We All Have Fevers

Ok, before you send out a mass prayer chain email/phone call to pray for our team's healing...we are all ok.  In fact, none of us (well, one does, which I will get to) have fevers.  Instead, this is a reference to pretty much the funniest thing that has happened to us on this trip so far.  Today was a "late" day, meaning we got to sleep in until 7 a.m., met for devotions and headed out to another school for an hour-long program.  This school was unlike any of the other experiences we've had so far - it was a solid Christian school consisting of 1st-5th graders.  Oh yeah...and the room in which we met with them was open-air.  10:30 a.m.  In India.  Just thinking about it is making me start to sweat.

We stepped out of the van and immediately were drenched, head to toe, in our own glorious perspiration.  But God gave us the ability to work in spite of our grossness and we had the kids up and dancing, clapping, learning new songs in English (they were primarily Tamil speaking), Tim did a brief talk that was translated into their language, we did a skit and then had the opportunity to hang out with the children for almost an hour afterwards, just sitting and sharing the love of Christ with them.  But here's the thing.  It was, like, 200 degrees outside, we were dancing, performing - we've not sweated this much since we've gotten here.  But the kids?  Dry as could be.  And they were wearing uniforms.  Not a single one broke a sweat.  So, and here's the hysterical part, more than one kid approached some of our team members to ask, "You're sweating - do you have a fever?"  Maybe you had to be there (probably not, though) but the difference between us and them, perspiration wise, was ridiculously funny.

Following this time with the kids, we visited the home of Pastor Sharesh, who is a good friend of David Rajan's and is the pastor of the school we worked at today.  We walked through some pretty dirty alleyways and into this very small one room apartment that had a refrigerator, stove, a tv and a single bed - all in this one very small room.  And the reaction of Sharesh and his family?  Gratitude that we would come and visit them.  We have been so moved by the humility of these people, their generosity, their love...I'm being extremely serious when I say that the people of India have already ministered more to us than we'll ever be able to do for them..  To

On our way home, we stopped off at the local mall for some authentic Indian cuisine from Pizza Hut (I swear we really have eaten some Indian food...David is just trying to introduce it slowly to our tame American stomachs).  This was not a shopping trip, yet somehow Betty Jo was able to come away with a new shirt that would be helpful in the heat.  She can get away with that because she's Betty Jo.

But the big story tonight was the final event of the day.  We loaded up into our bus and traveled about an hour/hour-and-a-half to a new village church that has just been recently planted.  David shared that, when he plants churches, they are given tents/huts for one year to see if they can become established before building a new, permanent facility.  We went there, as instructed, with a plan for about an hour-long program, yet as we are daily finding out...nothing...NOTHING will ever go as we've planned on mission in India.  But this is a good thing because all that God is doing that is blowing our minds wasn't even in our "plans".  We step off the bus expecting to do some songs,  some skits and a brief message, only to find out that there were two new converts of Hinduism (Immanuel and Sarah - their new "Christian" names  they took on upon conversion) who wanted to be baptized at the river where we were.  David asked Tim to do the baptisms and Tim had the honor of taking these two new brothers and sisters into the water and we watched them share in the baptism of Jesus together.  It was beautiful.

So then, thinking we were going to move into the program, David informs us that not only is this church brand new, but it hadn't even been dedicated yet and we were there to take part in that dedication.  With everyone gathered around this brand new hut/tent, Bob and Lee had the privilege of blessing and dedicating the new church in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Totally unplanned.  Totally unexpected.  A totally beautiful night.  And THEN we got to a few songs and a skit.  It was an amazing night of fellowship, celebration and ministry.

So, we're back at David's condo, all about ready to crash.  But we wanted to share with you, our partners in this, the ministry doors that God is opening.  We are so excited about tomorrow.  Tomorrow, for the first time, we will be heading into the villages to spend an extended amount of time with the village churches and the villagers themselves.  We will also be spending some time in the Ministry Center that David runs and we're looking forward to that as well.  Tomorrow, along with some of our regular "program" routine, we'll be having one-on-one/group time with some village children and their families.  David said the spiritual makeup is about 50/50 - so we are praying for many evangelistic contacts.  We'll be making use of the Evange-cubes and salvation bracelets - resources completely sponsored by the financial gifts you've given to this mission.  Again, thank you.

Before wrapping out with the prayer needs, I have two specific requests that we need you to join with us in prayer about.  First, and most importantly, Sandra Kelley has been running a bit of a fever since we've gotten into Chennai, but it hasn't stopped her from giving her very best and being used by God.  However, tonight, she was not able to participate because she's not been able to shake this thing that's causing her pain.  Would you please take a moment (or more) and lift up some prayers for healing?  Along those lines, I ask that you would pray for me in a similar way.  I had been fighting congestion since our departure on Monday, but it has now rendered me entirely voice-less.  I can hardly whisper enough to communicate.  I appreciate God 1) providing other people who can cover for my lack of singing and leading the singing and 2) allowing me to still participate in worship by playing the guitar.  But, while this may sound like Heaven to most of you (me not speaking), it really has been pretty frustrating/heart-breaking for me today as I tried to interact with the children.  So many came up today to ask my name or begin a conversation and had to whisper my answer as loud as could, which resulted in a number of "Weirdo" looks followed by the kids walking away.  So, if you don't mind, please lift up this request. Currently I'm in no pain at all - I just have this stupid junk on my throat and I can't talk at all.  I appreciate your encouragement and support so much and I look forward to God allowing this to be gone.

With that, onto the prayer requests.  Please pray with us:
  1.  A prayer of praise for the amazing opportunities He's giving to us
  2.  For continued energy and enthusiasm.  The long days and oppressive heat/humidity is draining all of us, and we're only heading into Day Four of Twelve.
  3.  For sensitivity to know who needs a personal touch tomorrow in the villages and who needs to hear the Gospel of Christ
  4.  BOLDLY for some lives to be changed by Jesus tomorrow.

We miss all of you and again, thank you so much for your support.  Looking forward to another day of God's blessings!  See you tomorrow, Bloggiverse.

Not sweating it,

-Jeff