The Indian Adventure Continues...And Comes to an End

To all of the good folks around the world,

Team India/Nepal has arrived back in Australia.

It’s amazing how a place that once felt so foreign can feel so much like home. Familiar beds. Familiar toilets. Familiar food. Familiar Faces.

Home.

It has been a huge blessing to be back on the Coast, to meet all of the other teams, to share stories, and to share memories. God used us in mighty ways to bless the nations, and it has been a joy to celebrate what He has done together.

Team India/Nepal has much to rejoice about. The last two weeks of ministry flew by in a fury and was such a blessing for us.

With that, I present to you highlights of the last few weeks.

One of the evening ministries was an invitation to speak at Seven Hills College of Nursing. The school is a nursing specific, girls’ college in the middle of the city.  We had the privilege to share at one of their prayer meetings. There were 70-80 students who were able to attend. We performed many of our dramas, and Naomi and Line shared testimonies and stories.  The night really set itself up well to see a response, but we weren’t sure what to expect. But God had much bigger expectations. Soon one girl was standing. Then another. Then another. And another. By the end of the night, around 15 accepted Christ, many recommitted their lives to Christ, and lots came forward for prayer. We were so richly blessed by the way God moved through the students and the fruit that we were able to see.

The team had the special privilege to visit an orphanage in Kakinada, which was a two hour train ride from Vizag, for a couple days. This orphanage was especially special because Kyle’s sister Shannon is a supporter of the orphanage and regularly visits.

We weren’t really sure what to expect, as we weren’t told much. So even as we walked up the four flights of stairs, we didn’t know what we were in store for; thirty, forty kids maybe, do some dramas, play a couple games. Easy stuff.

Boy were we wrong.

We rocked up to the top floor to 600 kids welcoming us by song and throwing flower petals. 600 KIDS!!! It was so overwhelming to see all of them, but such a huge blessing as well. Most of the ministry at the orphanage consisted of helping feed the children. All 600 would sit lined up on the floor, and we would come around with buckets of rice, curry, and dal (We soon found this to be quite the workout. Hold a bucket. Squat. Spoon. Repeat 600x).

This was such a great time for us to help the staff (who we found out were all volunteers and change every week) and to personally interact with kids.

One of the evenings we had the opportunity to do a program. We shared skits, songs, and games. One of the things we found that Indians love to do is dance. So we danced, danced, danced. So much fun to just laugh, play, and be a kid with the kids.

Before and throughout outreach, we have been praying for a prision. We prayed for an opportunity, an open door, and open hearts. The opportunity was never a sure thing, as it is usually very difficult to get in. Yet we prayed with great expectancy. God heard our prayer!!!

The last Saturday of outreach, we had the privilege to visit and share at a prison nearly 40 km from the base. This was again another instance where we weren’t at all sure what to expect. We didn’t know conditions. We didn’t know how long we would get. We didn’t know how open they would be. We knew nothing.

Our expectations were blown out of the water. We had open doors (We were the first ministry to be allowed in). Clean, open conditions. An hour and a half to speak. Nearly 50 captive listeners. And 60 mangoes for gifts. It was so sick.

This was a ministry that was laid heavily on Kyle’s heart, and he did a great job preparing and sharing his testimony (a story not unlike their own). We also shared Savior, Liquid, and Set Me Free dramas. After, we got the opportunity to pray and speak with the prisoners. It was such an amazing time. An amazing time to just listen. To love. And to care. They were so appreciative of us taking the time to visit them. So freaking cool.

Some sweet sidenotes (They weren’t actually sidenotes. More like freaking awesome exclamation points):

FLEUR CAME TO VISIT. The last week of outreach, Fleur, one of our DTS staff who now serves in Chennai, and one of our friends from the Coast, Brittany Cash, who has been doing medical missions in the north of India, surprised us the last week. It was such a pleasure to catch up and also have them along for ministry. They really brought a lot of energy for that last week.

The last week, God really invited us along for a journey. In one of the government villages that we visited, Phil, Fredrik, and Kyle visited a man in his home. The elderly man had previously suffered a stroke and it left the left side of his body paralyzed.  Our team had the chance to pray and bless the man and his family. After, the man shared some of his story.

The man has been a believer for some time and wanted to be baptized. But the day he was to be baptized, he suffered the stroke.  Boom….Enter Team India/Nepal. It was such a sweet opportunity for some of our team to be involved in. They were able to speak and share, baptize, and celebrate with this man who was so evidently in love with Jesus. His face was immediately washed with joy. Glory to God!!!

And that brings us back to Oz.

God has been so good to us over the last 2 months.

He personally met each of us, teaching us more about Himself. That He is the first and the last. The beginning and the end. The future and the past.

He invited us along for an adventure with Him. Using us in mighty and beautiful ways to bless the nations of India and Nepal.

I think we would all agree that this has been the hardest and most challenging experience of our life. But I don’t think any of us would change a thing.

There are so many stories. So many memories. And so many things to celebrate.

God has been good. And always will be.

Thanks for following along with us as we pursued and shared Christ in the nations of India and Nepal. This adventure would not have been possible without all of your support and prayer.

It has been a wild ride.

Cheers,

Team India/Nepal 2014

 P.S. Shoutout to Kathryn's Mom for reading the blog

India Update

(Original post for June 4th)

We are still alive….I promise!!!

I apologize for leaving so many of you hanging these last few weeks. We arrived at the YWAM Vizag base late Saturday, May 26th, and swiftly began ministry Sunday morning.

So without further ado….A brief update on the last two and a half weeks.

First off, we were surprised as we landed in New Delhi. Our leaders, Phil and Moira, surprised us by booking a hotel for three days and visiting the Taj Mahal. WHAT!!! Many of us never imagined that we would have the opportunity to visit this palace (technically a memorial to the queen). It was breathtakingly beautiful, such an amazing experience. This was a great time for the team to rest and relax after our time in Nepal, and to gear up for our time in India.

Let me start the India phase by first giving praise to the staff at YWAM Vizag. They have so graciously housed us, fed us amazing food, led us into ministry, translated sermons and messages, worshipped with us, prayed with us, and laughed with us. We have been so blessed by their hospitality and their friendship. They have made it such a joy to be in India (except for the insane 40+ celsius heat….but they can’t do much about that).

The Vizag staff have done such a wonderful job of setting up ministry for us. In Nepal it was often a fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants in terms of what ministry we were going to do that day (Not a bad thing, but sometimes we just weren't sure what God had in store for us). Here in Vizag, we have had scheduled morning and late afternoon ministry. These have included base worship and intercession, feeding ministry, orphanage programs, slum ministries, hospital prayer visits, church visits, and open air evangelism. It’s been great to get a glimpse of different ministries and see the team’s various strengths shine through; to see the body be the body. 

So much has happened that I don’t know if we can give you a completely detailed overview on the last two and a half weeks, but we would love to share with you some highlights.

One of the highlights was a visit to a juvenile girls home. This is a government run facility that takes girls off the streets and out of the slums. Our contacts make regular visits to the home, and we were privileged to have the opportunity to join them.

The home housed 50-60 girls, some just toddlers and others in their late teens and early 20’s. With this being an all girls home, we had our girls lead the program and speak. We shared with them a skit based on the Wedding Feast parable and the Liquid drama. After, Catie shared her testimony and about the love of our Heavenly Father. It so dearly touched many of their hearts, as many, if not all, were fatherless. The girls got the opportunity to speak with many as they came up for prayer and to receive Jesus. Praise the Lord!!!

On Sundays, we have done church visits. We come and share an encouraging message for the congregation, and maybe even lead some worship and do a skit or two. This previous Sunday we visited a church that was nearly 30 km from the base, and at 7:30 am (Nothing says good morning like a 5:30 wake up call). It was an awesome church for us to share in (it had fans, A/C, and it was the biggest congregation we have shared with to date...Hallelujah). We shared with them the Savior drama and Catie shared an awesome message on God being our strength.

After, the church shared with us a wonderful breakfast/brunch and took us to one of their slum church plants. We rock up to a gathering of 20 people under a tree, and they immediately ask us to share a message (Welcome to ministry in India). Zach shared with the congregation an impromptu message on God’s goodness.

Swiftly after the service ended, they rushed us off to yet another church. This church was in a small building with nearly 80 people packed shoulder to shoulder (and really, really hot). Phil shared a message based on the Prodigal Son.

Later that night, we visited a youth service at Christ’s Church. This was a really fun night as we got the opportunity to lead worship, share with them a couple skits, and Line shared on God’s Lordship and Kyle shared his testimony.

Recently, we did our first big open air (we have been doing open airs, but this was our first big venue) at RK Beach. In the evening, thousands come and take in the cool, sea breeze and the relaxing view, making for an easy crowd.

We rocked up and immediately caught the attention of the beach crowd (white people have a tendency to do that here). Right off the bat, we shared the Savior and Set Me Free dramas. Catie shared the Gospel and Line shared her testimony. Many were curious and stayed, and others were completely disinterested and immediately left. We were so grateful for the many who stayed. The team got the opportunity to chat, challenge, and pray for many.

One bit of a side note from this ministry. During our sharing, Riley and one of our contacts had the opportunity to talk with a journalist. He was asking a lot of questions, wondering what we were doing here and what not. They spoke to him with a lot of grace and didn’t think much of it. The next morning at breakfast, we found our picture performing a drama in The Times of India, a publication that millions see daily. Glory to God in the Highest!!!

So that is a glimpse into our ministry during our time in Vizag. We have 2 weeks left before we head back to Australia on June 18th, and are looking forward to every minute that we have here.

Prayer Requests:

• Boldness and courage
• Big faith
• Jesus. Only Jesus. More of Jesus.
• Complete dependency on Him
• To finish strong.

Look for a final update in the coming weeks.

Until then….

Cheers,

Team India/Nepal 2014

 Government village near Vizag

 View of the Port

 Feeding and Prayer Ministry

Christ's Church Youth Service

Saviour Drama in a village