India Trip, Day 4

A blessed Sunday from Vijayawada! Our day started in Segunderabad as we worshipped at the Lalagudda Baptist Church. Well, actually it stated with our hired bus driver arriving 45 minutes late, then getting lost on the way to the church. We polled a variety of local residents walking along the road who kept pointing us to the Catholic Church. One team member got a GPS reading and was finally able to direct us to the church, an hour and a half late. We were, however,  in time for the second service, spending time with the pastor and his family between services.  We shared special music and our team leader, Tony Cupit, preached. The people were wonderfully gracious before sending us on our way to the Hyperabad airport, each with a small bouquet of roses.  The adventure there centered around the extra weight in the bag I am carrying with the ServeTrust kits Westwood prepared on our fifth Sunday mission project a few weeks ago. I had to get out of line, go across the concourse, and try to negotiate with two airline agents who spoke little English and were obviously enjoying my plight as they calculated rupees by the second. We finally came to an agreement of their choosing and I handed over my credit card with the promise that any future grandchildren would be forwarded to them!!! The flight to V was a mere 30 minutes and Leena her nephews and cousins met us there with a bus. We hit the ground running and went to the housing development where the families displaced by the terrible fire under the train tracks a few weeks ago are housed. As we pulled in children came from everywhere, Leena's after school program. They sang and danced for us; we sang but didn't dance for them. Then an amazing prayer meeting broke out as the children one by one stepped up to the team and invited us to lay hands on their heads and pray for them. Individuals, siblings, moms and dads waited patiently for each blessing and we as a team were overwhelmed with the opportunity.  The Spirit of the Lord was present in a moment none of us will ever forget. From there we drove back through town for diner, and are now heading to our motel, about two hours drive. Should arrive about midnight and Leena has already scheduled our 7 am breakfast  and 7:30 departure from motel for tomorrow's adventure.

Weary but blessed. Looking forward to tomorrow's surprises!

Jim Abernathy