Sad Goodbyes and Long Travel

Hey everyone -

I'm back on a free internet kiosk at Mumbai airport waiting for our shuttle to take us to the international terminal. The parting with our friends several hours ago was tearful, but hopeful at the same time. We look forward to seeing Jaya and CEM again, but we are all eager to come home and more fully share our experience with you that our blog simply coudn't do justice to.

We are about to start the international legs of our travel home and I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you that all is well and we can't to see you!

Chris signing off for the team.

A Visit to a Friend

Hello Everyone -

It's Wednesday night in India, Wednesday morning in America, and I can't believe we only have one full day left here at the CEM campus before we begin our 30+ hour trip home on Friday.

There are so many experiences that my teammates have written about that I could also echo. This has been an amazing adventure and each day brings new opportunities to love on kids, encourage the hard working staff and witness the Indian culture.

This evening Chris and I were invited to the house of a long time friend - Jaya's Associate Pastor, Naveen. It is a tradition for Chris each time he has been here, and this time I was able to join him. This was an incredibly humbling experience for me. First, I must tell you about Naveen - he is such a warm hearted servant here - translating for all the Americans who speak at the chapel services, as well as just any time we need help with the Telugu language. He has a warm smile and is so patient with all of our questions and our team's antics. :) And he arrives at the CEM campus at 5:30 AM and returns home around 9:00 PM every day - seven days a week. The CEM staff work LONG days to serve in all areas of this ministry.

Upon arriving at Naveen's home, we were welcomed by his wife and two children, as well as a few neighborhood kids who were curious about us - which happens everywhere we go - people staring, running after us waving hello, or even shouts of delight, like we ourselves did when we saw our first monkey along the road today. :) They were very proud to show us their home, which they recently opened up one room for some family members in need to stay for a few nights.

I don't want this to sound disrespectful, because I have such deep respect for these wonderful people. What is normal for people in India, is beyond comprehension for us. It humbles me greatly to think of all the comforts we have in our own homes, but are constantly pursuing "more". This family lives with an open sewer running in front of their home and an outside bathroom and water pump out back. And this family has been blessed to have this home!

I have struggled this week in witnessing the conditions here and realizing this is normal for them and it's wrong for me to push my reality on them. But I still wish for so much more for them. And in the midst of it all, there is so much beauty - beautiful smiles, stunning saris (the Indian woman's dress), and most evident the sincere hearts who love Jesus so deeply. Such is the paradox of India.

Jocelyn for the Team

A Village Church Visit

Hi Everybody! We had a very interesting experience today. After our usual morning of calisthenics at 5:30 followed by chapel at 6 and breakfast at 7:30, walking the kids to school through the city streets and doing some crafts with those attending the JEM school back at CEM, we spent the afternoon at a rural church in a village named Thougammi.

About a 30 minute drive from CEM we crossed the Godavari (three bridges long), past the hydro power plant, and into the rural area with banana plantations, sugar cane, and rice fields. We saw fisherman throwing their nets into the Godavari from atop pipes spanning the river, buffalo decorated with flower necklaces, more Hindu statues and the first statue of mother Mary and Baby Jesus (Jesus is included in the Hindu pantheon, one of the many things I have learned since first hearing of CEM).

When we arrived in Thougammi we were greated with singing and flower leighs. Naveen did a fantastic job translating Chris' short sermon on the imporance of humility, we heard a sermon from their pastor who spoke on how Jaya Sankar is a good example of humility in service, then we prayed for their congregation and church and they prayed for ours as well.

We returned in time to play ball, jump rope, and do whatever else the kids could think of and then headed to chapel where Jim led a skit on David and Goliath starring Chris (who plays a seriously mean and very funny Goliath!), Greg as David, Todd as Saul and several of our Indian friends got pulled in for supporting roles. It has been a great week and I think we are all not terribly excited about leaving. We will miss the kids and I will miss this team when I return to Austin.

Please keep our safe travels in your prayers as a storm is heading towards Mumbai (one of our layovers). Also please keep my new friend Swarduma in your prayers. She lost a sister recently and her mother who is a Christian is struggling and trying to make sense of where God fits into the loss of her daughter. Of course keep the children and staff here in your prayers as well. The children are happy and healthy and well cared for both by the staff and each other. The staff here work very long days and we hope to do something to honor them tomorrow evening. Tune in tomorrow to find out ;)

Peace and God bless from Dowlaiswaram-

Anne

Hospitals & Candy

Hello from CEM,
Today has been another long and exhausting but fun filled day. Before I share about today I want to talk about what Margaret and I got to experience yesterday. CEM has a free medical clinic on the campus and Margaret and I were able to spend the morning observing.

We went into the "consultation room" with the doctor while she saw patients. The complaints ranged from abdominal pain, obstetric check-ups, bronchitis, and general aches and pains. A couple patients received IV fluids but most patients received multiple prescriptions and told to return after trying prescriptions. As a nurse in a very large ER it is amazing to see the conditions of this clinic. My first thought was "do they wear gloves??" The equipment for this clinic is very outdated. There is a separate room called the "operating theater" where I am told women deliver babies and they perform hysterectomies, appendectomies, and other surgeries. Let me just say I just hope I don't need surgery while I'm here!

On the positive side, they are in the process of building a hospital down the road from CEM. The groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital was in November of 2008 when last years team was at CEM. The hospital is expected to be finished in March 2010 and will have 70 rooms and will be staffed by 10 doctors. This is going to be an amazing contribution for the people of Dowlaiswaram! The hospital will allow for much needed care that is lacking at this time.
Although the days are long, and I am certainly not used to getting up at 5am to do calisthenics with the kids, it's amazing how good it makes you feel when all the kids are yelling your name and want you to stand by them. Walking to school is the same, each kid just wants to hold your hand as they continually make sure you know their name. The moment that touched me today I will never forget. We give candy to the kids every morning after chapel and I always wonder what the kids do with the candy and when they eat it because at home kids tear right into the candy. One of the girls has latched onto me and as I was walking up to my room after dinner she took a piece of the laffy taffy we gave her in the morning and gave me over half of it and said "sista, you eat." I tried giving it back, but she wouldn't take it, she had the biggest smile and I could tell it made her feel so good to give me that. These kids probably never have candy and the one piece she had she gave up her half. Wow! How many kids at home would do this? So many people asked me before I left to come here, "Are you going to come home with one?" I wish I could.
Good Night from Dowlaiswaram
Tracy Kott for the team. Now I am switching over to Sarah Million below.

It is Wednesday morning here in India and it seems we accomplish so much before 9:00 am. As everyone back home is heading to bed, the team in India has completed the morning calisthenics, worshiped in chapel, ate breakfast, studied with the children, completed chores and walked the kids to school. Walking the kids to school is my favorite part of the day. Holding their little hands means so much to them and me. They are like every other child around the world. They just want to be loved on. For 20 minutes in the morning, I get to take on a parental role and drop them off at school.

As I think about what we have experienced so far, I can't help but think about three things that happened on Tuesday. During the day, the team spent time in the JEMS school creating name tags for each child. The kids LOVED this! Even though we may not remember every name, it means so much to them to have someone give them 5 minutes of individual attention and verbally say their name out loud. They just want to be known. Now that the children have name tags, they say, "sista, name?" and flip over their tags to quiz you. They light up with such joy when you remember their names. Even though we can't know them all, it is comforting to know that God knows them by name and knows their needs and desires. How amazingly compassionate and loving our God is! Every time I think I am going to do something for a child here in India, God shows up and I am reminded of His beauty and power. Who knew you would see God so clearly in India!

Each day we have two opportunities to worship with the children. In the evening chapel on Tuesday, all of the ladies performed a skit. All I can say is IMPRESSIVE! We have such a creative team. We decided to perform a skit based on Luke 8, "The Parable of the Sower." In order to have the children relate to the verses, we acted them out and played the parts of a farmer, a crow, a devil, four seeds, and a narrator. The children loved this and were very responsive when we asked them what type of soil they think God would want them to be. With a resounding voice, they all said, "the good soil." The children are so smart and eager to learn about Jesus. This skit was a great way for each team member to get involved with chapel and stretch themselves. Plus, it is really fun to see the kids laughing at you and having fun.

Speaking of stretching ourselves, a nice conclusion to every day is our evening team meetings on the roof overlooking the village. During the meetings we discuss the beauty we see in India, the hurt we see, the emotions we feel and how we are experiencing Jesus. Each meeting, two members of the team reveal a life token that they want to leave behind in India. These life tokens represent a part of us that we need and want to surrender to God. The sharing includes discussing very intimate details and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable about places in our lives that need improvement. The meeting and sharing is great way to wrap up a full day and really take time to just be still in the moment and listen to what God is trying to tell us.

You will hear more soon from other team members.

Sarah Million for the team

The Streets, The Kids and The Eats

Hi from the other end of the world.....Today was amazing! (Today being Monday here, but unfortunately the power went out mid blog last night and I am finishing it up Tuesday morning at 4:30AM).

Getting to know the children on a deeper level and realizing that no matter where you are in the world; kids are just kids and truly want to be acknowledged and loved unconditionally. Initially, I was concerned about communicating with them because as I told my new friend Sudu Lakshmi, "I do not speak Telugu". She would just laugh and tell me "no English" as she continued to hold my hand, smile and help me to learn how to say Sista, Brotha, girl, boy and their plural form in Telegu. I wish I could currently share them with you but after this long day and trying to remember as many names as possible....I just cannot remember, but that is OK because we will take that same walk 2 times a day to/from school (over 1 mile) since the older children are schooled off the campus and we will be able to continue sharing our language differences.


Walking the kids to school is a story in itself...between the bicycles, buses and motorcycles

honking and "unintentionally" running you off the road because there is only room for 1 vehicle, yet there are 2 and a mad biker trying to pass you all at once...LOL..It is truly every man, goat, pig, chicken, random roaming dog and water buffalo for himself. Yes, I did name animals!! Imagine walking down the street and there is a water buffalo laying on the side of the road or the cute little pigs chasing their extremely large mom down the road beside you. While walking you learn that many of the people are constantly working, but always seem to have a bright smile to greet us.

Back at the campus with the GEM kids we did some crafts(coloring and such). This gave them all a small break and time for a little fun and recognition. The kids love to sing and dance so in some of the free time during the day we did the hokie pokie, tried to teach them the macarena and so many others. We also, played the name game all day. This is where they all ask you "my name?" and hope that we remember and when you do it puts a warm smile on their face..this is also when I started my game of asking them back when I couldn't remember to tell me my name and then we laugh and exchange names.

Now on to the eats....In the mornings we have omelettes (fried eggs with some yummy seasonings), bread and a delicious cup of Lakshmi's delicious Indian coffee creation made with water buffalo milk. Today we got to finally experience the "Chicken 65" we had heard so much about from others that had been here in the past. It lived up to its rave reviews. The story is that the cubed chicken is seasoned with 65 different seasonings and based on the variety at the market yesterday, I can believe it. The staff and Lakshmi are so attentive to us here and makes us feel right at home. They also, feed you like they were your grandma by making sure you have had more than your share and are full and happy. Side note: Kirk we are having lots of rice so no Pei Wei for a while. ;) I don't want to forget the homemade cookies that Jocelyn brought for us that we were able to have at the past 2 meetings we have had as a group.

With much love from India,

Tracy Richardson for the team

This Little Piggy Went to Market...

Hey all,

Greg reporting on day two in Dowlaiswaram, India. What a day it's been, jam packed with fun, love, and excitement. For me the day started out with jumping out of my comfort zone by delivering a little devotional on prayer to Grace children and STS students during chapel. Public speaking is not my forte but surpisingly enough I felt total comfort in speaking to my attentive audience. More testament of that "inexplicable peace" that Christians experience by the grace of God.

One of our primary functions as missionaries is to learn about and do life with the people we have come to love and serve. To get a feel for community life in Dowlaiswaram some of the team took a walk through the market place a couple of blocks from CEM. This was no Kroger! I'm pretty sure the FDA back home would shut such place down had it been in the U.S. Then again I doubt you'd see a bunch of vendors sitting outside on the ground with piles of fish or with chickens tangling from ropes as flies have buzz about freely. I try not to think of these sights while eating back at CEM. All in all, though, our walk was quite the experience. The sights, sounds, and smells were almost overwhelming.

The rest of the day was spent treating the two-hundred-plus children from Grace Children's Home to fun and games out in the courtyard of CEM. I took particular pleasure in lobbing water balloons of the roof of a building onto the children below. Who knew serving could be such fun ;) The joy on the kids' faces as they play with their American friends makes the brutal travel, jet lag, and ant bites all worth while.

It's been a blast so far over here in India. This is my fifth time here, but it's been a new experience thus far being that my wife, Jess, is with me this time. It's been a joy to watch her experience all the things that keep me coming back each year, for the first time. I'm looking forward to sharing the rest of the week's experiences with her.

God bless,

Greg

Safely at CEM

After many hours of plane travel, layovers, and uncomfortable chairs we have arrived at CEM in one piece, and at peace! While the travel is never fun, it is always well worth it when we arrive here to be so warmly greeted by our brothers and sisters. I am certain that someone will update the blog with photos from our arrival as we received the traditional flower petal pelting! As Chris and I discussed, the ritual has grown to epic proportions as we all had a healthy dose of the flowers end up in our mouths (I think they practice it).

Anyway, the team is doing well, has mostly settled in, shared our first meal in the cafeteria, and received a tour of the campus conducted by Greg. Here's looking forward to an amazing, educational, exhausting week here in Dowlaiswaram. Jesus, may you be in front of us in all of our thoughts and actions and may they know that we are your disciples by our love for one another.

Jim for the team

All is well at Mumbai Airport

Hey folks!

I'm in Mumbai tapping this out at a free internet terminal at whose keyboard has seen better days. We have made it with all of our luggage and spirits intact. The team is tired, but excited for the last leg of the trip to be completed and the open arms that await at CEM. We are loking at about ten more hours of domestic travel, but all is well.

You'll hear more at the end of the day. Thanks for your continued prayers!

Chris for the team.

The Prayer Calendar

Hello Again -

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

Thursday the 5th:
- Team departs Detroit Metro at 4:00 p.m. with our first stop in Amsterdam.
- Pray for safe travel and good rest on the plane.
- Pray for Chris & Jocelyn!

Friday the 6th:
- 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 10.5 hours ahead of Detroit Time.
- Pray for Greg & Jessica!

Saturday the 7th:
- 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 (10:30 PM EST) to be greeted by the children and staff of CEM. The kids are getting a half day off from school to greet us!
- 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 Anne & Margaret!

Sunday the 8th:
- 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.
- We'll spend a lot of time connecting with the GCH kids in the afternoon.
- Pray for Todd & Lisha!

Monday the 9th:
- Today the team will be working on several fronts, including JEMS 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 Tracy K.!

Tuesday the 10th:
- 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!
- Pray also for Jim & Jason!

Wednesday the 11th:
- Another day of working alongside the CEM staff in all areas of ministry.
- Pray for the continued construction on the hospital!
- Pray for Tracy R. & Sarah!

Thursday the 12th:
- Our final full day with Jaya, the CEM ministry team, and the children!
- Pray for The Team as we finish our projects.
- Pray specifically for Liz!

Friday the 13th:
- 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!

Saturday the 14th:
- 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 Team!

Hello, fans of CEM! For the past couple of years, getting the team blog re-started has been one of my favorite ways to prepare for an upcoming trip. It gives me a chance to start dreaming and praying for the team and preparing for another adventure with God. 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:

Chris Cook: My first trip to India was almost eight years ago, and I’ve honestly been hooked ever since. After a sabbatical from it for a couple of years for school and family, I’m at CEM a minimum of once a year now and sit on the board of CEM USA, the domestic fundraising arm of the ministry. A lot has changed at CEM over the years – permanent buildings for the Grace Children’s Home, an English School for the neighborhood, and the anticipation of a new hospital now under construction – but CEM’s heartbeat for the poor of India has never changed. Funny thing is this: I go, and CEM changes me. I’m especially excited that, after years of seeing the wonder of God’s presence there, I’ll get a chance to see CEM through new eyes as my wife experiences it for the first time.

Jocelyn Cook: I heard about CEM through my husband, Chris, when we were dating. Initially, I wanted to see and experience the things that he had captured in his photography; but at some point I found that I wanted to serve that community and the people there. Last November when Chris was at CEM, he would call me and put some of the kids from the Grace Children’s Home on the phone. They would ask me when I was coming and tell me, “Jesus loves me, Jesus loves you, so I love you.” It was the only English some of them knew, but it melted my heart! I’m really excited about meeting the kids and seeing the work that is being done and the hope that it is providing in the community.

Greg Gortat: I am a 39 year old pharmacist. I've been doing mission work since February of 2007 with Rajahmundry, India being my sole mission destination. This will be my fifth trip. God has given me a heart for the people of India and the people of CEM in particular. Having been there four times in two years, it feels like a home away from home! It's been a win-win situation doing this kind of God's work. With each trip I am drawn closer to our Savior all while doing His work. This trip should prove to be exceptionally special in that my new wife will be attending with me.

Jessica Harris (Gortat!): I got saved about 2 years ago. I have never been to India or done any mission work. In college, I studied abroad in China for a semester; so I do have some experience with travel and being totally submerged in another culture. I have such a love for children so I'm sure the kids at CEM will steal my heart. I'm also excited (and nervous) to push myself and get out of my comfort zone with this trip. I have heard a lot about India and the children from my husband Greg so I am very excited to experience it firsthand!

Anne Johnson: I became a Christian in 2001 while serving with the Peace Corps in Batouri, Cameroon. After returning to the U.S., I moved to Austin, Texas and to my first real church home, Gateway Community Church. At Gateway, I got involved in service through Gateway Sports and Outdoors where she was able to combine her passions for fitness, God's magnificent creation, and connecting people in healthy, life-giving community. I now serve as a leader within Mobilization, Gateway's service and outreach ministry and have gone on mission trips to the Mexico border, Dominican Republic, and within Austin, Texas. Ever since first hearing of CEM several years ago in a church service, I have felt a calling to travel to Rajahmundry to experience this ministry and the beautiful things that God is doing there. With family in Minnesota and Chicago, I spend most of my free time with friends, my Little Sister Ana, and romping about the Texas hill country with my dogs Beau and Olie.

Todd Kilgus: I’m a business owner here in the U.S., but I love to serve and look forward to working with the kids and staff at CEM. I have been fortunate enough to have served in a previous mission to Africa, but this will be my first mission trip to India. It’s an amazing opportunity to love people and honor God.


Tracy Kott: I’ve never been to India or on a mission trip before. I have always wanted to go on one and really felt God telling me now was the time. I'm a nurse in Detroit, and I am really excited to go to India and spend time with the children and the members of our team. I can’t wait to see the work God will do in my life through this trip.


Jim Mayes: I find it difficult to describe my involvement with CEM in only a short paragraph. This will be my 7th 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 couple of 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.

Sarah Million: This is my second trip to visit Rajahmundry and CEM. My first global mission trip was in November of 2008 to CEM. I was very excited to experience a new culture, to help out where I could, and connect with God. Little did I know that I would fall in love with the children and that they would be the ones to show me how deep and far God's love extends. This trip, I am excited to go; but for different reasons. I feel that I am going to back to visit with friends. Ever since I left the CEM campus last year, I have had the children on my mind constantly. When I left India last year, we had the ground breaking ceremony for the hospital. When I return, I get a chance to see physical evidence of God's ability and willingness to provide for his people. I am so excited to see what God is going to do with our team this year and how He is going to stretch each of us if we will let Him. He never ceases to amaze me!

Liz Overstreet: This will be my second trip to the Grace Children’s Home in India. I fell in love, not only with the children at the orphanage, but the Indian people and culture as well. When I left India in February, I knew I'd be back to be blessed by the people and children once again. So here I am incredibly excited to be returning and so grateful that God has allowed me this opportunity again.

Tracy Richardson: This is my first mission trip. I have a real passion for people and had been following CEM’s story for a long time, and God finally prompted me to see it for myself. I really feel blessed and honored to be a part of it. It’s a little overwhelming to think about sometimes, but I’m most excited to see the impact that God is having on the community through CEM, and how it is going to change the entire team!

Jason Saarela: I am a single dad of two beautiful little creatures – Meghan 13 and Joshua 8. I love kids, serving others, music and sports. Jesus Christ is at the center of my life. I have been to Ensenada, Mexico two times and La Carpio, Cost Rica once and had amazing experiences. This will be my first of hopefully many trips to India. I am so excited to go and share His hope, and His joy. I love to serve others, and I have always had a strong calling to be a blessing and encouragement to kids. I love kids. I am grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to serve.

Margaret Shimkus: I enjoy traveling and being a Nurse Practitioner; so when the two can be combined, I feel as though I'm living my purpose even more fully. I have been to Africa three times, including one trip working the Zulu people on a Kensington mission. This is my first time going to India, a place I have wanted to go for several years. My heart goes out to the homeless children who now have a place to call home. I hope to show them Jesus' care and compassion; and in the end, I know that I am always the one who is blessed.

Lisha Sterling: This will be my first global mission. God has put on my heart to further reach out to those in need. I am very excited to share the love and grace that God has shown me over the years by pouring into the children of the orphanage and staff members of CEM. God has put together an amazing team and I am excited to see what He has planned for all of us!

No truer words have been spoken, Lisha! Stay tuned over the next two weeks for stories, images and impressions from the team of this amazing adventure!

- Chris for the Team