team 1 in Bhapati

Hello,

Hello to you all,

Hello from Hotel Kona Bhayan in downtown Bhapati. 

We had poor internet access at our 1^st  4 day stay (1/3 of our visits) and we have been busy.

We passed the mid-point of our trip yesterday.  We had a meeting and work session to regroup and made note of the day.

The conditions for our stay have been good.  We cannot avoid power outages of course.  The rooms and food have been good and inexpensive.  The heat is in the high 90’s cooling into the 80’s overnight.  It is getting cloudy more often but the rains have not come here yet.  The farmers are preparing the fields in expectation. 

We are traveling in the CLCI area.  Brothers Jyothi, Prem Kumar, Solomon and Santosh have organized well and been with us; this has been a great help to us.  The children in the villages are joining the member children so that we have 50% more than expected.  We are buying more gifts with their help.  We will get an 8 page booklet to pass out with the puzzle (both colorable) printed today, God willing.  It is the 7 C’s of our presentation in Telugu and coloring format. 

Our routine day is different than the other two groups.  I am not teaching to the pastors in the daytime.  Instead we have our Bible program for the children in the evening or morning.  Then we have a service, often shortened in the evening presentation; I preach the sermon with translation. 

These men have been a source of help and information in many ways.  I will mention a few items.  Stopping to get a peanut plant out of the field.  Arranging a day at the Bay of Bengal beach with the Pastors and wives.  An evening trip to a park and reservoir with pastors’ families.  Helping us hurry when it is needed and talking with us to fill the time when we must just wait.  Saying yes when we say, can I ask about …

Last night we made our presentation at Yajali, a poorer place than others.  The children were very enthusiastic and happy to see and hear us.  We used the village rectangle in the center of the place.  The pastors tried hard to keep light and audio going.  The connection to the neighbors outlet failed, the tap onto the village wire failed.  A generator failed.  A backup battery failed.  One battery lamp and God did not fail.

I am thankful that I have a good camera.  Pastor Jyothi’s camera, the official one, was in his pocket when a wave swamped our group at the beach.  We were lining up with our backs to the ocean for a group shot.  I am loaning them my camera and we are all sharing the pictures.

God be wi’ ye, David