All Is Well

It is Wednesday evening here in India and we want to post a short blog today to let you know that all is well. We arrived on time, luggage and all!

Today we had the wonderful opportunity to take a tour of India Gospel League's base campus at Sharon Gardens. Though I (Gary) had been there just a few short months ago, I was amazed at all that has been happening. The nurse's college is just about completed and classes will start in June. They were still putting up the bricks on the outside wall in November. They have just about completed another school for the 6th-10th grades - the foundation was the only thing there when I was here before! One boy came up to me with a big smile and said: "Puppets!" He had translated for me when I did puppets there before!

We also visited two of IGL's schools and only caused 2 riots! The children get so excited to see you and want to shake hands as we also taught them how to give high 5's. We will have to show you the pictures from one classroom where there had to be almost 150 children in a 30' x 15' space. Visited one of the local villages where there was a life center for a preschool and teaching trades to the women. Because of IGL's work there, every child now has the opportunity to go to school - 100% literacy rate! Amazing work being done!

Our teaching starts tomorrow. If you are praying for us, we have two specific requests:
* Stamina: the room we are teaching in is not air conditioned. It is very humid and probably about 85+ degrees outside. I know, I know - drink lots of water!
* Holy Spirit directed teaching: we have tons of information for each session and they desire for the participants to have as much practical experience as possible - and with the translations that need to happen - we have to talk even less. Yikes! (especially Beth!)

BETH HERE!
Gary summed up the journey, above, with thoughtfulness and accuracy. India is an amazing country that is more diverse and extreme than any I've seen or visited. During time with the Lord this morning, I was reminded of the Chris Tomlin song "His love is better than any riches of this world." While the poverty is overwhelming, the richness of faith, in Jesus Christ, is humbling and staggering. I am thankful to be a part of this mission. I told Gary that most of the time, I am moved to "silence" - impossible but true!

Please pray for our sessions, tomorrow, as Gary mentioned. I am thankful for the opportunity to teach...although it is going to be smoking hot in the conference center! Please pray for relief from the heat ... a nice breeze would be wonderful!

On a lighter note, I've loved seeing cows liter the streets, wild monkeys climb the trees of the base camp and the smiles of the hundreds of children we've greeted. My camera is busy capturing all the sights and creating near riots - like Gary said!
We hope to write again soon - stay tuned! Beth xo