TRIP DATES: June 28 - July 9
TUESDAY,
JULY 11:
Monique
writes:
Greetings!
We're back safe and somewhat sound from
our adventure in India! What a blessing that
the last and longest (9 hour) leg of our trip (Tokyo
to LA) was a very smooth flight - no more bouncing
around at the mercy of high altitude turbulence.
On the partially bumpy ride from Singapore to Tokyo
I had been reading John Piper's Seeing and Savoring
Jesus Christ and came to chapter 5, entitled
The Waves and Winds Still Know His Voice, which
was especially meaningful for those moments on the
plane! In addition, I had had some intestinal
challenges on Sunday so decided that not eating
would be wise if I wanted to avoid difficulties
while flying and thankfully it worked. It
would not have been fun to deal with nausia
while bumping along up there. My digestive
system still seems a bit delicate, but I'm feeling
well.
The east and south coast team members reached
home Sunday; Gene, Holly, Judy and I arrived home
Monday afternoon; Bob and Wendy (our Hawaiian team
members) were continuing on to Agra (Taj Mahal)
and Japan; and Sam, Sue and their son Cyril will
return next Tuesday after spending time with family
and checking up on ministries near Hyderabad.
That accounts for the entire team. In Singapore,
we met up with Jody Evans (from Grace) who was returning
a few days earlier than the rest of India Team
2 in Bangalore. He was on the same flight
to LA via Tokyo, so we got to hear the good things
that had occurred while he was at Maranatha Bible
College in Bangalore!
Thank you so much for your encouragement,
prayers and support for our trip...both as we prepared
to head out and while we were gone. In the
next day or so, as I continue to process all that
happened, I want to send you more about all that
occurred, because your prayers were answered in
so many ways. And I'll have some photos to
send along as well. Your prayers would be
appreciated for the in-country partners who continue
their ministries in a difficult place, for the pastors
who attended last week's seminar, and for the recipients
of the wheelchairs...that the chair they received
would be a daily reminder of the love of God they
(hopefully) experienced through the kindness of
our team members and heard about through Joy, Sam
and Sue in the counseling station before they left
our distribution. Many took Joni's biography
and copies of the NT, so you can pray that the words
of Light will shine into their hearts through those
books!
Grace2U,
SUNDAY,
JULY 9:
Monique
writes:
Greetings from Singapore!
We had a turbulent flight from India but
arrived safely Monday morning - our first of two
as we will cross the date line and experience our
second Monday morning July 10th! There was
some definite talking to the Lord about His ability
to calm the storm as we bumped along part of the
way! And I was grateful that turbulence doesn't
faze His angels!
We must
head to our departure gate very shortly so this
is just a quick "hello"! Thank you for your
prayers. Sunday's fellowship in a tiny church
in a Muslim neighborhood was a unique experience
- the only thing we understood was a few kind
words in English from an "MC" and Gene's message
as he spoke through an interpreter. We had
an enjoyable afternoon with Sam, Sue and Sue's
sister and neice and had a chance to see a bit
more of the city before we prepared for departure.
Our spirits were better that morning...thanks
for praying.
SATURDAY,
JULY 8:
Monique
writes:
Namaste! Greetings!
Saturday morning our tired team rose early,
made a quick visit to a school for blind youth
run by our host in Bidar, and then trekked 4 hours
back to Hyderabd. It was my first time to
see the high plains countryside of India (I slept
the entire ride out on Wednesday to try to overcome
my illness) and it was a beautiful day to see the
green plains and small villages as we passed by.
Our team has worked long, hard days and
has not had much down time - so had a short afternoon
of shopping before a hurried dinner hosted
by Sue Gorlla's family - unfortunately we couldn't
linger to visit because Saturday night traffic in
town made Sam very late in picking us up, later
in arriving at the family home, and the east &
south coast members of the team had to get
to the airport to catch evening flights. Downtown
traffic and sights was as busy as New Year's Eve
in Times Square! But mercifully the team made
it to the airport in plenty of time. And we
were glad to meet Sam and Sue's extended family
- our California team will get to spend time with
them today (Sunday) before we catch our flight home.
Gene will be preaching in Sam's father's church
this morning!
TUESDAY,
JULY 4:
Monique
writes:
Greetings!
I write this Wednesday morning here in India,
at just about the time the sky is getting dark at
home...almost dark enough for the 4th of July fireworks
to begin!
Our second day of wheelchair distribution went
as smooth as butter - we worked out all the first
day's kinks and the Indian assistants from Operation
Blessing India (partners here that set up the distribution)
caught on to the process and were a terrific help.
They had three young ladies who have just completed
their physical therapy certificates volunteer alongside
our therapists and they were valuable assistants
and translators too! There were a number of
decisions both days as the recipients and their
families met with Joy at the end of their process.
Today we are travelling - gratefully it
is not a work day as about 4 of us are under the
weather with the flu or a head cold (me included).
We're grateful that we have a physician with us!
Please pray for quick recovery so we'll be at full
strength tomorrow!
Solo
Deo gloria - to Him be the glory
MONDAY,
JULY 3:
Monique
writes:
Monday morning greetings!
We're wrapping up a long first day of
wheelchair distribution – 41 chairs in all
– from 9 AM – 7:30 and counting…they're
just finishing up the last two chairs of
the day. Some supplies weren't here until
mid-day, which backed up the process, but
the team has hung in there. I hear the whir
of drills and power screwdrivers as I write.
Sam and Sue have been busy translating for
us and also talking with the wheelchair
recipients and their families in the counseling
station. Judy and the other therapists have
been cheerfully meeting, measuring and seating
our recipients…people of all ages. Some
arrived in ‘auto rickshaws' (3 wheeled mini
taxis), some carried in by family or friends,
others pulled themselves in on short, wheeled
pallettes. Holly has helped me with photography,
crafting and upholstering foam cushions
for adapting the wheelchairs, and handing
out small toys and playing with the children.
Gene has been overseeing the operation,
providing wheelchair safety training to
the new owners, and doubling as a mechanic
as needed.
The
measurement and categorization of the
chairs we did yesterday helped get us
going well this morning. Other than the
supplies being late, the day has gone
well. The harmony among the team has been
a blessing…they're tired tonight, but
happy to have been of service today!
We need a good night's rest before we
start it all over again tomorrow!
SUNDAY,
JULY 2:
Monique
writes:
Greetings!
As
you begin your Sunday morning activities,
we here in Hyderabad are wrapping up
our day! This morning our team
divided into two groups and visited
believers in two local fellowships -
one being the traditional Mennonite
church led by Sam Gorlla's father, the
other a bustling Assemblies of God church
(we visited the second of three morning
services!) where Gene was able to bring
a 5 minute greeting and Biblical mandate
for our ministry with the disabled.
While
the worship team and pastor taught from
the pulpit indoors with packed seating,
most of the worshipers were seated outside
under expansive tents - and that is
where we sat - watching and listening
to the service via large screen TV!
Actually, sitting under the tents we
enjoyed the cooling of the monsoon breezes
that ruffled the tent tops that protected
us from the short downpour mid-service!
The
music was mostly familiar praises which
we could easily join in, and the teaching
from Matthew 6 was right on.
After
the service, a gentleman introduced
himself to Gene saying he is in a position
of leadership in services for the disabled
and he offered to set up meetings for
future teams to tour facilities and
meet with government officials.
Another woman introduced herself to
me as a professor of Social Work at
a local university, and she was thrilled
to hear of the Wheels for the World
work in her city! It is a joy
to meet brothers and sisters and have
an immediate connection through the
Spirit!
The
team worked together quickly and efficiently this
afternoon in measuring and categorizing
chairs, getting organized for tomorrow's
first day of distribution. Thanks
for bringing us before the Father -
the team is enjoying a delightful fellowship
and camaraderie - a great blessing!
SATURDAY,
JULY 1:
Monique
writes:
Greetings from India!
Our team arrived safely late Friday
night (Friday AM in the US!) - all except
for Karen, a teacher from upstate NY whose
neighborhood was flooded and she was unable
to get through flooded streets to get
to the airport for her flight - please
pray for her as she considers whether
the Lord wants her to catch another flight
(assuming He parts the waters!) or has
to deal with the disappointment of not
being able to join the team.
I'm sitting in the back of the Pastor's
Disability Ministry meeting (Saturday
afternoon, and had access to Gene's laptop -
I thought I'd try to connect online, and
it worked! Must be a wireless network
somewhere nearby!
There are over 80 pastors and church
folks here for the Disability Ministry
Seminar! I helped "temporarily disable"
them to give them a taste for what disabled
people experience. Joy, herself
in a wheelchair, taught this morning about
awareness and opportunities. Gene
is preparing to close out the seminar
in a few minutes with a lesson on Biblical
Philosophy for Disability Ministry.
It is warm but has been bearable. This
afternoon is getting rather hot and muggy,
even sitting here under the never ending
spinning of the ceiling fans. There
is a 8 inch gecko or something like it
climbing on the wall behind the speaker.
We've met pastors and believers from other
fellowships who have a heart to reach
out to disabled people!
It's been neat meeting the rest of
the team! The Grace team members
are bonding with the rest from other states!
The couple from Hawaii arrived, but their
luggage is still on route...the airline
says it should be here tomorrow!
This morning we unpacked 95 of the
wheelchairs that we will begin distributing
on Monday morning...we have some more
work to set up for the distribution -
please pray that it all goes smoothly,
to the glory of God!
I
understand better how Paul must have
felt to be miles away from those he
loved in the Lord and wrote things along
the lines of "I remember you with joy
and pray for your love to abound more
and more...." (I'm reading
Philippians, can you tell?!) We
are so grateful for your partnership
in this trip, covet your prayers, and
remember you in prayer with jo
FRIDAY,
JUNE 30:
Monique
writes:
India Team 1 arrived safely in Singapore
via Taiwan on Friday morning (Thursday
night US time). Some of us are
groggier than others, but all doing
well. I shared about our team
with my next door seatmate, Peggy, (returning
to Taiwan from Irvine for a high
school reunion) and she was touched.
The humanitarian work opens doors for
conversation!
Pray
for us as we head on to India - and
for the people
THURSDAY,
JUNE 29:
Monique
writes:
Hello from Singapore!
Our team is on the ground in Singapore
- Thursday night your time, and it's
already Friday afternoon here!
We have an 8 hour layover here, and
will take the team on a two hour tour
of the area.
We
had a smooth flight, via Taipei,
and I had the opportunity to talk
to a lady sitting next to me - originally
from Taipei - who resides
in Irvine. She was touched
by our mission of bringing wheelchairs
to India.
we'll
be meeting through the seminars on
disability ministry and the wheelchair
distributions. Thank you so
much for bringing us before the Father!
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