This one is personal...

In most of my posts I've tried to speak for the team & just keep everyone updated regarding what we've been up to. This one is personal...

I have made a very special connection with a little girl in the village over the last few years of coming here. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I've thought of this little girl every day since I met her on December 29th of 2010. She holds my heart in the palm of her tiny little hand... I fell in love with Sandia the moment I laid eyes on her, but it took her a while to warm up to me. Yesterday as we got off of the bus in Kalavai I felt an unspeakable amount of joy as she ran across the yard & literally lept into my arms.

I know that it is time for us to leave this village. There are other places that we have been called to go. And I'm confident that these people are capable of having better lives and they don't need us anymore. Truth is, they never really did. They needed to know about Christ's love & that they matter enough that they no longer need to be referred to as "the people of darkness". They know that now... I get that... but it sure doesn't make goodbye any easier.

I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of this story. To some people its just a tiny insignificant village half a world away. But for me, this has been the place where I allowed God into the deepest parts of my heart and was able to allow God to use me to transform lives. I have formed my deepest friendships right here in this tiny village, and not just with the villagers but I have also gotten to know some really amazing people from church & formed feiendships that I will cherrish for the rest of my life. All of that while being in the middle of SIGNIFICANT change for the Kingdom of Christ. There was 1 Christ follower in this village of about 150 people. Now there are around 60. And I would have to say that those who haven't given their lives to Christ at least know that their lives matter.

And to me, when I look into the eyes of this little girl that I love so much, every bit of what I feel about this place is embodied in those coal black eyes & sparkling white smile. I see Sandia & I see joy. I see love. But most of all I see hope...

jenarcher

A Day of Rest

The team is all checked into the hotel for a well deserved day of rest.  Yesterday we worked on the 2 homes a little more & in the evening we did some more activities with the kids teaching them about health & hygiene as the group that worked with the adults helped cook a HUGE community meal. At the end of the night we all sat down for the feast & spent sometime talking with the locals. Melinda, Lea, and I spent our time talking with some of the college aged girls about what we eat in America & just getting to know eaxh other. Good times. I'm ready for a little down time and even more ready to see my friends in Kalavai tomorrow.

Be blessed...
jenarcher

building homes and learning names

Hey everyone!
This trip has been a whirlwind so far and its only day 2 in Koti. We have spent our mornings constructing two homes in the village. One home we're putting the finishing touches of paint on and the other we have seen go up from the broken brick foundation to the corregated rooftop. Its impressive what can be done in two days in this place :)
Last evening was our first evening of hygiene training with the kids! We divided into teams and spent two hours teaching them about the purposes of proper hand washing and nutrition. The kids are so fun and extremely smart!!! :) We're currently setting up for round two of an express tour of hygiene and nutrition... this time our focus is going to be on wearing shoes and understanding why its important to wear shoes :) the evening will conclude with a skit that the kids will preform in front of their parents on how germs are spread!  A big shout out to Jay and  the rest of the D east springhill team!!! We're using a LUNCH TIME SKIT! WHAT!? Haha
Keep up the prayers friends!
-Allison

Quick Update

It's Tuesday morning & the team is off to do more construction on the two homes we are helping to build. Yesterday was a busy but fruitful day as the team spent the morning helping move bricks for the masons that are working on one home & we also white washed the second home that we are helping with. In the evening we did the health & hygeine programming for the adults & kids. All of it seemed to go very well. Continued prayers for the team appreciated. Thanks & God bless!

jenarcher

A Day in Koti

Today we had the honor of spending the morning at one of Pastor Anbuvanan's churches. It is always very humbling for me witness the way the Indian people worship. Every team member was presented with a beautiful shaul as a token of the village's appreciation for our visit. Then each of us got up and shared a short story about our lives and a Bible verse that relatedo to our story. With some of theses people being illiterate, hearing the gospel through stories they can relate to may be rhe ONLY way they hear the Word. I'm sure I speak for the whole team when I say it was a privelage to be able to do this... and very humbling.  We were then also, able to edify Pastor Anbuvanan during our testimonies.
After church we walked the village, spent some time with the people, were able to see the completed homes from the last team's trip & the homes that we will be doing constriction on over the next 2 days. What a great opportunity to be the hands & feet of Christ!

Humbly yours,
jenarcher

Ready to go!

Hey all! I'm sure most of you have seen our individual Facebook posts but just wanted to check in on here. We landed safe in Chennai early this morning & will be headed to Koti tomorrow morning to give our testimonies before a church there & will spend the afternoon/evening getting to know our new friends.  I'm ready for this new adventure to start. Thanks for all of your prayers! Keep 'em coming!

Be blessed
jenarcher

July India Team 2013

This is Jeanna Tarwacki, Project Manager for the Life Mission Department here at Granger Community Church....I am not on my way to India but the following 8 individuals are:
1.  Jack Magruder
2.  Gene Ort
3.  Jen Archer
4.  Melinda Chisholm
5.  Sandra Morris
6.  Lea Madaras
7.  Allison Zandarski
8.  Seth Lohr
Please keep them in your prayers as they come alongside our friends in India, to continue to bring God's Kingdom to Earth with everyone they come into contact with...

It's going to be an incredible journey!!

They'll be landing in Chennai in a couple of hours and will post new pictures and information in the coming days.