You're Going To Want To See This!

Most Excellent India Team Veterans, Team Members and Friends!  We have been working for a few months to build and structure something that we think will both answer a recurrent desire as well as be a lot of fun, so i wanted to tell you about it.

Starting this month (October), you will have the opportunity to subscribe to our brand new India Team eNewsletter!  It will be a monthly (or thereabouts) publication that will be delivered straight to your Inbox, and will give you all sorts of nifty information about the following:

* Upcoming teams and recruiting.
* Things that the India Core Team is trying to figure out (and would like your input).
* Things that are going on in India (with Raj and family, Kalavai, church planters, etc).
* Veteran celebrations, events and opportunities.
* Updates from India Teams that are currently on the field.
* Links to other blog posts, sites or important or current events related to India and what's going on there.
* Stuff that I or other people think of that we think would be helpful or useful (including guest posts from Rob Wegner, Raj, the India Core Team and President Obama... um... or maybe not that last one, but still, people you will want to hear from).

The eNewsletter is being compiled by our very own Amanda Harris (who, did you know by the way, IS my sister-in-law!), who is a design and communications guru, so we can't wait for you to see it!  We'd also love your feedback if you have any, so please let us know what you think.

Finally, if you actually don't want the eNews for some reason (i'm guessing that the only reason you wouldn't want it is because... um... well... okay, honestly, i can't think of any reasons why you wouldn't want it), just let us know and we'll remove you from the list and subscribe your e-mail to spam generators and pharmaceutical sales lists.  Or maybe we'll just respect your request and not send it to you any more, but it sounds like a really really awful threat, doesn't it?

We hope that you will enjoy this, and that you will feel more connected to what's going on, what's coming up and what you can do to continue to pray, participate and ptalk with each other (i couldn't think of anything else that started with "p", so just made it work).

In the mean time, know that we love you, are grateful for your continued desire to engage and pray for the people in India that we all love so much!

All for One!
- Jack and the India Core Team

Hi everyone!

We made it! Thank you for all your prayers for safe travels; we made it to Kalavai without a hitch. The flights were long but good friends (we have a great team!) and a long list of movies to choose from made it fly by (pun intended). One of the movies I watched was “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. What a perfect movie for a trip to India. It is about a group of (for lack of a better word) old people, who take a trip to India, each for their own reasons. Besides some hilarious scenes and moving storylines, I found that this movie effectively captured all the sights and sounds of India as it appears to a newcomer. It also provided several examples of how different people respond to this incredible place. One of the characters described it well when she said “there is no other place that can put quite an assault on all of your senses.” Truer words were never spoken. But I can say that, as this is my second time around, I am finding it much easier to adapt. This character also said that being in India is like a wave – if you try to resist it, it will knock you down. So the only way to survive is to ride the wave. 

                So skipping ahead… Our arrival in the village was met with a very similar greeting as last time, except this time was 10 times better because I knew everyone! We were able to greet each other by name, grinning ear to ear, and give happy hugs because we are able to see each other once more. There were so many people whom I had developed friendships with and were eager to see but there were two little guys that I had my eye out for. Sakthivel and Vignesh are brothers who became my buds last trip and are the ones pictured on my facebook homepage. I was thrilled when they not only remembered me, but called me by name. It made me feel like I really was important to them, just as they are to me.

                It’s the smiling faces of my boys and all the rest of the village that have given me the courage to “ride the wave” this week and see what God has in store for us. Please continue to pray for the team! Especially for me and the mosquitoes!! One day in and lots of bugspray and still two bugs have managed to make an attack. I pray those are the first and last ones I get on this trip!! Haha

                                                                                                                With lots of love,

                                                                                                                                Victoria

Dancing, Pomegranates, and the Father’s Love…

Greetings from Kalavai!!!  We made it to the village safe and sound.  It’s been a different kind of experience this time around coming straight to the village but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  When we got to the village, we had our standard overwhelming welcome filled with hugs, kisses, tears, and of course… fireworks.  This was followed by a tour of the village that ended with us dancing in the streets with the people from the village (especially the kids) for HOURS.  Three hours of dancing in India and no injuries for me…  haha…  We ended the night eating as a team and sharing what our most memorable thing that has happened so far.  Mine by far was Sandia reaching for me to pick her up and hold her and dancing with me for a good two hours.  Anyone who knows me at all knows how much this little girl has captured my heart.   

On the way to the village we stopped and Prema got us some Pomegranates.  She said they were good for your heart.  She told me to take 2 helpings because I have a weak heart because sometimes I cry.  I  told her that the pomegranates aren’t going to help.  Those tears come from a place deep in my heart.  Sometimes the tears I cry are tears of sorrow and sometimes tears of pure joy.  Sandia has had a place in my heart since I set foot in this village a few years ago, but she’s always been slightly unsure of me.  Her reaching out to me filled me with so much joy that I can’t even begin to describe it.  When she opened her arms to me and it absolutely melted my heart.

Sandia reaching for me made me think of how God must feel when we turn to Him.  I think of my own faith journey and the fact that, like Sandia has been with me in the past, I was reluctant to open myself up to the Father’s love.  I wasn’t sure what to think of Him.  When Sandia reached for me it made me think of how God aches for us to reach for Him.  He doesn’t need us, but He loves us and wants to show us that.  When we are reluctant to reach for him, or even afraid to, it must hurt Him.  But then the joy He feels when we reach out to Him must be indescribable.  I love this people…  I want them to know the Father’s love like I have.  Thank You, God for loving me enough to let me be a part of this story!

Posted by Jennifer Archer

August 2012 India Team

The August India Team is officially in route to India!  They left GCC at 3:15 p.m. today and are currently in Chicago, waiting to board their flight to India.  Please keep the team of 12 in your prayers as they travel and as they serve as the hands and feet of Jesus in India.  Here's a list of everyone on the team:

-Jen Archer

-Heather Chezem (Team Leader)

-Melinda Chisholm

-Dennis Dudycha

-Joyce Dudycha

-Amanda Harris

-Julie LaFleur

-Rick Immel

-Victoria Kay

-Greg Schermier (Team Leader)

-Dale Shafer

-Rachele Whitlow

The team will be focusing on Construction, Conversational English, and Community Meetings.  

(Below is an overview from Rob Wegner regarding what the team will be doing)

Construction

While here at home, the people of Granger are building a natural playground to offer the community, our team will be BUILDING A PLAYGROUND IN KALAVAI. Is that cool or what? Many of the kids have never even seen a playground, let alone played on one. They’re going to feel like the Magic Kingdom has been built in their backyard. But, it’s even better Kingdom that’s truly advancing! The team will also be finishing an apartment (an addition we’re adding as a second floor to the community center we already have built) for our church planters in the village.

Conversational English

While Hindi is the official language of India, English is the preferred language for trade, commerce, business and education. In India, children who cannot speak English with a reasonably high level of proficiency are relegated to jobs that earn less than a livable wage, and are unable to achieve a higher standard of living for their families, thus perpetuating cycles of poverty and hopelessness. The goal of our Conversational English Team is to change that.

Community Meetings

In the afternoons, the entire village will gather with the team to explore two topics through the week: Our Identity in Christ and Overcoming Fear. There will be separate tracks for adults and kids.

It Ain't Over Yet

We are all home now, and reflecting on all that God did in our lives, and in the lives of the people of Kalavai Irular Colony. Many things didn't go "right": illness, getting bumped from flights, DVD sound tracks or skips, leaving materials behind, and then having to find them in India, activities that didn't work out, and the list goes on.

But, through it all, we saw that God was committed to accomplishing His purpose in this community! The people responded above and beyond our expectations, and really know that we love them, and that God loves them. The joy they experienced was explained clearly as from God, not us. You can see some of the joy on this video that Bruce put together:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXpHogJtCHE

The barriers are coming down!

I would like to introduce you to the couple that have committed to being missionaries to this village, Jeyan and Jensie. They have been in the village a couple months, and have clearly made inroads. They seem to be well accepted by the people. And they are solid Christ-followers. They are an answer to prayer, and our responsibility now is to continue to pray for them.

Pray for their marriage and family.

Pray for their relationship with God.

Pray for the encouragement of other believers.

Pray for effective witness and ministry.

Pray for their ability to disciple the people of the village who come to know Him.

We cannot let up. Satan won't.

Jim Blechl

One Life...

Well, it's 12:30 am and I've been home for a few hours. I got a decent nap and now that I'm awake, my head is spinning with a million thoughts and emotions stemming from this trip. So I figured I would blog since I didn't get much of a chance to do so while in India. As I lay here, re-living as much of the trip in my head as humanly possible I'm trying to think of how I can possibly convey what just happened to those who will want to hear about it. It's virtually impossible to break these kinds of trips down into a short story.

One thing that was said during our morning devotions has stuck with me throughout the trip though and that's what I've chosen to blog about. One morning, Jay (one of my teammates) pointed out a person whose life was influenced by a Christ follower years ago. And then how that person had influenced many others... and those many others and influenced even more. One of those people was his mother... and the impact was passed on an on. I spent a lot of the rest of the week reflecting on how much impact we can have on the world if we can focus on changing just one life. Showing one person the love of Christ over a matter of time can have such a ripple effect that it can change the world. And it will... the Bible declares that one day every tribe, every nation, and every tongue will declare that Christ is Lord... and I believe it. In a matter of a year I have seen a village completely transformed. The transformation started long before I started coming to Kalivai, but I have had the honor of being there 3 times within the last 12 months and the rate of transformation in this village absolutely blows me away. And it all started with a little old woman named Miss Lily. The first and at one time, only Christian in the village. I nearly cried when we were in our small groups discussing who was the first person to show them what the love of Christ looked like and one of the men pointed to Miss Lily. To see these people expressing such joy and to hear them talking about Christ in ways I've never heard before was so humbling. To think that God has blessed me so that I could be a part of it... to even witness it... words can't express how this makes me feel. But it didn't stop with Lily... and it doesn't stop with us. Impacting one life is important... Showing one person what the love of Christ looks like is crucial but set your goals higher... I know I'm going to. But know... that if you can impact just one life... it may just change the world.

Jennifer

Lost Sheep

Yes, that is the entire village young and old about to take part in a village-wide game of Lost Sheep. A member from each team was chosen to be a lost sheep that would hide somewhere in the "village". Well, after several minutes of people scattered and searching throughout the entire village, 3 teams had found their sheep. Mine had not and we enlisted the other teams to help us find the 2 remaining sheep. It was starting to get dark when one of the teams had found their lost sheep (a boy hiding in a drainage duct which was barely big enough for a ground hog). Unfortunately, my team's sheep was still lost. We had more activities for the night and we were about to give up when my team had spotted some crows circling by a tree outside the village. They investigated and found Srivashem, an older gentleman who decided to have some fun, stretch the rules a bit, and go outside the boundaries for the game. Needless to say their was much excitement when he was brought into KC3 (the community center). The parallels in this game with the parable of the lost sheep were endless and Raj did a great job of leading the people to discover them. Much growth had been taken place in this village prior to our arrival and we are having a blast as God continues to build His Kingdom in Kalavai!

Bob VonGunten

Engaged!

No, not Barb and I. We're married. The people of the village have been fully engaged in the program. They are dancing, singing, laughing, talking, listening, running all over the village playing games, and age has no bearing. Anyone old enough to walk is involved. Yesterday, I jogged down one of the streets with Kuppu, looking for someone who had hidden within the village, and we were all looking for her. She is the elderly widow I tweeted as one of my teammates, and she had to stop running, because she was giggling so hard! During the Narnia movie last night, when Edmond approached the castle and the wolf jumped up at him suddenly, I was looking across the room at the people, and they collectively jumped six inches from a sitting position. When the team was acting out the story of Zacchaeus yesterday, they were totally engrossed. I've never seen them so involved!

Visitng friends

We went to people's houses in our own group today by an exercise called a trust walk. One person is blindfolded and walks to the next house, giving others in the group a chance to lead the person with instructions, to keep her safe, and get her to the correct location. The blindfolded person feels feelings of fear or trust, and talking that out afterward helps us to understand our feelings toward other people, including God.

When we arrived at the homes, we were amazed at the stories of the peo.ple, who welcomed us in, and told us their stories, and frequently asked f0r prayer. It was a time of bonding, letting them know that we love them and that their lives matter to us and to God. They were quite moved by our interest in their lives and homes.

Things are going so well, that the team wants to stay thru the rest day, and continue to work in the village. Occupy Kalavai movement? Where have I heard that before? We will take out rest day, tbough, as it is vital to maintain the high level of functioning, and a strong close on Friday.

Vannakum from India (Monday)

Day two in the village is well under way. We are “taking rest” right now so I figured it would be a great time to update everyone on how it’s going. Yesterday when we got off of the bus we were welcomed in the standard fashion… lots of hugs and kisses… garland and firecrackers. Seeing familiar faces was great… but there’s something special about seeing someone that you connected with on the last trip and seeing their face light up when they see you. For those of you who know me… one of my “sisters” in the village and a woman who has changed my whole perspective in life is Shanti. When she saw me get off of the bus her face lit up and she erupted into tears… followed by about 20 kisses… more tears and hugs. I love this woman. I can only imagine how everyone else felt stepping off of the bus… veterans and new team members. These people overwhelm you with love. So the rest of the night was filled with much dancing… we had a new year’s giving tree and watched part of Chronicles of Narnia. Today has been much, much more singing and dancing followed by games to help us get to know the names of the village people that we have teamed up with for the week. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us. I am so grateful that God has called me to show these people that they are loved and that they matter to Him. I am going to do my best to help them realize that truth. Well, we have much more to do so I’m off for now… God Bless!

Jennifer

Tim's Tuesday Post

My first impression of the Indian people made me believe that no joy could be found in such defeated faces. A wall of rugged, worn and weathered facial expressions confronted the view that I crossed the ocean to find--one of the image of the creator of Indians and Americans, Heaven and Earth, and all that exists that is good in it. God has shown me yet again that His word is true: “you will seek me and find me if you seek me with all of your heart.” I’ll be honest, God has not made us work too hard to see those stone faces concealing the work of His hands crumble.

I have witnessed what I initially believed to be stone faces of society shunned children of the King dance and sing--those faces shattered by innate joy too spontaneous, too beautiful, too heart piercing to be man made.

Being made in the image of God means that in all of us is "that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us" in the first place--the qualities and characteristics of our Father in Heaven. The joy I have seen today in the Dalit people here in Kalavai, India is my Father's joy.

I want to thank God for leading GCC to this place, and the teams that have gone before us that made it possible for myself and my other 14 brothers and sisters in Christ on this team to be a part of the longest "Little Sally Walker"game I have ever been a part of. Thank you for preparing the hearts behind stone wall faces to shine the joy of their creator upon us today. I have never experienced hugs or smiles coming so fresh from their source. GCC and all its members have blessed these people who are in-turn, with this team as witnesses, sharing "the well" in return. Yes, in Kalavai, India the river runs deep and its people are baring much fruit--I only hope we can make this clear to them, as I do not know that they fully understand it yet.

Unique creations

One of the things we did Monday was water paint on coffee filters. Each person made something that God had created, and then told what it was and why they chose that one to paint. We asked them how they felt about what they'd made, and wanted them to begin to see how God felt about them. There is a lot of artistic talent in this village!

Great start!

Our program this trip is using games, songs, crafts, and exercises from the Springhill Camp program, mixed with bible stories from the Jesus Storybook Bible, the movie "The Lion, the Witch, the Wardrobe", from the Chronicles of Narnia, and the Jesus movie (both of the movies are in Tamil). The people are divided into 5 teams, by colors and animals. I am a member of the yellow team, and our animal is the crow. There are 3 GCC team members on each of the teams, and one of the Springhill Camp leaders is on each of 4 teams, with the 5th led by Alison, who has camp experience, and has jumped right into her role. Of the roughly 150 people of the village, we have 80-100 participating!

We started the week on Sunday evening with introductions, part of the Narnia movie to pique their interest, and a gift tree (in photo) to celebrate the New Year. We distributed blankets to each household, and that was a big hit. The people were so grateful, as many of them don't have anything but their clothing and a mat to sleep on, if they have that. The nights at this time of year dip below 60 degrees, and their "furnace", which is very effective during the day, never

comes on at night!

We sat with the people as we watched the movie, and a slideshow of pictures from the previous team visits, including some great music videos from the August team.

We took turns passing out the gifts and the blankets (stacked against the wall in the background of the picture). It was fun to use the community center (KC3) for its purpose: community!