Danielle's Update From India

Friends and Family, Namaste!This is the greeting they use here. Whheeww...By God's good grace wearrived here in India safe and sound with all our baggages, rearing togo! Airport security was a breeze and we were put to rest as we sawlittle Linnet jumping up and down amongst a crowd of people waitingoutside the airport. How that little body found us through all thosepeople was another miracle...though i am sure 11 Americans wanderingaround in Chennai's airport is hard to find! :o) We were greeted byLinnet Gupta and her fearless accomplice, Sushima. Both ladies were sowelcoming and graciously provided us with cool towels and cold water(it is almost 90 degrees, and 80% humidity), swooped us up and we wereon our way to the HBI campus.HBI has generously provided us with nice living quarters...way nicerthan I expected. I am rooming with Linda Pearce on the first floor (orthe ground floor as they call it) with Charlotte and Barry next doorto us and the others are on the 3rd floor (2nd floor). We have acommon room up on the third floor that is connected to all theirrooms. this is where we meet in the mornings to pray and discuss ourprevious day as well as the agenda for our current day.We have been blessed by very warm welcomes from the people here;during our introductory seminar yesterday, 4 girls from the HBI schoolcame and dressed us with home-made jasmine/rose leis, a traditionalcustom here. We have also been able to attend a church service ourfirst night here...Unfortunately we were all exhausted and fightingjet lag that we must of all looked like sleepy bobble heads,continuely nodding off. Thankfully the people here understood ourexhaustion and shooed us off to bed. For the most part, all of us ourrecovering well from the time difference and have almost caught up onour sleep. Today we were blessed by visiting a senior citizen home.There we were able to visit and pray with the elderly residing there.To our surprise many of them knew English and Jesus!!! They prayedWITH us and ' I was sung to by a sweet lady by the name of Mary Paul.The men recieved little pieces of paper a senior man, named' andHerold made in the form of a mini bible with one page. Opening it upthere was handwriting, inside it read "Let the peace of God rule inyour hearts" and "The Lord crowns you with loving kindness and tendermercy: Praise the LORD." Please keep these people in your prayers forthey have such a sweet and tender heart...they just crave for visitsfrom people.We'll I must run off to tour around the campus...We have the 2ndsession of the Truth Project going on as I type and tom we start ourWomen's conference and painting training. Please pray that these goover smootly as well as the upcoming pastor's leadership seminars,child development teachers' training as well as the continued showingsof the Truth Project and possible medical camp activities. We havefaith that the Lord will go before us, prepare the way, and provide uswith the right culturally sensitive yet effective words. So far ourhealth has been good with the exceptions of a few minorailments...please continue to include our health in your prayers,especially with this heat. We have only just begun the journey of ourmission here...Thank you all for your continued Prayers and Support! We really feelthem here---all the way on the other side of the world!!Love you all and many blessings sent your way from India!Peace, love and JOY,DanielleIndia Team 2008