Dinner with C.V.

Great food and great company!

C.V. Vadavana is the founder of Sathyam Ministries International. (You can check out their website here: http://www.sathyam.org/default.asp. So much AMAZING work being done through them.)  He is visiting this week and we were fortunate to meet with him for dinner. (Thank you DP for organizing it!) PR and family, DP, CV, his US liason, Christina, and a few of our GLMC India mission team members got together at Mario's Peruvian in La Mirada tonight.

Throughout the course of dinner, CV answered our questions, shared about his ministries and was also able to honestly share some of his discouragements and frustrations.  He shared about how in the past, many short-term missionaries have come to India and have since forgotten completely about the work they were once a part of.  I think it was a good warning for those of us going out this summer.  It's easy to go with the mentality that we're going for a new experience (something I personally struggle with); take and receive and then forget.  But we need to remember that the reason why we go is to PARTNER with the missionaries out there.  I encourage everyone who has gone on short-term summer missions (STSM) and/or will go to be mindful of this and think of how we can CONTINUE to encourage and be an active part of the ministries.

C.V. also shared about cultural differences in India and gave us simple ways to show tangible care and love to the people we will encounter in India.  For one, we're going to make sure to have lots of candy and small toys on hand to pass out to those we minister to.  We have so incredibly much here and have been blessed with GREAT material wealth in the states and GIVING even the simplest things can really make the difference.  C.V. mentioned "the kids will be so happy with the things we put in the garbage".  So please, remember those less fortunate in India and gather up old goodies and put them aside in a box and we'll collect and donate!

We want to really PARTNER with C.V. and Sathyam Ministries and support him year round in any and every way possible.  Please lift him and his ministries up in prayer... right now! Yes, right now! Also pray for those people going out on STSM-- that we will seek to foster life-long partnerships. For His Kingdom!