First Day in Country

I started this sitting at a coffee bar at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, India, waiting with the team for the last leg of our travel to see our friend Jaya and all of the good things he is doing. The thirty hours of travel thus far are taking their toll, so I apologize in advance if my writing is a little incoherent. I rarely sleep well on planes.

The heat of the morning is already beginning to stir the hazy air, distorting the tail flashings of the planes sitting on the tarmac in the distance. All around me the terminal is abuzz with activity – janitors, wait staff, travelers, baggage handlers. But amid the din I still noticed workers stealing away for just a moment to catch up on the news or sit in the shade of a jetway to have a snack with friends as the stink of aviation fuel hangs pungent in the air.

I’ve been coming to India for over ten years now, and I am still struck at the triple espresso shot of concentrated humanity that I get when I arrive. So many people. So many lives. So many wills at work that it amazes me that the culture hasn’t reached a point of collective insanity. Perhaps it has, but the haze of sleep deprivation while I’m in country dulls my senses just enough to let it remain just out of apprehension.

But even amid the chaos there is design and things get done. We experienced that most recently on our shuttle ride between the international and domestic terminal and the fearless bus driver who drove headlong into a mass of oncoming headlights on a sometimes one-lane tramway. To the horror of the foreigners and the inattention of the nationals, he initiated toward the way-less-than-bus-sized space between two oncoming trucks and there is an indescribable, fluid process of challenge, collaboration and mutual yielding until all are back on their way.

And it happens way, way more than you would see in the U.S. It suggests to me that there is some kind of internal order amid all the chaos that is so ingrained in the Indian psyche that It would take more than the millennia that forged it to find out what had been really created.

Everyone is on campus now and quickly bedding down to start repaying their sleep debt. You’ll hear more about the delayed flight, the bus breakdown the iffy power grid and the flower pedal charged reception tomorrow. But I did want to drop you a quick line to tell you that it’s great to be back.

Chris for the Team

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. – St. Augustine

The All-Important Prayer Calendar

Hello Again -

We are just over 24 hours from the beginning of the adventure we have been preparing for for weeks. We are all excited and unified and waiting to see how God is going to reveal himself in new ways to each of us. I can speak for the whole team when I say that we could not do this without the support of our friends and families, and we need you all the more now. PRAY FOR US!

I wanted to leave you with an abbreviated calendar so that you have some idea of our plans and what you can specifically pray for:

Thursday the 27th:
- The FBC Prescott Team leaves at 10:00am to join the Kensington Team in Detroit
- Team departs Detroit Metro at 6:00pm with our first stop in Amsterdam.
- Pray for safe travel and good rest on the plane.
- Pray for Chris C.

Friday the 28th:
- Pray for continued safe travel and for quick acclimation as we begin to experience India and its many differences from our own culture.
- Remember that India is 9.5 hours ahead of Detroit Time!
- Pray for Dave & Bethany

Saturday the 29th:
- As you are getting ready for bed on Friday night, we’ll be boarding a plane for the last leg of our trip!
- We arrive in Rajahmundry around noon (9:30 PM EDT) to be greeted by the children and staff of CEM. The kids are getting pretty good at pelting us with flower petals, so pray that we know when to keep our mouths closed!
- Please pray that we will have a great time reuniting with Jaya, his family, staff and kids from the Grace Children’s Home (GCH) and the Jaya (meaning “victory) English Medium School (JEMS) and that we’ll get a good night’s rest!
- Pray also for Merri & Kaylee

Sunday the 30th:
- We'll get a heaping dose of culture as the team visits the market
- Pray that as we worship God on this day with the Way of Life Church that He will strengthen us and prepare our hearts to do His work over the next few strenuous days.
- There will be a lot of data gathering as we welcome some new kids for the nochild.org initiative
- We'll also spend time connecting with the GCH kids in the afternoon
- Pray for Rich

Monday the 1st:
- Today the team will be working on several fronts, including JEMS, the Sewing School, and visiting the clinic
- Some of us will be teaching, others will be connecting and building relationships with local community leaders
- Pray for the teachers as we teach across language and cultural barriers
- Pray especially for Mary Beth & Abigail

Tuesday the 2nd:
- India celebrates Gandhi Jayanti – a national holiday for Gandhi's birthday. Schools will be out that day and ceremonies in tribute will be happening all across the country. The United Nations has also proclaimed October 2nd as the International Day of Non-Violence
- The school that many of the GCH kids attend will be repurposed that day as a medical clinic, which some of our team members will help staff
- Today the team continues to work in all areas of CEM
- Pray for the JEMS, the Sewing School and for our sharing time with the orphans!
- We will be gathering images and stories of the elderly of Dowlaiswaram for Impact India 360
- Pray also for Kevin

Wednesday the 3rd:
- Another day of working alongside the CEM staff in all areas of ministry.
- Team members will get a chance to take in the city life of Rajahmundry on an evening visit
- Pray for Jamie & Olivia

Thursday the 4th:
- Our final full day with Jaya, the CEM ministry team, and the children!
- The Team will be visiting one of the many church plants that CEM has helped start
- Pray for The Team as we finish our projects
- Pray specifically for Chris G.

Friday the 5th:
- Today the team says their final goodbyes (that is the hardest part!) and gets on a plane for the first leg of our trip home.
- Pray for health, for rest, for joy and unity as a team, and for strength to begin the long flight home early Saturday morning.
- Pray for our families, who have supported us and are undoubtedly ready to get us back home!
- Also pray for an extra measure of grace as we say our goodbyes to the kids!
- Pray also for Valen

Saturday the 6th:
- Pray for continued protection and blessing as we complete the trip home, and that God will help us find the right words to express what He has done in and through us during this awesome trip!

Thanks so much for your support and prayers! You'll hear from us soon!

- Chris for the team

Meet the September 2012 Team!

We have two great groups coming together this time round. Kensington Community Church in Troy, MI is joining forces with First Baptist Church in Prescott, AZ to go to CEM India! Thanks for being a part of this adventure with us! We want to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves.

First, the folks from Kensington: 

Kevin Brody - I have only recently started in my relationship with Christ. He has asked me to take a leap of faith and go to India. I am a doctor, a dad, and a husband and this is completely out of my comfort zone; yet I am going anyway. I believe that God will show me the way and can do great things through me.

Chris Cook - Since my first visit in 2002, CEM and the people of India have been permanently woven into my soul. Every year around this time, I need to go and get a full dose of perspective that only the people of Dowlaiswaram can give me. I'm really looking forward to seeing my friends again and continuing to build the relationships that started years ago. As a photographer and teller of CEM's story, I'm also looking forward to bringing back a ton of photos!

Chris Gortat - Born and raised in Warren, MI by my wonderful parents, Don and Rose Marie. This will be my fourth trip to CEM. My brother, Greg, and sister-in-law, Jessica, were instrumental in encouraging me to take these adventures. I will miss them on the trip as they parent their new daughter, Priya. Life on this earth has been quite a roller coaster prior to and after accepting sweet Jesus into my life. He is the only way and I continue to pray for a continued daily surrender to our good God’s will. As part of His will, I am so looking forward to communing with our team and all the people of India. ~ Peace

Vallen Prest - This is my third trip to India. For the past year I’ve been reading about the persecution of Christians around the world and specifically in India. This trip I will be teaching the students of the Missionary Training School book of 1 Peter which will deal with persecution. The significance of this little book is especially important for 21st century Christians regardless of where they are in on this world. We are all living in societies in which we are marginalized and subject to ridicule and persecution.

Merri Reasor - This will be my first mission trip to India. I am looking forward to meeting Jaya and the beautiful children at Grace Children’s Home. I have a passion for sharing the love and saving grace of Christ with women and children around the world. I am looking forward to serving Him with this team, and am excited to see what God has prepared for each of us on this journey.


And the team from FBC Prescott:

Bethany Droste - This will be my second trip to India and I can't wait to see my friends on CEM campus again. I am looking forward to meeting the new children in Grace Children's Home and spending time with my previous friends. I know that the travel will be difficult, but that it will be worth it when we arrive.

David Droste - I am so excited to visit my friends in India once again! I have been drawn to pray for the people of India since the mid 1990's, but in 2005 God opened the door for me to take my first trip. I have been so touched by the ministry of Jaya and his faithful team, and blessed to work together with so many wonderful people. This year, I have the awesome opportunity to share my friends in India with some friends from Arizona! God challenges, grows and meets me each trip I have the privilege of taking, and I am praying for His grace to do the same for me and my friends on this trip.

Rich Fleming - This is my first trip to India and I look forward, (with some anxiety about leaving my comfort zone) to the joy of serving the Lord and the people of India in whatever capacity He has in mind. I am trusting God that I can be of some small help in Jaya’s amazing ministry, but at the same time, I won’t be surprised if I receive more than I give, if it’s anything like previous short-term trips that I’ve been on.

Abigail Lee - I am going to India because God has called me to share his word. About two years ago I felt a deep calling to go on a mission’s trip. I have been waiting for an opportunity for missions so when the India trip was announced I jumped at the chance. I am extremely excited for this trip and I am hoping God will use me for his purpose.

Beth Lee - It is with great excitement and anticipation that I am looking forward to my first trip to India and my second missions trip. For me, my trip has already begun as I have witnessed God's encouragement through his provision for this trip.


Jamie Procknow - Along with Olivia, who is also going on the trip, I am the mother of Estevan, Gabriel, Chloe, Isaac, Alex and Joshua, who will all be staying behind for. If I were to tell you nothing else about myself, you may be able to still draw some conclusions about me just based on the number of children I have. Yes, I LOVE CHILDREN!!! Most of my children, God has given me through the blessing of adoption. Still many others have come and gone from our home through foster care. I remain in contact with most of them still, and every child has made a permanent mark on my heart, regardless of the length of time spent in my home.

God has also put many children in my life who I consider to be like my children though they have not lived in my home. They too have made a permanent mark on my heart. I expect that the children and people of India will soon be making their permanent mark on my heart. I'm thrilled with the anticipation of the people I will come into relationship with and the experiences that will be had! I have seen how God has woven together experiences in my life to prepare me for what he has coming ahead and I'm certain that I will be seeing the truth of that in India too!

Olivia Procknow - This will be my first trip to India or anywhere in the world. I am so excited to go to India and show God's love and serve Him. I have six brothers and three sisters, some are adopted and others are my half siblings. God has blessed my unique family in many ways and I think that it is a very amazing opportunity to go and love on the people in Dowlaiswaram, India. God has put many amazing people in my life to teach me how to show my love to people, and I want to show my love to the people in India.

Kaylee Warne - I am so excited to have this opportunity to go to India! I can just feel that God is doing something amazing and I cannot wait to be part of it! My passion has always been missions since I was 6. Last summer I had a chance to go to Honduras but that door was closed. When I heard about the trip to India, I felt God telling me “go!” I am so excited to meet everyone and obey God's calling!

As you can see, this team is ready to go and can't wait to see how God is going to move through all of it - from the travel to the time on the ground. In the next post, you'll be getting a general schedule of how the ten days is going to unfold and how you can partner with us in prayer. Be sure to like our Facebook Page to get the up to the minute team events!