Hello Everyone!

We are sitting in the courtyard of Love n’ Care right now, awaiting our bus to take us to our next camp. We enjoyed another wonderful breakfast today of fried flat bread, hard boiled eggs, Indian omelets, fruit, preserves, and tasty coffee.

Yesterday was another full and long day of serving close to 700 people through our medical camp. We traveled to a village about 2 hours away, and it was over some of the bumpiest roads ever! This particular village was in a jungle-like setting, and it looked like we’d been transported to the rice fields and jungles of Vietnam. It was beautiful driving out there, and we drove through several smaller villages to arrive at our destination.

This particular village was one that Yesupadam has been hoping to reach for several years now. He has built a strong relationship with the local, leading politician, who invited us to do a medical camp in the midst of a huge festival they were holding. We arrived about 11 am, and quickly set up underneath some tents. We served many broken and hurting people, and many of them were extremely grateful for us coming and caring for them. Aches were relieved, sore teeth were pulled, wounds were cared for, prescriptions administered, and the Great Physician was on the move.

We enjoyed a traditional Indian meal for lunch, and then the town had a traditional Hindu dance ceremony which was beautiful to watch. Then Yesupadam and the town leaders went up onto a platform, and they had arranged free saree giveaway for all of the women of the town. Over 100 women were able to receive sarees, which Love n’ Care had provided. Yesupadam invited Jimmy, Nate and Dean to join him on stage (the guys who were just standing around : - ) ), and they were able to help hand out the sarees to the women. It was really special being able to see these grateful women receive their new sarees.

It is amazing seeing how the Lord has given Yesupadam such favor with the local leaders and politicians. He builds relationally with them, loves them and their families, and then they invite him to come to their villages and towns. Yesupadam does this because he wants to plant churches in these areas, and he often starts this process at the relational level, usually by extending care through the medical teams that Sovereign Grace and other churches provide.

These medical teams really are being used to advance the work of Jesus in south eastern India, and it is truly a joy for us to be a part of it. Today was a day of gospel work, and of kingdom expansion. Inroads for the gospel were made, as care was extended, practical needs were met, and the grace of the Great Physician was on display. May Jesus continue His work in this town, and through our team the rest of this week!

Updates on the team:

Jenny is doing much better, thanks so much for praying!

The pipe is now fixed in the girls bathroom, so 7 people don’t have to share 1 shower anymore.

The rat endures, and continues to outsmart Craig, Steve, Barry and Nate. Based on our investigations, we are led to believe there is a whole rat family living in our a/c unit, and that they continue to visit us late at night. Last night Nate, Craig and Eric announced a retreat from the combat and decided to sleep on the roof, which was a good idea until it started to rain! They will try again to sleep on the roof tonight.

Much love to all of our friends and families; more updates soon! Thanks for your prayers.