It is always hard to simply tell people how extreme the contrasts in India are…BUT give them a little tour and it all comes into focus.  Albeit, not usually easy to understand.  Our goal with the TEAM was for them to—see it—experience it—and embrace it.

 

Having the TEAM see the ministry of Dr Suresh was high on our agenda of activities planned.  Dusty, bumpy, rutted roads were also a necessary part of this plan.  We couldn’t let them get off easy, now could we?  The days’ journey began with a lengthy ride in the vehicles to see the school where our RGI girls are teaching.  What fun for me to see the girls again so quickly.  All the children were in classes for this visit, so it made it all the more enchanting.

Shy, but ready to perform their well-practiced action songs the children sang their hearts out, while we all stood around grinning from ear to ear.

Upon leaving we gave the headmaster a large box of cupcakes to share with all the children.  I’m sure it was a very special treat for them.

 

Continuing on to the Goat Lady’s village for TEAMS’ first in-depth look at a true mud and stick village.  This time the lady was home and waiting to show off her healthy goats.

Her daughter-in-law was cooking in the diminutive cow-dung floored kitchen.  This was so curious for the TEAM that each person wanted a picture taken with her.

                        

While milling around the village a young man came up to Loren, and Loren realized he was an alumnus who was the owner of his own small welding business in a close by village.

 

A lunch break at the fellowship center in the next village made for a delightful stop, with a meal of fried chicken, chips, bananas, Indian potato salad, and much, much more. With teenage boys hardly a morsel of leftovers remained.

                              

Also this was the TEAMS first introduction to the Indian “squat” toilet.

 

I think the next event was probably one of the most exciting/scarcest for the TEAM.  Dr. Suresh had arranged for several bullock carts to pick up the TEAM and take them into the village.

The squeals, OH WOWs, and laughing made me know this was a great choice of activities, even with the uncomfortable jolting on the pothole road.  I personally thought it might break my tailbone.  LOL

 

After this a visit to an orphanage was on the SHE schedule. This was very emotional and eye opening, in particular for the teenagers.  Several said, “Nani, we have so much and take it all for granted.”  (The entire group of teenagers started calling me Nani, which for me was endearing.)  We left several large bags of IJ—Indian Junk—with the headmaster to distribute. These kids eat, sleep and have classes in the same small room.  The TEAM especially noticed the lack of light.  Without the presence of God it is a very dark world.

 

Back to Prakash for a spectacular night out with the Hindu extended family.  Talk about extremes.

It is so difficult for our minds to take in— wealth beyond our comprehension and the largest concentration of poverty in the world—side by side.

The whole point of this day’s activities was to give an idea to the TEAM about where our students come from and how life can be transformed by a Prakash education in job skills, life skills and Christ honoring spiritual skills

Anytime a person is in ministry you dream of having family visit your field of service.  This happened for Loren and I.  Devin, our son, and another Prakash Board member arranged for a TEAM of 17 people from all over CA to visit Prakash.  (This has been a highlight of our time of service in India for Loren and I—to be sure.)  With the arrival of Devin and two of our grandchildren it makes four generations of family to have visited Prakash PTL!!!!

 

With out a doubt, Prakash students know how to put out the WELCOME MAT.  They outdid themselves with the arrival of the TEAM. Weeks and weeks before their arrival, there was a mammoth amount of work that went on, but the day the TEAM walk on campus it all went off without a hitch.

 

Smoke bombs,

   

sparklers, and confetti blowers—the boys didn’t think about the amount of clean up those would require, ha, ha! —

and dances all preceded the TEAM onto the campus.  There were rose petals thrown by the girls,

garlands, and (what the staff called) an Informal Welcome program.  After which there was a  “DO NOT DO” instruction time and room assignments for the TEAM.

 

Lunch was served,

              

after which, there were just a FEW minutes to get settled before an All Staff and Family Tea. 

The TEAM had 8 teenagers and somehow they found the only basketball I have ever seen at Prakash and started playing on the basketball court—formally it had ONLY been used for big gatherings and meals—to my knowledge. What a great experience of interaction between our Prakash boys and the TEAM.  We simply moved the tea tables under the trees, where it was cooler anyway, and watched the fun.  The girls all clustered under the trees and had a great “girl talk time” with the females from the TEAM.  Thousands of questions bantered back and forth between every one at the celebration.

 

After a quick teatime clean up, we were off to the RGI auditorium for the Worship Service and Formal Welcome of the guests.  The TEAM teenagers were so excited to engaged in this part of the agenda that they were over to the auditorium and set up with their guitars, drums, and ready to sing, in advance of half the Indian adults arrival. 

They had a great “jam-time.” These teenagers had jumped right in already teaching our students a great English action song before the official start of the program.  I was the PROUDEST grandmother to see Connor up on stage with his guitar leading the group,

and Sabrina singing…no shyness in these offspring.

                                    

All the teenagers were on the platform doing a great job of performing.  All the TEAM enjoyed more garlands, songs, student presentations and just plain old fun.

 

Then off to the volleyball court for a USA vs. India.  India was doing so well that they finally decided to make it mixed teams.  No matter was the score; the cheering section was all hoop and hollers.                                   

                                

The whole purpose of the TEAM’S coming was to interact with students, presentation of the EvangeCube, (an evangelism tool for everyone to Simply Share Jesus,)

hear testimonies of Transformed Lives and see the workings of the ministry of Prakash for India up close and personal. Amazingly, they were meeting their purpose within a few hours of being on campus.

 

After the Worship Service, and mingling, the TEAM was off to several “staff homes” for dinner.  This was an incredible time for all.

 

A very tired TEAM was not ready to call it a day when the vehicles arrived to pick them up for the return trip to Prakash. They simply did not want this day to end.

 

MORE STORIES OF THE TEAMS’S ADVENTURES TO COME

AND MANY MORE PICTURES.

During the time that Bob has been here at Prakash we have tried to give him the full experiences of India.  Some have been fun and others….well…not so fun.

 

On Sundays we either attended a House church,

         

Student’s church or listened to Andy’s DVD’s.  Each has had it’s own unique flavor and gave Bob insight into our worship environments.

 

One of student’s sang a solo during the Student’s service and actually if was very good.  After the service we asked to talk with the young man and found he had a most unusual story. He honestly told us, “I ran away twice after coming to Prakash.”  “Why?” was our question.  He explained that he was totally unprepared to have any discipline in his life.  Being a semi-orphan and pampered like most Indian young men—even though the family was EXTREMELY poor—meant he was downright lazy.  When he became a student at Prakash and had to: wash his own clothes, study, keep timings, clean his room and the campus. He was shocked with the realities of life.  Luckily, his guardian sent him back each time to Prakash and in the midst of all the chaos he found that he could sing and do it quite well.  His relationship with the Lord has grown and he now LOVES the discipline.

 

Due to the fact that the monkeys have been in scarce supply while Bob has been here, we planned a surprise outing Sunday afternoon to RamTek.  This is a Hindu Temple over run with monkeys. 

The street vendors have made the most of the worshippers’ and tourists’ desire to FEED the monkeys.

                     

The temple sits on the top of a hill and there are 700 steps to the top.  We didn’t make Bob walk the stairway, but graciously drove him to the top. LOL  (I wouldn’t have climbed the stairs either.)  I did have to take off my shoes…ugg…but had plenty of Clorox wipes to clean my feet after leaving the Temple area.

Shopping, shopping, shopping takes an enormous amount of our time.  It may take six or seven stops just to get the items you could buy in one store in the US.  Bob has enjoyed all the trips to town just to “people watch” if nothing else.  While shopping for gifts for friends he told Loren, “It is dangerous to go with Sylvia.  She knows where all the really GOOD stuff is.”

Our time with Bob is winding down and we will miss his fellowship and humor.