January 2007 Team Letters and Photos
Thursday, January 11
Dear Friends,
Greetings in Jesus’ name from Orphans Faith Home (OFH) in Andhra Pradesh, India. The team has experienced a variety of new experiences that has touched our hearts and changed us.
After heart felt good-byes with Pastor Isaac of India Abundant Ministries, the team traveled by day train from IAM to OFH on Monday, January 8. We were met at the train station by Gideon and David Samuel from OFH. Porters laded themselves down with our luggage and carried it through the train station, up and down stairs. They had as much as 100 pounds of luggage on their heads plus whatever they could hang off their shoulders.
When we arrived at Orphans Faith Home, Pastor Babu and his family were there to greet us at the entrance. The children lined the drive of the compound and greeted us with singing as we walked up to the main buildings on the campus. Such joyous, happy faces!
On Tuesday, we traveled to a nearby village for a church dedication. Shortly after entering the village, we were met by a huge crowd of people from the church and village. In addition, there was a troupe of dancing drummers and a group of musicians. We paraded through the village streets with joyous music and dancing on our way to the church. It was an amazing celebration!
Dancing drummers and musicians enliven a church dedication
Team member Neil writes: I was involved in a church dedication. Amazing! A parade through the village, led by a guy lighting bottle rockets and M100s. Then a cool drum group, then a marching band. At one point 2 bulls pulling a cart stampeded and took out the cart holding the sound system! I think that was GOD 'cause it was WAY too loud. I got to pray for the offering and close the meeting."
Mike and Sally were honored with the opportunity to dedicate the church, unveiling the dedication plaque and cutting the ribbon across the doorway. Each of the team members spoke words of encouragement and offered prayers for the church.
Mike and Sally were honored to dedicate the church
Many local government officials were also in attendance. Before the church building was finished, it was used as a place of refuge during the monsoon floods last fall. 300 villagers stayed in the church building—and on the roof!—for five days during the rains. The village officials already see the church building as a place for the community, not just the members of the church!
After the ceremony was over, the pastor of the church brought forward the widows of the church for prayers. We felt deep compassion for these widows who have been cast out of their families because they have become Christians. They are left to beg from door to door, depending upon the generosity of others for their daily bread. In spite of these circumstances, their faith remains strong and there is peace in their eyes. Please keep these women in your prayers.
We returned to Orphans Faith Home shortly before dinner was served to the children. Dinner wasn’t quite ready yet, so we had the opportunity to talk with some of the girls at the orphanage. Sally brought storybooks with her and encouraged 10th grade girls to read the books aloud to the younger children. They were good readers and the smiles on their faces were infectious. Then the dinner bell rang. There were huge pots of rice that were cooked over an open fire, a main course and a soup for their meal. Sally and I were blessed with the chance to help serve dinner to the boys. After dinner we listened to the children’s prayers and songs of praise before they headed into their rooms to study before bedtime.
Sally and Donna were blessed to help serve dinner to the boys
On Wednesday, January 10, we traveled two hours by car to take a ferry to a river island for another church dedication. We were greeted with flower garlands and the village street was lined with church members who showered us with flower petals as we walked to the church. I was honored to dedicate this church, to unveil the plaque and cut the ribbon of the doorway.
Donna was honored to dedicate this church
We all entered the church and each team member offered a prayer for the church. Then we moved to the second story of the church and Neil dedicated it and cut the ribbon at the entrance. The second story of the church will be used for a school, beginning with kindergarten. Currently, the children who do go to school must take the ferry to the mainland for school each day.
The team awaits the ferry back to the mainland.
L to R: Daniel, Neil, Mike, Sally, Donna, Vijayasree, Pastor Babu
As before, several local leaders were in attendance and honored during the dedication. Each of the team members offered words of encouragement and prayers for the church and the congregation. After the ceremonies were over, there were many who came up to us for prayers. The needs for healing are many and we prayed as God led us.
After a wonderful lunch prepared there, we were invited to another pastor’s home for tea before making the return trip to Orphans Faith Home. It was an honor to be so welcomed.
The words I write cannot fully express everything we are experiencing here. I am so grateful that Neil is on the team video taping it all. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The video will say so much!
The team continues to experience good health for which we are thankful. We are also thankful for your continued prayers as we travel in India. May God richly bless you.
Blessings,
Donna for the team, Mike, Sally, Neil and Daniel
