Freedom to Love, Freedom to Serve Conference

Wednesday through Friday, Chris did a conference for over 80 pastors from around the region.

The conference focused on Luke 4:18-19. 

 

At the end of each session, there was a time of ministry which often required pairing up.   

During an afternoon session, they had a baby dedication for this little guy's first birthday.  Chris visited his parents' village on one of his previous trips and after praying for them to have a baby told them they would be pregnant within a year.  Now, 2 years later, Chris got to pray a blessing over this precious boy.  His parents named him Samuel and like his Biblical name sake, his parents are devoting him to the Lord. 

 They fed everyone from the conference every day!!!

 

 On Friday, we went out to the tent where the pastors ate each meal and got to mingle.

 



Celebration & Dedications

On Tuesday, I started teaching in the "littles" class.  These kids are supposed to be 4-6, but some seem younger than 4 to me!  It went well, and I can tell I'm really going to enjoy this!!!  After school, we went down to the Bible College for lunch.  The Bible College is being used for the Christian school classes, but it also is home to a few pastors and their families.  A newly married couple had just moved in and we were invited to the celebration and dedication of their new home.  They have the pastors pray blessing over them, their home and in this case, their brand new stove.  Ruth lit it for the first time, then she and Sharelee together put on a pot of milk to boil for "sweet rice."  It was pretty cool and the food was wonderful!  We spent the afternoon putting packets together for the first day of the conference. 

Today, Chris and Sharelee went to the church while I was at school to start the Pastors' Conference.  She also got to go speak at a ladies' Bible study.  I had both classes on my own for the first time.  When the pastors' conference broke for lunch, we went to a nearby village to bless a new home.  Chris cut the ribbon on the first door and anointed the first room with oil and Ruth prayed blessing and cut the ribbon on the door to the second room.  They fed us lunch and we headed back.  The conference tonight was really good, but we blew a transformer and had to cut it short. 

Between lunch and the conference, Sharelee and I got to take our material into town to the tailor shop.  On the way back we stopped at the market to pick up a few things.  Though we stayed in the car, we enjoyed people and cow watching!

"Bagunara"

  Fredi left for Hyderabad after lunch to start her journey home, so she just came down to the school for a few minutes to say good-bye.  I was told my schedule would be changing tomorrow so that I will come down for two hours and work with both classes.  It's going to be fun! 

In the afternoon, we had our first Telugu lesson.  (Bagunara = How are you?)  I am hoping I can pick up a bit of this difficult language in my time here.  After a meeting, we were standing outside talking to some people when it began to rain.  We took shelter under the carport. 

There was a young girl that had been sitting on the bench under the tree while we'd been talking and we found out after the rain started that she was being admitted to the Children's Home once her mother arrived.  Many of the children here are not orphans, they are simply here because their parents cannot take care of them.  There are many people that come seeking admittance for their children, but there are only so many that can be accepted.  This little girl is from a Hindu family but will be introduced to the love of Jesus from her time in this place.  Please pray for her and all the children like her!!! 

First Sunday

   Sharelee was "decorated" for church in her beatiful sari after breakfast this morning.  I got to be in there to see how it is done and it is quite a process but well worth it as these ladies always look so incredibly lovely. 

Our first Sunday in India was wonderful.  It was really good to be back in the church after so long.  They honored each of us with beautiful flower garlands.  Sharelee and I both said a greeting before Chris preached.  He spoke about the church being betrothed to Jesus as the Bride of Christ.  Before he started, he called Sharelee up on stage with him and gave her some beautiful flowers to celebrate their engagement on this days 30 years ago which was a great way to start his message. 

First week

It is hard to believe that it is the end of the week already!  It has been a great week, but it has gone really fast!!!  I really enjoyed being in the classes on Thursday and Friday.  I was asked to take over Friday morning for a few minutes which was fun.  She had just started going through the days of the week before called to the office so I got to finish up.  Sharelee knew a song for the days that she taught the kids which was great. 

On Saturday, we had a pretty relaxed day.  I made some new friends as we waited for the rain to stop in order to record a message for a special church celebration back home.  We also got to go shopping in "town" for punjabis.  I got material for 4 new dresses which the tailor will pick up on Monday.  I look forward to getting the final product some time next week!  We were there most of the afternoon.  I loved the tailor just working in the hall between two shops.  Seemed like a good place for business as he made several transactions while we were there.  I also laughed at the cow standing just outside the shops.  After our final stop, we had to work our way next to a cow that was laying right next to our vehicle.  As I was standing there waiting to get in, I realized my skirt was blowing into his face!  =) 

First full day

After breakfast we went down to see the changes at the church.  They just completed an expansion so the church will now seat close to 2500 people!!!  They have begun construction of school rooms on the second story of the church but do not have the funds to complete it at this time.  They also are needing some more space for parking as they are really tight on space. 

The Christian school started by making use of the Bible school building.  I was able to go observe Fredi in the English class (she is from Germany and has been here for a few months so has started teaching at the beginning of the school).  It was so good to see how far the kids have come in such a short time.  They are so cute!!!  I am really looking forward to my time with them. 

After lunch, Fredi and I took a walk. We ran into these two kids that were herding goats and I was amazed to see the tiniest little bird on the girl's shoulder!

Finally here!!!

On Monday, September 13, I said good-bye to family and friends before heading to India for 3 months.  I enjoy traveling and taking off is one of my favorite parts of flying, but watching my hometown pass by below me knowing I would not be back until December was a hard thing.  But as I watched out the window, I saw the brightest rainbow I've ever seen in my life!!!  Then I noticed there was a second rainbow that wasn't quite as bright but still very beautiful.  God's little reminders of promises fulfilled!  After a quick dinner in the Dallas airport, we were taking off again to leave the country.  It was a LONG flight to London!!!  I was pretty uncomfortable and didn't really get much sleep.  We were able to find a place with comfortable chairs while we waited for our last flight from London to Hyderabad.  We landed in India before 5am on Wednesday, September 15 (6:30pm Tuesday in Texas).  After traveling for 34 hours, we arrived at New Hope Ministries and settled into our rooms.  After a shower and lunch, I took a 3 hour nap before dinner.  It is SO good to finally arrive back in India!!!