The Jesus Conference

Conference begins with worship 

"I have never heard any one teach on this subject before."  "I feel blessed to be taught solid Bible teaching." "I am coming back to attend the Leadership Training Bible School in February." These are just some of the comments we have received over the last two days at The Jesus Conference. It has been a great time with over 70 pastors and lay people attending. Tom and Sal have been right on the mark and the delegates have been soaking in the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. Tomorrow is the last day and it will be sad to say good bye to these dear people.

We are overjoyed that Harold, after 2 days of low grade fever and a bout of dehydration, is feeling fine and regaining his strength. Vikki, Elena and Joice, the village nurse, took him to the government hospital for treatment. Getting a round of Saline IV did the trick and with a good night's sleep, the old Harold was on the rise. We are thankful for his recovery and the many prayers.

Viju puts up a poster about the
medical outreach

Village mom happily took a flier
about the medical outreach

In the late afternoon we went deep into the jungle to visit a remote village. We needed special permission to enter this part of the jungle. "White" people are not permitted to enter the forest past the check point. Nor is any mention of the Gospel permitted because this is a strict Hindu area. Viju was able to obtain special permission for us to visit 2 small villages and promote the medical outreach. The ride was very rough as most of the road is gone. The curves and turns were not for the faint of heart. It was about a 40 minute drive and we arrived after dark. We handed out fliers and put up posters regarding the medical clinic that begins next week. Though most of the villages will be bused into Quiet Corner for the clinic, this village is too far so we plan to take the medical team to them.

Our prayers are turning toward Team B who leaves on Saturday. May they have a safe and healthy journey. We can hardly wait to greet them on Monday afternoon.

Rolling Up Our Sleeves

Buying Watermelons for the busy week

It was a great time reuniting with our friends as we rolled into Quiet Corner on Sunday afternoon. Thomas and Marykutty are looking as fit as ever. The Prayer Summit is in session over the last few days. We stay busy preparing for The Jesus Conference which begins Wednesday morning and concludes on Friday. Fifty or more delegates are expected to register for the three day event. We are very excited to see old friends and make new ones. We also began planning for the medical/good news outreach which will begin on February 5.

  Today we took a long shopping list to the nearby village to pick up supplies for the week ahead.

For all our Midwest friends and family, we have heard of the horrific weather you are enduring. Here at QCI the temperature today is a balmy 82 with sapphire blue skies.

Vikki enjoys Bible reading at 82 degrees. 

Arrived in Bangalore

We arrived happy and thouroughly exhausted. The ride was smooth and no significant delays. We experienced a potentially worrisome bump in the road at the frankfort airport. Wont go into the details now. It is a story that needs to be told in person. The team just wants everyone to know we were touched by a powerful answer to prayer. As a result of our circumstances, we received an amazing series of miracles. It was a reminder to all of us just how much prayer is needed. There is no burden so heavy that God can not handle. There is no moment in life when his touch is not necessary. 

We enjoyed a happy reunion with Paul, Jaya, Viju and Johnny in the wee hours of the morning. Elena began receiving alarming text messages at 5 AM from her children asking her to call home asap. Knowing that they were going to receive bad news, the team immediately began praying. Sal called his son, Chris,  who informed him that his brother, Vinnie, unexpectedly passed away Thursday morning. Once again, we experienced the desperate need to pray for God's help. We sent out the need for prayer to Lake Country Bible Church and others and we know the faithful immediately sprung into action. God has granted great peace and comfort to Sal and Elena over this sad news. 

In just the first 24 hours of this trip, we have seen the kindness of God through the priveldge of prayer. It truly is a priveldge to pray to a God who does not need our help. And yet, he has granted us a partnership in managing the affairs of life through prayer. 

This is the Lord's doing!

MissionIndia 2014 Team Commissioning and Prayer

Team A, Tom & Bev, Harold & Vikki and Sal & Elena will leave for Quiet Corner, India on January 22. We arrive in Bangalore (the 24th India time) where we will spend 2 days collecting items and organizing for our 7 hour car ride to Quiet Corner. 

Tom and Sal will be preparing for The Jesus Conference which runs January 25-27. The rest of the team will be designing and equipping the Medical Clinic and Bible Club areas in preparation for Team B arriving February 3. 

Please be in prayer for all the details. There is much to think about. It can be overwhelming except for one thing that is true and certain: God is in the details. Over the years we have seen our ministry to Quiet Corner grow in amazing ways. Did we design it? No Did we ask for it? No. Did we control it? No. Year after year there is an undeniable awareness that God is in the details. Psalm 118:23 describes the cry of our hearts perfectly: This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see!

Next blog will be coming to you from Bangalore. Until then, Parkalam! 

Locking & Loading

Final Orientation Meeting

All systems are go!

Happy New Year, Everyone! For this year's Lake Country Bible Church MissionIndia Team, it is especially happy. Last night we conducted our final orientation meeting before the first of 3 teams leaves for Quiet Corner, India. After going over the necessary instructions and guidelines for the trip, we broke out into the Medical Team and the Good News
Team to fine tune and go over preparations for the 2 week medical/good news outreach, which will take place the first 2 weeks in February.

Medical Team Brain Storming

Prior to that, Team A will arrive on January 24 for the Jesus Conference and to set up the medical clinic in advance of Team B's arrival on February 3. Team C arrives on February 9. We will finish up the month of February with a 2 week Servant Leadership School. People from all over India are registering right now for both the school and the conference.  Plans are also in the making for 2 women's conferences. To say we are all excited is an understatement.

The Packer Party

The meeting last night ended with a "Packer" Party. Not the football team but the estimated 1,000 pounds of gifts, clothing and candy that was packed into 20+ suitcases. Each team member will carry one of these check-in bags along with their own personal luggage. That is no easy feat but we are up to the challenge.

Keeping it under 50 LBS

As the teams get ready to depart, we could use your help and support. Please keep this entire mission trip in prayer. That is the backbone of what we do. Please pray for good weather as the teams depart from O'Hare and safety throughout the entire trip. All totaled, MissionIndia 2014 runs from January 22- March 5. Pray that we are a blessing to all we serve.

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Bless you all and have a happy and healthy 2014!