Got Milk? My answer to this question is, "yes, by God's grace, I do."

I have often mentioned the struggles I have with the oppressive heat in India. Sometimes, when I'm
especially blessed, I receive a little relief in the form of a fresh breeze or a drink of cold milk.

When I was a boy in grade school, back in Illinois, a high school boy named Chris honored me by asking me to lead his Grand Champion Dairy Cow named Bessy in the Parade of Champions at the County Fair. Although I have never been a farmer or even lived on a farm for any significant period of time, agriculture has always been an integral part of my family life and my upbringing.

Many years later as I began my telephone career I moved back to that old home town and renewed a relationship with Chris. Chris invited me to help him complete some carpentry projects on on his dairy farm named Paradigm Farms. The agreement

Lost & Found & Lost Again. 

Lost: One fuchsia sari underskirt. Last seen at the Top Star Laundry in Mahabs. 
 
With just a few days remaining of our time in India, I discovered that the underskirt to my beloved purple teacher's sari was missing. The sari was a special gift from the teachers 2 years ago and I wanted to wear it today, one my last days, in their honor. When I remembered that the purple sari had recently returned from the laundry, I decided that the underskirt must have been accidentally left behind at the laundry on the last trip. With just two days remaining before we leave, I was very busy at school so Jim volunteered to go back to the laundry to see if it was there. At least that was the plan when we left for school. Have you ever heard that expression, "If you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans."?

As almost always happens every day, how we think we're going to spend our day is not what actually happens. "Welcome to India."
Today was no different. Shortly after we arrived at school and enjoyed Morning Assembly with the kids, Jim got a call just as he was leaving for the laundry trip. John Christian needed his help in Chennai again, moving more items to the new church. I was happy for him to go and have one last male-bonding experience with the guys but I also knew I would have to work hard to squeeze in a quick trip to the laundry if I were ever going to see my underskirt again. The teacher trainings have gone so well that in addition to the all-afternoon trainings, I am also meeting individually with teachers before we leave, sharing and praying together.

Our time in India is rapidly coming to a close and until today, I had not yet had an opportunity to visit the Widow's Village at Vayaloor that has had such an impact on me for the last three years.  As we discussed our schedule over lunch today, we realized that tonight was the last opportunity for us to go and see what, if any, progress has been made at Vayaloor in the past year.

There was a special program at school today so the lower grades were not present and the upper grades were dismissed at noon.  This allowed Susan an opportunity to meet with all the teachers as a whole group for a very meaningful time of sharing and spiritual renewal for all. I was able to participate in part of this time and was especially touched as the last teacher shared a devotion that 

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow and loves the alien giving them food and clothing.

2012 marks my 4th summer to spend a month in India where I have had many significant and spiritually meaningful experiences with the students at Achiever Academy, the Vineyard Church in Chennai, the citizens of Mahabalipuram and with the extraordinary friends I have developed with members of the Acts of Mercy team in Chennai and Mahabalipuram. With all that and more to experience, still the most defining India moment for me was on a Tuesday evening during my first trip in 2009. Our group stood on the yet un-walled second floor of the Activity Center at the construction site of the Widows Rehabilitation Center at the village of Vayaloor. We looked out over the property and listened to John Christian, Director of Acts of Mercy, describe the plight of the widows of India. 

That evening I listened as John described an Indian society which believes that if a woman's husband dies the wife is responsible because of a curse she has brought upon her family, as well as herself. For this reason she is banished from the community.  John described that, when he was distributing food and water relief after the Tsunami of 2004, 

Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these....he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them."   

Oh yes He blesses them. Every single day. You can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices. You can feel it in their hugs.  It's a Little Bit of Heaven on Earth.

It's great to be back at Achiever Academy in Mahabalipuram, India, where Jim and I feel very much a part of the school faculty and at home in this village. I work in the school each day, primarily training teachers in English literacy and reading instruction. When he's not working elsewhere for Acts of Mercy, shopping at the market, dropping off our laundry, or visiting with villagers while he runs errands, Jim sometimes joins us in the trainings. This year, we've noticed a healthy improvement in the teachers' English so we're conducting more advanced grammar lessons, often using scripture and even music for practice.  A wonderful new addition this year is the opportunity to 

Once again God has demonstrated that He is abundantly big enough!

Last Sunday morning, the congregation of the Vineyard Church of Chennai held its first worship service in their bright, airy and much larger facility.

Last year while we were here John Christian (pastor of the Vineyard Church of Chennai and Director of Acts of Mercy)  reminded the members of the church that the lease on their old facility was going to run out and it looked like they would not be able to come to an agreement on a new lease. Sure enough, our first Sunday here John announced on Sunday during worship that this would be the last Sunday at the old facility and that Thursday, all the members should come to the church and help move all the furniture, sound equipment, instruments and anything else to the new location. Everyone was upbeat and ready for the move.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

There's no understanding it.  India is a paradox - contradictions at every turn. Most of it doesn't make sense to westerners and we are no different.  Even after 4 previous visits, we still scratch our heads in amazement every single day. At the most confounding moments, we just laugh and say to one other, "Welcome to India!" 

The village of Mahabalipuram, India, is home to Acts of Mercy, the non-profit organization for which we volunteer. Mahabs (as the locals call it) is a tiny rural village about 4 sq. miles and yet home to approximately 12.000 people and countless cows, goats, and monkeys, who all fill the streets, seemingly at once. India is a communal society, with multi-generational large families living together in relatively small homes. Known for its historic temples and beautiful beaches, Mahab is a tourist town and therefore, somewhat more prosperous than more rural villages nearby, many consisting of one or two dirt streets lined with thatched huts. Mahabs is a village of old and new, with Hindu temples carved from red sandstone in the 7th century  standing next to newly constructed guest lodges. Brightly colored paint adorns the 

Here I go again ... 

It came as no surprise that I did not sleep on the flights from Dallas through
Chicago and all the way to our layover in Helsinki. Not sleeping on flights is
not unusual for me but I had been so hopeful that with the abundant lack of
sleep leading up to the trip this surely would be the trip I could break that
habit.

Our joyful expectation of the 12 hour layover in Helsinki had been building every since Susan found this wonderful connection that would save us over $300 on the cost of each ticket and would  fit so beautifully into our ongoing desire to experience yet another city and country. It also provided a welcome savings.

When we arrived in Helsinki the sun was out to greet us and the temperature was cool enough that Susan was glad to have her sweater. The cool weather also helped me overcome the fatigue. Although I found myself a little unsteady at times, we enjoyed the day. We were able go into the heart of the city and view a spectacular Lutheran cathedral and a smaller, but no less impressive, Russian Orthodox church. We even managed to fit in a tour to the famous island fortress just off shore of the city. This included a boat ride to and from that provided spectacular views from the water of this beautiful city. After a couple of hours of sightseeing at the fortress, we purchased some traditional Finnish food items and sat on the lush  (click "Read More" below to continue reading)