Journal Entry for: Feb. 4th Bethel House

Wade & I are laying on our beds 1/2 awake 1/2 zombie sleep!
Outside the noise of Rickshaw beeping & motorcycle horns finally gave way to crickets chirping and inside our small room is an echo of the fan spinning and an occasional "SLAP" for mosquito's. Bethel House is a primary school for orphaned girls and the home of a very generous family who has allowed us to stay for 3 nights. Our room is on the rooftop over-looking the shabby neighborhood. It makes me think how Jesus and his disciples might have spent their nights, sleeping on the roof tops and spending nights in prayer.
"SLAP!" I got one! A mosquito that is, already I can count 7 bites on my arms and neck ... just seven reminders to take my Malaria pills.

It was around 8:00AM when we were finally picked up from the airport. We arrived at 1:40AM. Six hours of waiting, and wondering if we made a mistake coming to India with no contact info for those who were supposed to pick us up! After 2 hours of looking at a sea of strange yet beautiful black and brown faces, we pulled our resources and thoughts together to solve this problem of being lost in India. We had one mobile phone with only 3 pounds on it, no local number, no contact number, no hotel name. We were not even sure what Jeff looked like. We called 3 continents, use up the 3 pounds, found out how to use the local phone services, and finally got what we needed to wake up 3 people in the middle of the night over a span of 300 miles in India to find one person who could pick us up. I am doing a real injustice at retelling this story, but the end result was God showed up in BIG ways to save our dumb bums.

When we pulled up to the home where we were staying I was thinking to myself, "Finally, a place where we can lay down horizontal with out the fear of being robed, or bugs crewing all over us." We were greeted by our hosts, and those who were supposed to pick us up. I believe the words from their mouths were, "Un-Believe-Able!" Yeah, my thoughts exactly. We ate breakfast, got caught up on each other, and then started the day!

Wade and I have had a combined sleep of 6 hours in almost 3 days! We did not sleep at all this past night and we were going to get started on the day?!!!! Ok, lets go then.

The day was to be spent at an AIDS shelter for men who have AIDS and or use drugs. It is to help educate those who have it, and prevent those who don't from getting it. It is also a place where real hurting people can receive the real love of Jesus Christ. The SHELTER is an acronym for (Society for Health Education Leadership Training Environment research and Rehabilitation.) This was one of maybe 15 different acronyms I believe Solomon has. Kinda funny, and not sure if this is an Indian thing or just a Solomon thing. Here at the SHELTER, the men are given education, food, health care, friendship, awareness and most of all- the opportunity to commit the rest of their lives to Christ. For the 10 men we met today, that was not a lot of time. All of the men we met with were HIV+. They are all drug users, some hoping to clean up, but all of them are in desperate need of Jesus. With the strong stigma attached to AIDS in the Indian society, people here already declare them dead. Today we had the chance to share what a new life with Christ was, and all 10 men showed willingness to accept Christ, and the life He offers.
Our team was made up of 4 individuals and we all got to share. Some shared a testimony, others a story, and another a particular Bible verse. But all of us shared one thing in common- Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was told there was going to be a good chance that I would be asked to talk in front of a crowd, small group, church, or even large meeting of people. Unaware of what to say, or where to even begin, God assured me that at the time, He would provide me what to say. He proved Himself faithful and I got the chance to see all 10 men accept Christ.

Afterwards, we shook hands, exchanged hugs and laughs... and one man shared how happy he was that Americans would leave their families, come over here and share Jesus with a bunch of dying men. And if that were not enough, they would look us in the eye and even hug us! I was not sure what moved these men more, our message, or our love. But I do believe they are one in the same.

When the day came to an end, I got back in the jeep and we headed for home down a bumpy dirt road. I believe it was that moment, where for the first time in my life, I actually felt like a missionary.

Thank you God, for allowing me to be in a place to share the love You so graciously give to me.

Sunday, Feb. 5th 9:00 PM : Still ONLY Day Two

We visited Solomon's church this evening. It was a very special time. The church was held in the home of a man named Dan. Dan was a banker for 20 years in the States. He was born in India and God called him to return back to his country and share Christ with his people. So he and his wife moved back to India, helped start a church, and adopted 13 girls! Only with the divine help from God could a family adopt 13 girls! They all live, worship, and minister in the same home. The church service started with 3 of the girls leading worship. There was no piano, gutair or any other instrument. We all sang acapello. Well, I say,"we all" but truly it was not I who sang. I tried but couldn't. You see, the girls started with the song that states,
"Lord, You are more presious then silver, Lord You are more costly then gold, Lord You are more beauitful then dimonds, and nothing I desire compares to You."
I tried to sing that song... but I could do nothing but think of how these orphaned girls will never own silver or gold and yet they can and do sing these words to God! How sweat these words must sound to our Lords hears. There is nothing they desire that compares to God... and these girls have nothing but Him! I sat there in the seat of honor that they gave me... and with my hands over my face, I again cried like a baby. I did not count myself worthy to sing alongside these angles. So I just shead tears for them instead.

Sunday, Feb. 5th 4:30 PM : Day Two

Today we were excited because we took a group of orphans to the beach! (How cool is that?!) I love that my ministry allows me to do something like hang out at the beach with Indian orphaned kids. Not only were they the eleven of the cutest kids all dressed in traditional Indian cloths, but they all played a game to remember our names. It brought a smile to my face to hear these children say my name out loud. One girl, who's name is, "MOE-GA-NA-SOON-DA-RE" was the first to learn all of our names. She took it upon herself to teach them to the other children. She had much patience with me as I learned hers. I ended up just calling her, "Soon-da-re" and she allowed me to call her "Soon." Soon has a smaller brother and the two of them are the only ones of the eleven who have not lost their parents to AIDS. They have a mother that they live with, however she is a prostitute who brings clients into the home. Living in a small two room hut, there is no doubt in my mind that Soon, and her brother often see what is done to her mother. It was this very reason we took them out to the beach. We wanted to give them a fun, and healthy day. Our team is made up of four individuals who came along side a local man named Solomon. It is one of Solomon's dreams to build an orphanage where these children can be taken out of the slums and provided a safe, and healthy environment. We loaded up a van and took eleven kids to the beach. We played Frisbee, jumped rope, and splashed in the water! The kids played in the sand, and kicked around a football. It was a normal child's typical day at the beach, but for these children it was a wonderful experience that they don't often have. Later, we went to an indoor market place and road an escalator! It never ceases to amazing me that no matter where you go in the world, children love to ride up and down on escalators! We ate lunch and then started back for home. Home for these kids is with relatives, or neighbors who put them to work to earn their keep. Some of them go to school and all of them suffer. You see, it was not until the end of that day, only after I built relationships with these children did I learn that every one of them is HIV+. They all have AIDS! When I heard that, I just sat there in the van, looking at each of there smiling faces and I cried.

It was my only reasonable response. We dropped off 1/2 of the children and I waved good-bye through the window. I prayed to God that they would get to know Jesus. I hope to see them again one day knowing that if I do, it would be in heaven where they would have arrived years and years before me. The van let us out at the home Wade and I were to stay and drove off with the rest of the kids, all of who's hands were out the window waving good-bye to us. It saddened me to see them go, but I was encouraged to know that Solomon was in their lives, taking them out of their poor situations and letting them enjoy life's simple pleasures, even if it is only for a short time. To these kids, this is life. To Solomon, this is the way he shows them love and introduces them to the Author of Life.

India was AMAZING

India was AMAZING!

Thank you for all your prayers, letters, and emails. I got back on Feb. 14th, Valentines Day and was happy to see and spend time with Megan again! It was a good reunion. I decided to give people updates on my trip by sharing my journal entries for certain days while in India. So, if you are interested pick a day and read what happened in India! The photo is of me eating ... something given to me wrapped up in a louts leaf. It looks horrible, but tastes very very good! Sweat!

Enjoy the photos, read the blogs, and leave a comment.