5 loaves and 2 fish

Wednesday 7/5 - 15:52PM Bangalore, India

When we landed just a while ago and have been getting a lot of negative attention.  Almost all of us were stopped at customs and interrogated.  Maybe not interrogated in the full sense of the word, but close to it.  When Joann got taken to get questioned, she said the scene where Jamal was getting his toes electrocuted in Slumdog Millionaire flashed through her mind.  Half of us were stopped again at baggage claim.  There is definitely a battle going on and we’re sensing it.  Maybe God is trying to teach us to depend fully on Him… to trust Him in all circumstances.  Maybe Satan is trying to get our spirits down.  Either way, something tells me that the hardships will only continue so please pray that we will not be discouraged or anxious, but instead that we would take this as an opportunity to persevere and reflect Christ even in difficult circumstances.

Thursday 7/7- 7:55pm Bangalore, India

Day one of ministry is complete.  Missionary Chung and “India James” came to meet all of us at the airport and it was such an encouraging and exciting time.  The theme of the trip is “5 loaves, 2 fish”.  Small miracles are happening every day.  Including both KCM teams (15+16) and our team (6) that makes a total of 45 people at the same site.  We somehow all packed into a bus and got to St. Paul School and somehow have been eating meals together and somehow finding rest together.  Only through God.

Today, we visited St. Paul school where we received the most amazing and warm welcome from the students there.  There are around 2,000 students there and all were lined up like soldiers.  Hopefully, through God’s grace, these children will really become soldiers for Christ.  We also had an opportunity to encourage and teach college students as well as lead a teacher’s meeting.  A fruitful day!

6:15pm Bangalore, India (typing from Missionary James’ home)

Today we saw 300 students at one of Missionary Chung’s schools.  I don’t know how that happened.  Again, 5 loaves, 2 fish.  The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few.  We partnered with PR’s KCM team.  KCM did a lot of the presentations to the children, Dr. Hubert checked each child and KCM and GLMC teamed up to actually do 1:1 evangelism with each student and pray for them.  Finally, we gave out toothbrushes, vitamins, and of course, candy, to each child.

Something I was so blessed by was when PR reminded us of how Jesus receives children.  HE knows and calls each child by name and we were able to partake in something so special today by learning each child’s name, evangelizing to each one, and praying for each one.  Please pray for these 300 children.  I am reminded that children really are the future.  These children will be the future of India… for the “total evangelization of India,” as Missionary Chung would say.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray that we would be strengthened and that we would be safe.  We’re starting our ministry out in the rural areas tomorrow and really need your prayers.  We may actually be camping out in those villages for a few days so please pray for our safety and contentment from discomfort and unknown, difficult circumstances (mosquito bites, dirty bathrooms, no showers, no beds, no roof, “who knows”, etc).

 

We are so convicted and so blessed because we know that we are being prayed for.  You know when you have a peace that surpasses all understanding, many opportunities to share the gospel, exceedingly awesome team unity and Christ magnified in us and through us. 

Please keep us in prayer even through the “radio silence”!! :] THANK YOU!!!!

Hello from Singapore!

I have 4 minutes to update you guys before I get kicked offline!

We're at Singapore.  We arrived here early in the morning and finally got to lie down and get some sleep.  We're up now (it's Weds, July 6th, 7:36AM right now) and waiting to go on a free tour of Singapore.  COOL, huh?

Anyway, I lied.  The plane we were on was huge but the wheels are NOT one story high.  I looked.

One praise report is that PR got to share the gospel with the girl from Beat Freaks (see "Hello from Tokyo" post).  Isn't that amazing?  Yet again, another account of God's faithfulness and goodness in using us to be effective for his Kingdom.  I will update with details later but until then, please continue to keep each of us in prayer-- that we would be bold for Christ!

AH! One minute left! OK so I don't know when the next time we can get online is but hopefully we will update you when we land in Bangalore!  Finally, our last stop awaits us!

From Tokyo

Our flight from LAX to Narita International Airport (Tokyo, Japan) was approximately 11 hours but consensus was that it went by pretty (or should I say, “relatively” fast).  We’re here for two hours for a fuel stop. 

Singapore Airlines is A.W.E.S.O.M.E.  They fed us nonstop and the food was G.O.O.D!!!  The plane we’re on is… H.U.G.E!!! H.U.G.E. = two floors!!  And we were told that just the wheels are one story high.  Our team’s goal during our flight to India is to share and hear each of our testimonies and so far, so G.O.O.D!!!  (I don’t know what T.H.I.S. I.S. A.L.L. A.B.O.U.T.  We’re all a little delirious at this point!)  Anyway, it’s SO CLEAR how PRESENT God is in our team and hearing everyone’s testimony is confirming his faithfulness in our lives.

Just a shout out to every single person who came out to our send off.  As soon as we were through the gates, we shared about how we were able to see costly living through all of our senders.  In particular, we are remembering the spouses of our team members—children in arms, giving sacrificially.  Please remember Stephanie, Christina, Susan, and Howard and please keep them in prayer as well!

We’ve been doing a lot of praying.  Jeff has been faithfully recording every opportunity.  Hubert has been faithfully being funny.  Joann has been faithfully… being funny too.  So is Nate.  And Amy.  And myself. Jeff is secretly funny too.  PR is also being especially funny.  Someone from “Beat Freaks” from MTV’s dance show was on our flight and PR got SO star struck (big-ups to Joann for recognizing her first).  HAHAHA he went to go meet her and get her autograph.  He was so star struck.  It was seriously entertaining. 

Anyway, everyone’s healthy so far! (I hope I’ll be continuing to update with good news once in India and the stomach battles begin.)  Morale is up (although bodies are tired) and we’re all excited to see what awaits us in India!  We’re going to re-board our fancy plane in a little bit and then we’re headed for Singapore!  I packed my camera cable in my checked bag so no pictures for now but maybe it’s more fun to imagine all these things!  I promise I’ll post pictures ASAP.

INDIA 2011. Hyyyy-YAHH!!

Strength, Song, Purpose, So Long!

I’m taking a break from packing and am hoping the rest of my team is not in the same boat as I am.  (And I thought procrastination would stop after college! haha)

India, are you ready!??  Yes, I’m sure you are.  I know the Holy Spirit has gone before us and has been working to open doors and hearts.

Speaking of hearts, my heart has been feeling funny all day.  I keep wanting to cry.  Strange, huh?  It’s finally hitting me.  I’m not sad… and I’m not even scared anymore. What’s left is just… this overwhelming amazement at how amazing, wonderful, awesome, holy, powerful, gracious, beautiful… how crazy our God is.  I’m seriously just in awe— of the things to take place in both our hearts and those hearts waiting for us in India.

For the past few months, from the moment I decided to commit to serving in India, God has been showing us how much He loves us—through His provision, grace, and through our supporters.  It really is overwhelming the amount of love He has for us. 

Lord, thank you for the cross.  Thank you for reminding me of my weakness.  Thank you for saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Weakness + the following song = maybe why I was so moved during praise this afternoon

I have not much to offer You, not near what You deserve
But still I come because Your cross has placed in me my worth
Oh, Christ my King of sympathy, whose wounds secure my peace
Your grace extends to call me friend; Your mercy sets me free
And I know I'm weak; I know I'm unworthy to call upon Your name
But because of grace, because of Your mercy, I stand here unashamed
I can't explain this kind of love.
I'm humbled and amazed that You'd come down from heavens heights
and greet me face to face
Here I am at Your feet, in my brokeness complete

Just wanted to share that as an encouragement. :]

OK!!! This is it! (I THINK).  No more communication with the internet world for who knows how long!  Hopefully, we’ll be able to get online a few times while we’re in India so we can update you guys about how God is moving and working in us and through us!  So remember to check back every once in a while!  We’ll probably also be posting prayer requests along with our praise reports!

The following is our team purpose and our prayer requests:

1. Encourage and partner with church plants in rural areas  surrounding Bangalore through medical missions

2. Document the work being done in India to share with supporters and encourage mid-term missions

3. Encourage teachers/professionals in Special Needs School in Kerala and share God’s love with children with disabilities

4. Unity amongst GLMC, KCM, IEC, and Sathyam ministries

5. That this short-term missions trip would open doors for life-long partnerships in India

I know I say it every post, but really we are SO thankful for your prayers.  Please please please continue to remember us and pray for us diligently!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Our send-off will be at 1pm at LAX Tom Bradley.

Commissioning Service

Today was our commissioning service.

Can I begin by first saying that the praise set was amazing?!  (Shout out to our very own Nate!)  All I have to say is "Hail to the King" and then Starfield's "Unashamed".  Opened the floodgates even with my stone-cold heart. :]

So PR has been going through a series on missions and today he preached on the Father's heart.  I was reminded of God's grace and the privilege we as believers have as we have already received forgiveness.  In Luke 15, the shepherd leaves his flock of 99 sheep to find his one lost sheep, the woman overturns her home to find her one lost coin, and they both rejoice when they find what was lost. 

When the prodigal son comes home, his father, regardless of all of his son's selfishness and sin, rejoices.  But we were challenged to shift perspective a little bit on that parable and think: What would Jesus do?  Wouldn't he go out, leaving his "99 sheep" and overturning his "house", to find his lost son/brother.  I was convicted.  Let's be like Jesus.  Instead of waiting for those to come to us, can we instead go and search out the lost?

Our commissioning service began with a video presentation.  Our very talented and diligent leader and videographer, Jeff, has been so faithful in preparing videos to share with our church and partners.  This is a major part of our vision and purpose on this mission trip.  Jeff will be preparing two videos-- one to document and learn from the church-planting efforts we will partake in and another to encourage participation in mid-term missions.

Then, we encouraged our church and senders with a body worship presentation to the "Lord's Prayer" song.  Here we are!

Finally, we shared (and acted out) how our medical clinics will run.

All in all, an awesome commissioning service.
Thank you supporters again for all of your continued prayers.
19 hours until departure!

ONWARD BOUND!

We had our last training today.  Our agenda was extensive but we got everything done (with 30 minutes to spare)!

Training started off with a pleasant surprise.
Nate, who is extremely punctual, was late! (Nate is never late!)
I say that it was a "pleasant surprise", however, because Nate showed up with his entire family! They brought pastries for the team and wanted to meet and bless us as they were heading back home.

We took it as an opportunity to share our purpose and each of our roles (on missions and in "real life") and spent quality time praying with one another.  What godly parents.  What a Christ-centered family.  As Nate's dad was praying over us, (all of us later agreed) that we saw a future Nate in him! :]  Thank you Ong family again for stopping by, continuously supporting us, and being such a great blessing and encouragement to our team!
 
As soon as they left, the seriousness began.  Dun, dun dunnnnn.
We went over the parts for tomorrow's commissioning service (video, body worship and health clinic presentation).

We also packed.

And packed.

And packed some more!

So many gifts, supplies, and korean food (haha) to take to India.  Thank you to all those who so generously donated to this cause!  Know that all of your donations are going to be put to great use in India!

ONWARD BOUND!!
< 2 days left until departure!!! AHH!!!

Costly Sending

Yesterday was a LONG day.  Amy, Joann and I met up at Toys R Us to buy supplies for the Kerala (OT/SLP) portion of the trip.  "The world's JOY store"?  Sure, it stripped me of joy! lol JK haha but it really was EXHAUSTING.  Filled with little kids who looked like this:

LOL. Cute, huh?

Anyway, we did really well and bought a lot of useful therapy materials (and we did it on a budget)!  Afterwards, we had some girl time and enjoyed some yummy Mexican food and even scored a free dessert. The Lord is on our side! :]  Afterwards, Amy and I went to meet up with Christina, who had been slaving away ALL DAY making therapy materials for us to take to Kerala.
















Meet Christina sa-mo, wife of PR, mother of Evie and Ellie, Occupational Therapist, and... CRAFT-LADY-EXTRAORDINAIRE!

Chris played a HUGE role in helping Joann and me train and prepare for the Kerala portion of our trip.  So after the medical missions portion is done in Bangalore, Joann and I are riding solo!  Solo on a train that's going to take us all the way to the southern tip of India to Kerala.  There, we will be serving at Sathyanikethan (Shelter of Truth) Disability Center and Special Needs School. We hope to encourage the teachers there and share with them various occupational, communication and behavior strategies.

Both Joann and I just recently graduated in our respective fields (Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology).  We are both not very crafty.  Christina, a seasoned pediatric OT, brought us together to make a game plan.  She is very crafty.

She wanted so much to go with us and be there with us but wasn't able to this summer.  But instead of being sad about it and having an "oh well" mentality, she sprung into action!  She decided to be a costly sender and help us prepare all of our materials.  What this means is: printing, cutting, copying, gluing, laminating, cutting, velcro-ing, cricut-ing, gluing, punching, ripping, cutting, laminating... and so on.  Yes, it is tedious, menial, and maybe even carpal tunnel-giving work and although it sounds like something anyone can do... it is not an easy feat.  Countless hours were put into the work and still more must be put in.


OOOH, LOOK~

We also wanted to be an encouragement to the teachers there and made personalized posters for each of them.  The quote on the bottom (one of my all time favorites) says this: May HE who has chosen to limit some of his children be merciful enough to guide the hands of us entrusted with their care. – R. Wayne Mosers

Thank you to Christina and all of you costly senders who have been sacrificing your resources and time!!!