As the capital city of one of the most significant nations of this century, Delhi is a strategic location for new churches.  Our Delhi team will come alongside Grace-supported missionaries who have recently planted a church among university students, and will help this church reach out to its community though English teaching, children’s ministry, and a three-day retreat.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30:

Our Delhi Team has returned safe and sound to Southern California full of exciting news and experiences from their mission trip.

Praise God for fruitful ministry in India!

TUESDAY, JULY 29:

Mike writes:

Greetings from Taiwan!  Thanks for your prayers for our trip.  The typhoon over Taiwan cleared and moved to mainland China in time for us to fly as scheduled, so apart from some minor turbulence as we flew over the edge of it, the storm made no impact on our travel.  We should be arriving on schedule Tuesday night.  See you at church this weekend!

MONDAY, JULY 28:

Mike reports:

We are just hours from the end of what has been a fantastic missions trip here in Delhi.  We wrapped things up with a wonderful time of worship at the church plant yesterday afternoon, and an outreach night last night with Don speaking and Alyssa playing piano for a packed house at the meeting hall.  It was a great final day of ministry in what has been a life-changing trip for us and for many of the people we have come to serve.  Strong ties have been created betwen our team and the members of this little church, just a few months old but already showing such promise.  We're honored to partner with this church, and with the leaders who started it.

Many of you are probably wondering about the terrorist bombings you have heard about in the news.  Neither of our teams in India was impacted, and we here in Delhi are very far from the city that was devestated on Saturday.  There has been a noticeable increase in security around town, and we expect security delays at the airport tonight, but we have never felt ourselves to be in any danger at all.  Thank you for praying.

We plan to return to LA on Tuesday night, though the typhoon in Taiwan, our 8-hour layover stop on the way, may make an impact on that schedule.  Please pray for a smooth return trip.  We return full of gratitude for what God allowed us to do, and amazed at the way He builds His church all over the world.  Thank you for your involvement in our ministry!  See you soon.

SUNDAY, JULY 27:

Mike reports:

There have been reports of several bombings in India over the weekend, but the Grace team is safe and sound.  They have reported that the bombings are not near Delhi, but about 13 hours away by train.  There is a higher presence of security in Delhi and the team is feeling safe being there.

The team is wrapping up ministry and will be returning home on Tuesday. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23:

Mike writes:

I got back to Delhi late last night, and it's good to be back with the team.  They've had a wonderful time.  Misri got to share his testimony last Sunday night, and his story of coming to Christ out of Hinduism made quite an impact, and is still bearing fruit.  The three days of Kids Camp went great, as the team shared the love of Christ with about 60 slum kids every day.  And more friendships were built last night at Chat over Coffee, a weekly outreach gathering.

We leave today for two days of church retreat, where our team will be teaching, sharing testimonies, and basically building on the relationships already established.  The sign-ups exceeded expectations, so we're looking forward to a good three days away.

Thanks for your prayers!  Some of the team are starting to get a little sick and run down by the long days and high humidity, so pray for health and strength to make the best of or time here.  We appreciate your part in ths ministry!

MONDAY, JULY WHATEVER! (actually the 21st):

Mike writes:

I had a great day at the Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Bangalore on Sunday, receiving a warm welcome from the faculty and the students, and enjoying a wonderful worship service with them.  Our Bangalore team is off to a great start there, and should have a great week of leadership training.

I flew overnight from India to Thailand, and arrived at Chiang Mai this morning.  Mark Crawford met me at the airport, and spoke very highly of our team that served here last week.  I'm looking forward to seeing their ministry here today, and in a neighboring country tomorrow, as they creatively reach out to women and children who are exploited by sex trafficking.

The Delhi team begins three days of Kids Camp outreach to slum children today - thanks for praying as they impact as many as 60 kids each day with games, crafts, and Bible stories.  We'll be reunited when I fly back to India on Wednesday night to kick off the three-day church retreat on Thursday.  Keep praying for strength, health (had some stomach problems among the Delhi team), and fruitful ministry.

Our God is the God of the Nations, and this trip sure is a reminder of that!  Grace to you from the other side of the world!

SATURDAY, JULY 19:

Mike writes:

Team Delhi arrived safe and sound, despite a few stomach problems likely related to an in-flight meal.  After our orientation on Friday, we met with the core group of leaders from our host church, and had a wonderful time establishing some friendships that we expect will carry us throughout our time here. (For security reasons, we cannot name the church nor the missionaries with whom we serve here).

Today, we were part of a medical outreach to families living in a slum outside of Delhi.  In stifling heat and humidity, we expressed compassion to over 200 families.  A local neighborhood leader expressed a desire to help out the next time this kind of ministry takes place - PTL for an excellent new community contact!

Delhi is hard to describe to people who have never been here.  It's noisy, crowded, hot and muggy, and it's dynamic and forward-looking and changing in front of your eyes.  What an exciting place to be!  What potential there is here for people to respond to good news about Christ!  Thank you so much for sending us and praying for us.

We've split the team for a few days.  I (Mike) have flown to Bangalore to be with the team here and to preach in the service tomorrow at Maranatha Bible College, before flying on the Thailand late tomorrow night to visit our partners in Chiang Mai.  The team will take part in Delhi worship services tomorrow, then hold three days of Kids Camp for slum children.  We will re-unite in Delhi on Wednesday night, in time for the three-day church retreat at the end of next week.

Thank you for praying!  We'll write again soon.

THURSDAY, JULY 17:

Mike Gaston Reports:

Team India Delhi is in Taipei for a 3 hour layover before beginning their final flight to Delhi.  It was a good flight over the Pacific, and all are eagerly anticipating arriving in Delhi and beginning ministry there.

Continue to pray for the team as they travel.  Their flight is due to arrive in Delhi around 11:00 pm California time.

.