MissionIndia Team 2012

Ready, Set , Go

2012-02-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

It is Sal and Elena's last full day in Bangalore. They enjoyed shopping and visiting with Paul, Jaya and the children. At 5 PM they will be taking a walk with Shibo and Seju, Viju's two boys. It has become a tradition that they take a walk and talk with them each year before they leave for the states. Tonight Jaya is cooking a central Indian regional meal. They will spend time in prayer and Bible study with Thomas and Marykutty before dinner. After dinner they will finish up the packing and then take a short nap until 11:30 PM when the car will be loaded and off to Bangalore International Airport.

It is a bitter sweet day. Bitter in that the good-byes are difficult. The love shared grows stronger each year. Sweet in that the Massa's will return home to family, church and friends. They are so blessed by the support they receive from everyone to make this extended ministry of Lake Country Bible Church a reality and a fruitful blessing. "Thank you" is not adequate enough to express how they feel.

Back to Bangalore

2012-02-27T02:11:00.000-08:00

At 8 Am on Sunday, the QC staff gathered on the newly constructed Lake Country Patio to pray with and say good-bye to Sal and Elena. There were tears all around. Over the years, a sense of family has grown between the "foreigners and the nationals".

After a long car ride, Sal, Elena, Thomas and Marykutty arrived back in Bangalore. The time was filled with listening to stories of how God has been so faithful to them. It has been a joy to spend so much time with the Samuels. Their lives are full of adventures and memories that need to be written in a book. They are living examples of walking in faith and what God can do when we are available.

Elena will be setting up a blog for Thomas. It will be a good way for him to keep his prayer partners and supporters informed of the many ministry events planned throughout the year.

After a good night's sleep in noisy Bangalore, Sal and Elena went to the shopping area with Viju and his wife Ammu. Elena bought material and will have an outfit made to order. That is a first time experience. Another first time experience was stopping in a Bangalore MacDonalds for an ice cream cone. As they left the restaurant, Elena's ice cream cone was suddenly covered with a greenish slim which fell from above. YUKKKK!! We only hope it was the blue bird of happiness.

Courageous

2012-02-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow AM Sal and Elena will be leaving Quiet Corner and starting the journey home. They will spend three days in Bangalore before boarding the plane for France and then on to Chicago. There could not have been a better day. They packed and studied. Elena visited with some of the ladies and invited them and their families to come to Mercy Hall to see the film Courageous. It was a very powerful time and no dry eyes in the hall. We had a time of prayer with the families that came. And there were tearful goodbyes.

We have been humbled by the love and hospitality that has been shown to us. This mission trip has been a blessing from beginning to end. The conferences were a great blessing. The US Team mission project was a huge success. Lake Country Patio is almost completed. It looks beautiful and will supply needed dining space for future conferences and camp meetings. The outreach visits have been powerful.

Thank you for reading the blog and praying for all of us.

The Colony

2012-02-24T18:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a blessed day for Sal and Elena. A delegate of Ooty pastors came for a breakfast meeting to discuss the plans for an End Times Conference in Ooty next year. The Sewing School graduation followed with 6 girls completing the course and receiving a new Singer sewingg machine. Each girl gave her testimony. Each one came to the school as a Hindu and all have powerful testimonies of God's saving grace. Elena gave a message of encouragement and they all received diploma's and their machines. There are now 10 new girls enrolled. God bless Soji, their teacher, for how she cares for and loves these girls.

At 4:00 PM Viju, Benjamin, Jaya, Sal and Elena took off for outreach ministry. First we stopped at two Hindu homes to deliver promised Bibles. Benjamin will be following up with these families. Each promised to read them. Then it was off to a very remote area to visit a tribe of low cast people. Sal and Elena have been to many poor villages in the past, but none as poor as this. The village is considered a colony. The people who live there are "squatting" on government land in the Elephant Corridor. They live in small mud huts with no electricity or running water. The front door of the hut is shielded by a lean-to like awning made of bamboo poles and branches. We thought it was to shield them from the sun, but it was to protect them from the elephants who roam at night. The animals smell food and will try to get into the huts. It was heartbreaking to see such living conditions and poverty. Elena told them a gospel story and Sal prayed with them. Do to the dedicated outreach of Quiet Corner, these precious people know the Lord. We brought new Sarees for each of the ladies in the colony and toys and candy for the children.

India is so full of contrasts. You can travel from the most modern city to the remotest village. But the obvious needs are the same: Illiteracy, Poverty, Idolatry, Cast and Superstition. Pray for India.

Sal and Elena will be leaving QC on Sunday and staying in Bangalore until Thursday when they return home. Please pray for them to remain healthy and safe for the trip.

Priya

2012-02-23T08:14:00.000-08:00

Today marks one week to returning home. Sal and Elena will leave with hearts full of joy and gratefulness for all they have been priveldged to be a part of. Today they visited Dr. Vishnu at the government hospital. They brought him a gift for seeing them when they were sick over the last two visits to India. He has never taken any money and he even made a house call once.

In the late afternoon, they toured around Masanangudi with Viju, Thomas and Marykutty. There is one home Sal really likes and since Thomas and Marykutty are building a new jungle home, he wanted to show them the archetcture to get some decorative ideas. The Hindu woman who lives there talked with them and soon she was giving them a tour of the home. It was very lovely. But the best news was that Thomas was able to speak with her about God and a Bible will be delivered to her tomorrow as a result.

Then they passed the home of a family Sal, Elena, Tom and Bev met last year and had opportunity to share the gospel with. They are also Hindu. The lady is a cousin to Viju's wife. She remembered Sal and Elena and immediately invited everyone to come inside. Thomas and Marykutty did not know them. We chatted a while and then asked if we could pray with them before we left. The woman began to pour her heart out about her daughter, Priya. She is a beautiful 21 year old who is living with a man in Ooty and has no contact with her family. The mother and grandmother were broken hearted. They can not even find her and they fear she is being held under compulsion. We spent some time in prayer with them. Sal asked if he could bring a Bible and they agreed they would read it.

We are praying that God will use this situation to bring the entire family to faith in the One True God. They have a family altar with many pictures and statues of false dieties. Now the Bible will be given. Last year the gospel was given. Surely God is on the move. Please pray for this family and that Priya will contact them soon.

One Last Trip To Ooty

2012-02-21T21:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Sal and Elena made one more trip up the mountain to Ooty. We had lunch with Pastor Jacob and his wife, Jeannie. Jacob has been the translator for all the conferences for the past three years. Often times his voice would become hoarse because he spoke so much. He also translated for the women's conference. We are so grateful to him and amazed at his ability. He has never had any formal English training, yet he is able to quickly and accurately translate and restructure the grammar into Tamil. We thank God so much for him.

We never met his wife before. She is a wonderful lady who works for an organization that rescues young girls from sex trafficing called Freedom Firm. They send undercover operatives into brothels to seek out girls that have been abducted. Reports are given to the police who then raid these places, arrest those runnning the operation and resuce the girls. The girls are placed into "aftercare" homes where they receive education, counseling and health care. Currently they have 5 young girls in the program. The girls are also taught a trade and introduced to Jesus and the Bible. If you want to know more you can go to http://www.freedom.firm.in/.

When Sal and Elena returned to Quiet Corner, they were met by Thomas and Marykutty who arrived from Bangalore. They will stay until Sunday, when all will return to Banglaore. The time spent will be used to discuss and plan for future conferences and a possible start of a Bible College in 2013.

Please keep Sal and Elena in prayer as they will be returning home on March 1. Pray they stay in good health for the remainder of their stay and that there flight arrangements are not met with any delays.

Sardis & Muttah

2012-02-20T06:08:00.000-08:00

The days are getting hotter here in south India. I think it must have hit 90 today. It is very dry and will continue to be that way until June when the monsoon season begins. The nights are cooler and the breeze cools things down quickly.

At 5 PM we walked with Pastor Benjamin to the village. He wanted us to meet his boyhood friend, Muttah. He lives with his wife, Sardis, in a very nice government home and he works in Ooty making x-ray films for hospitals. They are Hindus but have read the bible because Thomas Samuel gave him one in 1972. They also listen to Christian programing each morning on the TV. Benjamin asked Sal to share his testimony with them. After they listened, they both wanted to pray and ask Jesus to be Lord of their lives. They are going to read a chapter a day in John and they both promised to come to church on Sunday.

On the way back to Quiet Corner we stopped to pray with a Christian family, Ruth and Boaz and their daughter, Gracie. We passed Anama's home and she came out to greet us. I asked her if she remembered our conversation last year about Jesus. She said she did and wanted us to come back to talk again.

This little village at one time had never heard the name of Jesus. But through the ministry of Quiet Corner, one by one, people are turning to the one True God.

Angels Rejoicing

2012-02-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

Today Sal preached at Pastor Wasu's church. A family of Hindu people attended. They had been at the evangelistic outreach during the week. The young mother had demonic manifestations during the event. Today at church the same manifestations occurred. The message and worship were powerful. After the service the family stayed and all of them accepted the Lord. The young woman was delivered of demonic oppression. It was an amazing time. They received Bibles and a plaque with scripture on it. Wasu told them to go home and get rid of all the Hindu pictures and idols and replace them with the plaque. They inivted Wasu and his family to join them for dinner this week. Wasu is a tender hearted pastor and he will take of this family and teach them to grow in Biblical knowledge.

We celebrated by taking Wasu, Joyice and Jonathan out to lunch. Eating out in general is a real treat in India. I think the only ones who ever do are foreigners like us. The days are getting quite hot here. After lunch Sal and Elena took a nap. As the day got cooler, they walked to the village and played cricquit with some boys in the street.

The angles are rejoicing tonight over the lives of those four family members that joined God's forever family today.

Day of Blessing and Opportunity

2012-02-18T04:58:00.000-08:00

One of Sal and Elena's dreams is to build relationships within the Hindu communities surrounding Quiet Corner. The less then two weeks they have left will be spent ministering to pastors and their wives and building those relationships.

The day began with a trip to Gudalur (gu-da-lu), a large town located on the other side of the mountain that goes to Ooty. They have decided that is their new favorite city. It is full of fun places to shop and is surrounded by high mountains full of coffee, tea and spice plantations.

After lunch they walked toward Wasu's house for a visit. On the way a TaTa car passed them. It stopped and backed up. Anama and her son were in it. They insisted Sal and Elena get in the car and come with them to meet her brother's family. And so off they went in a car driven by a 15 year old with no license. Anama and her entire family are Hindus. Last year we were able to share the gospel with them. We are pleased that though they have not accepted the Lord, they are still interested in having a friendship. They had a great time meeting Anama's sister-in-law, nieces and mother. Her son collected some fresh coconut, cut them open and everyone enjoyed drinking coconut water. Then they dropped Sal and Elena off at Wasu's house where they spent two hours speaking about church and ministry and praying with them. Tomorrow Sal will preach at his church. As they began walking back to Quiet Corner, a young Hindu women called to them from her farm house and invited them to meet her two month old son. As Elena sat holding this precious baby, she wondered what would become of him in the future. Without the truth, these precious people are destined to a life of deception and idol worship.

It surely has been a day of blessing and opportunity.

Evangelistic Outreach

2012-02-17T00:21:00.000-08:00

Last night Sal and Elena attended an evangelistic outreach at the Bible Church in Masanangudi. It is a larger village with about 10,000 in population. Pastor Wasu and his team were busy last week handing out fliers all over the village and outlying areas. When our ride pulled up we were amazed at the crowd that was there. The meeting took place in the courtyard under beautiful Indian fabrics that were fashioned into a tent. Chairs had been brought in and a stage area was erected where the guest speaker and a host of area pastors were seated. The music was very loud and could be heard a mile away. The speaker was very lively and animated. He spoke on the Crucified Christ and how to know Him. What a stark contrast to the Muslim call to prayer that resonated from the mosque across the street. A reminder of the vast job these Christian servants have to reach their country with the gospel. Sal and Elena will attend the closing session this evening. They are expecting an even bigger crowd.

As I write this, Tom, Bev and Tom U are well on their way home. Pray they all adjust to the time change and have a restful weekend.

Otty Conferences - Praise the Lord

2012-02-15T18:18:00.000-08:00

Sunday through Wednesday were busy ministry packed days. We all traveled up to Ooty on Sunday to set up and prepare for the End Times Conference. All the technology was set up well and the team of pastors who organized the event had everything under control. The Kish's stayed at a beautiful hotel during the conference while Sal, Elena and Tom made the trip up and down the 36 hairpin mountain turns each morning and afternoon. Ooty is at 7200 feet elevation. The climate is very different from Quiet Corner but we all adjusted fairly well. Tom and Sal presented their sessions on Monday and Tuesday to about 170 pastors and women. Sessions went until after 2:00 PM and then lunch was served. As their special guests, we were given delicious meals prepared by a professional cook. We felt like royalty. On Wednesday, Elena presented two teaching sessions for the women. There were about 80 in attendance. At the end of the second session an invitation to accept Christ was given and 7 women raised their hands and prayed. Then the entire group stood and prayed for God to give them more wisdom which was the topic of that session. It was a precious time. Before leaving Ooty we visited one of the many shopping districts and enjoyed purchasing some clothing. Shopping in India is a very different experience for us foreigners.

It is now Thursday morning. We awoke before sunrise to bid Tom, Bev and Tom U. farewell. They left at 6:30 AM for Banglaore where they will spend the day before the journey home tomorrow. God has truly blessed the team and the ministry. It was a wonderful time. Now Sal and Elena remain for another two weeks. This afternoon they will be attending an evangelistic meeting in Masanangudi. The remainder of time will be spent in ministry to the local pastors and their wives. Both of them plan to study and prepare messages for when they return home.

Please pray for safety for those who left today. Pray for no travel delays and that they adjust quickly to the time changes.

Second Saturday

2012-02-11T17:37:00.000-08:00

On the second Saturday of each month, all Quiet Corner and Bible Vision staff across India stops to pray and fast for the nation. We are so humbled by the dedication to prayer that takes the priority over everything that is done here. At 10 AM, Sal, Elena and Bev headed over to the Masanangudi Bible Church. Elena spoke to a small group of women who were gathered there. Three of them were Hindu ladies who had never been to a Bible Study. All three asked for prayer after the study. Pastor Wasu took their names and plans to follow up with them.

Later in the day we went to a watering hole where trained elephants are given baths. It was amazing to watch these giant creatures lay down in the river and let their handlers scrub them. From there they are taken to a feeding pen where they are hand fed 10 pound balls of meat and grain. Dessert was a couple of coconuts, shell and all. Sprinkled along the same river where women beating clothes on rocks to get them clean, children playing and wild boar looking for anything to eat.

The day ended in a flurry of excitement. First, Kish's dropped their room key through an open window after the door was locked. So the Kish's were locked out and QC did not have a master key. Through the genius of the team, we formed a fishing hook from a clothes hangar and finally were able to hook the key. Then Elena went to the library to write this blog. Thanks to Tom's sharp eye, he quickly alerted her to move away from the computer. A VERY large spider was hanging out over her head. . . the kind with hair on its legs!! Sal and Tom found some mops with long handles and went to war. They battled with the spider and finally were able to claim victory. To insure our defeated foe did not have any friends hiding, we sprayed the room with insect repellent. As of this writing it appears all is clear.

Tomorrow begins the End Times conference in Ooty. We will travel there today and set up the conference hall with our equipment. Pray for us to have good health and safety. Ooty is at about 7000 feet in elevation. We must adjust to the climate change and pressure. Pray for all the pastors who will be attending.

Sweet Memories

2012-02-08T17:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the last full day the team was with us. Thomas, Marykutty and David Samuel left for Bangalore. The women headed out to spend time with the sewing school girls. It was a sweet and touching time together. One girl, Potak, was once a priest in the Hindu temple. Now she is a Christian but suffers for it at home. Her parents insist if she does not marry a Hindu man within 6 months they will send her back to serve in the temple. Pray for her. In fact, all the girls are from Hindu homes and are now Christians. They will graduate the end of February and receive a new sewing machine. Jody and Randy shared with them how God's faithfulness worked in their lives. We made a circle and prayed, each in our own language. It was a precious time.

The afternoon was spent shopping in a local village. Elena's Tamil lessons are paying off as she was able to ask simple questions of the shop keepers and they actually understood her. The women had much fun buying bangles and scarfs, while the men purchased custom fitted shirts at the tailoring shop.

It was a sweet yet somber day as we learned of the passing of our dear brother Bill. After three years of courageous faith, he has now received the ultimate miracle. . .the gift of eternal life.

It is now Thursday morning. The sun is rising over the mountains. With tearful hugs we said good bye to the team. They will spend the day in Bangalore and depart for home on Friday morning. The week was amazing. So many good memories. Such fun working side by side. Such joy watching the team as they participated in the feeding programs, medical outreach, interacting with local people and staff members of QC. Such fun having three children serve alongside us. Quiet Corner will once again be quiet. But not for long. They are expecting a school group here on Saturday of 130.

Today will be a rest and study day for us as we turn our attentions to the next conference which begins on Monday. Elena will be teaching this Saturday at a Woman's Event in Masanangudi. Tom and Sal will teach the End Times Conference in Ooty on Monday and Tuesday, and Elena teaches a woman's conference on Wednesday. Several hundred are expected to attend the Ooty conferences. Of the original team, Tom U. stayed with us to attend the End Times conference. He we return home with Tom and Bev at the end of next week.

Please keep the team in prayer as they return home. Keep Tom, Bev, Sal, Elena and Tom in prayer as they continue to serve through QC ministries. God bless you.

Lake Country Patio

2012-02-06T00:07:00.000-08:00

I apologize that it has been three days since the last blog entry. Mercy Corner has been without Internet, electric and now I hear the solar heated tank on the roof is empty. Hummm??? I think the devil knows the way to get at Americans is to take away their creature comforts. But the team is a force and the schemes of the devil wont get us down.

Here is a quick run down of the last few days. There is now as a half completed dining patio where the old bird cages where. Everyone is pleased at how it is looking. Three pastors from Manipur extended their stay here beyond the End Times Conference to help us. We are so humbled and blessed by these servants of God. They have been away from their families for three weeks and it will take them 5-6 days by train to get home. Thomas Samuel officially named the patio, Lake Country Patio.

Sunday morning we attended the Quiet Corner Church in Masanangudi. It was a wonderful time of worship. Dave Sime gave his testimony, Sal preached and we all enjoyed the fellowship. Sunday afternoon it was USA vs. India Volleyball Game. It was a great time of fun. USA won! By the way, We heard the Giants won the Superbowl. . . .Go, NY.

Sunday late afternoon was spent at the top of a high mountain where a Hindu temple stands. The men engaged in a spiritual discussion with the Hindu priest while the ladies walked around the temple and prayed. By the time we got back to QC, Randy started developing hives all over. We prayed with her and gave her allergy meds. Jody kept a close eye on her through the night and today (Monday) she is much better.

The team continued with the work projects. . .Tom Kish is the power washer King. We think we know what he wants for Christmas. Part of the team worked on the patio, others tilled and planted 2 garden areas, others painted doors and trim. Now it is nearly lunch time and the team will have some R & R. Then it will be off to the medical outreach.

The week is going fast. Soon the team will be heading back home. Isaiah was helping Elena this morning in the gardens when he said, "I don't want to leave on Thursday." A great sign that our youngest member is having the time of this life.

Teamwork - Day 1

2012-02-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

Our day started with an inspiring and challenging devotion by Gunnar. He is one of the youngest members of the team (12???). He led devotions and had us all participate by reading scripture. We are sure he will be a pastor someday.

After breakfast the men got to work with the patio project while the women thoroughly cleaned the dining hall floor, chairs and tables and windows. It looks great. Elena had to attend a believer's baptism, thinking it would only be an hour. It was three hours!

After lunch we spent time sorting through all the toys, candy and other items we brought to give out to kids and adults at the feeding and medical programs. Thanks to everyone who helped out with donations. There was so much that Marykutty has enough to give children in villages where the Bible teams distribute Bibles.

The team walked to the local village with a bag of candy and had great fun giving candy out to the children. Then we visited one of the feeding programs. Randy, Gunnar and Isaiah had a blast giving out toys and candy. They also participated in filling the dinner plates for the kids.

Before dinner tonight, we invited our friend, Pastor Paul from Manipor, to give his testimony. What a humble man. I do not think any of us will forget his words.

Day is done, It was a good day.

The Team Is Here

2012-02-02T05:10:00.000-08:00

Today began with the closing session of the first End Times Conference. Sal gave a charge to pastors to shepherd their flocks according to God's word. The session ended with a challenge to them to stand on the word of truth and not be enticed by the world. It was a moving sight to see every pastor come forward and cry out to God to help them in the ministry.

Soon after the closing session, the pastors were hopping into trucks, vans and jeeps and taken to the bus stops to begin the long journeys home.

Work was promptly started on dismantling the old bird cage. This is the sight of the new outdoor dining patio which our team will be working on for the next week. The birds have been relocated to the new and improved bird cages. They are happily singing and chirping. I think they approve of their new home.

It was a great joy to see the Quiet Corner bus pull in with our Lake Country Bible Church Team. They were weary but happy to be here. We had a quick lunch, unloaded the luggage, showed them to their rooms and within 30 minutes they were all asleep. Soon we will wake them for dinner which is at 8:00 PM tonight. Tomorrow morning we meet at 7:30 AM for breakfast followed by a 30 minute devotion and prayer time. By 9:00 AM work on the new patio will begin. Pray that everyone remains healthy and safe. The ladies will be working on cleaning projects and window washing. Elena will be turning over two small garden areas in front of the dining hall and planting ground cover. After sitting in conferences for two weeks, Sal and Elena are ready for some labor. Everyone is anxious to begin helping.

Dynamic Teaching

2012-01-31T04:08:00.000-08:00

Day 2 of the first End Times Conference has just concluded. We are amazed at the zeal and hunger of people There was some concern that the teachings would not relate to conditions in the church in India. But on the contrary, the false teachings and unbiblical influences that have effected the American church are also happening here. This is truly a sign that we are in the End Times.

The fellowship has been wonderful. What a blessing these servants of God are to us. We all feel the love of God through their humble and loving friendship.

And then there is Thomas Samuel. . .an 81 year old man that never ceases to amaze us. He is an inspiration that we all can serve the Lord until the Lord calls us home. We think he has at least another 20 years worth of vision for reaching his nation for Jesus.

Tomorrow Bev and Elena will prepare the rooms for the team who will be arriving for lunch on Thursday. Keep them in your prayers. They have a long trip ahead of them. Pray for their safety, health and that the time here in India will bless them.

A Quiet Sunday at Quiet Corner

2012-01-29T06:16:00.000-08:00

Today began with the playful antics of the large monkeys jumping from limb to limb outside of Mercy Corner. They are a very large species and can stand nearly 5 feet tall. Their weight is causing trouble because they jump on rooftops and break the tiles.

Church was a three hour worship service with lots of singing, testimonies, prayer times and the message which was delivered by Sal with an interpreter. The most moving time for us was when Pastor Benjamin asked the church to pray for our dear friend Bill Fredricks who is very sick with cancer. The entire congregation prayed aloud for God to have mercy and healing for Bill.

Bev, Sal and Elena decided to walk back to the camp. It is a glorious view from the hilly path. The landscape is breathtaking thanks to our great God and creator.

We were delighted to see David Samuel waiting for us after church. He arrived in India overnight and came straight to the camp with his brother Paul. We are so grateful that David can be here for the conference. He will be invaluable for working all the computers and overhead projector. The pastors have been checking in all day today and will continue to come tomorrow. The conference opens at 2:30 PM.

By the grace of God we are all well. Thank you again and again for your prayers.

Tom & Bev Arrive

2012-01-28T05:13:00.000-08:00

Early this morning Tom and Bev arrived at Quiet Corner. They hung in there until lunch and then crashed for the rest of the day. The trip is long and getting as much sleep as they can will refresh them by tomorrow. All in all they are doing fine.

Sal will preach tomorrow at Mavanhalla Bible Church. He also spoke today at the all day staff meeting for Bible Vision pastors. These men are from all over India and lead the teams that distribute the Bibles to village people in their own languages. There are about 26 languages spoken throughout India so Bibles are made available in different languages.

Elena did some work for the upcoming pastors conference which starts on Monday. She also took her daily Tamil lesson. She has been studying Tamil, the language spoken here in Tamil Nadu for two years. Having a native tutor has really been helpful because she is being taught the collloquial phrases that are used here. The locals seem delighted when she asks a question or greets them in their own language.

The sun is setting over the mountain. It is about 6:40 PM. Dinner is served late here. . .about 8:00 PM. Tom and Bev will not join us tonight. They want to sleep as long as they can.

Please pray we all stay healthy in the days ahead.
Pray Tom and Sal will be given strenghth to endure a very busy schedule teaching three long sessions per day, Monday through Wednesday and Sal speaking at the closing session on Thursday.
Pray for the mission team of 9 that will be arriving on Thursday for a week long mission project.

Thanks to everyone who has prayed and followed us on the blog.

Fasting and Prayer

2012-01-26T08:16:00.000-08:00

Today was a day of prayer and fasting for the nation of India and the US. God had other plans for Elena. She woke up to sinus pain, congestion, vomitting and migraine. Sal called for Joyce, Pastor Wausu's wife. She prayed and tried to make Elena as comfortable as she could. Elena dozed for a while and when she awoke, the doctor from the government hospital was standing at the bedside. In America, if a doctor is standing by your bedside, he is probably the cornoner. For a fleeting minute she enterained the thought that she was dead. But since she was not present with the Lord she was shocked to see him there. "Why are you here?" she asked. "To take care of you," he said. He administered shots for the pain and vomitting and then hooked up a make shift stand with clothes hangers for the saline bag which he brought in a paper bag. Within a few hours, she was fine and spent the rest of the day basking in the love and compassion that is shown by these simple village people. We are humbled by their hospitality and concern.

After dinner, Elena felt strongly to call her best friend in the US. It was 9 PM in India and 9 AM in Florida. She called to find out that Maryanne was soon leaving for the hospital for knee surgery. She was nervous and wished that she could talk to Elena and pray with her. So at the beginning of the day, Elena received the love and compassion of her Indian sisters and brothers. At the end of the day she was given the opportunity to pass it on.

Bev and Tom soon will be leaving for the long trip to join us here on Saturday. Next week begins the End Times Conference. They are expecting a full house. Thanks to all who are praying. Your prayers are needed and they are powerful.

The Summit In Full Swing

2012-01-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

It has been wonderful to reunite with prayer warriors from all over India and even Tibet. Sashi and Tensin are here from Tibet. They risk thier lives to spread the gospel in thier land. Twenty eight beleivers have travelled from Mumbi. It has been a great time. Others have come from Udder Predesh, Kerala, Mysore and Manipore. All of them share a common burden for the nation. It is humbling to hear them pray for their people and the salvation of India. With our own country in need of prayer, we are convicted to pray more earnestly.
I have a prayer request for our frind Viju and his family. They have encountered many health problem this past year. First Viju got hepititis, then his wife was ill, then his older son got a staph infection in his foot. Since we have been here, the younger son severley sprained his neck. It happened almost a week ago and he is still recovering though the swelling is coming down. Now, just this morning Viju got a call that his older boy, Soji, was taken to the hospital with 104 fever. Viju is leaving QC as I write to go home to his family. Pray that the boy recover quickly. Pray for this family to be encouraged.

Monday

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Quiet Corner is filling up with sounds of people chatting and children playing. The Prayer Summit had the opening session this evening. There are about 80 attending from all over India. There are at least 4 languages represented, but English is known by all so the teachings will be in English.

Sal is getting better. Thank you all for the prayers. Viju, Ruby, Benjamin and Elena travelled to a larger village to buy food for the week. Ruby and Benjamin used the driving time to give Elena Tamil lessons. It was great fun trying to twist her tongue to make sounds that are near impossible to make if you are from the US.

Quiet Sunday

2012-01-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

Despite Sal's stubborn chest cold, we attended church today in Mavanhalla. Sal was to preach there but did not feel his voice would hold out for an entire sermon. There was another man there who is in ministry in India and so he was happy to fill in with an impromptu sermon message. I love the way bumps in the road are taken in their stride.
Sal was taken to see the government doctor in Masanangudi. The doctor immediately recongnized us from last year when Elena was taken to the hospital. Now it was Sal's turn. He was diagnosed with an allergic bronchial inflamation. He has been put on three different meds. Please pray this will do the trick.
The prayer summit begins tomorrow. Sal will be in meetings with the leadership for the upcoming Pastor's Conferences. The summit opening session is 6 PM. People from all over India will be checking in at Quiet Corner all day long.
Elena will be off to the market with Viju to buy the needed vegitables and meats to serve the crowd for the next four days. It should be quite a shopping list.
The most precious hour of this day was a stop we made at the home of Pastor Benjamin. Ruby, Benjamin's daughter, had come with us to the clinic. She insisted we come in to see her parents. Even though Sal was not feeling all that good, we did visit. As we sat sipping tea, we were humbled by the hospitality and genuine love these people showed to us. There home is a small two rooms that have been added to the home of Benjamin's mother. They have very little in terms of furnishings. The double bed he and his wife sleep on is in the kitchen. And yet, they are filled with a contagious joy and love for God. They are faithful pastors to the little Bible church in the village. And before we left, Benjamin prayed for Sal to be healed with such an assurance of faith in God's healing power. His prayer was met in the heavenlies by the prayers of many others who prayed for us today in our home church. . .all of them laid down before the feet of our God and King. Surely He will answer and receive the glory!

Quiet Corner

2012-01-21T07:46:00.000-08:00

Sal, Elena, Thomas and Viju left for Quiet Corner early today and arrived just in time for lunch. It was good to see the staff and old friends. As always, there is something new happening at the camp.

Mercy Corner is almost fully completed since the last visit. The library is furnished and has an internet cafe!!! This post is being written from there.
Final touches have been put on the guest rooms. The larger rooms have added seating, tables and mirrors.
Thomas and Marykutty are building a home on the grounds. The river front home they have lived in for 30 years is on the elephant corridor. The government will someday confiscate the home and demolish it. The wise decision was to prepare now by moving onto the camp grounds.
The bird cage that greets you when you enter the camp is being relocated to a new home. The new cage is twice the size and will house many more birds. The current area will be renovated and used as an outdoor dining patio. When the mission team arrives, they will be working on that project.
The latest attraction would be the langoon monkeys that have decided to dwell in the trees about the dining hall. They are quite entertaining and amusing. Why they would want to choose Quiet Corner for a homestead is puzzling since they have an entire jungle perserve to pick from. Thomas is not amused and was discussing with Sal the possibility of buying a be-be gun.
A new cook has been hired. His name is Joy and he is a great chef.

Tomorrow is Sunday. It will be a quiet day. Monday the conference will begin and Quiet Corner will be anything but quiet. We look forward to praying and participating with these precious brothers and sisters.

On to Quiet Corner

2012-01-20T05:05:00.000-08:00

The last two days have been spent discussing details for the upcoming conferences and mission trip. There is much to attend to but things are falling into place nicely. Sal, Elena, Thomas and Viju will be leaving for Quiet Corner at 4 AM on Saturday (Friday afternoon in US). Leaving early to avoid the maddening traffic in Bangalore. It is a 6-7 hour drive south into the Nilgris Mountains.

Today Sal laid low as he has a chest cold. He saw a doctor yesterday and is on decongestant and antibiotic. Pray he recovers quickly since he is to preach on Sunday and speak at the Prayer Summit next week. Elena went shopping today with Jaya. They walked to the Himalaya Soap Shop where Elena bought some necessities. Then it was on to the shopping bazaar to purchase stuff for the upcoming Titus Tea. It was fun scooting around town in an auto rickshaw.

Pray for Viju's family. His youngest son has a severe sprain in his neck and was taken to the ER today. He is home resting and taking pain killers.

Hopefully internet access is up and working at QC. If you don't receive another blog update for a while you know why.

The Adventure Has Begun!

2012-01-18T21:12:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Bangalore. Everyone here sends warmest wishes to you all. Sal and Elena had a very uneventful flight which was a blessing. They left Wisconsin with snow falling and arrive here with temps around 80 during the day and 65 at night. There was a slight delay in Paris which got them into Bangalore 45 minutes late. The plane was half empty which allowed for passengers to spread out. Sal moved to his own bank of seats and Elena stretched out and was able to get some sleep. Pray the same luxury awaits the rest of the team when they travel.

The one concern was that they would pass through customs without incident since they were both carrying electronic equipment which could have been charged with a duty. Praying with the LIPS ladies, we asked God to make Sal and Elena invisible while going through customs. That was exactly what happened. The custom officer looked at our visas, stamped them and passed them through without a question. God is Good!!!!

The only glitch was that Elena's smart phone was lost or stolen at the airport. She had it in her hand one minute and the next it was gone. they immediately discontinued service. But here is the weird thing. Last night while sleeping, Sal and she were both woken by a notification sound that is loaded on her phone. They now think the phone is somewhere buried in the luggage but they can not find it. They can't call the phone because it is on airplane mode. Considering all, this is but a minor bump in the road.

Got a huge day planned shopping for items that will be needed in the coming weeks. Keep praying especially for the Kish's and Dave Samuel who will be leaving the end of next week with the team following the week after that.

Lock and Loading

2012-01-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

In just one week the journey will begin. Sal and Elena will be leaving next Tuesday. Finally, it is time. So much organizing, planning and packing. The Kish's and David Samuel will follow a week later, the team of 9 will follow the week after that. What a busy schedule!!

Sadly, Pastor Jerome and Gwen will not be coming on the trip. Jerome was diagnosed with cancer shortly after our flights were booked. We all prayed and hoped that he would be able to travel by now but he is not ready to so. We know this is the right decision, but we all are disappointed. Please pray Jerome will completely recover. This dear man and his wife are a blessing to the city of Waukesha.

It is about 80-85 degrees in Bangalore. The nights are in the low 60's. The humidity is very low this time of year. The weather is ideal and very pleasant. Sal and Elena will stay in Bangalore for a day to rest and buy some supplies before heading south to Quiet Corner. The Prayer Summit begins on Monday, January 23. They are anxious to participate in the conference. Sal will be speaking at several sessions and also will preach at the local church. Elena is preparing to speak at local churches to women and will also speak at a conference for women in Ooty in February.

Please pray for safe travels for all the groups.
Pray this mild Wisconsin winter keeps the departure days free of snow.
Pray for good health for everyone.
Pray for Sal and Elena to encounter no problems while passing through customs in Bangalore. They are bringing some needed electronic equipment with them for the conferences.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-13T17:15:00.000-08:00

As Christmas approaches, we are all too aware that soon after we will begin the process of packing and a long list of things to do as our departure dates arrive. We are all very excited about the trip. We have collected a large number of small toys and beanie babies. With 15 of us coming and going, we should have no trouble bringing a large amount of items to give away. A new idea this year was to collect recyclable shopping totes. The ladies will surely love them. Most people in India shop day by day for food and the totes should be real handy for them.

We are more and more aware of how important it is to have prayer coverage for the team. I am listing here what the immediate needs are. Please remember to pray for us all.
1. Pastor Jerome has been undergoing therapy for cancer. He begins a new treatment on January 3. His hope is to be able to travel and attend the prayer summit with Sal and Elena. Please pray that he is well and it is safe for him to travel. Pray for God's clear guidance for him and his wife.
2. Pray for God to surround each member of the team with protection spiritually and physically.
3. Pray that the weather cooperates for each departure and return date. So far we have not seen any snow here in Wisconsin.There are three different departure dates and we ask the Lord to keep the snow away on those days.
4. And please remember to pray for the millions of people who live in India and have never heard the name of Jesus.

A Typical City Street

Countdown To MissionIndia 2012

2011-10-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

We do not leave for India until January so you may think it is a bit early to start blogging. However, there is much to do before we leave and we want you to know about our progress. It is a great blessing that this trip will include a large number of participants. The schedule is hectic and exciting. Here is a quick run down of what is happening.

Sal and Elena leave for India on January 17 for a six week stay in Bangalore and Quiet Corner. They will be accompanied by Pastor Jerome and Gwen Spencer of New Beginnings Church in Waukesha. This is the Spencer's first trip to India. Currently, Jerome is recovering from surgery. Please pray for him to be fully recovered in the coming months and fit for the trip. All four will be attending the Standing In The Gap Prayer Summit at Quiet Corner.

After a week, the Spencers will depart India for home and Tom and Bev Kish will arrive for the first of two End Times Conferences. When the first conference ends, our mission team of 10 people will arrive. We are excited that God has raised up such a large group. We are working currently on details regarding the service project that we will be doing. More will follow as it all gets solidified.
The team will be spending 8 days.

Upon their departure, the second End Times Conference will begin in Ooty. This large city is situated at the top of a mountain peak at nearly 6,000 feet. It is a very populated area with about One million people. There are many Christian churches in Ooty. It once was a vacation spot for the English and traces of the English influence can be seen in some of the architecture.

Plans are also in the works for Bev and Elena to conduct a one day Bible Conference for women immediately following the End Times Conferences. Also, they plan to meet with the girls who attend the tailoring school, visit the feeding programs and medical outreach.

After the Kish's leave, Sal and Elena will continue on at Quiet Corner through March 1. They will be working with the pastors and on future mission trip plans.Time passes quickly and there is much to do to get ready for such a full and busy trip. Please pray for us to remain healthy in the months ahead.

Currently our team is busy getting visas. Pray for that process to go smoothly. We are also collecting small toys, beanie babies and tote bags to give to the children and villagers.


Our MissionIndia 2012 Team Left to Right:Harold, Tom, Dave, Tom, Randy, Gunnar, Isaiah, Sal, Dave, Vikki, Bev, Thomas, Elena, Jody, Mike	,