Meet the February 2011 Team!

Hello fans of CEM India! For the past several of years, the team blog has been a fantastic way for all of our family and friends to get live day to day updates on short term trips to the CEM campus in Dowlaiswaram, India. It is a live real time journal expressing what is happening on the trip on many different levels. It is a great way to pray for us as we know, this is ultimately a battle for the hearts and minds of precious people in advancing a Kingdom of compassion in places like India. An initiative like this would never happen without a great group of individuals who have been called into it. Let me introduce the team in their own words:


Katie Ried - This will be my first time going to India. I have felt called to go since first hearing about it last year, and despite the many obstacles that stood in the way of my going this year, God has helped me overcome them all. I am really excited to serve in India, form connections with the children of CEM, and grow in my relationship with God.

Chris Mayes - It's been eight years since I was in India! A lot has
changed since I was there. I'm excited to see all the new development and most of all, Jaya's family and all the children! It's such an eye opener to all that God is doing around the world and not just in my tiny corner. And the Indian people cause me shame in how much joy they have. It should be a time of growth for me and hopefully, a time for me to serve these people. I'm really looking forward to it!



Michael VanConant - This will be my second trip in a row to India. Not many days pass that I don't think of my brothers and sisters at CEM. I relive my time there often and am excited to have the opportunity to do it again. I look forward to meeting the rest of the team and seeing what God has in store for this trip.





Chad Petherick - I am 22 years old and just graduated from Albion College in May with a degree in Liberal Arts and a Major in Economics & Management. I am currently working at a Wealth Management & Coaching Firm, Mackey Komara & Dankovich, as an Associate Wealth Coach. I love spending time with my family, my girlfriend Scarlett, my friends, and my new cat Minnie. My last mission trip I went on was in high school to Iquitos, Peru and I remember how close I felt to God by helping others. Seeing the joy of the people of Iquitos definitely made me think about the blessings in my life and the amount of things I take for granted. Being the only Petherick that has not been to India yet, I figured it was time to go and let God grab my heart in India like he has the rest of my family.



Dr. Craig Mayes - I look forward to serving again in Dowlaiswaram, India- a place that has become my second home. Since my first trip in December 2000, I have had a front row seat to witness God's heart for the poor and his ability to provide through men and women who are truly following Jesus. I think this is my 14th trip, and I expect that my heart will be broken, captivated, and challenged again as it has been each trip.



Sarah Million - This will be my third trip to CEM and I couldn't be more excited to go and see my friends in India. God has certainly stretched my view of the world and it took a trip to India to teach me how far God's love reaches. I love spending time with the children and staff at CEM and look forward to loving on every child there. I am so blessed to be able to go again and be the hands and feet of Jesus. What an honor! To make it even better, my fiance is going on the trip for the first time and I am excited to share this with him and see how he is impacted.



Kimberly Watson-Hemphill - I am looking forward to returning to CEM for the second time with my husband, Robert. I can't wait to see the kids from Grace Children's Home again! In particular, I am looking forward to meeting some of the college students that we have been supporting - it will be great to put faces to the names that we see back and forth in emails. Thank you to the Kensington team to allowing us to serve with you.


Robert Watson-Hemphill - This trip is my second to India, and I'll be going again with my wife Kimberly. I look forward to being a part of this cool Kensington team and serving alongside them in India. India is such an amazing place and Jaya's family is doing such beautiful work in the community. I can't wait to serve and hopefully play a game of tag again with a hundred kids chasing me.



David Droste - This will be my seventh trip to India! I began praying for the Indian people in about 1995 and continue to do so. On my first visit, in 2005, I absolutely fell in love with the Indian people and have been so blessed to be able to return. God is doing an amazing work through Jaya and his family!





Bethany Droste - This will be my first missions trip. I am excited to have the opportunity to go to India. My dad has always told me all about it but I never knew when I would be able to go. Now I am thankful for this chance to go with him. I am eager to serve God in a different country and I believe he will do amazing works in my life and in the lives of the people in India.



Dr. Sal Aragona - This will be my 13th trip to CEM in the last eight years. I currently serve as president of the CEM-USA board which oversees US funding of Jaya's work in India. Besides "adopting" all over 200+ Grace Children as our own, I am looking forward to seeing the four story 70 bed hospital fully open and operational in becoming a beacon of light to thousands of the very poor who will experience the love of Jesus through compassionate medical care. My heart beats wildly for the Indian people. The are the most kind, honorable, courageous people I have ever encountered. It is an amazing privilege to be a small part of moving a Kingdom of love and compassion that cannot be stopped to a people so thirsty for a demonstration of that in their lives. Besides serving the very poor with dental care, I will be involved with final preparations of the CEM hospital to be a self sustaining ministry.


Jessica Gortat- This will be my 3rd trip to India in a little over a year. I have really grown to love the people of India with all of my heart. My first trip was a little overwhelming with the travel, time change, culture shock, etc. However, when I went back in October of 2010 I felt much more comfortable with the schedule and the people and really started to develop relationships. God opened my eyes to the fact that people are people no matter where you are at, and kids are kids, and the bottom line is we all just want to be loved. I pray that God forges even deeper relationships this time around. I can't wait to get back to my family on the other side of the world!



Sue Dankovich - This will be my third mission trip and my first to India! Eight years ago while making my daughters prom dress, God placed on my heart to create a ministry titled Dollies and Dresses. Over the years I have prayed for direction and insight has to how this would take place. On November 21, 2010 while listening to Steve Norman talk about how God uses insecure people to make a difference in the world, my salvation history all came together in God's perfect plan. The dollies are the Sewing School ladies and the dresses are what they create! I can't wait to meet my "dollies" and share with them my love for sewing and my love for them.



Jeanette Wheeler - Over the past 15 yrs, the Lord has continued to break my heart for the things that break His. Since then, I have taught 12 years in the inner city, and have worked with sheparding women on their spiritual journeys. He has also given me the heart and passion for overseas missions. I have lived overseas for two one-year commitments that included living in South America, Asia, Africa, and Central America. I have also gone on three 2-week trips to Africa with KCC. I have yet to go to India, but the Lord has put a huge desire and burden on me for His people there. I am going with a heart of peace, servant hood, and love. I am just excited to see what He has in store for me to do and receive.



Jeff Petherick - This will be my seventh trip to India to be with Jaya, his family and all the children and staff of the CEM Campus. It's my once a year reality check, reminding me that I have nothing to complain about and everything for which to be thankful. This year I am blessed to make the trip with my entire immediate family, something I have been praying about for years.



Chris Gortat - This will be my first mission trip. It is going to be an honor and pleasure to serve God by serving both the people of Dowlaiswaram and our team members. Why serve the poor on the other side of the world? God's world is much larger than mine and if this is where I am being led, then His will be done :). Please pray for the team that we are steeped in the love of our good God and are able to be The Christ to the people of India.

Gina Petherick - This will be my second trip to India. I find myself in awe that I will be returning to India this February, considering I told my husband Jeff I would never go. This year I will have the privilege to share the experience with my husband and our two kids Chad and Kira. I am looking forward to our time at CEM and can't wait to see all that God has in store for our journey. I feel extremely blessed to be able to go there and love on the kids both at the JEMS school and at CEM. This is a challenging trip both physically and emotionally so prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Andy Van Zee - This will be my second overseas missions trip but my first time visiting India. I have been impacted by CEM in the past through my fiance Sarah and am excited to be able to share her passion for the children by visiting myself this year. I am anxious to learn about the Indian culture and see how God uses me.

Greg Gortat - This will be my seventh trip to Christ Evangelical Mission. The relationships I've devoloped with the beautiful people of CEM keep me coming back. This particular trip is extra special because I am leading it with my new wife, Jessica. If you were to tell me 5 years ago I'd be doing this, I would have told you you were nuts! Following Christ can be quite the adventure.

Julie O'Connell - This will be my very first mission trip. I am so excited to see what God has in store for me. As an aspiring Dentist, I am very blessed to get the opportunity to use my knowledge to do God's work in India. I am so thankful to have such a great team to help prepare me for our journey ahead.

Dr. Tom DiLoreto - This will be my fourth trip to India. It has been a great privilege and honor to serve our Lord by being part of his Great Commission on short term mission trips. I can't wait to be with Jaya and the rest of the C.E.M. team which have always been a blessing to our team. I hope to be working in the dental unit of the hospital for the first time. I will have open arms that are available to be used as the Lord desires to serve Him with the team for the expansion of God's kingdom in India. To God we give all the glory!!!

Kira Petherick - This will be my second time going to India. I am truly blessed to be going back for a second time. When I first went to India I was 13 years old. Now that I am 20, I am excited to experience India as an adult. I am even more excited this time because my whole family is going. Going to India had a huge impact on me as a 13 year old. I can only imagine what it will do for me as a 20 year old. I am looking forward to reconnecting with the people of CEM and the kids.

Outro

Well, the team is home safe and sound--another trip to India complete. There are two things that really struck me this time around, my sixth trip to India.

First is how, although cultures differ, people are really all the same. We all have the same needs, all feel the same feelings, all want to be acknowledged and loved. This was exemplified during our last night at CEM where my wife, Jess, got to spend time with the girls pictured above discussing all the things girls talk about when we guys aren't around. Through the helpful interpretation of Subha Lakshmi (far left), Jess was able to see first hand that these girls were no different than girls back here in the U.S. chatting away at any typical pajama party.

Second, is how faithful God is. As long as it is in accordance with God's will, He will provide. Sal and Vita prayed about whether or not Vita should take on the challenges of traveling half way across the world with Vita's limitations. They felt God was saying "yes". Nevertheless, we were still concerned about "all the things that could go wrong" while trying to navigate travel to India. Like I said, God provides. In my six times traveling to and from India, I have NEVER had more seamless travel. I'm still in awe at how smooth things went.

When Jim Mayes asked (or should I say volunteered) me to lead this trip with Sal my immediate thought was, "I can't". But then I thought about how God uses people despite their weaknesses and shortcomings. I thought about how He wants to grow people to help bring His Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. I decided to give it my best shot knowing once again that God is faithful. I have to say that my experience leading this trip was blessed and I my trust in God has been elevated to a new level. God is faithful.

Thanks to all who have supported this trip through prayer and finances. I truly believe that its success was a byproduct or your faithfulness.

Peace and love,

Greg

Follow up to Missing in Action

Due to the response I've had from the previous blog I wrote regarding Naveen, I knew I had to share with everyone my "God moment." I was initially hesitant when I first wrote about Naveen, but after sharing...and letting my emotions out, it changed everything for me for the rest of the week. I was able to pour into the kids with genuine emotion and no longer felt empty, but I did still wonder what happened to Naveen. Thursday night was our final night to hang out and play with the kids. It's kind of like a big free for all in the court yard with everyone running around. I had a couple of kids following me around and they wanted a ball to play with. One of them said, "come, we get ball," and led me to the back of one of the buildings where I never go when playing with the kids, and didn't even know they hung out. When I got back there, out of nowhere another little boy named Calien came up to me with a big smile on his face and eyes twinkling and said, "your best friend Naveen, he went to house, with Aunt and Uncle and cousins." I was shocked. All I could think is, why was he telling me this out of the blue, how did he know about Naveen...it was a year ago that I met Naveen. I said "when did he leave?" He said "February." Looking at him he just reminded me of a little angel. It was the most surreal moment. I got one of the staff members who also happens to be named Naveen to come translate for me. I told him to ask Calien how he knew about Naveen being my best friend, after translating, Naveen looked at me and said "he just knew." It was an amazing moment for me, truly orchestrated by God. It was the best ending to my week. It just shows me what can happen when you let go and let God.
Tracy

Happy January

I've decided to follow in Jessica's footsteps by naming this blog Happy January, which is what you here a thousand times over on the morning of leaving CEM campus. It's been debated that they are actually saying Happy Journey but I personally think January is a bit more fun.

One interesting thing about today is that I was the only American who didn't get told to have a happy january. This time I was actually telling the KCC team and my dad to have a happy January.

Throughout my previous trips to India, I have fallen in love with the country, and especially the Grace Children's Home kids. It absolutely astonishes me how much of an impact the children have on us, the team members. We travel halfway around the world to come serve and teach the children about Jesus and instead we're the ones served and were the one's taught about Jesus' love for people.

It may sound selfish, but the main reason I come to India is to learn, and grow spiritually. Yes, the children love having us there and we mean the world to them but I honestly believe they impact me more. I have never made a trip to India where I haven't bawled my eyes out by the end.

It is because of my love for people and my desire to grow closer to God that I am committing to staying in India for 2 months. I've been counting down the days since the team got here until I'd have all 176 GCH kids to myself and it's finally here! I'm honestly a bit nervous and shocked that I'm here by myself for 2 months, but I know God is going to use me and grow me.

I had a very hard time saying goodbye to my dad today. I've never been away from my parents for more than 3 weeks, and every time that I have been away, I've always been able to call them or come home if I really needed to, however, in India I cannot do that. I am literally on the opposite side of the world as my parents which made it all the more difficult to say goodbye.

Loading the truck up.

Waiting to leave campus.

About to say our farewells. I will be standing right here in 2 months.

Pulling away from the airport.

Coming back to what seems a half full room.

I love you dad and mom.

~Caleb

"Gooooodmooorning Maaaadaaam"

The title of this blog is a sample of how we are greeted every morning by the precious Jaya English Medium School (JEMS) kids. As soon as we're in view of the classroom the children promptly stand and turn to us with a little salute, then begins the chorus of "Good Morning Madam" and "Thank You Madam" (mind you, we haven't even given them anything yet). They are so proud of the few English words in their vocabulary. My favorite part of the greetings are the rhymes the kids recite. Some of the favorites are "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe", "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", and "Hot Cross Buns". At the top of their lungs, with their little munchkin voices, they sing their hearts out!

The crafts have gone pretty smooth. We've decorated bracelets with jewels, frisbee's with stickers, made name tags, and colored activity books. I have to say, the activity books were a huge hit. Thank you to Sarah Million's dad for providing the books to 200 children, half way around the world that he's never met. What a blessing!

These children are the most generous, polite, and loving kids I have ever been around. They are the first to help their classmates with math problems, the first to assist in translating the few words they know, and the first to make sure we are comfortable. They have every reason to be cranky, territorial, and selfish with their gifts but I haven't seen these characteristics in any of them.

There is something to be said about the people of India. They are stricken with poverty, disease, and what we see as hopelessness but they are rich with God's love and they display it at every turn.

-Jessica for the team

Harassed and Helpless

Over the past decade of making trips to India, one of the real joys is to share this adventure with people that I didn't really know very well prior to the trip. Looking back, some special and permanent friendships began in this place. It is awesome to see people who, in spite of the intensity of this place, the harshness of the environment and the sensory assault that hits so hard, find a way to stay positive and focused and to invest in the people we are with for this week. The team this yea is no exception- in fact, they are exceptional. The difference is that when we make it to Amsterdam, they will get on one plane to detroit, while I will head off to NYC. Still, I expect that a bond of friendship has been formed that will continue in some form.

The title of this blog entry, harassed and helpless, however, is not how I feel being with this team. I wrote tis blog earlier in the week and posted it on our church's website (www.communitasnyc.org), but wanted to share with the readers following this blog. So here goes:


Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Harassed and helpless…that pretty much describes how I think about many of the people living in Dowlasiwaram, India, a place that has become a regular destination for me over the past 10 years. I find myself here for the 13th time in a decade, going back to my very first visit in December 2000. Little did I know at that time that India would grab my heart and draw me into an unexpected and challenging adventure.

At that time, I had never been to what is called a “third world” place. I was devastated- by the poverty, the chaos, and a sense of overwhelming hopelessness. People died for lack of nutrition, or simple medicine available at every US drug store. I saw homeless children, as young as 2 or 3 wandering the crowded streets. I met families with 8-10 people trying to survive on $2 a day. And these were not the exceptions. This was life for hundreds of millions of people in India.

After that first trip, I was haunted by the images burned into my mind. I wept a lot. I was angry, confused, doubted my faith (God, how could you…?). But eventually, my faith took on much more activism. When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion, and he did something. I could do something. I could take action. That began a decade of learning for me.

I stand today where I stood 10 years ago- vacant property now housing 200 children who have been rescued. I walked with them 1 ½ miles to school this morning, holding hands with a boy and a girl, letting them teach me that “kuka” is the word in Telugu for “dog”. As I write this, 20+ women are next door to me learning to sew. When they graduate from this free sewing school, they will receive a sewing machine and will be on their way to being able to help support themselves and their families. On the other side of me, young men and women are being trained in the Bible so that they can start new churches and bring a message of hope to villages throughout this region. I hear Lakshmi outside my door talking with her 1½ year old adopted daughter- one of four children abandoned by their mothers in our free medical clinic in the last 3 years, and all now brought into the home of Jaya and Lakshmi. All 4 children would have likely died.

On the last leg of my flight here a couple of days ago, I sat next to an Indian man who is Muslim. He asked me why I was in India, and I explained what we were doing. As a national, he was very thankful and supportive of what we were doing. But he raised a question- one asked of Mother Teresa years ago. “What you are doing is great, but isn’t it just a drop of water in the ocean?” I answered Amir the way Mother Teresa answered the reporter. “Yes, but if I don’t put my drop in, the ocean will be one drop less. So I begin, with one, then another…”. Amir seemed to like that answer.

So here I am in India again, just trying to add my drop of water. Although, in this case I think we are poised to add a bit more than a drop. Matthew recorded that Jesus’ compassion moved him to heal every sickness and disease he encountered. Jesus could heal with a word, and we do pray for healing here on a regular basis and have seen Jesus heal at times. But since we began the free medical clinic about 7 years ago, we have been praying and planning for a fully functioning hospital to serve the needs of the poor. What is happening now is nothing short of miraculous. These two pictures show a 4 story 28,000 square foot hospital that is only months away from opening.






I had the privilege of participating in a dedication service yesterday. As the service held in the hospital lobby concluded, I asked the couple hundred present to look at the front entrance and imagine the people who would walk in through those doors in the months and years ahead. The harassed and helpless would come, and in this place find compassion, healing, love. They would find Jesus here.

The Walk of Love

Every morning and evening the kids walk to school and even though it’s something they do everyday together when we are here its something special. They hold your hand and make sure you don’t step in a hole or something else you wouldn’t want to step in and guide you through the traffic and people like little tour guides. It’s a breath taking moment from my life they know little about me but still care enough to keep me safe they are like little body guards. When people come to try and shake our hands they brush them away. The kids have about a half mile walk to school and the same home in the evening its down roads that are shared with cows, pigs, dogs, cars, and other people. During the walk the kids will point to something and say it in telugu and say English meaning….. and when you say what it is the smile. Its amazing to have them pour into us just as much if not more as we pour into them they have unconditional love for us and don’t judge us at all. We could learn a lot from them and just love and care for each other no matter what, they look out for each other and help to survive. In a place like this where everyday is just about the same its easy to want to give up but they keep going with a smile and a heart full of love. This is an amazing place full of love in the middle of a city that need so much. God is love and he is here alive and well in the hearts of these kids, may god bless them with a full and happy life.

Missing in action

My second trip to India has proven to be a little difficult and unfortunately somewhat disappointing. They told us last year we would meet 200 amazing kids and we did. What they didn't mention is that you might get extremely attached and if you come back on a different trip one of those children may no longer be there. That happened to me. I met a child at CEM last November named Naveen. He had a smile that lit up the room. He spoke a little English and followed me around the CEM campus. He always came to find me in the very long line on the way to school to walk with him and always made a spot next to him in chapel for me. The night before we were leaving, I said to him, "Naveen, I love your smile", he said "I love you." If I could have brought a child home it would have been him. When Kensington started their child sponsorship program I assumed someone had already sponsored him since he wasn't on the site, but someone took his smiling picture from the wall at church and gave it to me. I've had it on my refrigerator since. When I wasn't sure if I wanted to come back to India this year, I would just look at the picture of Naveen and that was all I needed to see. I couldn't wait to see his smiling face greeting me off the bus. When arriving to CEM and getting the usual welcome of flowers and walking through the line of kids, I searched, but didn't see him. I felt disappointment, but thought maybe I would see him later, but I didn't. Naveen is no longer here. I'd like to say it hasn't been a big deal but it has truly changed my feelings for this trip. I have felt a huge loss since I've been here. I never realized what a huge impact these kids could have on you. They are truly special and I don't think anyone will understand the mark they leave on your heart. Hopefully I can prepare myself a little better for next year.
Tracy for team

Worshiping the Living God

India is a country of huge contrasts. One of the developing economies and yet apalling poverty. A country that is highly religious and yet only about 2% of their 1.2 billion people are followers of Christ. This a country that is hungry both for physical food and also for true spiritual food.

This is my first trip to India. God willing it will not be my last. I have found a group of fellow believers who are striving to advance the Kingdom of God in ways that are similar to mine. And I would love to partner with them to expand the Kingdom here on the sub-continent.

CEM has a Missionary Training School that trains men for the pastorate and women for bivocational ministry. I have the privilege this trip of teaching in the school. Our Indian brethern love to worship and it is passionate and loud. On Sundays, during their chapel times and often before class they sing with conviction and passion. During our class times we have been studying worship from a Biblical perspective and how true worship developes spiritual formation in the live of believers.

Yesterday we finished an especially hard lesson on the pathways of worship and how it brings us into close communion with Father. After I finished teaching we had a season of worship that brought tears to my eyes. While I rarely understood what they were singing the Spirit of God permeated the room and I sensed Father's pleasure in our worship of Him.

God is alive here in India and I believe that he is raising up a generation of people who will advance the Kingdom in amazing ways for God. Pray for them as they finish their training and apply what they are learning in their personal lives and in the lives of their flocks. Vallen Prest

Sensory Overload

May I be honest? In my numerous trips overseas, I have seen firsthand, many faces of the poor. "The poorest of the poor" everyone says, and India has its own version in this small slice of life that we're immersed with this week. Water buffolo and children walking to school share the same narrow roads, the heat and humidity drains our energy while the children encourage us with" I run, you chase?"and slight breezes cause even the children to wrinkle their noses as we pass by open streams of sewage. Polite, well-groomed, uniformed children who own one pair of shoes used only on school days. Just a few quick observations but once again a welcoming and loving people who sacrifice to provide these foreigners with luxuries they would never allow themselves like soda pop and air conditioned rooms for retreating to whenever we feel overwhelmed by our temporary circumstances. Barbara Doescher

The Children Are Beautiful

in the midst of a very desolate, dirty, and almost hopeless situation, cem has provided a beacon of light for 175 children, who smile so much and share the joy of jesus with us each day. today we escorted them to their school is almost a parade fashion. they loved it so much and we were quite a spectacle to all those watching. we did crafts with the children and just like kids all over the world they love to color. we are having a great time. tom doescher

Christ in His most distressing disguise

I have MS and I, like the poor, feel trapped by circumstances that I cannot change and lose hope. Here at CEM the poor can overcome their circumstances and restore their hope. Richard Stearnes in his book, "The Hole in our Gospel", states that the poor are human beings with rich cultural and personal stories of their own. They have hopes and dreams, tragedies and trials in their lives. They need us to love them first and then listen to them. They need us to see their assests and their God-given abililities. Mother Teresa once said, "when we see those who are poor as God sees them, we will glimpse His image in their faces-Christ in His most distressing disguise."

I saw His image in the face of Venkata, one of the children at Grace Children Home at CEM. This morning I shared at the 6:00 AM chapel with the children at GCH. While she was holding the microphone for my talk, I remembered her heart wrenching story-her parents lost everything they had from the river flooding and became homeless and helpless to care for her. Without CEM and Grace Children Home, she would be one of the 20 million homeless children in India without hope or any future.


I also saw His image in the face of the widows at the sewing school at CEM. I grew up in a bicultural home and learned to sew. These widows like many of my immigrant relatives can obtain work with their new sewing skills. By sharing my story with these brave women, their hope was lifted. - Vita Aragona for the team.

A Hole in our Gospel

A disturbing book recently authored by Richard Stearns called "The Hole in our Gospel" provides unsettling questions of the priority of justice for the poor and vulnerable in our "gospel". It strikes to the core of the internal safety nets we all web to grasp a bit of precieved false security we don't want to lay down. We want safety, we want comfort, we want predictability. We don't want to be disturbed.

While we go on asking how much a particular person gives, Jesus asks how much does a person keeps, much as His response to the rich young ruler when asked what he must do to gain eternal life. Some of our heart will not cut it. That is why I love what we are doing through CEM in India with providing compassionate medical care for the desperately poor who cannot understand anything until the gospel is demonstrated by kind compassion in action.

The impact of this new mission hospital cannot be limited or overstated by human reasoning or perspective. Ephesians 3:20-21 promises that God will accomplish immeasurably far more than all we ask for or imagine possible. Once up and fully operational, it can provide compasssionate medical care to anywhere between 2500-5000 desperately poor people per week! There are huge risks with developing a self sustanable mission hospital. The rewards far, far outway the risks in this instance. A kingdom of ccompassion that quite frankly will not and cannot be stopped or hindered empowered by a God who is there. And a people that are courageously following Jesus' instructions to lose and laying down their life for His sake and the Gospel will find their life and that to the full, not holding back anything!

Sal Aragona for the team

We made it!

Forgive me if this blog entry isn't too lucid. I'm running on fumes after 30+ hrs of travel and playing for hours with the children of Grace Children's home. The travel went exceptionally well. No delays, no snags, and very little hassle. Of all my visits to India, I'd say this trip's travels went the smoothest. Thanks for the prayers! I have to mention the courage and strength of two of our team members during travel. Sal and Vita are an incredible and incredibly loving couple. Vita suffers from a medical condition that leaves her wheel chair bound. Imagine participating in the travel I mentioned in the previous blog under such conditions. Vita made it through like a champ with the aid of her loving husband, Sal. I was truly blessed by the love I saw as Sal and Vita navigated the rigors of the travel, always patient, always upbeat. I aspire to that quality of love in my own marriage.
We got to CEM in the early afternoon and were greeted with the traditional "throwing of flower petals" to celebrate our arrival. Most of us were coated with them by the time we made it through the gauntlet of CEM children and staff. Vita had so many orange and yellow flower petals thrown on her that she looked like Big Bird from Sesame Street. All the travel and exhaustion becomes well worth it with a welcome like this! I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next as we attempt to give back a little of the love we've already been immersed in.

Peace,

Greg

Greg

Ready to Go!

What your looking at is what Jess and I are bringing to India. Multiply that by ten and you have all the cargo that will accompany the team on our journey to Dowlaiswaram, India. Needless to say, we'll be snatching the nearest luggage carts at each airport! We fly out of Detroit at 7:25 tonight for Amsterdam. From there we immediately hop on a plane to Mumbai, India. In Mumbai we have a seven hour layover after which we hop on another plane for Hyderabad, India. From there it's just one more puddle jumper to Rajamundhry where we hop on a bus to CEM!! Total travel time: approx. 33hrs. Zoinks! The travel will be worth it. Small price to pay for a Savior who did what He did for us. And a small price to pay to share in the joy to be had at CEM. Please pray for seamless travel as we embark on our journey. We love you all!

Greg

Meet the Team - September/October 2010

Dr. Sal Aragona - This will be my 12th trip to CEM in the last eight years. I currently serve as president of the CEM-USA board which oversees US funding of Jaya's work in India. Besides "adopting" all 225 Grace Children as ours, I am looking forward to the opening of the four story 70 bed hospital that will soon be a beacon of light to thousands who will experience the love of Jesus through compassionate medical care. My heart beats wildly for the Indian people. They are the most kind, honorable, courageous people I have ever encountered. It is an amazing privilege to be a small part of moving a Kingdom of love and compassion that cannot be stopped or hindered to a people so thirsty for a demonstration of that in their lives. I am particularly excited to have my wife Vita join me on her first trip to CEM.











Vita Aragona - Over the past eight years I have received many prayers and gifts from a people halfway around the world that I never met before. Now I have the opportunity to meet these unique and special people and see India firsthand. Since this will be my first mission trip, I am looking forward to seeing how God will use me. Thank you for your prayers as we begin our adventure!











Barbara Doescher- Having heard for several years of the work of CEM in India, I'm thrilled for the chance to meet and interact personally with those who have touched the hearts of so many at Kensington. I expect to be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d and challenged once again at the observable faith found in another culture, and look forward to learning from the children, the widows in the sewing school, and my team mates as God shows up!











Tom Doescher- This trip to India has been a long time coming. I am excited to meet Jaya again--this time in his country--and to see and participate firsthand in CEM's work. From past missions experiences I know that many new friends will be made, and I look ahead expectantly for what God will teach me.












Jessica Gortat-This is my second visit to India. My first trip was last Novemer and the people of India stole my heart. I'm so excited to see how God uses our team to be His hands and feet this time. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress that has been made on the hospital. It warms my heart to know that the people of India will have access to more advanced medical care. Mostly, I just can't wait to squeeze all of the Grace and JEMS kids. They are so precious.











Greg Gortat- As Christ followers, God often calls us to do specific things in His Son's name. For me I believe one of those things is to serve and spend time in fellowship with the Indian people of Christ Evangelical Mission and it's surrounding community. This will be my sixth time doing just this. This time, however, I will be wearing many different hats as I've been given some new responsibilities in leadership and videography. I'm looking forward to the growth that will come along with being stretched. But most of all, I'm looking forward to seeing my friends at CEM!











Todd Huffman- I have wanted to go to India for some time now to see not only what Kensington has been doing, but also just how different life is half way around the world. I have been given a gift of grace and feel blessed for this opportunity to help with this amazing group of people. I am very excited to see how God works with and through us to help not only the children, but also help us grow spiritually and guide our steps on the trip and back at home to make a change.

Ephesians 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."











Tracy Kott- This is going to be my second time to India and CEM. Over the past year I've looked at the smiling faces of the kids of the Grace Children's Home in the random photos i have all over my house. I realized I couldn't not go back and see them! In the short time I visited last November relationships were formed and I am so excited to see how God will use me in new ways this year. Being a nurse, Iam also anxious to see the completed hospital. We have a great team and I am looking forward to an amazing week!











Caleb Mayes-I've made 5 trips to India already and every time I go I see something that impacts my life. My first trip to India was crazy. When I got back I told everyone how terrible the travel was but how amazing my experience in India was, and that I would do it over again! I cannot wait to get back in Dowlaiswaram to be with Jaya and his extended family.















Craig Mayes- I am very excited to return to my friends in India. Nothing in my life has stretched me and shaped my thinking more than my experiences in India the last decade. Most of all I love the early morning chapels with the children and spending time with the men and women being trained as future church-planters.














Jim Mayes - I find it difficult to describe my involvement with CEM in only a short paragraph. This will be my 9th trip there and suffice it to say it has become my home away from home. I am so passionately connected to Jaya, his family, the children of GCH, the staff, and all of the people I have had the privilege of meeting over the last few years. Each visit brings me a more clear understanding of why Jesus spent so much time talking about and surrounding himself with the poor. And each time I find myself wanting more to be like him. Although my position as CEM USA’s Executive Director has me responsible for fulfilling duties relative to the ministry, it is my heart and love for the people that fuel my passion and keep me connected. I am truly honored to be able to lead this team and I am super excited to see what God has for each member.





Dr. Vallen Prest- This will be my first trip to India. I have been impacted by the story of CEM and the work that Kensington has been doing there. This has been a year of transition for me and I felt God leading me to use my talents and gifts at the Missions Training School. I am thrilled to be used by God in this trip and excited to see what God will be teaching me and how he will impact the lives of followers of Christ half way around the world. A number of years ago God opended my eyes to the reality of worship as a lifestyle. During this trip I will be teaching an extended course on worship and how it impacts the spiritual formation of our daily lives.