Dear...

We’re just two short hours away from loading up the TuckTuck/TupTup/TaTa/Taxi Truck and heading out to Chennai Airport, leaving our new family, half of our hearts, and this beautiful mission behind. Today was a pretty rough day for the Team. We actually had less to do than our typical VBS days (today’s VBS was the wrap-up/awards/goodbyes), but the emotional impact on all of us has really hit every member in a very real way. I’m happy to say that your India 2012 Team left everything on the field. We loved hard and did everything we could to give the last ounce of our energy and attention to these kids. For some, that meant sneaking off to fill up 200 water balloons. For others, that meant hanging with the kids in the main room 2 hours after VBS had ended. Still others spent their downtime heading into the village to minister to the families and communicate Christ’s love one last time. When the Taxi Truck hauled the neighboring village kids out of the Mission Center, the guys ran behind the truck in 107 degree weather, waving and screaming, “Yesu unnai nesikaraar” (Jesus loves you) and “Naan unnai nesikaraar” (I love you) until the kids were out of sight. So much love was poured out today.

But before I close out this blog and THE BLOG one last time, I want to share the experience that just about broke our team today. At the end of VBS, different kids stand up and share what VBS meant to them, what they learned and what they are taking away. This was a special time at Poonthanthalam, but today was on a totally different level. The first handful of kids that stood up began to recount, in great detail, the different Grain Game illustrations that they remember, including the application and meaning of each. Others shared their appreciation for the skits and how they had learned lessons from them as well. But then, Velu stood up and instead of recalling his favorite or most meaningful memory, he began to profess his love for individual team members. Instead of just standing at the front as others had done, he was moved to stand right in front of the team. He shared how he felt love from us and for us - how we were family. Then, one by one, kid after kid stood up and spoke directly and very personally to different team members sharing how we had impacted their lives and would never forget us. Finally, Pastor Nandekumar stood up and spoke for about 5 minutes, sharing the story of the North River Church/Mission Center’s development and how instrumental we were in getting the village to accept the Mission Center. He shared how we have helped lay a solid foundation of ministry that would impact this area. And then he said something so meaningful and yet, so entirely difficult to accept. He looked at the team and said, “No one wants you to leave. You being here has been like Heaven has come down”. So much of this statement destroys me and I don’t know how to accept it. Imagine spending a week being loved, told you were great, received backrubs, foot rubs, served in every way…and then told that it was like Heaven was among the servants. I’m still struggling how to accept this when we were so obviously the recipients of the blessing, not the other way around. It wrecked the women. Fortunately, the men didn’t cry….but the inside of my cheek is probably still bleeding from biting it to keep from totally losing it like a wussy American. The outpouring of love TOWARDS us today is something we will never forget.

And it’s important to pass this on as well: we have said from Day One this is not the effort of a 7-man team. If you gave financially, if you have prayed for this mission, if you have written cards, if you have checked in on our families, if you have sacrificed in any way and joined this mission in spirit, this blessing and victory is yours as well. But, if you have joined us in this mission, even though we’re leaving soon, this mission isn’t over for anyone. There is still work to do. Only the ground in a handful of villages have been cracked. There’s a village directly across the river from the North River Mission Center that has never heard the truth about Jesus Christ. A small river stands in the way from reaching an unreached people group. We learned this week that two-thirds of the unreached people groups in the world reside in India. There is still work to be done. Our prayer is that, as you have read this, your heart would be stirred to join, support and continue the work that God is doing here in India. This is only the beginning.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, would conclude his communication with some specific messages to people/groups. In no way do I put myself in the Apostle Paul category, but if you’re going to try to write something meaningful, copy what the best do. So, here goes.

Dear friends and readers of this blog, thank you. Thank you for your support and encouragement during these past few weeks. We have intentionally not promoted numbers because that’s not the important measure of success on missions. However, in this instance, let me toss one out. In 2010, we had a staggering 1050 views/readers on our India 2010 blog. Before this blog is posted tonight, we’ve had over 3,200 page views for the 2012 blog. I share this to tell you that this has been such an encouragement to the team knowing that so many of you are with us in spirit. We don’t assume you’ve been praying. We know you have. We have felt your prayers for strength. For healing. For open doors. You have prayed for specific things that we have asked you to, and God has answered every single one of them. Last night, I asked you to pray for breeze for the first time (why I didn’t ask for this a week ago is so dumb). We woke up this morning, in India, in an open air facility…cold. Morganapriya shared with David this morning that her father, who every night goes to bed praying “Nagame” to his snake god, changed his prayer last night (following his talk with David) to “Oh Jesus, oh Jesus”. Also, Morganapriya’s father showed up to VBS today. And served food to the kids. You have done what we could not. You held our arms when we were tired. You share in every victory that Christ gave to us. You have been vital to the success of this mission and we love you.

Dear Faith Baptist, along with your prayer support and beautiful cards and notes of encouragement, you have financially given sacrificially. The support you gave to help us purchase resources has gone farther than any of us could’ve ever imagined. We’ve seen God at work in huge ways in the supplies! All that you have given to this specific mission has blessed the lives of all that we’ve come in contact with. Giving above and beyond in our economy is not something we jump at…but you did and God has blessed in ways that made carrying out this mission work much easier. Thank you for your generosity. But not only have you been a blessing to the India 2012 Team, David has shared on a daily basis how the ministry he carries out on a day-by-day basis is made possible because of the faithful financial support from Faith. We’re seeing your generosity first hand. God has and will continue to use you. On behalf of David and the Team, you are making this work possible.

Dear families, we love you. So often, emphasis is placed on the missionaries who leave and sacrifice. But as we are here reaping the blessings, you are at home attempting to carry on a normal life without much help. Every day you worry and pray harder for your Team, I believe, than most anyone else. Not a day goes by that we don’t, as a Team, pray for you. Your support and willingness to “share” us often goes unnoticed. But not by us. And more importantly, not by Jesus. You are with us and every spiritual blessing we receive is shared with you. You are our greatest support and (for some of us) the only reason we’re returning home. We love you and we can’t wait to see you at BWI (at 7:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 19th, Bill Bennett. Sorry…Betty Jo asked me to gently remind you).

Dear India 2012 Team, you are the best mission team I’ve ever worked with. God handpicked each one of you and you have served Him faithfully and well. You have not just sacrificed these past two weeks. You have given your weeknights, weekends…rearranged your schedules…worked on India stuff while trying to juggle work, family, school, church and life commitments. Every moment of your preparation has honored God and these past two weeks we have reaped the benefit of your preparation. You have honored God. You have loved well. You have changed lives. You have learned Tamil. You have given until it hurts. You have run the race. You began as a team, became a family and are now advocates. Finish the work. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Dear David Rajan, no words can communicate our appreciation for your hospitality, your patience, your ambulance service, your sense of humor…and most of all, your heart for India and seeing Jesus Christ raised up where no one else is trying. You are our hero and we stand with all of Heaven applauding your humility and obedience. As Hanneken stated in our debriefing last night, “We won’t change India, but David Rajan will”. This is truth. All of us - the team, our families, friends, your Faith Baptist Church - will lift you up to our Father in Heaven whom you serve with complete faithfulness. God bless you, Godfather.

Dear Jesus, we, as a church and team, are humbled by Your call to serve here. What You are accomplishing in India is a testament to how sovereign and good You are. Our desire has been to serve You faithfully and at every single step You have shown Yourself faithful to us. For Your protection, provision, strength, love, compassion, patience, peace, unity and wisdom, we give You and You alone praise. Any success has come directly from Your hand and You are glorious. In a land of darkness, You are shining the Light of Christ and waging war in the heavens for the people of India. Savior, win. Use as and keep us committed to Your mission. May we see Your glory and Jesus Christ lifted up as the Lord of these villages and communities. Hallelujah!

Thank you, everyone. We love you. This mission of Christ continues. Join Him.

And finally…

Dear India, be right back.

India 2012...