Pastors Conference Day 1

As I am writing this it is raining outside in India. The power has gone off in the hotel a couple of times but it always comes right back on. The rain makes the weather so nice and even though it is humid it is not hot. Another blessing from God; also none of us have been in India while it rained so this is a different experience for all of us.

The pastors conference this morning went very well. We arrived while worship was going on. The worship is just amazing! This morning Pastors Hector, Garry Kinnaman, and John Amandola spoke. The topics focused mainly around the power of prayer and trusting in God's wisdom and His plan for our lives.

We have two more days left for the Pastors conference. Please be praying that it continues to go well and that God would keep the enemy away from us as we teach and equip our brothers and sisters here in India.

There are still two more sessions to happen today. One is going on right now and I'm sure Dhondi will post about what happened. We also have the evening session to do. We were unable to pass our forms inviting people on the streets this time because the circumstances in Visak have changed since our team was last here two years ago. We have to keep the conference more low key this time to avoid dangerous circumstances.

God Bless,

Christina

India-February 11, 2008: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!

Greetings from India!

Ok, so we have not traveled by train but we certainly were on Planes (for about 26 hours!) and we have also traveled in Automobiles.

We are so excited and blessed to be amongst our dear brothers and sisters here in India once again.

The traveling went very smoothly; Praise God. We had an hour layover in Taipai, a ten hour layover in Kuala Lampur as well as in Hyderabad. God blessed us in Kuala Lampur with hotel and meal coupons so we could rest and eat two good meals. We don't know how we got them except that it was God's provision.

 

Pastor Amandola striking a pose in LAX.

 

Enjoying a meal in Kuala Lampur. We were so grateful for this surprise!

Christina, Saebra, and Melissa at the guest house in Hyderabad.

 

 

Daniel, Dhondi, Saebra, and Christina in a van on our way to our hotel in Vishakputnam.

Now we are in Vishakputnam attending the Pastors Conference. We attended on session where Pastor Joel Mattson and Pastor Gary Kinnaman taught on who Jesus is, and also who we are as believers. The worship is amazing! These people worship God full out and their passion is contagious!

Thank you everyone for your prayers and your support. It is such a great encouragement to our brothers and sisters in Christ to know that on the other side of the world, people are praying for them.

In His Service,

Christina

Ready or not, here we come !

We have officially arrived.  After many hours of flying, walking, waiting in lines, we have finally arrived.  I feel like the last three days have been a series of naps (that's all we've really had time for).  It's 10PM India time and I'm settling down for our first full night of sleep. 

Tonight was the first evening of the Pastor's Conference.  We arrived to the delight of several hundred pastors who decided that there was something worth walking and waiting in the rain for...His name is Jesus.  Pastor Gary and Pastor Joel started off the night.  Joel taught a message on the person and work of Christ and compared it with the things we sometimes wrongly believe about Jesus.  He affirmed out of Psalm 103 the "correct things" that we need to say about who Jesus is. 

Pastor Gary had everyone rolling in their seats.  I'll have to tell you why later.  The content of his message focused on understanding who we are in light of Jesus Christ.    It was a great way to start off the conference and the Pastors were very encouraged and on their feet despite a long day of traveling--not just for us, but for the Pastor's who drove several hundred miles to be here as well.

Other highlights:

• All of the orphanage supplies arrived fine and we were able to get them delivered to the orphanages.
• The food has been amazing...even the airplane food has Indian flair and taste and is delicious !!
• Ed Delph arrived and hooked up with us in Vishakapatnam.
• Although we're tired, we try to take naps whenever we can.  I think that's what John is doing (see picture below.

  

I should be getting to bed now so i can begin the cycle of waking up on time in India.  Thank you all for you continual prayers for fruit and safety. 

 

Serving the King,

Dhondi

11 hours until we leave...

For most of us, our brains are fried.

We are trying to be mindful of everything that we know we'll forget. Between the orphanage bags, teaching outlines, chewing gum, digital cameras, and bug spray, we know that there is something we'll forget. At this point, we're not sure what it is and that's why we are trying to think of it.

Last night, I popped into the Pipoly's to pick up five of the 15 bags destined for Indian Orphanges. Debbie was sitting on the couch. "One hour!" she exclaimed. "I'm going to sit here and relax for one hour."

I probably should do the same.

But no time right now... speaking of which, where's my passport?

Serving the King,
Dhondi