Who wouldn't be encouraged to see this group of smiling faces invade their village?
You are looking at a team from Granger Community Church that is going to India after Christmas to build homes, teach about topics from health and hygiene to home repair, check blood pressures and blood sugars, and do a marriage and child-rearing seminar. They will also help the children of Kalavai to work on their English pronunciation and vocabulary.
This past weekend, we participated in one of the key training segments, called the India Simulation Weekend. During this weekend, the team slept on the floor, to simulate the discomfort and fatigue of the trip. We traveled to Little India, where we were hosted by Sunita Rodricks (front, right in picture), who mesmerized us with the story of God's work in her life. She also related how the South Asian Friendship Center reaches out to the people in that area of Chicago. We visited a Hare Krishna temple, and ate at an Indian restaurant, where the food and service were excellent.
After this cross-cultural experience, we returned to South Bend, and on Sunday worshiped together at GCC. Pastor Rob Wegner brought a message that was perfect for our team, about being sent out into the world around us to the poor, hungry, oppressed and disadvantaged. It was amazing how appropriate for our team this was. If you would like to hear it yourself, you can watch or listen to it here, titled "It's Not All Black and White": http://media.aspireone.com/mediaplayer/gccwired/?
Following this charge from Rob, we went to Feed the Children in Elkhart, where we helped them get ready for the massive distribution of food and personal care items to needy households that will occur in the next couple of months. Then a quick lunch at Mancino's, and we met back at GCC for the luggage simulation. Ted Bryant, who is leading the construction team in December, led us with full luggage on a 45-minute hike around GCC, inside, outside, up and down stairways, until we were all glad to call it a day and a weekend.
The team chemistry is outstanding! We have a great mix of seasoned veterans and energetic first-timers, and we are all excited for God to use us and work in us in India. We're about a month out, now. Please pray for us, as we celebrate holidays and make final preparations, that we will continue to stay close to Jesus, so that He will be evident in our lives, here and in India.
Launch date: December 27
Jim Blechl
