Stickers!

If you have ever wondered if the kids in India like stickers as much as the kids in the States - the answer is yes!! We brought lots and lots of stickers (thanks to all who gave them to us:) with us and Karis has been planning to share them with the kids at the clinics for weeks. And it has been a huge success. We gave some to some street kids in Delhi and in a matter of seconds the number of kids in front of us tripled with each holding up both hands. Today Karis spent the morning distributing multiple stickers to all the kids to all their delight! Between stickers and making great friends with the girls who are helping as interpreters Karis thinks the clinics are the greatest things ever. In general Karis and Stephen are having an amazing time in India - they get so much sweet attention from everyone from the hotel staff to the patients at the clinics.
--Sara Midturi

Photos from Friday, October 30

Dr. Larry Walker Leads Pastor Training Seminar

Dr. Larry Walker is leading a pastor training seminar during the Joy India mission trip. There are 30 pastors from throughout the State of Orissa. The furthest distance one of the pastors traveled was 250 km. Dr. Walker has met with the pastors every day from 9-4 at the Bhubaneswar YMCA.

The pastors are being taught Bible doctrine, church polity, administrative leadership as well as inspirational motivation.

The men sleep and eat at the YMCA. Their accommodation is spartan and they sleep on the floor at the YMCA. The meals and transportation are provided and supported by Joy India.

Nearly all of the pastors have at least seven churches that they serve in their ministry on a rotating basis.

Dr. Walker reports that it has been a great time of fellowship and bonding.

The theme of the pastor training seminar is Acts 17:28. "In HIM we live and move and have our being."

Last night we celebrated a great achievement

Last evening we celebrated the 77th birthday of our own Ide Trotter. Happy B-Day Ide!!!!










Below is a short video of the surprise moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thAIuZkkJhM

Wednesday, October 27th Team Experiences

Jana Spillers - "I treated a man who wanted glasses so that he could read the Bible."

Team Updates, Testimony and Prayer Requests from 26-27 October

Bill Connel - "Wow! What a trip and people. The team I'm with are the greatest, most loving people. The people we have helped are very grateful and loving. god is everywhere on this mission."

John, Sara, Karis & Stephen Midturi - "I now really believe in jet-lag! At least in small children! Karis has slept from about 3 p.m. to midnight every day! There is hope for tonight since she only took in a few hours nap... But Stephen has been 'napping' for 3 hours..." -- Sara "It has been son nice to have so many extra hands to help with the care of Karis & Stephen." -- Sara

Rebecca Briggs - "We squeezed in a few hours of shopping today, which was fun. Except for the rickshaw ride, which was more like a "come to Jesus". We are having a blast and can't wait for the 2nd clinic day tomorrow!"

Emily DeWees (Austin, TX) - "A few days in India has been amazing! We have already done so much on our first few days. It's been a blessing to be here, however I truly understand the meaning of "walk every day as it may be your last" after traveling on a Indian Airbus plane and riding in a rickshaw. I have a video of the horrifying experience. Keep us in your prayers."

Joyce & Allen Powell - "We spent our Delhi clinic at a Hindu Temple meeting with mostly older patients. We were served a lovely Indian lunch. We especially liked working with our translators who were teachers in the Hindu school. Our prayer is that God will use this day to His purpose."

Dr. Satish (New Delhi) - "We were in a temple which would have been unimaginable holding our Bibles in our hand and preaching. Being a medical team, we were welcomed. Well appreciated for what we did and they want to have us come back next year. I am sure we have sown a seed. Harvest will be in the Lord's time."

Jana Spillers - "We prayed for the Lord to go before us and it has been clear that our prayer was answered. Our first clinic day was held in a Hindu temple. The local leaders welcomed us and provided a wonderful lunch. Our patients were very thankful for our medical attention. We spoke different languages but we could still communicate via translators and gestures. It also helps that the love of God is a universal language."

Joy India team arrives successfully in Bhubaneswar, Orissa

We have joyfully arrived in Bhubaneswar in Orissa. The weather is sunny. Everyone and every bag arrived successfully from the Taj Hotel in New Delhi to the airport and onto our flight to Bhubaneswar.

As we are settling in to our rooms and preparing for our evening meeting, be thinking of us this day as we embark on the next phase of our medical mission first thing tomorrow morning.

We need prayer!

We need strength and health for all of our team members.
- Travel is always exhausting. Changes in climate and additional stress burden the body.
- We need wisdom to be wise with how we treat our bodies (rest, food and sleep) for ongoing service. The work ahead will be hard and burdensome.
- One of our team members is enduring fever and chills. Please pray for her rapid recovery.

Learn to do good. Isaiah 1:17 esv

Isaiah 1:16 - Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean

...cease to do evil, learn to do good...

The day begins in New Delhi.

Pray for strength and patience as we strive to serve and do good...
---
Step Schmitt

Our First Clinic Day Begins Tomorrow

Today we held our first team meeting and also took some time for a brief tour of Delhi. We visited Humayun's Tomb and were treated to a driving tour of the Connaught Place section which included a view of India Gate.

Tomorrow we begin our first clinic day. All the medical teams will work together in the West Batel Nagar section of Delhi. We will setup in the Lal Mandir temple for the day.

Pray that all weary travelers get much needed rest this evening and that all the clinic logistics go smoothly as we begin the 2009 Mission tomorrow.

Joy India Team Arrives safely in Delhi

Just a few moments ago an exhausted Joy India 2009 team arrived in Delhi. With flight delays and logistical challenges behind us we can now prepare for the work which has brought us here to India. The last two team members arrive tomorrow and we will begin.

THANK YOU for your prayers as we journeyed to this place.