)

I am writing this as we leave Vengalathur where we held a medical camp. The focus was Hepatitis B shots for the children. Several doctors from GSH along with Peggy Riche checked many while others dispensed a lot of medication. The camp was held at the pubic school in Vengalathur. The headmaster at the school received eye care at GSM and is very supportive of GSH As always the children were very excited to see us. They fanned us, brought us flowers, and asked us for autographs. We are now headed back to the mission for lunch (it is 2 pm). Tonight we will participate in vespers at the mission.

Helen, Kelsey and Juli having a soda!! ----- Peggy with Henry interpreting

Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." -Matthew 18:5 (nrsv)

Maureen prays at the dedication of the clinic before unveiling the placque of donors. Afterwards the team immunizes 120 children with the first Hepatitis B shot. Lots of tears, screams, and shrieks followed then with a tootsie roll reward. We were outside the hospital taking pictures when one little boy recognized us and began to cry. The medical camp came from much adrenalin and excitement as we have been awake for what seems a really long time. (we landed at 1 am, dedication at 10 am-- after 1 pm lunch, we all took a siesta). We look forward to playing with the children and worshipping in the ashram tonight.

We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. -2 Corinthians 4:7 (NRSV)

WE MADE IT!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. -Psalm 150:6 (NIV)

Helen, Preveen & Henry at the Chennai Airport

Everyone met us at the airport. All bags are on board and we are waiting to go. From what Maureen said-- we are dedicating the PT clinic at 10 am Thursday (which is today) and then doing a medical camp at the mission. A medical camp takes place at a local village on Friday. We are not sure about Saturday & Sunday, then medical camps all next week & PT clinics. 10 camps in all. We'll be busy

Ruth said, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." -Ruth 1:16 (NIV)

Flying to Brussels

And what a plane!!! Seriously we were in rows 50ish and I think they numbered the plane wrong. The numbers should have been from back to front. Anyway. The plane was huge and really comfy (as comfy as 7 hours could be). The flight was great with lots of movies and yummy food. Beth, Michelle, and Juli got to go into the cockpit. Way to go.

They made sure our flight path was straight and smooth. We were delayed leaving Newark so it was a bit tense going through security again.

We'll see you in Chennai

Vicky and Kayleen wave goodbye.

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. -Colossians 3:17 (NRSV)

TEAM B HAS LANDED IN CHENNAI 3:45 pm EASTERN TIME 1:15 am CHENNAI TIME

Team B

Top row: Beth Zahnd, Michelle Miller, Linda Swope

Row 2: Helen Hartman, Vicky Gentell

Row 3: Kelly Klopping, Kayleen Elsbree, Juli Nelson

Bottom Row: Kelsey Stephens

Team B is on their way! Notice the smiling faces in the Kansas City Airport. Here is their flight schedule (all times are local):

Leave Kansas City 8:50 am - Arrive Newark 12:33 pm, July 8 - 2 hr 43 min

Leave Newark 8:25 pm - Arrive Brussels 9:40 am, July 9 - 7 hr 15 min

Leave Brussels 11:40 am - Arrive Chennai 12:45 am, July 10 - 9 hr 35 min

They are currently eating lunch at Chili's in the Newark airport. They will probably eat dinner there too, since there are not a lot of options on their 8 hour layover in the Newark airport. It seems that they get special treatment on this trip:

Check in made soooooo much easier with Dunkin Donuts brought by Kristi Campbell, Wyatt Park Associate pastor's wife

Jesus said to his disciples, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." -Mark 16:15 (NRSV)

Team A: Jeanette Mausolf, Maureen Raffensperger, Mike Richie, Peggy Richie

Team A is checked in at the Kansas City airport and ready to go to Puttur, India. They received a great send off from friends and loved ones. Please remember to keep them in your prayers. Team B leaves tomorrow.

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)

The India team is counting down the hours until departure from St. Joseph to Puttur. All four worship services at Wyatt Park laid-hands-on and prayed for the misison team. After services the supply bags were packed and weighed, final details were checked, and the team is ready to step out and serve. Due to an airline ticketing snafu Team A (four members) leaves on Monday morning and Team B (9 members) leaves 24 hours later. Emotions and excitment are running high.

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him." 2 Sam 23:31 (NIV)

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)