THANK YOU

I want to thank all of you for keeping me in your prayers and supporting me throughout this trip! If it weren't for you guys it would have much harder! May God bless you!

Tonigh I leave

Thank you all for your prayers!!! Tonight I make the 20 hour flight...................

Tomorrow I leave…

What to say??? I can’t wait to get back and see my brother and his wife, my parents and sister, and my beautiful woman!!! But, at the same time I feel equal sad to leave. Kolkata has changed my life!!!!!! I will never walk or talk the same. The past two months have changed my life. I know that the relationships I have made here were not in vain. I know that somehow all of this will work out in the kingdom of God! Jesus has been so good to me!!! My entire trip has been directed and protected by God; the power of the Holy Spirit has enabled me to learn! I thank GOD for this trip!!! I know that some way, somehow all of this will work together….. as members of one body!

The BIG Weekend!!!

Tomorrow starts my last and craziest weekend!!! I am speaking 4 times; each one is a different message and group, so I have a lot to keep track of… I don’t want to preach the same thing 4 times the same way… Pray that God can use me and that all the preparation I have put in this week will allow me to feel comfortable. I just want all these people to see and know Jesus better! Thanks so much for your prayers! God bless.

AIR INDIA PRAYER!

Today, July 3, some of the employees from Air India went on strike. It's only a 2 hour strike, but they are threatening to make it indefinite. I have already purchased my round trip ticket with Air India, so pray that this issue is resolved within a week. My flight is scheduled July 16th at 7:00pm. Pray that the airline is fully operational and that the weather will permit take off. The monsoon season is in full swing now, so we have heavy rain every day. Since Air India is a government run airline any problems could cause me much pain and money. (It would be like working with the DMV). Please pray that everything will go smoothly.

2.5 Weeks Left

They asked me to speak last week for the youth night, and praise God it went well! Now, they are having me speak several times before I leave. This Friday night I will be leading a 30 min devotional for the youth leaders. Then, Saturday I will be speaking a 15 min sermon for the working professionals. Plus, next Friday I will be speaking in the high school chapel, here at the church, and then teaching a one of the hour and a half discipleship classes my last Sunday here for the youth group! So, the will keep me going right up till the end – and I love it! I ask that you would keep me in your prayers. I simply want to reflect Jesus!

Pray

Since Sunday I haven’t been feeling well. Monday I was not feeling to great, but when I woke up Tuesday I couldn’t talk and my through was hurting. By the end of the day I was feeling better, but weak. Then on Wednesday I woke up and after a few hours started coughing. Since then it feels like my lungs are feeling with fluid… Thank God Dr. Mata gave me Amoxicillin to take with me. So, I started taking it last night. Pray that God will give me strength and I will recover quickly! Thanks you all so much for your prayers.

MOVING!!!

Saturday I found out that an apartment has become available. There were two interns for the hospital who are leaving Wednesday, so I’ll be able to move in Wednesday. This is great because not only do I have an apartment with AC, TV, and fringe, it is also across the street from the church. This means I am only 50 yards from the church!!! NO MORE 10 MIN. WALK! God is so good because on top of all this it's cheaper!

California

Two things I miss
Jamie
In-N-Out

AN AMAZING WEEK!!!

This week was went SO FAST!!!!!!
I have been getting to the church at 9:00am and talk with the most BEAUTIFUL WOMAN ON THE FACE OF THE EATH… oh yeah and I talked to my folks a few time too… Then I am at the church until about 6 or so. But this week from 6 till about 9 was my favorite part of the trip so far!

Monday – There was a children’s ministry in the heart of the slums. In fact the small building we were in was right by the train tracks so the building shook every 5-10 min as a train went by. THE SLUMS ROCKED MY WORLD!

Tuesday – I had the night off so 3 of the guys from the church took me out. We went bowling and then had dinner at Subway. (I bowled a 128!)Thank God they have American food in Calcutta!

Wednesday – One of the pastors and I went to a cell group (“home fellowship”) just a few miles from my home stay. It’s amazing that God has given me the opportunity to be in the homes of many here.

Thursday – 3 of us went to a thanksgiving pray meeting for one of the women in the church who was healed from diabetes. The power went out while we were there, so about 15 of us were praying in a small 15’ by 8’ room with no fan or lights for about 45 min. As you can imagine we came out looking like we were all swimming in a pool of sweat.

Friday – was the youth ministry. I was able to lead a few of the games.

Saturday (today) – I am playing cricket with some of the guys and then going to a meeting for the young professionals.

Sunday – will be church all day, of course. They have me filming the a.m. service and playing drums for the pm service.

God has been so GOOD to me! I have loved every minute of it. I am living the dream of doing ministry fulltime. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!

IT'S FIXED!!!!!!

My computer is back up! I lost some stuff, but I am able to have what I need on here… at least for the next 5 weeks… I had Windows XP but the Trojan got into the system files so I ended up installing Vista. At any rate, I have what I need! THANK GOD!!!

Computer Prayer

My computer acquired a Trojan “NTOSKRNL-HOOK” AKA Generic Rootkit! So the head of the Media Department is helping me, but it looks like this is BAD!!! Pray that we can figure it out cause my computer is my main avenue of communication.

The First light rain of the season...

DINNER

This was the most amazing dinner I have had in 15 days! A piece of meat without curry!

My Bathroom

My Bed

Life is settling in India

After the first week which was a youth convention, things at the church are starting to become more normal. They have me working in the mornings with the media team doing everything from video editing and sound recording to running sound on Sunday mornings. Then, after lunch I got to the pastors office and help doing anything that comes up – cleaning cabinets to studying. Then in the evenings it’s more interpersonal. On Monday nights there is the Children's ministry, Tuesday night is home visitations, Wednesday and Thursday nights is care/cell groups, and Friday night is youth night. The weekends are open for change, but it’s a lot like Valle Vista where there is something going on every day. With this schedule time seems to move fast and slow at the same time. Each day is long and feels that way, yet it’s hard to believe I have been here for 12 days already. Please pray that I can stay strong and healthy while I’m here, and that I will be able to display Christ more and more each day. Thanks for your payers! They have got me through each day. One day at a time!

Day 11 - Cheeseburger

Success!

This week was a wonderful success! 100s of people we ministered to! God has moved in a beautiful way! The best part is that I’ll be here for the next 7 weeks to see the effects of this week start to take root. The service last night was another highlight for my personal walk with Christ as well. I felt the Lord redefining my call. In many way in which I can’t explain God dealt with my core, my personhood. I made a vow to God that I would put my hand to plow and never look back! I know that being in India this summer is God’s will for me, presently. It has been more difficult than I ever could have imaged, but I know that God is shaping me through. Your prayers have been felt and remember they are more powerful then you may ever know!!!

MAHA JOSH

The second section of this weeks outreach started yesterday. The key demographic is 16-35 for this 4-day event. It is the first time they have combined all of the church for basically a youth convention. a typical day for this event is a morning session, games, seminar classes, lunch, games breakout sessions, evening session. Last night was the first main session and Holy Spirit came. God has been doing some amazing things here. This age group is desperate for God and wanting more of him. There were about 1200 here last night! The room was electric.

Blessings

God is a God who loves to pour out his blessings!
Last night on my way to my room I saw thousands of people struggling just survive! Then it hit me like a train, when the guard at front gate asked me, “Would your country take me?” Instantly my heart dropped as I put a fake smile on and said, “Yeah get on the plane with me!” This world is full of sin and pain! Ever since the 3rd chapter of the 1st book of the Bible we have had to deal with the injustices of this world! Yet, why did I get so lucky as to stay grow up in a house that is 10 times larger than billions of people’s shacks all over the world. Oh, please my righteous, holy God keep me from self-pity!

Yesterday went well! It was FUN but very tiresome!! They had about 900 kids between the ages of 5-12. The outreach they do this week is the most important part of their ministry. Over 50% of Calcutta is under the age of 35. So they devote this whole week to reaching out. The first 3 days, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, are for kids and then Thursday to Saturday is for youth and young adults. I believe that the timing of me being here is of God. I will get to learn from some of the kingdoms best servants!

On more of a personal note, please continue to pray for strength. Last night walked home. It’s about a 15 minute walk down some of the craziest streets in the world. Needless to say I hit some cultural shock! I felt very alone the rest of the night. Please pray that God will give me encouragement and strength. Thank you!

God Bless you all

IM HERE!!!

Well I survived the longest flight of my life!!!! Thank GOD my woman got me an IPod. Anyway, God has been so good to me! They had problems with the flight so we landed in Delhi and had to switch planes. Luckily, I sat down next to a man in the Airport who spoke English well (or GOODLY) and he helped me find my flight here to Calcutta. Once I got here there were two guys waiting for me. Again God saved me because they were going to leave since my flight was delayed so long. But I found them and they took me to my place. It will be a nice stay. I have my own room and bath PLUS AC!!!!

This week will be crazy because of VBS. Pray that it goes well they are expecting 1,000 kids o more all week! I know God will do great things.

Getting ready

My goal is to keep this Blog up to date. This way people can track my summer and see how things are going. Thanks for caring about what going on and please keep me in your prayers.

I only have 3 1/2 hours until the biggest adventure of my life!!!