"All my sewing ladies, all my sewing ladies"

Some of my favorite ministry times are the unexpected moments and this post documents one of those times.  Amy and I were given the opportunity to travel into the villages and speak with some women who are attending a sewing school.  The school is an outreach of Friends Meet ministry and provides a very useful skill for these ladies.  If you can imagine the millions of ladies in India - all wearing clothes that are custom stitched, you can see how a skill like tailoring can come in handy.   These ladies come from various backgrounds and have had very hard beginnings.  Hindu and Christians sitting side by side each with an equally compelling story of how they ended up at the school.

Some are widowed, some have no families and the list goes on.  In India, social status makes or breaks you.  As a woman, marriage and children are your passport for respect and a "good life".  While things are changing as modern thinking breaks through, tradition is a solid oak with deep roots and thick bark.  

My heart goes out to the village women of India.  Their faith is precious and the Lord is proving Himself faithful in their lives. 

Amy and I had come together to pray the night before and the Lord gave me a word for them.  He wanted them to know He has the plan for their lives and while they only look at the underneath side of the embroidery - seeing only the knots and lose strings - He always sees the finished work.  

I thought, "how cliche", of course my mind is going there because these are sewing students.  But, as we got ready to leave the next morning, Amy came out of her room and told me she had just read the EXACT same thing in her morning reading (an excerpt from the book "In a pit with a lion on a snowy day").  I knew the Lord had confirmed and we left with high anticipation.

When we arrived, Amy shared a great word first and then I finished up just casually sitting in a chair to share the word from the Lord out of Pslam 139:13.  It flowed beautifully.  With my sister, Neeraja by my side, I knew the Lord was doing the type of deep work that only He can do. 

We were able to pray over each lady and impart hope and life.  He is so good to speak to us AND through us.

Go bananas!!

I had mentioned in my last post about my students graduating and beginning their outreach programs in different parts of Andrah Pradesh.  I was so proud of them.  They were very excited to hit the road and put to use all they had absorbed during class and practice times.  They are bright, driven and love the Lord - a recipe for amazing results.  This blog is entitled "worship" - a word that encompasses so much more than instruments, music or song sets.

We had planned on visiting a local hospital to hand out fruit and offer prayer.  Unfortunately, we were unable to make it inside, so in stead, we walked along the streets amongst the throngs of people.  Some had just been released for their various ailments and still had their IVs and bandages on, others were waiting to be seen.

Young, old, men, women and children were sitting - waiting.  As we began to distribute the bananas, we laid hands on any who would accept and prayed a prayer of healing.  The crowds gathered and we couldn't hand out the fruit fast enough.  At one point, we were running low so we just told everyone we were going to pray a prayer to OUR God and that He was going to touch their bodies.  I lifted up my voice and gave thanks to Jesus, our healer.  It was a wonderful time.  I was so blessed to work alongside some of my former students and see the Lord use us all.

Looking like my dad in this one

Julie sharing the love of Jesus

BIG smiles!

This babies name was "Sweetie"

This man wanted his picture taken with us.

*FUN FACT: INDIA HAS OVER 30 VARIETIES OF BANANAS!!!!

Another chance to feed the poor

I was given the opportunity to travel to Visag (a city near the coast) to check up on my worship students who have begun their outreach programs (will blog about that later).  Fortunately, we arrived just in time to join in with our friend's feeding the poor program which takes place weekly.  I was able to participate several times before during previous visits and it has always been a highlight.  Friends Meet ministry have been cooking up large pots of curry and rice to distribute to the poor and needy who live on the streets of Visag.

It's an amazing time.  First, we prepare the packages and pray over the food, eat lunch together and then pack up the autos and head on our way.  This trip, the Lord gave me a brand new perspective on this precious act of serving.  You may consider, how does one bag of food make any difference in a desperate situation?  The thought had crossed my mind too.  Then the Lord helped me to understand that each portion keeps a soul alive another day.  Another day that their ears can hear the gospel.  We may only have one more day...

Our time is running short and the harvest is great.  When we connect our "human kindness" with the spirit and His purpose for our lives, BIG things happen.  

My friend Amy and I were so blessed to be a part of this ministry's vision to share nourishment and more importantly, the gospel of Jesus to a dying world. 

SO MUCH CURRYYYY........!!!!!!!

Amy Off getting in on the prep work

All the baggies of curry ready to go out

Each person will get a bag of curry, rice, a banana and fresh water

Praying with these men for Jesus to touch their lives.

One of the ministry's young disciples who have sold out their life to the Lord

You can't turn your eyes away from the realities

This lady gave Amy the biggest hug and wouldn't let go

It's the little things...

It's Sunday morning and I'm having a cup of yummy Masala tea.  It's almost time to head to service at Pearl City church, but had to jump on and give thanks for some little-BIG things happening in my life.

Every time I come abroad, inevitably, I miss the little things about home.  Driving my own car, grabbing a Starbucks with a friend, dropping by my parents for my mom's omelets, texting my sisters some funny thought I had, ice in my glass etc.  But this week I was really missing my little people.  No, I'm not a member of a circus, although, it often feels like it.  I'm talking about these guys: 

Ariana, Grant, Lia, Noelle, Jubilee, Logan and Moriah

All are family - some by DNA.  These vertically challenged bundles of love bring me so much joy and laughter in my life.  Everyone needs to have children in their life and since there's no "baby's daddy" in mine YET, I feel extremely blessed to have so many to share my days with.

I was day dreaming the other day about kissing soft chubby cheeks, it seemed so real.  When I realized it would be some time before that was a reality, I was really bummed.  But, then I headed to the tailor's to pick up my clothes.

Odd segway?

We found this amazing woman who runs a small business out of her home.  She is a lovely woman, full of peace and is blessed to be a mother of 2.  Most Indian children do one of two things when they see a big white person: Cry or scream AND cry.  But, not these two.  They were a bit shy and curious at first, but then the little baby boy, Joshua, was reaching for me.  I couldn't believe it!! I grabbed him up!  He was just the perfect "arm-size", all warm & squishy - just perfect!!

He laughed and made some sort of "bus noise" as his mother called it with his little pink lips.  He was immediately filling my love tank with his little hugs.  He was quite content to just sit with me and pat my leg.  I was all smiles and so was he.  My little Joshua doing nothing and everything all at once!  Before leaving, we were able to pray over this wonderful family who are new believers.

I was so blessed.  There are literally 1,000's upon millions of tailors in India (and then some) but the Lord directed us to the right place.  Pants hemmed, measurements taken and day dreams fulfilled.

On a side note, another cute kid-related thing this week.  I was asked to name a baby boy.  After praying about it, I chose a name I've always liked and imagined to use one day for one of my own sons, but figured, who knows when that day will be so I gave it now:  Valor - it means courage in the defense of a noble cause.  

Lotus Pond

The lotus flowers have just begun to bloom

Our students have been working so hard.  Long days of class, practicing, chores and bible reading.  They are such a blessing to be around. Always happy to see you every day.  Showing off their new found skills and asking questions.  Julie decided they needed a well deserved break after being stuck in doors for a week and so we ventured off to Lotus Pond.

What a beautiful place.  The photographer in me was just wishing Kingston had anything nearly as exotic for a wedding shoot. But, capturing the faces of young men who were thoroughly enjoying their day was even more rewarding.

We walked around the pond taking in the sites, stopping here, there and everywhere for pictures. We finished in a gazebo and pulled out the guitars.  We noticed we'd picked up a few "extras" on our walk and they sat the entire time just soaking up the simple worship in this beautiful outdoor arena.  Since they weren't leaving, I slowed the music down and explained what we were doing but more importantly WHY we were doing it.  How we love Jesus and we sing for Him because of Him and we're not afraid to do it publicly.  I asked if they "felt" anything during their time listening to us and they said..."we feel happy."

Julie jumped in and broke down the salvation message simplistically and perfectly.  They still didn't leave.  Turns out two of the young guys were muslim tailors and so we prayed for good business and more customers.  The other older gentlemen was really being ministered to, you could just see it in his eyes.  I asked him why he was afraid and couldn't sleep.  He had many troubles on his mind about his family and life etc.  I told him he would experience the PEACE of this Jesus we were singing about and asked if he would like to accept Him into his heart.  He said yes.

Just then, the park guard was approaching our spot with a stick.  It was closing time and I'm sure he didn't take kindly to us making all this racket and spreading the gospel.  I quickly grabbed one of the students and said "William, have you ever led anyone to Christ?"  He was able to lead this man through the salvation prayer with the guard impatiently standing by.  3 minutes led to an eternity with Christ.

FYI  in India, it is perfectly normal to see men holding hands with their friends.  It's a buddy thing - no funny business.

Favorite shot of the day

BIG smiles - BIG hearts

Such posers!

The whole gang!  The man who got saved it all the way to the far right of the bridge in the grey shirt

I was so proud of my students, I was so honored to be a part of this event.  A normal day with a powerful ending - just every day life with Jesus.

Surprises of International proportions

Last week, Julie (the wonderful lady I work with here at CSOW) brought me to her church.  Finding a good church while abroad is very refreshing and brings a sense of "home".  Of course, nothing compares to the one and only King's Fire Church, but C3 White Fields and Pearl City are a very good fit.  

I ended up meeting a group of amazing folks hailing from Germany, Nigeria, Australia and various states from the good ol' USA.  We had dinner and played Taboo and the whole night just did my soul good.

From that invite, I was offered another to join in on a special night of worship called "Arise Africa" that was being held at Pearl City church (really great btw, if you're ever in Hyderabad, check it out).  The members are so welcoming and I feel like I've been going here for years.  They really filled the void of missing my friends back home. 

Hearing the sounds of my African brothers and sisters ring out was bringing back fond memories of my time spent on the amazing continent of Africa years ago.  No one can sing like an African. But, don't even get me started on the dancing.....

These people ROCK!

Dinner and conversation 

Taboo - my team won, of course. 

Julie and I ready to head out to Arise Africa

New dress!

Pearl City's cafe

Dr. Abraham looking fly in his Indian outfit 

Dressed for the night

Femi rocking out

These guys put their hearts & souls into it

Jeremy welcoming everyone

He does it well!

DANCE BREAK!!!!

DANCE BREAK # 2

Incredible atmosphere 

American girl, born in China to English parents in an Indian dress taking a picture with her new African friends In India....phew.

Femi, Dami, Roni - great people!