Hand Block Printing Factory, New Friends, Peddapuram and Waiting on the Bride!

During IPP's recent visit we spent time launching their expansion of 30 women, ransomed out of prostitution, and given HOPE, DIGNITY and FREEDOM in both our Ashraya and Freedom Centers. In preparation for their fall line of Punjammies we got to visit the block printing factory where the organic Kalnkari [Call-N-Car-E] fabric is skillfully transformed from a boring cream color into detailed paterns in vibrant colors and shades. The process is exquisite to watch as trained craftsman carve wood blocks, mix colorful dies and then hand press the dipped blocks onto the cloth, revealing a pattern that takes hours to complete.
Often the fabric is multiple shades requiring that the worker wait for the preceding color to fully dry before applying the remaining colors in the design. We had the opportunity to spend some time watching the craftsmen at work, poke around the factory and even take home some cool Kalnkari creations.

Later in the week we traveled to Peddapuram to check in with our ministry projects, love on a new group of men and women afflicted with leprosy and encourage some of our church planters. While we were there we met some of the kids in the area. In the morning, before school, a few boys would come to the gate of the house and wave, staring in amazement at the "white people," but by day three we were all friends... they would bring their classmates over during lunch break, I would pray over them and ask them questions about their studies and their families and then they would be back off to school.



We rounded out the week at the union of Anand and Sirisha. Both are foster children of Suresh and Christina and they have both been with Harvest India for quite some time. I have had the opportunity to get to know both of them over the last few years and can say with confidence that they are equally yoked in their love for Jesus and ministry. I was thrilled to be a part of their big day! The wedding was schedule for 10:30am, but when we arrived at the Harvest India campus to collect Suresh and Christina we were told that there would be a delay (Indian time) and the wedding was being pushed to noon. At noon we got a call that the cultural traditions surrounding marriage had run long and the bride had still not left her village to travel to the wedding location. We arrived at the ceremony at 4:30pm and neither the bride or groom were ready. We laughed that weddings rarely start on time but this was getting ridiculous. Many of the guests had been waiting at the church since 9:00am. At about 6:00pm the couple arrived. The pastor conducting the ceremony and everyone who spoke at the service joked about the delay of the marriage and by about 7:00pm it was official. The longest wedding day I've ever experienced, but hey you only get one so I suppose they made the most out of it!

Thanks for all your continued prayers!

Southern California to Southern India

Well I've made it! After 30+ hours of traveling by plane, train, and automobile I've arrived safely back to the place that has captured my heart. As I exited the plane in Chennai the thick stench of Indian air filled my nose and as I started to gag, I laughed smiled and thought, "I'm home." After an overnight in Chennai's finest Royal Paris Hotel,(HAHA) we were off to the train station for a six hour extravaganza of screaming babies and hot rail cars. When we arrived in Tenali I was overwhelmed to see 12 of my favorite faces. Greeted by the bulk of the amazing staff I am privileged to work with, I was welcomed by floral lays and a 3 pound floral bouquet... it was unnecessary but AWESOME nonetheless! Everyone here thinks I look fat; well it's actually just their way of saying that I look good, and healthy but you can't beat the verbiage on that cultural discrepancy. :)! Kick starting my 10 weeks on the ground, we are currently wrapping up a mission trip with Revolution Church, visiting us from Long Beach. Yesterday, we attended VBS with the team and today we are headed to Church service at Harvest India's newest Church building, right in the heart of downtown Tenali.

Thank you for your continued prayers! I love you all

Consider Giving A Special Gift This Season

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Spending time with Dad

Before I left for India in October I spent quite a bit of time in bookstores and in prayer, scouring the right reading material to bring with me on my trip. I knew that I would have far less distractions here and would be open and available to spend much more time in the Word and in the works of great authors who have learned much from their time in Scripture. And so I have spent much time in the both the Word of God and thoroughly invested in the publications of great authors like N.T. Wright, Francis Chan and Don Williams. I realize that my knowledge and understand of Gods ways and His teachings are permeating my daily life. Reading, journaling and sharing what I’m learning, has been a truly life giving time in my ministry and a crucial part of what keeps me grounded, composed, and focused amongst the relentless assaults that are made against the Gospel every day in India.

I’ve learned that like the people here who worship 330 million gods, I live in a culture that is far from a perfectly surrendered life of serving just one God. As I’ve grown I’ve become less and less enchanted by the lie of the enemy, who worked diligently to get me to believe that my identity could be found in the world. And I move forward in the truth that in Christ there is no condemnation. He has become the solid rock in which I stand. There is freedom in the journey. Undoubtedly, I am a different man today than I was a year ago. In profound ways God has radically changed the way I see myself in the day to day, moment to moment ways I try to live for others, for God. I’m not there yet. Even in India, living as a missionary, serving the poor, caring for the widows and loving the orphaned, I’m still selfish, self absorbed, ego driven, me. But, I’m on the right path. I’m less selfish in the moments I’m serving God’s Kingdom rather that my own. I’m crucifying my flesh and surrendering my self-imposed, self righteous “rights,” that over time, I’ve appointed to myself as an honest, hard working, young man with the world at his finger tips. I’m reminded in scripture that the world hasn’t been put at my fingertips for my benefit. The opportunities that are within my grasp are designed to bless God’s Kingdom and come alongside His plans and purposes. I recently received an e-mail from a dear friend that quoted Jim Eliot, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” This quote points towards the mission of Jesus Christ and the message of His life, death and resurrection. In it we find the path to righteousness for our American society. To whom much has been given much is made available to be given back; for the Glory of God, for his Kingdom’s advancement. But that message has been covered up and blurred by the media, politics and even the Church. There are amazing technological advances, gadgets, vacations, cars, homes, and countless other worldly possessions that vie for our monetary resources. Most of which are reasonably permissible and the rest we are clever enough to justify off of the want columns in our lives and over our lists of necessities. We say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. (1 Cor 10:23-24)When we trick ourselves into justifying our unbiblical behavior we miss out on the Kingdom. When we limit our possessions to belonging, directed at our own personal benefit, we miss out on the great freedom that was experienced in the early Church of Acts; “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” We are making choices that prevent us from this type of community in today’s Church; so driven by God’s purposes they lived together, using one shared financial resource to sustain everyone. These were people who were in true community, withholding nothing from one another.

Please continue to pray for my time in India. That I would live a life“… not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Cor 10:32

Thanksgiving... Thanks India!

To sum up my Thanksgiving experience this year I have comprised a Mastercard commercial which I completely authorize Mastercard to use for their marketing purposes should they discover this post:

Thanksgiving Dinner with the fam in a super posh, foreign Indian restaurant ironically named Chillies.... $45.67 (for a party of 8)
Spontaneous Camel ride through a random park dividing the main thoroughfare...... $0.50
Finding a shoe maker that makes custom leather sandals for less than $4 a pair.... well... about $12 when you buy three pairs(but really it's a priceless find and I've made a new friend)
Riding India's version of the Autopia Cars.... $1.00
Making memories on a Thanksgiving weekend that will never be matched or forgotten.... PRICELESS

My calling grows... we knew it would!

Today I was priveledged to preach in a small village church about 30 minutes from where I'm living in Tenali. Over the last several weeks Suresh and Christina have felt like God has been calling them to encourage me to sharpen my skills for sharing the Word and so... as Suresh always does... he responded... by arranging speaking engagments Sunday mornings throughout the remainder of my time in India, at various churches in the Harvest India network. It's been a true blessing! God has provided every step of the way. And while I always try to do some planning prior to the message, it's been incredible to allow the Holy Spirit to lead, creating space for God to move and sharing relevant messages with these amazing and hungry believers. Be blessed my family and loved ones! Thank you for your continued prayers!

Indian Cooking 101

Last night I got a lesson in how to make curry! It was awesome! I made authentic India pickle! By mixing green chilies, tomatoes, a few pinches of sea salt and garlic. Using teak wood and a grinding pot you mash them together into a puree similar to a very spicy salsa. I worked up a sweat and got laughed at several times, but all in good fun. White people can cook in India, but its not recommended! :) It should come as no surprise that I couldn't eat the curry I had created because it was too spicy, but I did try just a tiny bit to taste my creation. Pretty good if I do say so myself! It's good to know that if I ever get called out of full time ministry here in India... I have a fall back plan as a professional curry maker. :)