Hi,

Today the team spent the whole day at the Compassion International site in Delhi. This was an incredible, eye opening experience. We were taken to the site by Deep the CI representative for this area. He's a great guy & we asked him a couple questions on the drive to the site after which he told us very interesting info about his life & how he came to the Lord.

Upon arrival at the CI site we were met by Sunanita, a wonderful woman that runs a lot of the programs. We also met Pastor Abraham who's a very interesting man of God as well as most of the teachers & staff. One staff member was actually a student that was rescued from the slum. The site contains some 300 orphans or single mom kids that they're helping with both physical & spiritual needs. The mothers of the children that are blessed enough to still have a mom are also included in many wonderful programs that educate them, train them in proper child care & even help them start small businesses.

After a delicious lunch prepared by staff members, we toured the slum. The poverty & living conditions were mind boggling. There was trash , raw sewage & animals (dogs, pigs, cows) everywhere so you can imagine the smell. Among this is 100's of kids playing on the small streets/alleyways, rooftops, ladders, etc... That being said, it was very apparent the work our Lord was doing through CI. These people greeted us very friendly for the most part, something not all that common with westerners in India. We were invited in a couple of these houses that measured approx. 8'X8' very graciously by host that offered us tea & warm smiles. Amazing considering the lives they lead. These people are clearly running on the love of God. We prayed over a number of them including a home where the woman's husband was ill with leprosy. Another home was being run by an 18 year old girl who's father died & mother went crazy, running away & leaving the responsibility of the little kids to her when she was only 14.

Your India Impact Team is keeping in good spirit considering about 1/2 are sick & all of us are extremely physically tired. I believe seeing Gods work up close & personal is what keeps us going. Tomorrow will finally be a day of rest, a debrief & preparation for the 20 something hour trip home late that night.

We found out that there are 5 kids available for sponsorship at our good friend Albert Das' orphanage. OOPS, make that 4, Teresa & I just scooped up an adorable little girl named Sandhya. The kids are so cute so don't wait or they'll be gone :-) Honestly, you can tell by the smiles & hugs that these kids are being loved. (especially when you consider how their 1st few years started).

God Bless,

Mike Gordon

Check out the beautiful children in India that are sponsored by members of The Crossing

http://www.facebook.com/CrossingChurch#/album.php?aid=340931&id=287169725494&ref=mf

Two big messages fom God today.

The power of prayer is needed and incredible.

Without resolution in conflict there can be no intimacy in relationships.

The enemy is and has created many obstacles here in Raxaul and even for our team, but we have joined together in Jesus' name and with the presence of the Holy Spirit felt, asking for God's loving hand to give light to an area of darkness and to remove the bondage that can be felt and seen in every way, shape and form.

Please pray for our health and protection from the enemy. Please pray for the love and light to overcome in Raxaul. Please pray for The Crossing, Albert Das' ministry, Joel Vestal and ServLife. We thank you and appreciate all of your love, support, and prayer.

In His Love,
Aaron

Keri's love-note: You are beautiful, and the closer I get to God, the more I am confirmed of my life and eternal path with you. muah...I miss you much, but I am consoled by the wonderful God things happening here as well as my knowledge of God's plan for you in my life.

Today was filled with God, relationships, and lots of love.

The morning started early for me at 3:30am(I think I am still figuring out my circadian cycle (body clock). It was perfect it gave me as well as the rest of the guys plenty of down time for study, the word, prayer, and good conversation, before hurtling ourselves wholeheartedly at the Das household. We encounter so much and so many God moments, I have have Marty list a few and pull out the highlights for you all.

From Marty:
Most of the team was up around 6am... We had a full day filled with lots of tasks. First met with Albert for Breakfast, then an awesome church service. Tony played two worship songs on the guitar, Aaron shared his testimony, Trudy also shared a testimony, Ian preached, and prayed for Albert and Pushba since today is their 29th wedding anniversary. We annointed and prayed for the ministry students, and the entire church service was nearly three hours. We then went to the new property. It was moving to see how far the building has come since last year. We prayed and spent time encouraging Albert, thanking God for what He has provided. The highlight of the day for me and the team having lots of time with the children. We played board games with the children. There were lots of laughter, and many of the childen seemed so hungry for love, and nurture from each of us. We can truly see Jesus in the faces of these children. As a child would win at Yahtzee, Sorry, Aggrevation, Checkers, or Dominos, there faces would shine and glow with smiles. My favorite part is when the children sang praise and worship songs to their God, with faces turned heavenward, and the tangible presence of the love for Jesus was so evident. Probably the only real danger the team faced today was Aaron driving us to the new property, dodging bicycles, people, cows, goats, cars, trucks and even a duck. He actually did really well! Tomorrow is another full day as we plan to do a prayer-walk in the town of Raxaul. Please continue praying for the safety and good health of the team members.

In His Love,
The India Team

Quick love note to Keri-Beautiful Angel, I love you so much, and miss your amazing touch. Thank you for supporting and encouraging me on this trip. I look forward to seeing your grace and love on my return. Can you send me your phone number ( I promise to memorize it)? I would love to talk to you in the evening (your morning). :)

This is part of the trip from Tony Craig's perspective-
After a 30 minute nap it was time to start the second part of our journey to Raxaul. We arrive in the airport with plenty of time to spare, so far so good. God has showed us much today and the most revealing part has yet to come. On this part of the trip we will be taking a shorter flight (1 1/2 hours), and then a 4 hour car ride to arrive at Albert's house. It doesn't seam easy, but well worth the reward to see what God is doing in Raxual.

As we enter the plane for this leg of the trip, the crowd is much different than the original flight to Dehli. In the row in front of us there was a group of 6-7 Buddhist Monks most likely headed to Nepal. They had a nice quiet way about themselves, although any communication with them was unlikely. I couldn't help myself as 20 questions raced through my head thinking about how their faith in Buddhism came to be. Was their father a monk? Did the grow up there? Once again so many questions, but so few answers. By looking at the rest of the crowd you could tell that we were on a trip into the deepest darkest part of India. Nothing was said about it, but you could just tell what was coming around the corner. It was one of those moments that you immediately took to prayer. God be with us, and be with those that will soon hear your word through Albert's hard work!

With great excitement we greet Albert knowing that now we are in good hands. We pack up two SUV's looking vehicles called "Tatis", which after our luggage was packed there were two rows of bench seats to seat 6 people. The seats were just a bit smaller than a Ford Explorer. Imagine Marty, Mike, and myself (Tony) in a bench seat that size? It's only for two hours right? We can do this, so on our way we went. The city was filled with music, colorful lights, streamers, the whole works. The festival of the sun is amongst us, and the people of India are celebrating like it was New Years. After about two hours of city driving watching all the celebrations we then entered the rural part of the journey. There are no lanes, no street lights, and plenty of big trucks traveling the road trying to get supplies to market. It seams that everyone drives down the center of the road until they see a car coming. At which point each vehicle flashes it's bright lights until the final moment of passing, and then each vehicle swerves to the opposite edge of the road, and then back to the middle. Repeat, repeat, repeat for about another two hours. As it turns out we are still two hours away. We've gone this far what's another two hours right? Two more hours was not the hard part. The hard part was that now we were entering the pothole part of the journey. Left, right, up, down, left, right, up, down, repeat! All of this effort to find the "sweet spot" in the road. At least we weren't facing trucks head on anymore! After a total of 6hrs diving we arrive at Albert's sometime around 3am, by this time Mike has taught me everything I will need to ever know about the soccer and how it originated. Phew... time for bed!

Aaron Guyett
Tony Craig is a champion. If anyone knows his story, they would be amazed to see the way he has so humbly travelled the hardest trip The Crossing's Go ministry has ever experienced. Not only swerving from trucks, dodging, potholes, but inhaling dust on this "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" as Ian would say. The journey did end, and one would think sleep would be immediate; however, it was intermittent at best (for most of us). I slept as I always do, but it wasn't the best sleep i have ever received. I will say that the day today was filled with a lot of rest, whether in sleep or just in relaxation and recovery. Much needed, and now we look forward to tomorrow with great anticipation. Trudy was excited to be able to create a sort of menagerie of gifts, representative of our nation's Christmas or birthdays. The Das family received their great gifts so well, as did the young pastors-in-training, and orphanage children. Thank you to all who donated their time, money, items, and energy to this moment for us all to enjoy. They are well pleased and grateful for their presents.

The presents to the young students at Albert Das's school for pastors created the most memorable and moving moments on this trip to date.

There are two Nepalese students, five mid-Indian students, and five students from Orissa, which is where there is great troubles from the other religions and terrorists from that region. Much to our suprise and hope the sacrifices of the missionaries and the ministry is stronger than ever. Modern day martyrs for sure.

Ian is such an inspirational leader and speaker. He does an incredible job of conveying our aspirations of missionary work and inspriations provided by these young leaders with Christ. We prayed for them and will continue to pray for them, as we know you will all do the same as the Lord our God will lead you. We ask God to give them strength, wisdom and opportunities as they share Christ our savior with their friends, family, and community. They have all been given a great story, and we started getting into these wonderful stories.

Ian began with the story of Paul and how he journaled God's moving in his life, and that can be found now in the New Testament. We then gave them journals with their names written on them. Right now they are blamk, but we know the will be filled before long with God's great gifts and blessings. Their smiles told it all--they will love and cherish these gifts. Tony Craig then provided the basis of our praise to God with his guitar playing and we all attempted to sing, but fully praising with our hearts. It was good, but our singing had much to be desired. :)

Then there were a few of us that shared our testimonies. Ian first with his impacting message that put new meaning to the word Lord, saved by our Lord's Son, Jesus Christ, but now fully serving the Lord every day. Philip Das a student from Orissa, not related to Albert shared he was saved by one of the Albert Das pastors and now his family is saved too! Prakesh, a young man from Nepal shared he was saved by an evangelist paper handed to him (I always wondered if those things worked), and now his 18 family members are saved as well. Marty Whitecotton's spoke next and he shared his story of pain and change. His humility was then related by Ian, and how this action of his truly changes people's lives (including my own). A lutheran boy from Orissa spoke about his new quest to more thoroughly serve the Lord, and that was followed perfectly by tony Craig's ever-changing story of life, pain, and forgiveness.

Jesus IS the way, the truth, and the life as I read in my studies today, I was incredibly moved by the story about Cornelius in Acts when Peter, reluctantly but willingly through the Lord went into this Gentile's home, and gave him the message about Christ. Just as we are here in India the words from Acts 10:34-3(five) (the five does not work on this keyboard, sorry) and Acts 10:43. It doesn't have to stop there for all of us believers, through the Lord's refinement and our fellowship's accountability we can find the treasures God has inside of us.

In His Love,
The India Team

Yesterday we flew from Chicago to Delhi. That was a different experience for all of us. When we arrived, the city gave us a new smell to ponder and acquire. A sweet, acrid odor filled with smoke from all the clean-up and evening meals. This is all part of the Indian experience.

Just like on the flight (or a 5-ton in the Marine Corps) there will be times of discomfort. If we focus on this discomfort we will see, feel, and know more discomfort, but if we take the opportunity to focus on God, we will see His Holiness. It is a choice we all have. Let Christ's sacrifice be a gift for our hearts and minds.

Seek-Be-Praise

As we seek God, He will reveal Himself. Let us not squander His presence in our lives, but be with Him, in Him, and for Him. Our daily prayer and praise to God will not only change our lives for the Good, But will move others toward His unending love.

Today in Delhi was filled with God and Relationships. Starting our day with a prayer and some quiet time with God, we soon were swept into the incredible movements and sounds of the city. Tony, Marty and I walked the local blocks of the city to observe the morning bustle, which much to my suprise starts out slow...sort of like a rockstar's life, the city doesn't really get moving until 10 or 12. :)

Delhi is the Capitol. Also a cornicopea of sounds. A cacaphony of car horns, cries, careening buses, careful beggars, careless taxis, clucking children, kids at play, clowning street kings, crowded corners, caravans of tour, kind guides, kindered thoughts, and colorful surroundings. These sights and sounds fill the eyes and ears with an enigma for westerners, but the enigma is unlocked and easily travelled for the locals--Indians with the deepest understanding of city life, present here for long enough to become wise patrons.

We visited the parliament, and other capitol buildings today. They are immense and impressive, just as our capitol buildings; however, there was real wonder and awe when we visited the people that made up the Indian infantry at the Indian memorial. These soldiers were of thehighest quality. Hand-picked by the leaders from each of their regiments. The amazing part of this ceremony is the flawless performance of the ceremony to uphold the men who died in past wars for not only their own country, but for our country and many other allied forces. I am a Marine. I understand drill, order, and attention to detail. These soldiers were of the utmost regard. We talked to James Stephen, a Christian soldier who had been shot twice, and received other honors and medals for his exemplary performance within his unit(s). He explained the ceremony, the dress, the drill, and other interesting viewpoints and knowledge, only an infantryman would understand.

Ian commented how this was one area, where there was real and true unity among the many diverse states, cultures and regions of India. I concurred, and thought how "tight" is was that they all had a small difference in attire to tell them apart, a different fighting style, and different backgrounds, but they are all fighting for the same thing.

How cool would it be to initiate a revival through their ranks, or even just realize that conversion to Christianity is possible, because of this display of unity. This was on my heart and mind, as well as on the hearts and minds of others in the group as we ventured slowly through traffic toward the Burla temple. This temple displayed a picture, which explains the Vedas in one scene. It show the path to liberation with the cosmic universal being. This path can be found through reigning in the five senses and gaining knowledge, wisdon, self-discipline and then, finally creating a transcending inner consciousness to the outer or universal consciousness. The temple shows many different gods but tells of a monotheistic theme within Hinduism--not sure how that works? It is very confusing to a western Christian, with only a little knowledge of "The Gita" and the vedas, but if you can grasp the outline of the Hindu religion, it is a works religion. This saddens me, because of my knowledge and proof of Christianity, of which I have been honored to obtain. It also gives me hope. If the people can believe and understand this, it should be easy for a hindu to "realize" the truths and saving qualities of Christ. The only sticking point is the familial culture and taboo "to dos" of this wonderfully diverse country. I would never want to force anyone into my faith, but through the choice Christ gave me to show his character, I would love to think the conversion would be a natural choice for anyone to make.

After the temple we met in the cab, honking and grinding back to our hotel, where we will chill out, write in our journals, eat, and prepare the next leg of our journey. Delhi to Putna, and then Putna to Raxaul. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Our Love with His Love,
The India Team