meet some campers

I would like to introduce you to three campers from this past week. Because there is still (and always will be) traces of a teacher in me I am going to grant unto them pseudonyms. I am not afraid of lawsuits or offended parents (since most of them will never read this), but for the sake of the children. I want to share just a brief tidbit about them, and then encourage all of us to pray for children such as these.

I am going to start with the "Dynamic Duo." I'll even call them Batman and Robin. Robin is the sidekick sitting on the left side of the picture below. He came with his mother who is a living testament to the transforming power of the gospel. She came to camp three years prior as a Hindu woman wanting nothing to do with Jesus Christ. God chose to ignore that (as He always does) by saving her, leading her into baptism, and now sharing her testimony with everyone she meets. Her son used to be unable to sit up and hold his neck in his own strength. His mental capacity was also next to nothing. As you can see, God is working His might through this boy. He even is able to walk with the help of others holding him up. But the best part is seeing his face light up when Batman enters the room. They have attended camp together for the past three years, and Robin is able to call out a something close to Batman's name. It made all the counselors laugh with joy bringing a huge smile to his mother's face.

Batman is definitely the leader of the duo. He pushes Robin around in his wheelchair, and he would do it all day long if he had to. Batman came with his younger sister who does most of the caring for him. She is a smart young girl who was forced to leave school in order to help support her parents. She came to know Christ at the camp, which was an absolute joy to share in. Batman has a real heart to serve. He wants everyone to experience all the good things going on at camp so he takes the initiative of finding any who might be wandering around. He laughs when you talk to him as he rubs his hands together in excitement. Like Batman, he doesn't like when people talk about him. During testimonies, he left when his sister shared about her week at camp. The Dynamic Duo ate nearly every meal together while the week progressed, and they were a frequent topic of conversation for those of us blessed to work with them. Please pray for these two boys to be able to spend time together between now and next year. The distance is about 1 hour, but the fruit of seeing them together is beautiful. Pray also for their continued healing as they grow.

I'm going to call our next camper Longing. Longing was a true blessing from God for all of us helping at camp this week. She suffers from a rather slight case of MR. You would only know if you saw her close up. She speaks very well and can understand most of what it taught to her. She is always smiling despite her family background. She would love to go to church every week, but her parents will not allow it. She prays everyday for the opportunity, but has yet to find a way to get there. By the middle of the week, she emphatically expressed her deep desire to read God's Word. Since church is not an option, she wants to be able to grow. The doctor on Wednesday applauded her for this desire. He said many Christians do not share in a longing for God's Word as she does. He told her how blessed she was and thankful we all are for hearing her heart's desire. The problem is her inability to read. As she shared her testimony on Friday she wept at the thought of leaving without the ability to read the Bible. The LCMI team purchased a Bible for her in Telugu in an expression of faith. Our faith was not in this little girl, but God's Spirit to reward her for such a request. As Solomon was granted more than just wisdom when he asked for that above all else, we pray God would grant her knowledge of Himself by enabling her to read and study His Word. Please pray for Longing as she lives out her desire. Pray for people to come along who can teach her how to read. Pray for the ability to attend church without punishment from her parents. Continue to pray for her healing and that her testimony would be a witness to her family and friends.

calling all doctors

On Wednesday the entire afternoon was dedicated towards providing medical care for both the children and parents. After missions and bible classes in the morning to continue meeting the spiritual needs, medical professionals arrived to help us meet the physical needs. It was a beautiful display of God's servants using their professions to help serve those in need and further His kingdom. Local pastors also joined in on the fun to give support to the hurting parents. And not only did those attending the camps receive basic treatment, but some of the counselors (mostly college kids with little funds) had a chance for a quick check-up as well.

In attendance was a pediatrician to meet with the campers. I was blessed by watching him work. After diagnosing each child and prescribing some medications he would have anyone in an arm's reach pray over the child. By the day's end, every single child received medical and spiritual treatment.

We also had a table full of medications. There weren't any overly fancy drugs, just the basics. The doctors would prescribe whatever was needed on a piece of paper which then would be taken to the table. The parents would receive a bag with all the medications as well as directions for consumption.
The dentist was a huge hit. Very few of the children had ever been to one before. In American dollars it's cheap (between 8-10 dollars), but that's pricey for most Indians, especially those struggling to support a child with special needs. I was impressed by this particular dentist. She went above and beyond basic cleaning for each child. After looking at each, she recommended a handful of certain come to her office the next day for more pertinent care. She chose to stop her paying customers for one day in order to pull teeth (and she pulled a lot) for children who will never be able to pay for the care they received. As a result of her work, kids with rotted teeth, which would have resulted in more significant issues down the road endured the momentary pain for longer relief.
And for the parents, a doctor came to meet with them. He took blood pressure and other vitals since most of these parents deal with high stress from raising their children. He would also prescribe medications for each as they needed them. I only took this one picture of him since I spent most of the time at the pediatrician's table, so pardon it's blurred appearance.
Of all the days in camp, the medical day was probably the most blessed. Seeing people unable to pay for care receive it free of charge was a testament to God's Spirit in the lives of His children. One particular child who drools and can't speak was found to be suffering from a "tied" tongue. One call to a Christian surgeon was placed, and the child is scheduled to have the operation done for free so he can hopefully learn to speak and drool less. While the earthly blessing of seeing children grow healthier is a blessing in and of itself, these three (and soon to be four) individuals shall receive a great reward in heaven for serving "the least of these."

in the trenches

the prince of darkness grim

we tremble not for him

his rage we can endure

for lo, his doom is sure

one little word shall fell him

Personally the phrase "focus on the words" makes me squirm. It's commonly used amongst worship leaders with good intentions. However, it's overused and often abused in the name of genuine worship. The reality is the words have no power in and of themselves. The significance of the words comes only from the truth behind them. And the truth behind them only comes from the God of all Truth. Therefore, the words are not to be our focus by any stretch of the imagination. The focus is, and always will be, God. We meditate on the truths about God expressed by the words in order to give Him the glory due His name.

So what does my mini-spiel have to do with Martin Luther's famous hymn (and one of my favorites at that)? I have sung A Mighty Fortress is our God quite possibly over one hundred times. Of course I know the truths behind the lines (or at least I have a hunch). But when it comes down to it, I am not sure how much I believe what I have sung about in the past. My fourth, and final camp experience has been unlike the other three. The main reason revolves around each camper suffering from at least one severe mental disorder. As a result, I am experiencing first hand just how grim the prince of darkness really is.

As many of the gospel accounts depict, some mental disabilities are more spiritual than anything else. Many of the demon possessed individuals Christ healed were not what we imagine them to be. They were mute, suffered from seizures, lame, and the like. There were also those who showed great strength and other signs from the various exorcism movies Hollywood calls entertainment. Now I am not saying every disability is a result of the evil one. I am not even saying those which are guarantee possession. For this camp, it seems to be more of an influential thing than anything else.

There are two children in particular who come to mind. One is an orphan girl who came to camp with her friend, also an orphan. At times she is a happy child who loves to sing. Most of the time she screams in sheer terror. It happens in the morning, throughout the day, and at night. Very little can be done to sooth her from her screaming. As she screams she becomes limp. She will also bite and scratch herself until she draws blood. If people try to interfere she will not hesitate to scratch or bite them (I got my butt pinched as she was passing by me in the midst of one of her episodes). Our team has prayed for and over her many times, but a handful of the counselors grow discouraged. It's hard to believe the last line of the hymn when many words don't seem to have a similar result.

The other boy came with his mother and brother. He is a large boy who can't sit still. At first notice you might think it is merely extreme ADD or some sort of autism. His attention lasts for maybe five minutes before he needs something else to do. But he doesn't don't look for other options, he screams, runs away, and throws things along the way. He will sometimes take off his pants and run around screaming as well. The more concerning issues arise with his reactions to anything involving God's Word and prayer hints otherwise. As we have attempted to pray over this boy his screams grow in volume and frequency. He has only been able to sit through the Bible and Missions classes when he is asleep. The night time devotions also guarantee his absence. It's a huge burden for his mother who constantly chases after him, trying to calm him down. By God's grace she is a Christian, but her husband offers very little assistance. His younger brother is a blessing, but can only do so much. As with the young girl, our counselors are growing discouraged (and exhausted) in keeping up with his antics. It's hard to contemplate enduring his rage when just four days has already left us physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. Please pray for our campers, parents, and counselors. Spiritual protection is not taken for granted when the battle is felt so closely.

In no way am I writing this to express my doubt in the power of God's Spirit or in Christ's victory over the evil one (and his forces) on the cross and empty tomb. It's more a reminder that focusing on words isn't enough. Even when reading God's Word, we need to do more than just focus. I can repeat over and over again "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4), but unless I start to understand and believe the truths expressed by the words I will have nothing more than a mantra which people can listen to. God is far more powerful than everything in this world. Nothing is too great for Him. Every book of the Bible reminds us of this truth at least once. And it is these truths which we claim as we battle against the forces in the spiritual realm. For these truths tell of the great King whom we serve and how He achieved the victory by dying on a cross. He is an almighty King and His name is Jesus Christ.

were not the right man on our side

the man of God's own choosing

dost ask who that may be

Christ Jesus it is he

Lord Sabaoth is his name

from age to age the same

and he must win the battle

where am I?

I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore. Something seems a bit different. But I do like that gate. That's a NICE gate!

...Maybe a closer look will give me an better idea....

...I guess there really is no place like home.

(Can you tell my brain is borderline fried at this point? Preparing for a sermon while chasing 20+ children with special needs who also need to listen to me share about missions is quite taxing. The counselors are feeling it even more. I actually think the dog is on to something.)

another wonder

Apparently the list for the Seven Wonders of the World is in a state of flux. Where I thought there were only two lists (natural and man-made) somebody has decided to construct a list for every constructed building in the history of man. Regardless, I can cross off another "wonder" from my own personal list. Prior to the weekend's trip to Delhi my accomplishments included Victoria Falls in Zambia, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Leaning Tower in Pisa. Now I can add the Taj Mahal to my list.

The Agra Fort lies across the river. The Muslim king who built the Taj Mahal for his late (and favorite wife) used to longingly gaze at it from his prison after his son successfully overthrew his frivolously spending father. (Don't worry dad, you're safe with me.)

Close up the building is more than impressive. The white marble sparkles in the sun, and the Muslim style of perfect symmetry displays itself proudly.
I like to be artsy (or as artsy as you can with a Sony Cybershot). If you tilt the camera just a bit, your shot looks like so.
Details such as this flower are sketched into the building throughout. They are from one piece of marble. I don't really have the proper words to express my level of appreciation for skill such as that. The building is simply beautiful. A wonderful display of the creativity God has blessed man with by means of His grace.

persecuted not forsaken

The verse which includes the phrase above goes as such;

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

~2 Corinthians 4:8-10

I include this verse because the pastor of the church I spoke at on Sunday is experiencing the truth behind these words. Unfortunately, it is at the expense of other "Christians" not the Hindu extremist surrounding the church. The pastor has been faithfully serving his congregation for over 40 years. His two sons serve with him, and he is currently grooming his one son (Enoch) to take over the church in the near future. The pastor described to us how the past couple of years have been the most painful and scarring for him personally.

At one point the congregation numbered close to one hundred. One member (an elder) suddenly decided to start his own church and take with him all those belonging to his caste. This ended up splitting the church in half. And to add insult to injury, the new church located itself right across the railroad tracks, maybe 300 yards away. While an elder starting a new church is not a bad thing, this particular man has found a way to give "itching ears" exactly what they want to hear. Nothing could prove it more than what was occurring right next door to the church at the same time as our worship service: a wedding.

What's wrong with a Sunday wedding? Nothing. The timing of the wedding was not the problem. The problem was with the individuals being married. After the service Sanjay was approached by three high school girls. They were junior counselors at summer camps asking Sanjay for prayer on behalf of another counselor friend, the bride next door. She was marrying a Hindu man because he had a good job, security, and was generally a "nice guy." Her family forced her into it against her will. As it turned out, she is one of the people attending the elder's church across the tracks. Her family lies in the same caste, so they went with everyone else. But it doesn't stop there.

The marriage was not merely arranged by the girl's parents (self-proclaimed Christians), but it went with the blessings from the elder (now a self-proclaimed pastor). The elder encouraged the family to go through with it. For him, the pros of financial stability far outweighed the biblical con of the man not knowing Christ. He said the man would eventually come to Christ and everything would be fine. While there is truth in this statement (for God can save anyone), it is flat out wrong! It is this type of news which breaks our pastor friend's heart.

Thankfully we were able to encourage him as he graciously opened his home to us for lunch. We discussed the future of his ministry while enjoying fellowship as believers in Christ. We ended by praying for his new grandson as well as the church he is leading. We asked for the healing of his soul and protection over the young girl now married to a Hindu man. Our hearts left rejoicing and yet grieving. Please pray for this friend as well as the young lady. May she be able to live out Peter's call of winning her husband over without words through her holy conduct.

the beginning?

I had the wonderful privilege of sharing God's Word on Sunday morning. Four LCMI staff, our driver, and myself left at 7:30AM for a three plus hour journey to a small church. The congregation used to be pushing one hundred, but decreased to only fifty in recent years (I will be posting on that tomorrow). Regardless of the numbers, I was grateful to the congregation for inviting me to open God's Word to them and humbled by God's choosing of me.

The service started roughly at 12PM (they were waiting for us) with worship through singing and prayer. Two groups (four men and five youth-aged girls) ended the time of worship with songs they had prepared. It was a blessing to listen and sing along (when I could) with this group of believers. At the conclusion of the singing, I was asked to share God's Word. I preached from Zephaniah 3:14-17 about the present and future blessings all believers have through Jesus Christ. I have no idea how long I preached for, but God was gracious in the people's attentiveness and my ability to teach His truths. My prayer is that His Word will confront and challenge hearts as it did my own while preparing.

After I finished, we took part in communion and gave of our offerings. The men came to sing one last song before Sanjay closed the service in prayer. As people began shuffling out, handfuls stayed to thank all the LCMI staff for coming. Others also asked for prayer regarding various needs they had. I had the wonderful privilege of praying for three individuals each dealing with physical ailments of all sorts. I encouraged them with God's promises of strength (all the time) and healing (when His will deems). God showed me through those two individuals that the passages He placed upon my heart leading up to the day were exactly what these people needed to hear. My heart was blessed and rejoicing to see His sovereign hand once again on display.We headed to the house of the pastor for lunch once all the prayers and greetings were finished (also more on that tomorrow). As we drove home, I thought about a couple of challenges God placed before me as an example of my experience with this small branch of Christ's body.

1. Nobody cared about the clock. The service ended at 2:30PM and nobody seemed overly eager to sprint away. They came to worship God and hear from His Word no matter how long it took. As farmers, most had work they could have been doing which directly impacted their daily income. We like to sprint home for football, food, and naps (all of which I thoroughly enjoy) as soon as the last "amen" is heard. If only we were more eager to dwell in the house of our Lord instead of merely passing through.
2. I am pretty sure I preached for at least one hour and fifteen minutes. I saying this as a boastful statement. I am saying it because almost all fifty members were listened, took notes, and soaked in what God had for them. They came hungry and thirsty for God's Word. Sanjay actually warned me that if I went less than thirty minutes, they would probably ask someone else to give them more. We complain or mentally "check-out" once the half hour mark passes. Again, time should have no relevance when we are sitting under the teaching of God's Word. I am not saying every message needs to be hours long. What I am suggesting is welcoming it should God's servant feel the need to do so. God's Word is far too precious and vital for our lives to ask someone to rush through it for the sake of our schedules and poor attention spans.
3. People seek out the prayer they need. A lot of churches designate times for people to come forward for prayer. I think these times are wonderful and necessary. However, the people I had the blessing of praying with did not wait for those designated times. They swallowed their pride and asked for prayer. I feel we (probably the biggest challenge for me after yesterday) are always willing to pray for others, but become uncomfortable to ask for others to pray for us. And not only should we ask, but we should seek it out. God has laid out in His Word that if we are lacking in anything or need something we should pray. I can think of many times where people have asked me for prayer, and I do pray for them, but not until I leave their presence. Wouldn't it be much better to show them my commitment by praying with them before we part company?
4. Offering and communion are run a little different than the typical manner. For offering a song is sung while everyone walks to front where the collection box lies. They place their offering in before heading back to their seats. For communion you raise your hand if you want to partake in remembering Christ's body and blood. The servers come around to give you the elements as they see your hand. What I love about these is the "getting up and going" nature behind them. I don't sit and wait to be served, but actively approach my God. I know churches who do this with communion, and I love it. The offering was new, but equally welcomed. It's a chance to actually approach God's throne in the boldness we have through Christ to bless God and receive the blessings He has for us. I think we use time (or efficiency as we like to call it) to discourage doing offering and communion in this manner. We might say the congregation is too large or it would take a long time to complete. Again I would ask, so what? Why are we in such a rush to leave the presence of God? Isn't is lovely and a place we should long for? (Psalm 84)

I am not saying our churches are miserable and awful places. I love my church. There are wonderful people who love God, His Word, and His people. I am also not saying these churches are perfect. What I am suggesting is actually looking forward to going to, dwelling in, lingering in, and investing in God's presence.

*And thanks to those who prayed. Your prayers were answered as I felt next to zero nerves, but was able to boldly proclaim God's Word through the power and strength of His Spirit. And as a side note, I was challenged to be uplifting pastors on a continual basis. My week of preparation was filled with temptations of all sorts and words of accusation as our enemy wanted nothing more than to discourage me from blessing others through God's Word. These men carry a large responsibility which our enemy tries to use a stumbling block for them. Ask for God's grace to overwhelm their thoughts and hearts as they prepare and faithfully teach God's Word.

crawling friends

My time here has introduced me to an assortment of wildlife friends. Some aren't so much wild as they are hapless wanderers. Those I get to see on a regular basis whether on walks or drives around the city.

Sorry for the rear shot, but these guys are all over the streets. In Africa I saw them on my safari. It's been odd seeing them pass by me on the street.

He is rather large. He greeted me in my hotel room at the third camp location. I was startled at first due to his size and mere presence. We established a mutual agreement to stay out of one another's way.

I spotted him the first day we landed at Camp Deccan. He was most impressive.

This little (he's really quite large) guy landed right on my pants one evening. I was too impressed with his appearance not to take his picture.
We played with this "stick" for a little while. If you look close enough you can see a smaller one getting a free ride. He disappeared shortly after this picture, but no one is sure if he wasn't accidentally stepped on.

Biramu

I don't know what this name means. Part of me wishes I did. It is the name of a young man I met at our first camp. He is a teenager finishing his studies and preparing for college. Right away I noticed him as the leader of the boys in his age group. He showed excitement and eagerness to partake in the sporting events we had planned for day. More importantly, he demonstrated a hunger and thirst for God, His Word, and prayer. Knowing only that, would be ample enough information to praise God for working in this young man's life. But when he shared his testimony about the camp, the life-transforming power of the gospel was put on full display.

In his own words, Biramu used to hate Christians. He knew a couple at school, and he would make it his point to ridicule them. He wanted their lives to be miserable because of their faith. He even admitted to using force if he felt the desire to do so. Similar to Paul, Biramu wanted nothing to do with Christianity. Jesus had no impact of his daily life. But, as with Paul, Jesus didn't care.

He came to the camp last year because a couple of his friends invited him. He had heard about it, but really didn't want to attend a Christian camp. By God's grace, he gave in. At the camp, Biramu acknowledged a joy resonating in the campers and counselors. As the week wore on, Biramu gave his life over to Jesus Christ. What had been told to him was more than enough to make him want it for himself. At this camp, Biramu expressed further understanding of the things of God. He didn't merely want to be a Christian, but help others learn how they might experience Jesus Christ for themselves. His love for and joy in his Savior urged him to grow deeper and proclaim louder. He was (and is) a modern day Paul. And I pray he may have the impact Paul had on the surrounding villages and beyond.

the Good Shepherd

Sheep are dumb animals. They fail to listen. They push forward without any regards for what dangers are staring them in the face. It's no accident to read Jesus (and just about everyone else) calling God's people sheep. We do plenty of the same things sheep do. It takes a very skilled shepherd to lead a herd of sheep. He must know the terrain, the possible dangers, and the sheep under his care. Thankfully we have a shepherd who fulfills all those requirements and then some. The tenth chapter of John vividly describes just how good our Shepherd is. He "lays down his life for the sheep" (v.11). He "calls his own sheep by name and leads them" (v.3). He makes his voice known to the sheep (v.4). He saves and gives pasture to his sheep (v.9). He doesn't stop until he has brought all his sheep into the fold (v.16). Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd. There is no other.

Sheep only want one thing: food. If a sheep is provided with plenty of grass to feed on, it is content to stay near the shepherd. A good shepherd removes this want leaving the sheep without any other wants. The well-known Psalm 23 starts off with "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." As John just described, Jesus satisfies the lone want of the sheep. In Jesus we have our food (and I am not talking in the physical sense). As Jesus told His disciples after meeting the Samaritan woman at the well, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me" (John 4:34). In Christ, we, His sheep, are given food. God has revealed His will for us in the pages of Scripture. His will for all of us is to live a life of obedience and worship before Him every day of our lives. This is what Christ said in Mark 12:30; "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength...You shall love your neighbor as yourself." With the clarity and abundance of this food, we should be able to echo David's statement; "I shall not want."

But we (or at least I) don't. Read the next four verse of the Psalm to see how every need we have is also satisfied in our Good Shepherd. "He makes me lie down in green pastures (rest). He leads me beside still water (peace). He restores my soul (strength). He leads me in path of righteousness for his name's sake (security)." (vs. 2-4, notes mine). The list goes on with the rest of the Psalm. David is showing how there is no place for any wants in the presence of our Shepherd, both now and for all eternity. So why do we (again I) fill our hearts with loads of meaningless wants? They bog us down, preventing us from enjoying the blessings of our Good Shepherd. They make us wander along the edges of cliffs, enter into the wolves's den, and fall headlong into the tar pits. Our wants deceive us into thinking there is something else to be had outside the fold of the Shepherd. And we give in. We begin searching in vain.

Before his beautiful exposition on the grace of Jesus Christ, Paul, in Ephesians, praised our God because He "has blessed us in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (1:3). All our spiritual needs and wants (which far outweigh any of the physical) are met in Christ. We have nothing more we could possible need. In Psalm 84, we are told God also cares for and meets our physical needs. "No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly" (v. 11). If this is true again I ask, why do we wander away in search of what we already possess in the presence of our Shepherd?

One month in, India is a daily test of my desire to remain in the presence of my Good Shepherd. The same test faces me back home, but here it's not as easily avoided. My physical needs have nothing to do with my staying in the pasture. They are daily met in abundance by the grace and goodness of God demonstrated through the gifts of friends back home and generosity of Sanjay and his family. In regards to those, I can gladly say "I shall not want." The spiritual needs are where I flounder. At times, what I am feeding on doesn't seem to satisfy. I want more, but I am unwilling to wait for God's timing (as He often likes to give when we need or aren't ready). I begin to flirt with the areas of danger. God's voice calls me back, but I don't always listen or have any desire to do so. I hunt for what God already has given me in places where it can't be found. Instead of David's declaration I find myself declaring "I have more wants."

I want to be satisfied with the food my Father has given me. I do not want to leave the fold. I want to love the Lord my God above all else. I want to love others above myself. For some reason, I lose satisfaction with this menu. It's like the taste grows old. The reality is the taste does not grow old. It is new every morning. My heart is what grows old and stale. As I obsess about my nonexistent (because that's really what they are) wants, I am missing the reality all my desires already being quenched in Christ. I want the reality of Christ as my all to be the driving force behind my staying in His fold. For whether I recognize it or not David truthfully stated in Psalm 16:5, "The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup." I pray for my heart to know (and trust) Christ (my portion) to be what He is already is.

nothing glaring so more pictures

I do want to say God has been graciously flooding me with a plethora of emails offering encouragement. In addition, I have been receiving an abundance of news about the workings God is doing in the lives of many friends from home. I am thoroughly excited to witness our God's might and power having no limits. It's definitely something worth rejoicing over.

On to the pictures...

(Doing some back-alley cashew dealing because our group drew too large a crowd on the main streets. It was eerily similar to what I would suspect buying drugs would feel like.)

short on words

At this juncture (roughly 1 month in with roughly 1 to go) I don't have much to report. Therefore, I give more pictures.

(I thought I was smiling when this picture was taken, but it seems I was wrong.)

(I don't recall what was so funny, but something apparently made me laugh. I like the picture regardless of it's blurriness.)

that's a big dam

It's actually called the Nagarjuna Sagar, and it currently sits as the world's 9th largest dam. We drove alongside and across on the way to our most recent camp. We stopped to eat lunch at the top. We stopped to take pictures at the bottom after filling our stomachs at the top. Since India is the middle of its dry season, both portions of the dam are low on water. But when the rain comes, I hear the area is rather green and lovely.

Regardless of the water level, I still found the area rather beautiful. I jokingly told one of the staff members, "I'll jump if you jump" from the top of the bridge. He quickly responded with an emphatic, "No, no one is doing any jumping!"

On the way home from the camp, we stopped again for some tea (chai) and snacks. We got a chance to see the beauty of the dam at night as the sun was setting. My camera doesn't do justice, but it will have to do.

you can take the trailer out of the trash but...

Please excuse my wording. I have nothing against trailers, the parks housing them, or the people inside. It's merely a case where this famous line seems to be running through my mind as I go about my daily business. I read Mark 7:20-23 as a part of my time in God's Word this morning. It reads,

...What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

The more we grow in our knowledge of who God is, the more He will show where the items listed above still reside within us. We can ignore it all we want, but it's still there. As we become more intimate with the One who is holy, our falling shorts will rise to the surface. The Bible likens it to precious metals having the dross removed from them. It's painful and unpleasant, but the end result is something purer. As I continue serving in India, God is clearing out some of the dross in my life as He has been since the day He saved me.

Anyways, part of my desire to come to India was to flee some of the items Jesus listed in Mark. God's been showing me evidences of them in my own life, along with His desire to help me get rid of them. Obviously I share in His desire. Those things are repulsive and not what Christ saved me in order to pursue. However, my thought process for overcoming these has been taking a Jonah-esque method: fleeing. The fleeing I am talking about is not the biblical one, but rather running away thinking the problem is somewhere "out there." I thought India would cure me because a lot of those things are fostered (even glorified) in 21st century America. But God is showing me, there is a level of truth to the statement I used for my title.

Certainly, there is truth behind America (the world) being the problem. It's a fallen world run by fallen people. Naturally, the things of God will not be encouraged without His Spirit behind them. However, the real problem is my heart. No matter where I run, the sinful desires of my heart will always follow. I can't escape them by simply running away from the places where my heart and the world line up. I desperately need someone to take the "trash out of this trailer." Or as Paul said it a bit more eloquently in Romans,

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (7:24)

As Christ pointed out, the heart of man resides in a body of death. The Bible is littered with passages detailing the full corruption of man's heart. It's also littered (as is history) with what man is capable of doing with such a heart. We like to blame outside influences as always being the main reason why we don't grow and mature in holiness. What we really need to do is acknowledge we are still the problem. We sin, because we listen to our flesh first, and then let the world around us become the "straw which breaks the camel's back." We'd rather pass the responsibility on someone else because it enables us to sleep better and confess easier (it's much easier to say sorry for listening to others than it is to say sorry for the corruption still living within me).

But thankfully there is a way in which our "trash" can be removed. It's actually Paul's answer to his own question;

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Jeevan Sunny

This is the name of one of the LCMI staff members. He is 22, and a black-belt in Taekwondo. When the Newsong team was here he demonstrated various escape maneuvers, which would leave the instigator with multiple broken bones. He's deceptively strong, with little clues to how forceful he can be.

Even more important is his heart for ministry. He is willing to do whatever it takes for the ministry to keep moving forward. He works late. He runs errands. He jumps in at a moments notice. The kids enjoy his energy and enthusiasm. The staff appreciates his dedication. He also loves God's Word. We have talked frequently about different passages and what God wants to reveal to us in them. Like me, he is trying to learn what exactly God wants his ministry to look like. He is internship ends on the last day of March. He will be offered the opportunity to stay on staff, provided the finances continue to be there.

Last night I had the privilege of going to his home after the day of work. Sanjay and Keren finally had the chance to celebrate their anniversary, and forgot to leave me a key. Sanjay offered me a place to relax until they got home. I ended up staying for dinner as his parents were excited about my coming over. I learned how blessed he is in regards to his family. His dad faithfully serves the Muslim community by establishing good relationships with them, and the using those relationships to plant the seeds of the gospel. His mother and sister both have the hearts of true servants, and they have helped out with various camps throughout the years. It reminded me of how blessed I also am to have the family God has given me.

As he drove me home on his two-wheeler (more like a dirt bike in terms of it's power), he shared how thankful he was to have me over to fellowship with him. I told him God has blessed my time here with rich friendships so suddenly. When we ate he made me pray because he wanted to hear my prayer in his home. As I did, I thought about the wonderful testimony Sunny and I have become of the unifying power of the gospel. We live thousands of miles apart, met only one month ago, but share a bond of brotherhood.

What a mighty God we serve!

language barrier?

I can't speak Telugu. I am trying to learn bits and pieces, but it's coming very slowly. The best I can do is ask "ee roju bhojanam emity?" (what's for dinner tonight?), "ne peru emity?" (what is your name?), and "neeku esayya telusa?" (do you know Jesus?). The first time I learned how to ask what's for dinner, Keren hugged me. I apologized before I said it, but she was too excited at my butchering of their language to be offended.

Anyways at the camps, I resolved to speak one-word English. I spoke very few complete sentences because the campers would stare at me in confused wonder. Thankfully teaching sports requires less words and more actions. We were able to make do. But as my father taught me as a child, I make sounds and exclaim certain things when I play sports. I'm not talking vulgar obscenities (he did not teach me that!), but random words and noises.

Well, the campers (especially the girls) started picking up on these as we played Frisbee and volleyball. Various grunts began echoing in my ear as soon as they left my mouth. Things like "ooh," "ahh," and other sound effect noises resounded like a choir. I would began to laugh, which then caused everyone to start giggling. But what they enjoyed most were repeating the two words I spoke most whenever we played games.

In an attempt to encourage I would say "good job" whenever someone caught the frisbee or hit the volleyball correctly. As a way not to discourage, I would utter "oops" if someone dropped the frisbee or misplayed a hit. Well, they didn't quite understand the difference between the two. Before I knew, "oops" and "good job" randomly exited their mouths at will. After every play one of those two phrases was heard. Eventually I was able to demonstrate when to say "good job" and when to say "oops," but for the rest of camp the campers loved yelling out one of those two phrases whenever I came near.

When I arrived in the morning, got introduced to teach Bible, taught the sports classes, walked passed one of them, left for the day, and every time in between "oops" and "good job" were my calling cards. Most did remember my name as well, but found it much more humorous to greet me with one of these.

These two girls were the "oops" queens. They would say and wave me over to them. As I ate my meals, they would exclaim it while walking by. I couldn't help but laugh and go with it.

This group of younger girls found it more hilarious to play catch with me and speak fluent Telugu as I had any idea of what they were saying. The only thing I decoded was how they wanted me to throw the ball back. I liked to be tricky by tossing in between my legs, behind my back, and other means my father graciously raised me with. They would laugh hysterically with each one, try to mimic them, and laugh again when they failed. I would simply laugh at them laughing at me.

wedding day

Last Tuesday I attended the wedding of an LCMI staff member. Surprisingly, the wedding ceremony was not drastically different from the states. It might have been the Christian influence, but I am not completely sure. A few of the notable differences:

• Bridal parties don't really exist. The groom has one person as does the bride.
• The rings aren't as big a deal. Instead, a gold chain (3 strands) if presented to the bride by the groom. It symbolizes the God and each individual entering into the marriage covenant. It takes the place of our unity candle.
• The signing of the license is a part of the ceremony. The couple sits around a table with their witnesses and pastor while the guests watch.
• Starting times are extremely flexible. The invitation said 10:30, but the ceremony didn't start until 12. Let's just say we sat for a while watching everyone get ready.
• The ceremony is all impromptu. No rehearsal goes into it. The church leaders dictate how it runs. Even a seemingly random outsider (yours truly) can get called to the stage and pray for the couple in the middle of the ceremony.
• During the message, the couple sits on a large heart-shaped chair to the side of the stage. They look like the king and queen.
• The procession starts with the groom's entire family walking up front. The bride and her family follow ten minutes or so later.
• Flowers are not just in the hands of the ladies. They are on everyone involved

Here are the two processions: groom then bride.

Prayer after the rings, gold chain, and vows.
Just like at home, we get to throw things at the couple too. In this case, rice and flower petals. Only we not don't just throw, but walk up and sprinkle on top of their heads. Most will find its way to the floor.