Joni and Friends works around the world to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the disabled.  The Wheels for the World campaign provides wheelchairs and a gospel presentation to needy people.  This is Grace's fourth trip to India to reach out in this practical way.  Our team members have a heart for evangelism and compassion for the disabled.

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2007

Team Leader Gene writes:

The team arrived back home Monday evening June 4th.  As the jet lag cobwebs abate, and as we readjust to our normal routines, we certainly have a new lens from which to view our lives and culture here in North American.  Additionally, we can celebrate the following successes:

The next couple of weeks will be spent reflecting upon our outreach experience, and engaging in debrief activities.  Please continue to pray for team members during this reflection / debrief phase as there are often rich and life-changing insights that surface at this time.  

FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2007

Margaret writes:

Hello to all my friends and family.  

Today was our final distribution of wheelchairs.  As I sit in this internet cafe, I am reminded of home and all of you.  Thank you ,thank you for your faithfulness.  It is so good to hear from you and to hear of how you are  doing.  I have been sitting here for the last hour just soaking in the encouragements that you sent. 

It is so hard to put into words of what it's been like.  If I had an hour to spare, I can just sit and sob my heart out.  There is a special story for every single receipients of the wheelchairs.  There are miracles after miracles (each one of us have a miracle chair story.)  Yesterday, I helped a young man get and fitted for a wheelchair.  He has no use of his legs and his spine is severly twisted from scoliosis.  He had a million dollar smile and was so thankful that he had this opportunity.  This young man was afflicted with polio as a baby and is known as a "crawler."  He has pads for his knees and hands and crawls around to get to one place or another.  He was fortunate enough to receive a chair last year when the India Team came.  He told me that he gave the wheel chair to a relative who was worse off than he was.  So, he waited an entire year to receive this one. There are countless stories like his and it was such a blessing to my heart as I saw his beautiful smile of thankfulness. 

So many people crawled in from the road and as they continued their journey to the facility, they were met with a wheelchair and brought in to the distribution center.  Each one of them left with a wheelchair just for them. However, they will continue to crawl as their living areas are too small, and many of their doorways are not big enough.  So, we pray that they will still be able to use them when they are in school or even at work (some will now be able to work because they can use these chairs.) 

Please continue to do what you have been doing for all of us,  of all the people that are placed here, and of all the receipients and their families. 

It is bittersweet to leave here day after tomorrow but I know that we will be leaving with much more than what we came with.  G's grace is abundant, and we will leave with joy in our hearts. 

May you all be blessed.   

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Margaret writes:

Dear family and friends.

Well, I am happy to say that we have made it here safely.  It was a long transit time.  I think it was over 40 hours from the moment we left  the airport.  We have been extremely busy  since we touched down but all have been worth it.  I am thankful to you all that I have been given this opportunity to experience my time here.  All my senses are constantly assaulted  and am  trying hard to soak everything in. I don't want to forget any of this.

A little bit about India so far:

 I am learning that there is no use putting makeup on or styling my hair since everthing starts melting off or drooping the minute you leave your room. Hot and humid are understated.

 I also pray everynight for a little warm water during the shower.  So far, I have had the pleasure of one hot shower for a very short period of time.  All the other days have been cold. They receive water every 9 days here and when you run out, you have to wait until the next time.  As you can imagine, water is very scarce and heated water is even more precious.

The electricity goes out without warning at all hours of the day as well.   The streets are filled with people, run down autos, buses, rickshaws, motor bikes, and COWS!!!!  We saw the biggest elephant walking along the street with 2 people on top of her.  It was a major photo op. 

People of India: Warm and very hospitable.  Very curious about us and stares alot.  Of course we stand out big time here!!!

Food is spicy and mostly vegetarian dishes.  Lots of good breads. We are not able to drink the water or eat fresh veggies or fruit except banana.  I miss a good salad.

Wheelchair Distribution:

 We have distributed over 60 wheelchairs so far.  It has been incredible and amazing to be a part of this awesome operation.  You cannot fathom the conditions of the recepients.  It is difficult not to get choked up as  you see each of these precious people in need of something that should be readily available to them. It is hard to comprehend that this is truly a miracle for them.

To have this opportunity  once a year and only because we came and brought the wheelchairs for them  is unfathomable but a reality. My heart has been overwhelmed each day. I have seen and experienced the goodness of G and his mercy. Most of my receipients have been children of all ages.  Thinking that I am holding a 2 year old and finding out that he/she is 9 or ten has been most difficult.  Most are born with their disabilities and situations  and life is extremely difficult for the family.  Many still crawl on their hands and knees.  Some only using a piece of plywood and 4 casters attached to it and maneuvering with their knuckles.  Layers of callouses have built up from this. Each and everyone of them have been a blessing to me and their faces will forever be etched in my memories.  I have learned so much already.  

I have found that there is alot of love and compassion from those who give because they love their maker, as well as the love and appreciation from those who receive.  Just a smiling face of a child who can actually propel himself in a wheel chair, measured and fixed just for him brings enough tears of joy to my heart that will last a lifetime. 

I thank you all for allowing me to come here and to have you with me on this journey. I know without a doubt that I am supposed to be here in this place, at this very exact time.  Every one of you have played a special part and I want to let you know that everything you have done and are doing for me and our team now are what keeps us going.  We are all doing this together. Thank you and may you all be blessed by your loving acts of kindness. 

I will keep you posted.    

With a thankful heart,     Margaret

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Ginger writes:

Saturday, May 26, 2007, the world was made smaller and G was bigger. The dedication of the new building for Equip India was today with about 500 people in attendance this morning. This afternoon they were celebrating their 10th anniversary with about 500 in attendance. It’s amazing to see what G is doing here. We met people for the first time and already felt as though we knew them. The Word is getting out to the people of India through our fellow brothers and sisters. There was so much joy on the faces of the people in attendance. You could sense it in their smiles, their eyes and even in their hugs.   We look forward to what the next week will bring.

Before departure Gene writes:

May 22, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know, I will be returning to India this week for another Wheels-for-the-World outreach.  This year promises to be a wonderful time for demonstrating Christ’s love as we distribute wheelchairs, and as we prayerfully seek opportunities to present God’s Truth to those we encounter. 

I am writing to ask you to consider praying for this outreach.  As the team leader, I was recently touched by some comments on prayer by J. Oswald Sanders in his classic book entitled Spiritual Leadership.  Sanders writes,  The eminence of great leaders of the Bible is attributable to the fact that they were great in their praying.  Sanders then quotes E.M. Bounds: 

Would you … like the great Biblical leaders of the past … commit to supporting this outreach through powerful prayer?   I am trusting God to convene an assembly of Prayer Warriors to wrestle the souls of many from the grasp of the enemy.  If you would like to join the battle via prayer, then please see the attached document with some suggested daily prayer items. Please feel free to pray for these items as well as any others that come to mind.

I will be back in touch (after I return home) to give you an update.  In the meantime, you may want to logon to the Grace Baptist Church web page to see what the Lord is doing through this outreach team.  Go to  www.gracebaptist.org/outreach/summer-07/index.htm and check out India Team 1.

With God’s love,