Farewell Preparations

It's 4:45am and CEM has already begun to stir. I've turned off my ceiling fan to take in the sounds of the morning one more time. Outside my window I'm hearing someone pumping water and the clang of a bucket now and then. The tired chatter of the children and staff is growing now as they prepare for another day.

I wanted to drop a quick note of thanks for your prayers and concern over the last week. Our communications to you will be shorter going forward as the team prepares to say goodbye to our friends and begin the long journey home.

There's a shift in the mood of the children as the week progresses. The conversations move from "What's my name?" (although that never really stops) to "Tomorrow you go to America?", and then the game of them asking us not to go begins. The kids know they're not going to convince us, I think, but we appreciate the sentiment. I'm sure I speak for the whole team when I say we wish could see them more often. These kids have a way of weaving themselves into your heart.

The consolations in the bittersweet parting is that we're going home to family and friends and that many of us are going to see India again. The work being done here is too important and the relationships too deep for us to walk away.

Thanks again for your prayers and support. You'll be getting more updates of our travel progress on the Impact India 360 Facebook page.

Chris for the Team

A Doc and a Young Veteran

Hey all - we have started our last full day at CEM while you are sleeping. The thing that we've learned is that a mission team brings a lot of different lives and experiences together and creates an amazing opportunity to learn. We deal with amazing culture shock and some discomfort, but God always shows up in so many different ways. Here are a couple of stories that show it...

A Physician’s Perspective

The medical camp Tuesday was interesting to say the least.  The day before, we went to check the location, which was a local high school.  School was in session, and as I walked by, the class erupted with yelling.  Chris Cook asked me, “How does is feel to be a rock star?”  The only word that came to mind was “humbling”.  There were 4 rooms, 3 of which were empty concrete rooms, with a blackboard on one wall.  On Tuesday there was a holiday (Gandhi’s birthday) so school was not in session.  It started to rain as we arrived and continued for the next several hours.

I had brought some equipment with me, but barely needed any of it, as the patients started coming in and we had to see them so fast, most I did not have time to do any type of physical examination.  The main complaints were joint pain, weakness, and cough.  I am pretty sure that there was more to it than just these simple complaints, but I was a victim of not being able to understand the language.

I was prescribing medication that we don’t use in the U.S. any more because it has not been found to be useful, but that is all that was available. It was, at times, terribly frustrating.  We only had three or four minutes per patient, and much of that time was spent in translation.  For a while, I was feeling very useless.

Later, on reflection, I felt better, because we at least gave them access to medical care, even though we couldn’t do everything that was truly necessary.  A lot of the people were recommended to go to the hospital for follow up.  I asked how many would actually go, and the answer was only about twenty percent. Is this an education issue or a feeling of no hope?

So I am left with mixed feelings… good, sad, heartbreaking, frustrating, eye opening. There is so much need for better medical care, but there is not a mechanism right now.  Basically they need to go to the government hospital for care (“it’s not that far” I was told), which would be difficult. Half of the people we saw were over 65 and they walked to the clinic in the rain.  I am told that the rain kept most people away, including the sickest patients.  That makes me sad, as the people that could have used our help the most did not come.

So at the end, I am overjoyed at having been able to participate in the medical camp and thank God that we were able to help so many people (ed. note – the camp saw 175 people). Yet I am left with knowing that so much more is necessary… both physically and spiritually.

Last night we went to Rajahmundry.  It is such a stark contrast to Dowlaiswaram, the “suburb” where CEM is. It reminds me of driving from Detroit to Grosse Pointe along Jefferson Avenue, multiplied times 1000. It is not touristy - basically the shopping area for everyone in the local area, like a gigantic outside mall.  There are too many shops to count.  It amazes me that so many storefronts can be sustained.  For example, down one alley, there were over twenty shops that sold men’s shirts.  The number of people going down through the street was mind-boggling.  And it was more complex, as people were everywhere with their motorcycles.

Our journey home starts tomorrow.  And while I will miss this place, I am ready to go home.  I guess I am spoiled by the West, with power that stays on and climate control.  But mostly I miss the ones I love.  I cannot wait to see them, hold them, and talk to them.  This place gave me more in this short week than I could ever hope to give back.

The two things I will miss the most are the Agape home and chapel.  The people at the Agape home are so thankful that they can stay here.  They were literally starving on the streets before they were brought here.  Chapel brings new meaning to worship. There is such passion and enthusiasm that it puts our worship to shame.

So have a great day.  We will see you soon.   God bless.

Kevin


Veteran at Sixteen

This trip so far has been amazing. I didn't realize how excited I was to come back until we were on the bus from the airport to the orphanage. I remembered how happy everyone was on the streets and how surprised they were to see Americans. They still are when we go out. If you smile at someone, they always smile back. If you wave at someone, they always wave back. It's nothing like America. You see it in the lifestyle and culture and the attitudes of the people that have nothing. If you were to smile at someone in America, they would a lot of the time just awkwardly smile back. People are a lot of the time scared to make eye contact with strangers. But here, everyone looks you straight in the eye when they see you and their smiles make my day. The other day a girl that was on the street came up to me and took my hand. She asked me what my name was, and how I was doing. As we passed her family, she told me and I waved. They smiled and waved back. She walked with me the rest of the way, then said bye. That kind of thing doesn't happen in America, and it's something I love about the people of India. They are so sweet, and so interested in you.

I wasn't nervous for this trip. I was only eager to see what God would do in my own life and in the relationships that would be made and the relationships that would be strengthened. I was excited to see how the other members on my team would handle everything and how they would connect with the people of India. And they have handled it so well, and I loved seeing them connect with the kids all week.

I love being with the kids. They call me sister and they don't want me to leave. I don't want to leave, but so many memories come out of one week here. The way they worship is nothing like you would see in America. They are all so compassionate about it. They get up every morning to be in chapel by 6am. Even though it’s early, by that time they are full of energy and they are ready to praise God. To see all of these kids thankful and praising God the way they do, makes me feel so selfish, yet so blessed. They make me realize how much I have, and how amazing God is. They see Him in a different way.

There's so many hopeless lives here in India; so many people begging on the streets for money. So much poverty. If I could personally touch every life in India to give them hope, I would. But that's why I'm starting somewhere. By starting in the orphanage, I'm trying my best to show them they are loved. I wish I could spend personal, one on one time with each and every one of them. When we walk them to school every morning, I always wish I could hold everyone's hand. I want them all to know how special they are. Because I know they don't get that personal attention all year. They always ask, "My name?" hoping I remembered. I always try to remember but it's definitely a challenge. I wish I could remember every name just to show them how much I pay attention, but that would take a very long time. But I hope I make some sort of difference in their life the one week I get to be here.

Like I said, the lifestyle here is so much different than the lifestyle in the U.S. Everyone drives on whatever side of the road they want, but if anything it's opposite of the U.S. People just want to get to where they need to be. When you're in the bus driving through India, it's just chaotic. There are always horns honking and drivers swerving out of the way just in time not to hit someone.

The market is nothing like a grocery store. People sit on cloths outside on the ground, sometimes under tents, with the food they sell piled high, such as fish; which makes it smell bad. There are people cutting chickens heads off and skinning them. It's weird to think that's our dinner. The market is always crowded and it's sometimes difficult to keep up with the rest of the team. It makes you feel like you're in a movie. There's so much going on at once.

I want to make a difference in India. I'm so thankful for Jaya and him starting this orphanage. It's amazing to see God do things like this. I know He can do anything, but actually seeing it for myself is completely different than just "knowing". I plan to come back to India every year. I'm in love with these people. I know everything here is crazy and chaotic at times, but that's what I fell in love with. I fell in love with all the orphans, even when they get crazy. I fell in love with the way of life, and the things I see here that I've never seen before. I fell in love with the random people on the streets that come up and take my hand, and even the ones who just smile and wave. This place is like a home to me. I feel comfortable here and I just want to see God continue to work in the lives of these people.

Bethany

Snapshots & Living Sacrifices

The work continued on Tuesday - connecting with the children of the English School and the Grace Children's Home, teaching at the Missionary Training School, and a Medical Camp sponsored by the CEM Hospital (more on that tomorrow!). Here are a couple more entries from our team members.

Snapshots of India

As I reflect on this trip to India in my mind’s eye I see snapshots.

Beautiful children in their school uniforms waiting to shower us with flower petals.

Next, the same beautiful children gathered in a new church building sitting on the floor. Our young ladies sitting in their midst their heads a little taller with their light colored hair sticking out.  The sweet little girls fanning them to keep them cool, such love and concern on their faces.

Standing in the courtyard below church praying with the individual people who come to us with their needs.

Walking down a muddy street to school in the rain while the children hold our hands and try to protect us from the rain.

A man sitting on the corner not in his right mind looking like a National Geographic portrait, as a pig dines in the ditch by the side of the road.

A health clinic in the rain... Jesus is here.  We are blessed as people pray that God’s purpose will be served.

There are so many things to see and ponder and pray about.  It can be overwhelming. But God is sufficient.

India is truly a world away and yet it is the neighbor next door.  A land scarred by service to many false gods desperate for a relationship with the one true God, Jesus.

The last snapshot is of the word YES! It stands for all the people here and in the US who know my Jesus as Saviour and are obedient to his call.  They are blessed.

They are a blessing.

Beth Lee

Living Sacrifices

I have had the privilege of teaching the students at the Missionary Training School here at CEM. This year we are studying 1 Peter. Monday during the class I gave the students the assignment to search they scriptures to find examples of spiritual sacrifices that God wanted New Testament believer-priests to offer (1 Peter 2:5).

Yesterday I had the students to share what they had I found in their personal study. I was amazed at how many had scripture passages to share and how extensive their search had been. It was exciting to see these men and women of God apply themselves to the study of God's Word.

I was also able to help them round out their list and help them see the correlation with Christian living and the responsibilities of offering acceptable sacrifices. It was heart warming to see the light go on in many of their eyes as they began to understand that all that we do can be an offering that is acceptable to God, if our attitude is correct.

After all Romans 12:1-2 says "Therefore I urge you brothers in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and prove what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Vallen Prest

Monday - and the Work Begins

One of the best marks of a great mission team member is flexibility; and it is amazing how this team has pressed on through the adversities. India is not without its challenges to a visitor from a health standpoint, and we have dealt with an extended monsoon season that has frustrated our attempts to do things outside. But the team is still getting it done and connecting with all of the different CEM ministries. Here are a couple more team members' perspectives:

Darkness and Light

The thunder roars and the rain pours around us. "Do you want to walk with the kids to school this morning?" asks Chris. You better believe it! By the time we leave for school the rain has slowed to a shower. I take the hands of two sweet girls, and off we go. Always holding hands, we manage to miss most of the mud puddles, which is not always easy as the passing motorcycles, bikes, cars and buses are trying to do the same.

The sights along the way are amazing - pigs in the ditches, roosters eating garbage that lines the roads, goats playing freely and a large brown cow content to meander at the one major intersection. Horns honk continually.

The people we pass are busy living their lives in the way one does in Dowlaiswaram. Women washing clothes in buckets of water, children playing instead of going to school and men looking up from busy work as we passed by - some selling products along the sides of the road, others working on their bikes and scooters and still others content to just watch us pass by. 

As we walk along the muddy roads we count the puddles - one two three - and say silly things to make each other laugh. I look down and see bright smiles and sparkling eyes all around me. So much joy in the souls of these precious children… So much light in the darkness. 

Merri

A Senior's Perspective

I woke up around 12:30 am with a very dry mouth. I was already concerned about being stuffed up (constipated) earlier that night and asked the Lord for help, because I was not feeling myself, and I didn't want my condition to degrade and bring me down. This may seem like a very small concern, but it was really big to me. The wake up call was an answer to prayer. The Lord led me drink about 2 liters of water throughout the night. By morning I had gone to the bathroom, which fixed the problem that I was having, and I was back to normal! I didn't realize it at the time, but I wasn't drinking enough water during the day, until that experience of being "stuffed".

During the day we got to walk with the children to school. The children are all taught that "Jesus loves me, Jesus loves you, so I love you", but these are more than just words to the children. What a joy it is to have the children grab your hands and your heart with their earnest attempts to engage you in conversation while we were walking, even through the barriers of language and culture. They are so kind and sensitive to where you are at - being considerate far beyond their age.

After the walk to school, we did some crafts with the children from the JEMS (ed. note: the English school that CEM runs for neighborhood children). My team worked with the youngest children, helping them put together key chains. What a joy it is to be with so many bright eyes and smiling faces.

But what touched my heart was to have the opportunity to pray with the men and women in the Agape Old Peoples Home. Although it is a joy to be around the children, I can more easily identify with and have compassion for those who are nearer to the ends of their lives on earth - their aches and pains, their loneliness, and their infirmities. 

To try and show the hope and love of Jesus is not only a blessing to the receiver, but also for the giver. They would line up to wait for prayer, individually, with the apparent hope that their need would somehow be met. Because we didn't understand a word each other was saying, I would point to different areas of my body, to indicate that I was asking what to pray for, specifically (i.e. which ache or pain or disfunction could I pray for), and they would likewise indicate that area of the body that needed prayer. Sometimes a translator would be there to confirm the communication. 

Although we only communicated physical needs, I would pray for both physical and imagined emotional and spiritual needs. I would like to go back and try to go deeper and discuss the real emotional and spiritual needs that they have through a translator. After prayer we stood around and just held each other, in some cases, which appeared to be very much appreciated.

Rich

Work Boots & Talent Shows

Hey all - we finally found a little internet to send you an update! You'll be hearing from two of our FBC Prescott team members about their first days at CEM…

From the airport we all loaded into a bus. It was small so it required another full vehicle for our luggage to be transported. I had prepared myself in advance for a terrifying driving experience in light of accounts from other past visitors. It ended up being slightly less scary than I had anticipated. Still, there was plenty to be concerned about, lots of honking and lane changes and very little clearance between passing vehicles. My expectations had adequately prepared my mind and my nerves followed suite making for a peaceful ride.

It was through the bus windows that I would catch my first glimpses of the country I learned so much about over the past few months. I found it difficult to discern what I should have taken pictures of as everything I saw I wanted to remember. I decided to stop looking through the camera and began snapping at random so I could focus my efforts on processing all my eyes were taking in. The first thing that struck me was the poverty, to say that these people lived humbly, would by no stretch describe their situation. There were animals wandering aimlessly about, water buffalo, pigs, dogs, goats, many types of critters. 

The architecture was both ornate and rundown mixed in with hut-like structures made of dried vegetation and dirt.  There were people cooking over open fires and women holding their naked, dirty toddlers on their hips, many elderly people were hunched over and looking starved. The trash was piled high everywhere I looked along the streets, also there was a canal of sewer water. This was all quite foreign to me. I knew these things existed in the world but had never seen them beyond in photographs taken by others. Prevalent through it all was the people’s use of color. Color was everywhere in the brightest hues, in their clothing, buildings, signs and artwork. It seemed a stark contrast to their circumstances.

Once at the orphanage we were welcomed as if we were royalty. The children reached out their hands in hopes just to touch us for a moment. If there were any way I could have reached out my arms and hugged them all at once I would have. After the initial greeting we had time to begin interactions in smaller groups, each time was quite tender and personal. I began to fall in love, true love, as quickly as is possible for a person to do so. 

Each child whose eyes I’ve had the privilege to look in to exhibits a hope different than I’ve encountered before.  They refer to me and the other women I traveled with as “Sister”. They greeted at us from time to time in this way, “Sister, God loves me, God loves you, so I love you.” I inquired with one you girl about what lead her to the orphanage and her parents. The language barrier made it difficult so she said something to clear it all up, she said “Sister, YOU are my mother and YOUR HUSBAND is my father.” 

She did not mean that she was expecting me to literally bring her home with me, instead what she meant was that God has designed things in such a way that we are all relationally responsible and blessed to love and care for one another. She sums it up better than I ever could have. 

It is our most special fortune to love one another as Christ loved us. I believe when this idea is found only in words it is a “task” or a “burden” but when we apply action to the words they lighten in such a way that they rise up and feel practically weightless bearing little to no resemblance to a “burden”. This sums it up for me and will for you too if you take the scriptures found in James and throughout the bible and choose to be “doers” and not just “hearers” of God’s word. I’ve heard it said that “kindness is love with its work boots on”, I pray your hearts will be prompted to put on your work boots.

- Jamie

So far this trip has been fantastic! On Saturday when we arrived we were showered with flowers and every child wanted to shake our hand. We looked around a little bit and were pulled into a room by some sweet girls so that they could take our measurements. So they could work on an outfit for each of us. That evening when it was time to go to chapel all the little girls wanted to hold my hand and take me to where they sat. “Sit with me! Sit with me!” they would say or “you sit here!” chapel was amazing we got to hear so many kids singing and praising the Lord.

Then when I got up this morning Lakshmi had made us some wonderful coffee! I don’t think I’ll be able to settle for the stuff in the U.S. We then went to chapel with the kids and then ate breakfast it was delicious, as are all the meals we have eaten here so far. After breakfast we had a chance to see what church was like for them. Everyone there was so wonderful. We sang a song in church and even though they might not have understood what we were saying they all wanted to learn the song. After church we went down to the courtyard where we all got the opportunity to pray for all sorts of people children as well as adults.

Shorty after we got lunch which was again super delicious. we then went off to take some relaxing time time. We didn’t do a lot today because it rained quite a bit. The sewing women pulled us aside again to try some things on us to make adjustments. Finally later in the day we got to do a little dance for the kids as part of a talent show. All the kids participated, it was so much fun to watch them enjoying themselves. 

It is so wonderful when the kids come up to us and ask our name and ask if we want to know theirs. They are so precious to me and to God. I feel truly blessed to have been able to come on the trip. God is doing great things here. I can’t wait to see what he has in store next.

- Abby