hey guys!! Wow...I know it's been FOREVER since I have posted last, and I am so sorry if you have been worried at all. I have been unable to connect my computer to internet of any kind since we got here. Even now, I can't upload my photos because I am having to use the hotel manager's computer. ha ha ha, gotta roll with it! Anyway, I just want to sum up our last 5 days for you and share a bit about what is next for us.
We arrived in Calcutta (known by the locals as Kolkota) safely and on time at 630am Sunday morning after a 40 hour travel experience (7hrs from Shimoga to Bangalore, 5hrs wait at the train station there, then a 29hr train ride from Bangalore to Calcutta). The train was.....welll......lets just saya few things: 1.Close quarters! 64 people per car, which meant 8 people per "compartment" (no actual curtains or doors, just bunks on the side of the car,in tiers of three). 2.I don't think our neighbors liked some of us very much....but we tried to just love on them and not compare to the wonderful reception that we had in Shimoga. 3. "Bathrooms"...on a moving train...with no actual toilet....it took a LOT of skill. Those of you who have ridden a train in Asia know what I am talking about :)
But all in all, we got to catch up on some reading, make some friends, learned abit more about the country, and sleep as much as we wanted. It was a good trip.
When we arrived we then cruised to our hotel and showered for the first time since Friday. It was SO GOOD to be clean :)
Sunday afternoon we visited a little girl that Ben knows who is handicapped, but has been tought a trade (making sarees) so that she can support herself. Then we went to our first Faith Comes By Hearing listening session. It was rad! There was a woman who asked for prayer from Kaitlynn afterwards, and when we started praying for her, we all felt a demonic presence of some kind. It shook us up, but we continued praying and the woman said she felt she had been freed. She glowed with happiness :)
Monday we spent visiting two different ministries to the women of the Red Light District here. I have been asked not to write about them here, so you will have to wait for our own stories when we get back. Let me just say that I was inspired, encouraged, and sobered. One of the leaders said to us "We all spend our lives on something. We cannot save it up. What are you spending yours on?"
Monday evening we went to another listening session at a church on the other side of Calcutta. It was rad! The people there were happy, filled with joy, and just loved us all and made us feel so welcome. Ben was asked by the pastor to give an impromptu sermon (gulp!), and he just jumped right up there and spoke for about 20 min through an interpreter. He did great! Then we all got up and sang a few Solid Rock worship songs for them, which they just loved. .....and laughed at our funny Western songs too :)
All in all, its been a very full and interesting two days in Calcutta. Today we leave the hotel in a few minutes to visit Mother Theresa's Home for the Dying and Destitute. Then we will view Victoria's Palace and a few other sights. Then at 1130tonight we hope a train for Ongole to see a different children's orphanage that is run by our friend here in Calcutta, Simpson.
Hopefully I will be able to hope into an internet cafe tonight or on thursday when we arrive in Ongole. And hopefully I can use my computer so I can upload some pictures for you guys.
But no promises (as I have learned) ha ha hha
We all love and miss you guys back home. And we are ready to eat some American food and sleep in our own beds. And to tell you all our stories about this beautiful, tragic, inspiring, and sobering place.
Please please please continue to pray for spiritual protection for us. We all agree that when we arrived in Calcutta we saw the bold face of Evil in a new and shocking way. It is not disguised here....it stares you in the face and laughs. We must remember that the battle is already won, and that this is not the world we were made for, and it is not where we will end. And we must, with ever greater fervency, draw others to the Truth that will set them free from their chains.
Pray for us, pray for India.
Love to you all,
.Rebekah
10 comments:
Good Evening from Beaverton.
We have decided that 29 hours on anything is not something we want to do! The three of us have been truly blessed by the blog and all the pictures. We know that some of you don't know who we are, but we are praying for all of you. May your time be blessed with health and grace from Him who protects you. We look forward to seeing pictures when you get home.
In His Name,
Wyatt, Steffi and David Webb
We have been anxiously awaiting to hear from all of you. Praise the Lord you made it safe!! The boys prayed for you as they said their prayers for bedtime. We will continue to pray for the team and for India as well. God is using all of you in a fantastic way!!
Kevin, Trudy, Renn & Zayvn Umphress
1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
You guys are so amazing and courageous. You guys and the work the Lord is doing through you is not just inspiring and blessing those in India, it is blessing and inspiring those of us here at home in some unbelievable ways. You are incredible people indeed.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Much love,
Tim and Julia Bryant
It's good to hear you are safe and sound. Can't wait to hear the details of the train. We pray for you many times throughout the day as we think of you often. Your presence is missed at SRF but we know God is working through you to reach the lost. Remember your strength comes from the Lord. We know you still have a lot to see and do and we will pray you all safely home. What a great mission trip this has been.
We love you all,
Danita and Todd
Bekah and everyone- I am so glad to hear you are arrived safely to Calcutta. I am praying for you and I miss you all.. Cant wait till you are home.
Love you!
Charissa
Ha ha ha! I heard through the grapevine about your experiences on the train. :) And as I too have experienced long train rides in Asia I feel the pain. There is nothing quite like it. Can't wait to exchange stories. :)
I am blessed to hear that all is going well and that you guys are getting the opportunity to see the many sides of life in India. I will continue to pray for your protection, both physically and spiritually, as well as for God to keep speaking clearly into each of your lives. I can't tell you how excited I am to see and hear about all that God has been doing with you all!
I will see you all very soon, much to your dismay I'm sure,
Much love my friends!
Shannon
Whoppee! We are so glad to hear you are all safe and sound! We missed our daily blog fix and cracked open the atlas to map out how you might be traveling. Amazing,amazing! Kaity pumpkin can't wait to see you this weekend! We miss you so much! Love Mom and Dad!
Kait I loved hearing your beautiful voice ma cherie, (that's french for little darling, I think. Don't show Amber or Ashley...:) I know that this trip is going to change your life. I miss you tons and hope you are well. We will continue to pray that you guys would be a beacon of light in that dark place. Even if you are a candle in the midst of pitch black darkness, that just means you will shine all the brighter. I adore you!
~Tab
Wow, what an encouraging, stirring, hope-filled message. I am so blessed to hear of all that God is doing there, how He is the Conquerer, the Sovereign, the Good, and the Healer. He is powerful! I'm so glad He's on our side!
Have a great time you guys! The Spirit has given all of you authority, go in His grace and love and power!
SO RAD!
thanks beks,
the stories, photos and insight into your experiences have been so beautiful. Your energy and lack of at times, has been so honest and has allowed me and so many others to pray for you in a much more emotionally connected way.
thanks so much.
it would be interesting to cap off the blog by having each member of the trip say so words about the trip and you could take photo's of everyone at the end of the trip just like you did in the begining to see everyone come full circle.
just a thought.
you're so rad!
see you soon.
steve
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