We made it!! We actually arrived yesterday evening around 4:30pm, India time, which is around 3am CST in America. We are 10 and a half hours ahead!!
We were intending to arrive earlier, but we left DFW nearly 30 minutes late, so even with our special "express connection" cards, missed our connecting flight, causing us to spend about 9 hours in London Heathrow airport, much of it spent trying to get new tickets on the same flights. Remember, there are 13 of us! We did get connecting flightS; we were diverted to Mumbai, then to Bangalore. It was actually a nice blessing because we were able to relax and spend a lot of time together as a team. We received food vouchers, so we ate a nice meal and a few of us got Starbucks. =) The remaining flights were relatively uneventful and and all of our people and luggage arrived in good condition. Praise Jesus! All told, we spent 33 hours in planes and airports. But, as mentioned, we thought it actually turned out for our benefit.
Last night, we basically divided into our rooms, ate & slept. We have 3 apartments: 1 apartment with 3 bedrooms for the 5 guys; 1 apartment with 2 bedrooms for 4 girls; and 1 apartment with 2 bedrooms for the other 4 females. Dinner was Papa Johns Pizza (not joking!) and we ate, talked, took showers and crashed.
This morning was perfectly lovely! Nice cool breezes and barely warm sun. I woke up around 6am and couldn't decide if I was well-rested or if I overslept. I listed to music and journalled, read my Bible and prayed on our little patio. It was really fantastic. I received some good words from the Lord and was able to share them with another team meber who received similar words. It was so encouraging.
Nine of us had breakfast together, then we all met up for prayer and orientation. Five of the long-term team members came: Krupa, Will, Jackie and 2 of Jackie's kids. Worship was wonderful. We received very encouraging words from an email from one of the church members and then some further encouragement from people in our little group. One of the things in the email was about the men of the group being soldiers of prayer and even though there are not many, that much could still be accomplished. It brought to mind 1 Samuel 14:6 where Jonathan and his armor bearer go out against the Philistines (and end up defeating them) but Jonathan says, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few." Good things!! Another thing from the email was for the women of the group to be stepping out to be used to heal those we meet, in body & spirit. Very awesome.
We had a great lunch at a Chili's. LOL and I sat next to one of Jackie's kids- her 8-year old son, who was entirely entertaining. I had a blast as he talked to me about soccer, school, his friends, how to play cricket, and other things. He had some very strong opinions and was pretty open about sharing them! It was hilarious.
Afterwards, we went to an evening church service where we were able to pray with some of the people who came and one of our team members shared his testimony. Two of the ladies who attend church there are in pharmacy school in Banglaore and they were so excited to meet a pharmacist from the States. It was relly cool to meet and talk and pray with them & to encrouage them as well.
Following that, we made it back to our apartments, despite the fact we had been traveling in rickshaws: the 3-person-plus-driver mini-cars without doors or seatbelts (not that anyone uses their seatbelts here anyway ;P). Our rickshaw driver on the way back tonight tried to sell one of the guys some weed... he said no thanks. craziness.
For the past 5 hours maybe we have been practicing our play and some other songs/skits we are planning to do at a juvenile detention center tomorrow. I'm excited about it; I think it looks really good and the parts that don't look very good, I believe God is going to smooth out. =) After practicing for 5 hours, we all started getting a wee bit delirious. Actually, after about 3 and half hours. But, while we still practiced, it was very comical in between and when we stopped for dinner break.
Well, my roomie has finished her shower, so I should go. Thank you for your prayers. Please be praying for our play/songs/dances/skits, etc that we are performing tomorrow and the rest of the week. Much of which got sprung on us just today! (Obviously not the play, but all the other things we only were told we needed to have/do this evening.)
Also, if you could pray my Bible is miraculously returned to me somehow; I accidentally left it at the church. I though I picked it up, but apparently not, because it is not in my satchel. :/
Thank you everyone. More about this awesome trip tomorrow. Goodnight for now. :)
Last night, we basically divided into our rooms, ate & slept. We have 3 apartments: 1 apartment with 3 bedrooms for the 5 guys; 1 apartment with 2 bedrooms for 4 girls; and 1 apartment with 2 bedrooms for the other 4 females. Dinner was Papa Johns Pizza (not joking!) and we ate, talked, took showers and crashed.
This morning was perfectly lovely! Nice cool breezes and barely warm sun. I woke up around 6am and couldn't decide if I was well-rested or if I overslept. I listed to music and journalled, read my Bible and prayed on our little patio. It was really fantastic. I received some good words from the Lord and was able to share them with another team meber who received similar words. It was so encouraging.
Nine of us had breakfast together, then we all met up for prayer and orientation. Five of the long-term team members came: Krupa, Will, Jackie and 2 of Jackie's kids. Worship was wonderful. We received very encouraging words from an email from one of the church members and then some further encouragement from people in our little group. One of the things in the email was about the men of the group being soldiers of prayer and even though there are not many, that much could still be accomplished. It brought to mind 1 Samuel 14:6 where Jonathan and his armor bearer go out against the Philistines (and end up defeating them) but Jonathan says, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few." Good things!! Another thing from the email was for the women of the group to be stepping out to be used to heal those we meet, in body & spirit. Very awesome.
Afterwards, we went to an evening church service where we were able to pray with some of the people who came and one of our team members shared his testimony. Two of the ladies who attend church there are in pharmacy school in Banglaore and they were so excited to meet a pharmacist from the States. It was relly cool to meet and talk and pray with them & to encrouage them as well.
Following that, we made it back to our apartments, despite the fact we had been traveling in rickshaws: the 3-person-plus-driver mini-cars without doors or seatbelts (not that anyone uses their seatbelts here anyway ;P). Our rickshaw driver on the way back tonight tried to sell one of the guys some weed... he said no thanks. craziness.
For the past 5 hours maybe we have been practicing our play and some other songs/skits we are planning to do at a juvenile detention center tomorrow. I'm excited about it; I think it looks really good and the parts that don't look very good, I believe God is going to smooth out. =) After practicing for 5 hours, we all started getting a wee bit delirious. Actually, after about 3 and half hours. But, while we still practiced, it was very comical in between and when we stopped for dinner break.
Well, my roomie has finished her shower, so I should go. Thank you for your prayers. Please be praying for our play/songs/dances/skits, etc that we are performing tomorrow and the rest of the week. Much of which got sprung on us just today! (Obviously not the play, but all the other things we only were told we needed to have/do this evening.)
Also, if you could pray my Bible is miraculously returned to me somehow; I accidentally left it at the church. I though I picked it up, but apparently not, because it is not in my satchel. :/
Thank you everyone. More about this awesome trip tomorrow. Goodnight for now. :)
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