Coming home

We have arrived in the Dehli airport, and watching the local news that there has been a car bomb near the Israeli embassy here in Delhi. We have been mostly unaware of the world outside of Bihar. We are nowhere near the embassy, and safe inside the airport. Our flight from Delhi leaves in about 6 hours, and although we are very sad to leave our friends in India, we are looking forward to being back at home with our families. We shared a tearful goodbye with pastor Basith and his wife Rebecca. They have established the orphange we have been visiting. My heart will always be with the children. This week, we had evangelistic and prayer meetings in a very rural area, most of the small homes in the village are mud houses with dirt floor and a grass or wooden or very broken tiles on roof. Words cannot explain how vastly different the way life is in Bihar, compared to our standard of living.
Right now, the orphange has 34 children in a 3 room area. They sleep in a dark room on a bed of straw, 34 children sleeping in a room on the floor that is 10 by 15 feet.
The new orphange is being constructed, walls are up, and the roof will be going on soon. There's so much to tell.
Several times stand out to me this week. One day, we prayed, prophesied and annointed each child with oil and presented them with a cross. Then Clint and I sang them the "Jesus, can I tell you how I feel", song from Emmaus.
Last night, before we left, we presented each child with a stuffed animal. We also annointed the new building, prayed for Bashith and blessed and prayed for the Hindu man that provided the land for the new orphange. Surrounding this land are fields of mustard plants as far as the eye can see. It is such a clear example of the prophetic vision for this orphange and ministry.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It's the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown,it's taller than the vegetables, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches."
Matt 13:31-32

Julie

Bible story time

Picture of the morning: Julie sharing bible stories from the roof with the orphans.

James 1:27

We're in Kudra, Bihar state and spent the morning with 33 orphans under the care of Pastor Bashisth Ram who will soon be moving into a new building constructed with funds given from different people around northwest Arkansas.

We sang songs with them, answered questions about America, washed their feet while telling the story of the last supper, played games, gave a soccer ball, interviewed all of them 1-on-1 and just built relationships sharing the love of Jesus Christ. Only 5 of these kids receive financial support through child sponsorship. For only $50/month, or a meal or two less eating out each month, you can provide food, clothing, education (school fees), medicine, etc. to sustain health and give hope to a child in desperate need.

The photo below shows some of the orphan boys we shared the morning with. The child in the bottom right corner in the purple shirt is 5 year old Vipi. I held him. I gave him a huge hug while we laughed and smiled. I shared about our Heavenly Father as I learned that both his father and mother have died. I shared with him that while both of us have lost our earthly fathers, our daddy in Heaven is perfect and sufficient. I got to know Vipi.

I always get more than I ever give when I come here in obedience. My prayer is to be more like Jesus today and take one step closer to the Cross. Blessings, Clint

Chai tea

Greetings from the state of Bihar,
Last night we left our sweet friends at the Bhastra Christian Center in West Bengal. We took a passenger train for about 9 hour overnight ride. It was a sleeper train, so we all had our own bunk, the train was old and dusty and two sweet little boys starred at us all night with our white skin. About every thirty minutes, a vendor would walk down the eisle, stand at our bunk and yell, "Chai, Chai Tea", just about the same time we would get back to sleep. This morning when we arrived at our stop, we found that we had to jump on to the track with all of our bags as quickly as possible, that was interesting.
Last night, before leaving West Bengal, we visited a mud hut that was one of many house churches in Bhastra. This was a womens literacy group.,four of the ladies on our team including myself, kerrie, josie and faith, shared words of healing and encouragement. Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ". There were 20 women and girls that received prayer and were healed and delivered from physical and emotional pain, it was truly a work of the Holy Spirit, as we had not prepared anything to share.

We love and Miss all of you and covet your prayers. The state of Bihar has been referred to as a graveyard of missonaries, no one wants to come here.
Tonight we will have a healing and evangelism event, and tomorrow we begin work in the orphange.
We are staying in the home of a gracious Muslim family that has leased their home to us this week

To God Be the Glory!
Julie

Lydia, just for you

John sleeping on the top of 3 bunks on the train. You can see the local in the mirror on the bottom bunk of the next shelf watching him. White skin is quite the side show.

in transit to Bihar

authentic India

All is well and we are extremely blessed. Jesus has done amazing things here and hundreds have joined His kingdom. We've had technical issues so apologies for the minimal updates. We are leaving West Bengal tonight to board the train for an overnight trip to Bihar. Authentic Indian experience upcoming and as we leave, we were presented by our West Bengal hosts with authentic India garb...

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever

This is Julie. Greetings from Bhastra India in the state of West Bengal. Thank you to all of our friends and family that have prayed and continue to pray for us and the people of India, we feel your prayers and the annointing of the Holy Spirit.

Last night, there was an evangelistic event where many many souls came to Christ. The backdrop to this story was that, less than two weeks ago, there was no money available to hold this event. By the grace of God, and the friendship, prayers and support of many in Northwest Arkansas the provision became available for this specific event.

The local pastor, Simon Islam, established a Christian Mission and ministry here many years ago, birthed out of the relationship with David and Jan Woodrum from the Harvest of Jubilee ministry. It was Simon's vision to have a large crusade, however, the Lord brought him into the Kingdom of Heaven to see it from the other side of answered prayer. Simon died of a heart attack exactally a month from the day of the event, January 5, 2012.

Last night we were witness to the fruit of Simon's prayer, and work of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. Simon's son, Simpson continues with the ministry. David gave the pure and simple message of the gospel from the creation of Adam and Eve to the birth of Jesus. The people were hungry for truth and hope, and many people received the Lord Jesus Christ as their saviour. Many were prayed for and healed from infirmities, pain, and prolonged illness. It was not because we came here, but the work of the Holy Spirit.

Praise God for His love, mercy grace and his abudant blessings.

In the name of Jesus,
Julie

Travel Day

We've arrived in Chicago and are waiting at the gate to depart for Delhi. Next post from Indian soil. Thanks for your prayers thus far, no hiccups. Keep it up as He answers. Blessings, Clint

Depart on Friday

Good morning all!

We leave for the Indian states of West Bengal and Bihar on Friday morning, Feb 3rd. We will use this site, www.2012triptoindia.blogspot.com, to give brief updates throughout the journey and appreciate/covet all of your prayers in preparation for departure, during the trip, and upon return. May each of us become more like Jesus today!

Closer to the Cross,
Clint

Matthew 10:7-8, James 1:27

Trip members: Kerrie Bollinger, John Harrigan, Julie Thibodaux, Clint Elcan, Faith Daniels, Janice Woodrum & Dave Woodrum