Incredible India - Our Journeys Here So Far

From an unexpected meeting with German police officers to encountering Indian guards, our journey to Delhi was one of adventure...

Upon our arrival in Frankfurt, Germany we quickly made our way toward terminal A, where the Spain team would be boarding their next flight within the hour. Not realizing the potential conflict and error in our travel through the airport, we passed through the passport check point and said our final goodbyes to the Spain girls on the other side. Discovering that we were heading towards terminals A and B we knew we had to go back in the direction from which we came to get to terminal C, so we politely asked the German passport worker if he would let us come back through to get to our terminal and he allowed us to do so. Upon crossing back over a man followed us a little way and asked us to come with him after flashing us his badge. He then proceeded to tell us that we should not have come back through that way and that we were no longer "clean." He took us to the police office. He explained with emphatic seriousness to the officer on duty what happened, then left us there. Standing in complete silence as we were looked over by the officer, we showed our passports to him then explained to him what happened and that it was an honest mistake. Fortunately, he was kind and understanding and let us go without any problems. What a team experience!

After a five hour lay-over, we boarded our plane enroute to Delhi. Most of us fell asleep before the plane even took off. With a great but long flight, we were full of excitement when our plane landed in Delhi, eager to settle in and see what He has for us here. Our flight had landed at approximately 1:45 AM. Upon exiting the aircraft and entering the airport we quickly became aware that we were not in America anymore, but that we had arrived. To our surprise, we were in the presence of heavily armed guards. Not thinking too much about it, we proceeded to go through customs, claim our baggage, exchange some money, and locate the members of PTL that were picking us up. Everything went well and smoothly and we did not experience any difficulties, except for locating the people that were picking us up. We found them after a couple of searches and in the words of John (one of the men picking us up), through the guidance of the H0ly Spirit. Later that day, after we took rest, we started to hear stories about the Delhi airport being a target. In addition to those reports, we learned in Saturday's newspaper that we landed at the airport within the hour of reported "gunshots." However, we later found out that the report of the "gunshots" was inaccurate. Despite all the events, confusion, and chaos that had gone on in the airport just before our arrival, thanks be to Him that we arrived safely and with no problems.

Regarding our first week in India, it has been a time of observing incredible contrasts. One thing that we all quickly noticed was the unique smell to the air of India. For some of us this was not unexpected, but it was nonetheless impacting. Everyday we hear many sounds... from the call to prayer at the Muslim mosque just down the road, to car horns, from loud music being blared, to fireworks, like we see at July 4th celebrations, being sent off just next door. We have heard and seen wedding bands for Hindi wedding celebrations. The other day alone there were 35,000 weddings in this region. We have seen traffic on the roads ranging from pedestrians, to cycle rickshaws, to carts being pulled by oxen, to auto rickshaws, motorbikes, scooters, cars, SUV's, buses, large transportation trucks carrying heavy loads of merchandise/crops, to sacred cows, to hungry dogs, and all these at the same time on the same road! We have seen large houses and small houses. Wealthy next to poor. It has been eye opening to see all these contrasts in one place. Wondering how it can be this way. But, India still goes on.

The boys are staying at the PTL center, where we are serving while in India, and the girls are staying at the house of a family that works at the center. We have been warmly received and have not stopped eating since we arrived. The hospitality of everyone here is more than any of us could ever have imagined. And it has been very encouraging.

We have been getting involved with various aspects of the PTL organization. Natasha and I have attended the women's prayer meetings. Shane, Kush, and Austin have been interacting with the boys from the IMS discipleship school and building relationships with them. The school meets on the same floor in the PTL center that the boys stay on. We join the staff for their daily devotions before they start their work day, and shared a message with them at Monday's devotion time. We have gone to birthday celebrations, house dedications, and welcoming parties. We attended church at the Christian Fellowship Centre (the name of the church at PTL) on Sunday, and we were warmly received there. Prayer is a huge focus of this organization, and we are encouraged by that, and I am glad to be given the opportunity to continue to grow in that discipline.

Our Father is definately working in this place and through these people. It has been a great first week meeting everyone and seeing how He is moving in their lives.

Praises: That we arrived safely.
That we were warmly received.
That we have adjusted quickly.

Requests: For India - politically, and because of post-Mumbai
For the PTL staff
For the women's prayer team
For our health - some of us are battling colds, upset stomachs, and headaches
For the IMS discipleship students - that studies may go well
That His presence will continue to be strong in this place.

Blessings!

Jessica

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with His people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Rom. 12:12-13