Archive for 2008
Some brief snapshots of our time here in India….
Friday, November 14th, 2008
We arrived in Tuni at Light of Love Children’s Home around 9pm, about 8 hours later than desired but after 3 days of traveling we finally made it. I really do enjoy flying west on EVA from LAX to Bangkok but because of flight timings from Thailand to India, going west takes about an additional 14 hours(compared to flying through Europe) which consists of air time and airport time provided you want to fly south into a place like Chennai or Hyderabad. If you are asking why I keep going West, the answer lies in the fact I am hungry for more EVA miles and I enjoy the lounge access in the various airports thanks to my accumulated miles.
Tuesday the entire day was spent traveling from village to village dedicating just 3 water projects. Normally this shouldn’t take all day but for some reason it does. Maybe this is because each village is separated by a long bumpy, crater filled dirt road for which you have to drive slow and this joined with the influx of animals and other vehicles vying for road space make travel a little slow. Each village visited was unique in that the faces were all different except for the fact that upon our arrival they displayed their joy and excitement at our arrival and presence. It is really evident that our being here is special for them and it is evident that they truly are grateful for the gift of water.
In each village I had the opportunity to remind the villagers that just because they are Indian and of the Dalit community, they have value and worth as people, individuals created by God with a unique calling and purpose. They are not to just live, exist, consume earth’s natural resources, but they are to seek after their creator God and discover for themselves who He is and what He has for them. A message of hope and value; something they don’t hear a lot of. The Dalits live lives of oppression and marginalization by the upper caste Hindus. When you hear their stories and know their plight it really does make you sad. I wish I could do more.
I finally got to see the kids at Light of Love, they were saying their evening prayers and as soon as I walked into the hall, the place erupted and immediately 2 girls ran to me. One couldn’t have been more than 3 and the other 5 and for whatever reason they each grabbed a hand and wouldn’t let go. These are 2 young, precious souls that I haven’t seen before and don’t know why they picked me but you talk about feeling loved and wanted – these 2 little ones showed me that and it made me cry, in fact just thinking about it brings the tears again. When was the last time a little young stranger ran to you and grabbed your hand and didn’t let go?
God is big and is working. That is about all I can say. The media has all sorts of things to say and portray and yet God is alive and working and it is evident as I travel. If you are a Christ follower and have any interest in India you have probably heard and read reports about the persecution taking place in the central northern parts of India, specifically Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. The reality is that this type of thing takes place in other places and it just isn’t reported but by reading the reports it would make you think that the Christian church is running scared from the Hindu nationals throughout India and this just isn’t the case. You probably didn’t know but the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is a Christian, his son in law, younger than 30 is taking a strong stance with the Christians and is personally underwriting some large events in which Christian pastors are mobilizing and showing their solidarity for the cause of Christ. One such rally is going to take place on December 6 and it is estimated that over 10,000 pastors will gather, this is just the pastors and doesn’t include their wives, fellow church members or their immediate family who might chose to join them, but in any event there is going to be a gathering with the purpose of bringing praise to God for all that He is doing in the land. Yes, they will pray for those suffering in the bordering states but to assume that India’s Christians are fleeing and under intense attack is simply not true. It may be true that some are suffering, yet this shouldn’t surprise us because scripture tells us this will happen; notwithstanding this, I don’t want you to believe that it is all evil here as it isn’t.
I traveled to Trichy which is in Tamil Nadu, a southern state on the eastern coast and here I met with Father Dhana and we dedicated 7 projects of which 1 was for a government school and another on a farm for which water would be made available for 1500 students and orphan children. Of these projects, 4 were carried out in response to an elected official who is responsible for approximately 12,000 lower caste and Dalit people who have been suffering terribly because they lack water. Wells for Life is responsible for bringing 13 projects to villages in which he is responsible for and requested another 10 for which I hope to raise funds. In any event, this fellow received the highest service award possible from the State government because of his work for the poor and providing for their basic needs. Wells for Life was the main component of this man’ effectiveness in his villages and for which recognition was given to the point that the ruling officials are suggesting to all of the village leaders that they follow this fellows lead and utilize private NGO’s like Wells for Life to meet the basic needs of the villagers. An honoring thought yet hopefully not the breaking of the dam as far as project proposals go; yet if it is then God must have something big in store for us financially as it will take a bunch of money to meet the tremendous needs that exist.
I am in Tuni again and will be leaving for New Life Colony, a place where a good friend of mine is still working on raising $13,000 which will meet her pledge of $30,000 towards building homes for 21 families who were displaced in Tuni because they were Dalit and lived in an area that the upper caste people wanted to re-occupy. Funds are still needed yet construction is on going and many homes are completed and occupied. Wells for Life in partnership with the Children’s Ministry of Westside Family Church have brought water to this place and all are enjoying their new found fortune which is based in the love of God towards them and is being demonstrated tangibly through water, land acquisition and home construction. Lest I forget, another good friend, Bob Gettemy from Santa Fe NM has also contributed funds for food and other household items which have helped these 21 families make the transition from homelessness to home owners.
That is all for now, hopefully I can wrap this all up and include a link to some pictures and video from our numerous water project dedications; until then God’s blessings on each of you.