A Future and a Hope

That will be a familiar phrase to many of you, and it sums up what Bethesda Life Centre is giving the wonderful children we are serving.  To return and meet again those who Martin and Beena have been caring for for many years gives great joy and cause for praise.  We cannot know how these young lives may have turned out without this great work, but to see them safe and secure, loved and cared for is moving indeed.  To see the older ones now moving in to the world of work is incredible, the cycle of poverty which traps so many being broken in a powerful way.  To see how well those I first met in the junior boys home are now growing up and becoming confident young men in the senior boys home is cause for much celebration.  To see how the older girls care for the younger ones a privilege and again cause for much praise.
The team are a joy to lead and their hard work and dedication an inspiration to all they meet.
They stand head and shoulders above so many of their peers, and their growing understanding of God's heart for justice will see them doing great Kingdom work in the Years ahead.  They have achieved so much it would seem they have been here for so much longer than 10 days.
I thank you all for praying for me and thank God for my good health and the joy and laughter that have characterised my time here.  I also give thanks that my patience has endured all things Indian - we have a God of the truly miraculous!

Love

Ian

Day maybe 10...

Hello again worried parents and co, we hope you are continuing to enjoy your peaceful homes. Today has been a hot and sunny one, with only two torrential downpours...as monsoon goes that's fairly mild. All of us on the SMGoa team wish you a great start to the week, and we would like to update you on how our own has panned out.



Considering the sabbath day to be the beginning, we should start there. So Yesterday our own, very talented re:route worship band had the privilege of serving the church alongside some members of their own team. From the point of view of the re:route worship team members, it was a significantly liberating session as the spirit of The Lord completely washed over that room on the 5th floor of a mighty fancy Goan hotel! From the point of view of the congregation, it was such a joy to see our friends indulging in the gifts God has given them and using those to help others engage on such a deep level. So if I haven't emphasised this point quite enough, that service stood out to all of us on the team to the extent that it made it to the highlight short list of every one of us. We all stated afterwards how amazing it was for two completely different cultures to come together so intimately in the presence of The Lord who is constant.



On a slightly more shallow level, we have enjoyed some silly and joy-filled moments among us these past two days. Some of these are as follows:
- the BLC bus taking us from church back to our accommodation broke down on its way up the dreaded hill...

For a split second after the event, we all questioned whether or not it could be recovered. It couldn't. So persuaded by the sight of smoke and the smell of burning oil, we all got off the bus and proceeded on the journey up, alongside the giggling girls with the sun shining. It was a good moment.
- yesterday evening we went to a hotspot tourist beach with Martin and Beena including their children. As fun as it was ordering mock-tails and chicken nuggets, it was also very eye-opening to see the contrast between real joy and seeking contentment with God next to others who try and fill this gap with alcohol and attention from others. So as we pondered on this point, we were 'serenaded' by drunk men partaking in the karaoke. We've never heard a cat being strangled but for some reason we're all sure it was a similar noise.
- today we started painting the girls home. Let us describe the colour for you. Imagine the pink marshmallows you have surely tasted at some point in your life and enjoyed hugely, well let's melt them and put them in a pot. The paint resembled this in colour and consistency. It was almost cruel. We had a slow start,waiting for the paint to be delivered, which in the meantime allowed us to sort through clothes and their library whilst they were out at school. However, we're well on our way now and excited to get fully stuck in tomorrow!

As for the rest, it has continued much the same. Ukele being played, curry being eaten, water being drunk, paint being splattered, naps being taken, horns being honked, mosquitoes biting, fans spinning and dogs barking. But most of all, people being loved!

Ten Teenagers in a house

I thought I would let you have a little leaders scoop on the mission trip.
I have found that living with 10 teenagers is pretty wonderful and yet challenging all at once, imagine it.... There you go.
They are so great, serving and giving out, relying on Gods strength. Encouraging and challenging one another in love. They are growing in character and washing their clothes by hand so much!

One thing that I've been reflecting on is the tough stuff, the niggles and irritations, the small abrasive communication moments (my 'firing' them when they woke me up by their dancing feet sounding like a herd of baby elephants above my room, turning out to be them posing for photos in togas made from their bed sheets at half eleven at night).
The challenge of helping them grow in faith and facilitating their emotional responses to the poverty and brokenness they see around them, the culture shock, and an array of things that are exaggerated by the fact they are also dealing with a change of food, climate, environment and hormones!
These things that whilst you are in community, can be magnified and appear worse than they may sound (togas aside) have caused me to reflect on the incredible work Martin, Beena and the BLC team have done. At one point they were helping around 40 teenagers from broken & horrific backgrounds grow into grounded, compassionate, selfless young men and women. That too, with a faith in a God that can move mountains and has done many times in their lives.  They have done all this by focusing wholeheartedly on Jesus. I firmly believe there is no other way.

I've had the privilege of walking a chunk of this journey with them, their own children, Dan & Becky were just 8 & 3 years old when I first met them, now at 13 & 18 (almost) they are young people with massive hearts for the lost and the least.
This journey has taken its twists and turns in dramatic ways over that decade and if you could meet some of the young people who are now out working and making their way in the world you would feel as overwhelmed and excited as I am. Overwhelmed and proud of their perseverance, their hope, their faith, their compassion, and excited to see the bright futures the kids will have. Life and life in all it's fullness indeed.

So I may be living with 10 of the youth for a couple of weeks and finding it a little challenging, but if my heart is set on Jesus, and I take encouragement from the work of BLC, it's not really a tough task.  It is instead a beautiful journey of which I am privileged to be a part.

See you in a week or so with 10 courageous, servant hearted, adaptable, compassionate young people right behind.

Day 8

Namaste,

In the last two days it has pretty much rained the whole time, this is the joy of the monsoon season! The last couple of days have been interesting as the team have got over the high of arriving in Goa and are relying on God's strength to get them through the day.

At 8:45 we get picked up in a bright yellow bus by a guy called Lucky - what an awesome name - and we travel the short but memorable journey to the small boys home. As you drive down the hill supposedly on the left side of the road you are fixated on the colourful houses surrounded by cows, stray dogs and litter all over the floor.

Yesterday was the day that we finished painting a room in the small boys home. We also realised that the consequences of getting paint all over the floor was that we had to get down on our hands and knees and scrub the worst of it off!

In the evening we went and joined the worship team as we rehearsed for the service on Sunday morning. As we walked through the door of a small room cluttered with instruments and cables we were immediately struck by how hot it already was.

Then we plugged our instruments in and began to make some noise the stench of smelly boys (and maybe a few girls) became even more apparent. Though the smell was bad, it was incredible to join with worshippers from the other side of the world but yet still be united by one God.

Today we embarked on an adventure to a spice farm where we had a tour around 2 out of 150 acres of land and also had a bath on an elephant. This involved sitting on the elephant as it picked up water with its trunk, spraying it all over you.

As a team we would love you to pray for:
  - continued protection from sickness
  -  renewed energy
  - sleep
  - good quality time with the girls as we spend more time at their home.

We hope you are our well and we look forward to sharing with you again soon!

Love from the SMGoa team

Are men

Poetry

Hey, it's the #smgoa2014 team and we have a poem for you guys :)

India is great.
Food is great.
Kids are great.
Martin is great.
Beena is great.
Niall's memory of names is not so great.
Homes are great.
Hide and seek biscuits are great.
Chas is great.
Niall is great.
Pete is great.
Sam is great.
Dan is great.
Dani is great.
Sarah is great.
Cockroaches are not so great.
Anna is great.
Emily is great.
David is great.
Ian is great.
Sophie is great.
Wednesday was great.
Sunday was great.
Tuesday was great.
Driving is not so great.
Thursday was great.
Monday was great.
Tomorrow will be great.
Water is great.
Bus is great.
Ukulele playing is great.
Fans are great.
Rain is great.
Puppy is great.
Bucket showers are great.
Chas' bluefin tuna is not so great.
Mosquito repellent is smelly.

Second blog of the mission

As we write this we are in a nice hotel doing God's work by drinking mocktails and relaxing in the pool. We're not joking. We are taking a well-deserved break in a hotel on the beachfront for an evening. Watching the others swim in the pool as we eat our chips.

Everyone is doing well, however Pete fell down the stairs. He is fine now, no need to worry. However he has been feeling light-headed and a bit dizzy so we would be grateful for prayer. However we have discovered a cure. The more he eats, the less light-headed he feels, which is convenient. The past few days he's been feeling better though, so that's good. The ukulele has been the go-to activity at siesta time when there isn't much to do and boredom sets in. Everybody can now play it better than George Formby, thanks to Chas. Some of us have been suffering from lack of sleep, yet we only have ourselves to blame. And the howling dogs. And the rain. And the heat. And the sound of the fans that don't do much to cool the heat. And the midges. Mainly ourselves. We hope you are enjoying your respective homes without us. Now for a Hindi lesson. Bas means enough, pronounced buzz. Sukriya means thank you. That's bas for today. See what we did there.

We're sure you have excess food without us, and we hope you enjoyed New Wine for those who went. We have almost finished painting the boys dining room, just painting on Noah's ark and some other elaborations. Next we paint the girls home. We have been running fun clubs for the kids, which includes art and craft activities, puppet shows (given by Pete and Niall) and bible stories. The boys have been doing devotions in the boys home, and the girls in the girls home. Chas, Sam and Emily have all spoken and all had good feedback. Sam, Pete, David and Niall all played football in the pouring rain. They have never cared less about rain and mud. That day (Wednesday) we had a whole weeks worth of rain in one day, even in monsoon. It seemed fun to us, but the flooding has been

catastrophic in Mumbai, so again prayer is needed. We're going to go because Pete is desperate to buy  some cake. Have fun.

Yours sincerely, SMGoa team

P.S Gretchen, Chas is doing superb, he's taken a particular shine to some of the female volunteers working with us and is getting on well with them.

Why hello there people in rainy England (at least we're guessing so)... We hope you're all doing well. Now, how to summarise the past few days...

The flight was, in a word, tiring, but to add more words, the plane was plain swanky (see what I did there?) and for some, inflight entertainment was far more appealing than sleep, especially for those fuelled by Mountain Dew.

We arrived, piled into a bus (luggage balanced precariously on the roof) and got to the house. Yellow from the outside, yellow from the inside, basic but it's got everything we need: beds (with traditional rugs for sheets), showers/buckets plus jug, a kitchen and an eating/chilling room with lots of chairs.

On Sunday, post a much-needed night's rest, we went to church. The location was splendiferous: riverside, with a corrugated iron roof, equipped with fans. I was a definite fan (see what I did again? I promise I'll stop at some point....). Martin, who with his wife Beena set up BLC, spoke and his sermon was inspiring and relevant to both our stay and life in general. The worship, led by Dipak, was awesome, if a bit loud. Next we paid a visit to the girls' home, which was brief as they were cleaning, but it was our first taste of the kids' homes as they stand in 2014. Wonderful and humbling, these places are full of joy. Finally, we went to the beach, which was surprisingly British-like, despite the palm trees and slightly heavier rain than we're used to (so don't you be complaining).

A quick note about the food: it's good. Very tasty, sometimes spicy, and always colourful. Most evenings Beena cooks for us and we spend lunches at the small boys' home...which leads nicely into Monday.

So, we woke up, and got off to a flying start at the boys' home. A few people helped in the Rising Star school, which is part of the home and for the youngest kids, and those who struggle the most. This was rewarding, touching and constantly entertaining. The rest of the team prepped the dining room for painting on Tuesday, sanding and scrubbing all the walls, which was hot, sticky work but we're sure it'll be worth it. We came back to the house for a nap and then went back to the home to run an after-school kids group, where we sang songs and Pete and Niall did a great job with the puppets. The boys then introduced to a new game called 7up which shortly lost its appeal although they were adamant they'd teach us Hindi numbers. Finally the team split - guys and girls went to the older boys' home and the girls' home respectively. We had more worship, and shared devotion time with them, which was a great opportunity to bond with them.

Finally, today (which is Tuesday, for those who have lost their calendar), so far we have gone to the little boys' home again and the team this time was split in two. We took it in turns to play with the kids, as they have no school today because of the public holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan. The other part of the team started to paint the dining room, before we shared lunch with the kids. Currently, we are sitting writing this at the house, while the sweet sound of the teams outstanding ukulele playing subscrobially wafts into our (somewhat grimy) ears.... You see, we're doing this instead of having a shower. Gross.

Yours sincerely,

The SMGoa team

Day 3 - Team photo

Quick team photo for you!

Day 3: Update from the team

We've heard from the team, and things are going really well:

They had  a really long (and for some, sleepless) journey, but made it to the house at around 6pm on Saturday. The house is great, and is right next door to Martin & Beena.

They've been to church and met people there, and then today started going into the kids homes.
In the mornings they have started decorating, and the afternoon kids club and devotions are getting going. The decorating project is quite large: the younger boys home this week, then next week will be moving on to the girls home; it's quite a lot to fit in in the 2 weeks, so they're having to work hard!

The team are doing brilliantly, pulling together well, not complaining, eating the food (curry twice a day), and generally getting on with it. There are also another 3 volunteers there at the moment, one of whom is leaving at the end of this week, and two girls who will be around and helping for the whole time.

So things to pray for:

•  It's great that everyone is there safely, and getting stuck (and the English weather just before leaving was pretty good acclimatisation). Continue praying for the team that they communicate well and are open and vulnerable with each other, and that the relationships are deep, and that things work well with the other volunteers.
• There is lots to do in the two weeks, so pray they get everything done and everyone has energy (and enough sleep) for it.
• Pray for the relationships with the kids in the kids homes, that the team will get stuck in and form some really helpful relationships.

Hopefully we'll be hearing more (and getting some photos) soon.

Walking on Sunshine

What a wonderful gala evening, India team weekend, and wider youth
ministry.

I was buzzing by the end of the gala, a superb evening, capping 2 days
with the India team that were a delight and an excitement.  So
encouraging and thrilling to see this group come together full of
determination to serve their Lord and to live their lives for Him.  Our
time in India promises to be one of great transformation that has
already begun.  And so great to be supported by so many others all
pulling together.  The love of Jesus binds our youth ministry together
in a very powerful and tangible way.

Don't it feel good, God is good!

93 days till we go…..

The idea of going to Goa in 93 days at the moment feel more like an idea than a reality. That doesn't mean I’m not excited to go, don’t get me wrong every time I think about it I get butterflies in my tummy and a load of incredible memories come flooding back but there are a couple of hurdles to jump through before I feel like the idea can become a reality. These are mainly my exams that are taking up most of my time and energy but also Lark in the Park and all the preparation that has to come before we leave to go to Goa; like the preparation to be able to lead worship out there. Finishing my exams and doing all the other stuff that comes before going on mission is incredible though because it builds up the excitement and anticipation for what is to come. Iit creates time to press into what God has instore for us to do in Goa and to seek direction for what is to come as well as the way it will unravel. 

At the moment I have just over £100 to raise which I am very happy with. When I signed up to go to Goa I had no idea how to raise the money and it almost put me off applying but then I realised that I had nothing to fear because if it was Gods plan for me to go then he would find a way and he has and I have learned a couple of things along the way (most of which I’m still learning). My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 and it says 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength' and this is what I'm learning, to find strength from a place outside of myself and to rest in that place before I even clean my teeth in the morning. 

Although there is great excitement about going and every time I think of it my heart starts racing, there is something in me that is slightly apprehensive about going. Partly I think it's the food, I don’t really like curry and when I went to Goa the first time I found that I wasn't really eating much. Last time I went this wasn't so much of an issue but I still found it difficult to eat curry every day. Although, not liking curry does make me appreciate things like chips and gravy! 

This year I've been really challenged by how much stuff I take with me. Last time I went I had far to many clothes and ended up not even wearing some of them. This year I don't want that mentality of having my clothes as almost a type of comfort blanket, to be challenged and I want to act on it. My goal this year is to try and only take a hand luggage bag worth of clothes and other stuff for me and to live off the very basics, to embrace the idea of not having a whole wardrobe of clothes to choose from. This will then allow me to use the extra space to bless Bethesda Life Centre and the people that I encounter along the journey in India. 

I went to Goa on mission in 2011 and 2012 and I went with the mentality that it was for my benefit; that I would come back changed and I got caught up in how it would impact me. I almost lost sight of the real reason we were there but now I'm realising that this isn't really the case. There is plenty of time for me to receive but for two and a half weeks I am laying my life down and fixing my eyes on something bigger, I'm there to serve the King of Kings in a way that is going to make an impact far bigger than I could ever imagine. As long as my eyes are fixed on Jesus and my heart is surrendered to Him and in a place ready to serve then what I get out of it is an added bonus. 

If you are a person who loves to bless people by interceding for them, then please do pray for me, that I would be live out of a place of strength in God rather than my own strength but that also I would be walking in the gift that he has given me even before I go so that I would be best equipped and living most effectively for him. 

The trip gets closer

With our trip to India getting closer and closer I figured it was finally time that I wrote this blog. I am actually really excited about going to India, as I think it will be an awesome time that I get to spend with some really great people. I hope that the mission will give me a sense of achievement as it is going to be completely different from anything I have ever experienced before, and that it will be something I remember for the rest of my life.

The only thing I worry about is my attitude while I’m in India, because I’ve been told I generally try to get away with the bare minimum, which I don’t want to do; I want to be as helpful as possible. As long as I’m not lazy I think it will be a really worthwhile trip.

My cycle to Cardiff with Chas and David is next week and I think that will be really tough. It should be fun to spend a day with some of the team, no matter how exhausting it is. We may have to shorten it, however I really hope that doesn’t happen, but I guess you should never leave a man behind...

I think I have raised all of my sponsorship money which is great, mainly through babysitting and gaining sponsorship for my cycle. I got the sponsorship money from friends, family and my hairdresser by telling them what I am doing both in India and in my preparations for the trip such as lark in the park and my cycle.

Spread the love, (don’t know if you’re meant to sign off a blog or not)

Niall

How Things Are Going

So it’s been a couple of months since my last blog & I thought I would update everyone on how things are going with everything I talked about in my first blog.

Firstly my fundraising is going really good, at first it wasn't so good and I wanted to give up before praying, but I prayed together with a very good friend and God started providing and telling what I needed to do so I can get the money to go, at the beginning of January I need £1000.00 to pay, now I only have £329.17 to pay and its only the beginning of March so in over two months I have raised £670.83, the only way I have done this is by praying and having support from family and friends. The ways I have raised this money is by babysitting and working.

Secondly, I HAD MY JABS, YAY!!!  In my last blog I was talking about needing jabs and tablets for India, well I had all my jabs apart from one which I don’t need until June just before we go, and the best bit of having my jabs was that I wasn’t ill like I normally am, which was amazing. Having my jabs makes it exciting because I am one step closer to going to India, whoop whoop. I also have my malaria tablets, I have got the ones called doxycycline which I think most of the team are going to be taking.

Overall, things are going well with fundraising and the medical side of things, I think we will be doing our visas soon which is exciting but also very stressful for us and our leaders to sort out, so I ask for prayer for that. I also ask for prayer for the team to be united before we go away to India. 

Youth Summer Missions Gala

Shantaram

I'm currently reading a book called Shantaram, a novel  in which a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escaped from Pentridge Prison flees to India.  So far I have been captured by the authors vivid descriptions of his first encounters with the country.  I myself have often struggled to depict the colourful sensory overload that I experience when I go to India.  There was one particular part that I wanted to share;

'The simple and astonishing truth about India and Indian people is that when you go there, and deal with them, your heart always guides you more wisely than your head.' - Gregory David Roberts 

I find that in Goa, having lived there for a while, what my logical thoughts (yes, I do have them!) would try and dictate, my heart does appear to always come out best in reactions and understanding.  I have encountered frustration and irritation when I couldn't understand things from my world view, but immersing yourself heart first is a sure way to begin to grow in patience and love for the people of India.

My prayer for the team this year is that they would find guidance in their heart, prompted by the Holy Spirit.  Living alongside those we serve, not in judgement and thinking they know better, but in openness and understanding.  If they can follow their hearts lead in our time there, the experience will become all the more colourful, and full of life.  They will see deeper and the journey will bring them joy and understanding they had not known before.

A Mid-Fundraising Update

So the intimidating £1,000 fundraising goal for this mission trip is a figure large enough to make my head spin and tummy churn each time my mind wanders upon the thought. However, 3 months in and with just over 3 months remaining, God has worked in so many wonderful ways in a situation where, honestly, I would have fallen flat on my face if I was left to endure it alone.
The aim of this post really is for it to consist of encouraging words for the other SM2014 members that may find the Fundraising concept challenging, but also for those who think that an area of weakness is something negative. So let's view it as a Barnabus spot, shall we?

The thought of Fundraising for me was initially such a burden that I almost allowed it to prevent me from signing up to go; the single factor that drove me away from this thought was the challenge of living dangerously for God this year. I mentioned this briefly in my last post. Since there are a few new aspects of my life quite recently that require ongoing funds, the fact that I don't have a job and therefore assured, regular money flowing into my account seemed a whole lot more daunting! However, it has taught me several valuable lessons in a very short space of time.
1) being that money management is so important. Perhaps saying no to things that sound appealing to you but won't be all that beneficial and prioritising the things in life that you're willing to invest in even if you're not sure where that money is going to come from.
2) relying fully on God will bring about success. Praying and letting Jesus be my first resort when my worries have gotten the better of me has shown me very explicitly that even the most absurd concepts can become reality.
3) being active in a space of vulnerability or weakness. Not knowing when/how much money will be coming my way at first made me become quite reserved. I started doubting the things I was investing both time and money in and allowed in to make me become quite passive. I soon realised this was the wrong way to go about it. The decision alone to become more active in seeking money opportunities has resulted in me being blessed with them, that much is evident to me. I've found myself surrounded with open doors and very generous people these past couple of weeks that have increased the change in my savings account considerably.

It's clear that God has been walking alongside me throughout this whole process, beginning to teach me the things that I am ready to learn and assuring me that living dangerously for Him brings about opportunities that a) I would never have been exposed to and b) I would never have even considered taking had I been exposed to them. So my encouragement to anyone reading is this; if you ever find yourself placed with a task that seems unachievable and just plain terrifying, take it firmly by both hands! When you seek God first and foremost, he's going to equip you with everything you need, and at the precise moment that you will need them. Its highly likely you will learn some pretty valuable stuff along the way too...

Sarah 

Waiting

At Christmas I went back to Goa for a holiday and to visit the wonderful friends of BLC. 
Part of my time there I spent speaking with Beena and hearing her heart for why they love having the youth team come over and serve them.  We discussed the details of what we might do to serve them better and what their expectations of us were.
If you have ever heard Beena share her heart for anything, you will know that it is a life giving experience. 

I thought I would tell you the plans* we have for our time with them.

We have been asked to run after school clubs, to run some kids programs with bible study, and to unpack the gospel message for the kids so that it roots deeply in their hearts.

We will also spend time decorating the inside of the girls home with pictures and murals for the walls, Beena's words were 'to make it feel like home'.  

Spending time with Beena & Pastor Martin sharing their heart for the work they do, and learning what it means to walk alongside the poor and marginalised. 

I also thought you may like to see some recent pictures of the kids we will be hanging out with.

*plans in Goa are always subject to change, they are what you could call, fluid. 

Bollywood, Curry & Textile Workers

I have to admit, when someone mentions India, I can’t help but think of Bollywood, curry and textile workers. Admittedly, I get the feeling that the curry stereotype may be cemented rather than dispelled during the two and a bit weeks we’re out there for, but I’m hoping that my currently misguided and clouded expectations will be blown away. I mean, who doesn’t like a surprise?

So, my thoughts and feelings so far, in a semi-chronological order.... ‘Wow! You mean, I’m actually going?!’ That was pretty much my first reaction when Soph phoned to tell me I’d been accepted. Then, of course, came ‘Oooh I wonder  who else is going.’ Then a bit of ‘Umm, what will it really involve?’ Ok, don’t get me wrong, I’d done my research (by asking people who’d been before), but I’m not convinced I’ll be entirely sure until I’ve actually been there, done it, and got the t-shirt (which are apparently very cheap out there, so it’s all good).

Seriously though, I am so thrilled to be able to be a part of this trip. I know there are a number of people my age who do this kind of thing, often in a secular context and with the aim of ‘broadening their horizons’ and, dare I say it, having a little something extra for job and uni applications. I think this is part of what makes ChristChurch missions different. I don’t want this trip to be about me and what I can get out of it, but instead what we, as a team, can give to BLC and the wonderful people there. And not because of how great we are, but because of how great God is.

I reckon there are going to be a fair few challenges, not least the heat, food and culture, as well as, umm, the lack of phones and iPods. I think, as bad as it may be, that that will be a big challenge for me, but at the same time, I think I’ll realise that in actual fact, I don’t need all these things that I have become so reliant on. There is something so much bigger and more important, and that thing is God. I hope that I will get to know Him better.

The biggest excitement for me lies in getting to know the children who Martin and Beena take care of out there. My family and I spent a bit of time in Burma a couple of years ago, and something I remember vividly from that trip is going once a week to a centre for children with various disabilities, especially those caused by leprosy and polio. Although we spoke next to no Burmese, I was amazed at how much a smile can communicate. Joining in their games or school work, we got to know them and their unique personalities pretty quickly. I am so excited to have another opportunity like that, and to be able to share in God’s love in a totally different way.

Another thing I am really looking forward to is getting closer as a team. I think we are going to get pretty good at supporting each other over the course of mission and that we’ll learn more about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I hope that we can be a team who really encourage each other and help each other to develop into the people that God has designed us to be – not just during mission, but in the months leading up to it, and continuing forward after it.

Currently my biggest worry is fundraising - I had planned to do a Krispy Kreme sale at school, but I found out a few days ago that individual events aren’t allowed, which kind of threw a spanner in the works. My wonderful Mum has had a really good idea though – there’s a weekly car boot sale that I’m going to take a bunch of stuff to one weekend (or probably more than one weekend, depending on how lucrative it is). I’m also going to start teaching someone piano, and I’m looking for any babysitting opportunities going. I know that God’s got it in hand and that something will work. I’ll just keep persevering.

So, all in all, a bit of a standing-at-the-edge-of-a-cliff feeling. Very, very exciting, a little bit scary and a lot of unknowns. But completely exhilarating at the same time!

Needles, Foreign Food and other Phobias

For many years I have looked up to those who have gone on summer missions with Christchurch Woking to either India or Kenya however it was not till recently that I seriously considered going on mission myself. Two years ago I felt that I wasn’t prepared to go to India as I didn’t feel mature enough but as soon as I heard there was going to be a summer mission in 2014 I knew that I wanted to go. Many of the things which I associate with mission scare me yet I still feel that I have a calling from God to go and help the less privileged in India. 

Coming from South Africa, a country with such polar extremes when it comes to wealth and standard of living, I have always been aware of the suffering there is around the world. This is why I feel that it is necessary for me to go to India on mission so that I can help people first hand and not just by giving money so others can do the work for me.

Frankly there are many aspects of the mission that scare me; first and foremost there is the injection issue. I have a phobia of needles. Because of this I have, in the last few years, avoided more than 15 stitches by on a number of occasions just bandaging up a gash in the side of my leg and hoping for the best. Some may say that that is a stupid thing to do but I would honestly rather risk catching many diseases in India than get the injections for them and be safe unfortunately I will not be allowed to go on the mission unless I get my injections… Secondly there is the food issue… Although I have no problem with Indian food itself I have possible one of the worst track records possible food wise (I have in the past even given myself food poisoning by eating partly cooked bacon).  Also I have heard the horror stories of people becoming very ill due to the foreign cuisine (normally because of the rice). These are hurdles that I will have to overcome either before the mission or during it however I know that God’s strength will help me through the roughest of times.

When I was on team at Soul Survivor last summer I was able to serve others, I felt a calling from god to find joy in even the most menial of tasks I found this a very rewarding experience as it helped me to form stronger relationships with those who were around me and also with the rest of the youth. I look forward to further re-enforcing my relationships with those who will be going to India as part of the Christchurch team. I am also looking forward to helping the children who are at the orphanage because I love to make a difference to the loves of others, I feel going on mission this summer will be eye opening and it will benefit me spiritually. I am very much looking forward to the adventure, India here I come!!!

It’s Finally Time!

Even since I was 14 years old I wanted to go to India with Christchurch youth but my Mum has always said no because she worries about me being okay, but it wasn’t until 2012 when I was applying for India summer mission 2013 she said I could go.  Then I suddenly had God saying no because he didn’t wants us going to India he want us as a youth to do something else, just like we did. So back in October 2013 when the application form came out for India 2014 I felt straight away this is the year and it was right my mum and God both said YES!!

When I’m on the team India I’m so excited because I cant wait to develop the relationships I have with the rest of the team stronger and being there for each other when we are struggle when we are out in India. I’m always really excited seeing all the kids and serving them, I have heard so much about the India mission and how fun it is to play and spend time with the kids, and now it just makes me so excited that that I get to see what everyone is talking about when I go out in the summer of 2014.

Even though I’m excited about going to India, I am also really scared. The main reason is that it my first time going to India. I’m always scared that I’m going to miss my Mum and family. Going on mission to India does mean that we need things, jabs and tablets so that we don’t get ill. I’m not scared of jabs but they don’t like me, the doctor has to lay me down and leave me there up to half and hour after the jab this because my sugar levels go really low and this is what really scares me getting them done, so prayer for this would be amazing. I am not that keen on curry but the more I eat it the more I’m starting to like it, so I’m hoping that by the summer I will like it like other food.

One of the big things I’m scared of is getting the money so that I can go to India.

Fundraising is really hard and trying to work out what I should do for fundraising is really hard. I keep writing to my college asking to do cake sale but not getting anywhere at the moment. The only way which is keeping me going and not giving up on fundraising is the support of my friends/team and praying to God asking him for his help.

Overall I feel excited about going to India because we have a great team and a lot of us are going for the first time, which makes everything even more exciting. We have to two great people (Sophie and Ian) leading the team to India, which is also really exciting. I think the main thing I need and also the team needs is prayer and lots of it. I think the things I need prayer for are jabs and fundraising.

CCFA

Whoop whoop! Just received £400 from Combined Cadet Force Association! Only £400 left... Looking forward to raising it :)

Initial Thoughts

I'm really excited at the prospect of going on mission in the Summer of 2014. Since I experienced helping with my family at an orphanage in Kenya around 5 years ago, I have always wanted to go back and serve abroad. Up until now, I had not felt God calling me or asking me to take part in mission but since my confirmation, my relationship with Him has grown and after a lot of praying with family and friends, I really felt a strong sense that God could use me and I was so excited to be accepted as part of the team.

As well as growing my relationship with God throughout the mission, I am also really looking forward to serving the BLC and all the children it cares for. I am very excited at the thought of meeting the children and developing friendships with them throughout the time we are there and hope to maintain these whether that means using some kind of messaging system or just going back out to see them another year.

Although I am really looking forward to experiencing the different culture of India, I am also slightly daunted by the idea that I may not understand their culture fully enough and may accidentally come across as rude. When I was in Kenya I learnt about having put aside our response to cultural habits and see things from their perspective. However, to try and avoid this, I am going to do bit of research on the way they live and the differences in culture, as well as talking to past members of mission teams to see what advice they can offer me.

Last but not least, over the course of the next year and throughout our time in Goa, I look forward to developing relationships with the rest of the team. I know that we will be pushed to the mental and physical limits while we are in India and that we are going to need to be able to rely on each other for support and encouragement. I'm looking forward to praying and socialising together over the next few months before we leave.

I'm super pumped for this mission and am looking forward to get underway!

First Thoughts

Hey guys! I’m Chas and I have been on mission twice before to Goa, and am massively looking forward to doing so again. It should be great!

I think the team this year is a really good one because everyone is really close knit. I think that our relationship as a team will be even more intimate than it already is.

I am looking forward to seeing the kids again and building the relationships that I already have in Goa. I will know some of the kids quite well, because this is not my first time going.

I also hope to be able to continue to make a difference in the kids’ lives because I think in a practical sense, this is what mission is about.

Fundraising….. should probably start thinking about fundraising soon. I have no doubt that this is an element of mission that will bring the whole team together and before the mission we can show just how well we can work together.

I’m pretty excited to carry out God’s will in Goa. Good job team.