I love Saturday mornings. Farm fresh eggs with cheese, whole milk with cream straight from our cow, (whom we've nicknamed Bessie) and lots of rich Indian coffee in the cool of the day. As I wash the breakfast dishes, I look out our kitchen window to see 2 bullocks wander by in the pasture next door. As with most bullocks in this area of southern India, their horns are brightly painted red and green with the tips covered in brass cups topped with balls and bells. The dishes will have to wait while I grab my videocamera and head outside for a closer look. Before I can see him, I can hear his horn bells jangling constantly as the darker one strips most of the leaves off a small tree growing in the pasture. In less than a minute, he moves on toward his partner, stopping here and there to graze in the grass. I wonder about the constant jingling of his bells. Does he wonder, “Is it just me or do you hear that ringing sound too?”

Hindus adorn their cows and bullocks with paint, powders, flowers, bells, etc. because they hold cows in high esteem and respect them for their gentle, giving nature. Such decorations are part of annual agricultural festivals that honor cows. They give 

We're on our way! Two hundred four pounds of checked luggage with 6 laptops, 6 tablets, and so many endless treasures that they seem like Mary Poppins bags.  Check. (literally)  Two carry-ons stuffed with 4 computers, 4 tablets, 2 videocameras, and a shiny new projector. Check. When we arrived at the airport, my sweet mother said, "I'll just get the luggage out for you so you won't be so tired when you get there."  She's a trooper!  It's not a trip to the airport that she and I don't laugh about the time in 2010 when she and I tried to pull a 50 lbg bag out of the trunk together and when it got stuck on something, the handle pulled off and I went tumbling backward and ended up rolling across the pavement!  I could hardly get up off the concrete for laughing so hard!  I'm sure the man in the car behind us wished he had his video camera for that one. I would have been a viral video hit in minutes!  

Today was my last day at school and as I sit here in the airport, it's hard to imagine that I was at school just this morning.  It's been a busy few weeks trying to get everything ready to go and there were times I thought I must have been crazy to commit to this schedule. I think I recognized that same look in Jim's eyes more than once.  But now that the work is done and we're waiting to board, we're so thankful for a little abundance that God seemed to throw our way 8 months ago. Back in Sept., when I booked our airfare, I stumbled across a crazy-cheap fare that saved us $800 each!  There was just one hitch.  It included a long layover in France and our airfare savings allows us a few days of rest and rejuvenation before heading onward to India. Next Monday, on June 6, we will stand on the beaches of Normandy and honor those who sacrificed to defend our freedom 72 years ago. A few days later, on June 10th, we will make the 2nd leg of our journey and travel on to India.  We're excited about some wonderful new changes for Achiever Academy and look forward to sharing those stories with you soon.  In the meantime, we appreciate your prayers for safe travel, rest, and good health as we carry your prayers and encouragement with us.  

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This is what the future of learning looks like for Achiever Academy in India!  Abundance! 

Thank you Whites Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake, TX, John Boelens, and many others for donating 10 new tablets loaded with cool new learning apps and 10 more refurbished laptop computers - all on the way to India this week.  And this year, we're also talking along a new projector, thanks to a generous donor. Now if we just had electricity all day ... hmmm. 

We continually accept used laptops and our tech-wizard volunteers can refurbish most anything! Even while we’re India, we can put our volunteers in contact with you and arrange to pick up or arrange other transport. We have friends coming & going to/from India throughout the ​year who will transport laptops so this is an offer that never expires!

​We hope you will prayerfully consider sharing our need with your friends, family, small groups, etc.  This makes a simple, free

​Garage Sale-ing for India! I REALLY dislike garage sales but look what 2 hrs of time produced just this morning!  Each year, Jim & I volunteer for a month with Acts of Mercy in Mahabalipuram, India. This will be our 8th summer and we’re counting down the weeks until we leave on June 3rd – actually my last day of school.  I know… my mother’s been telling me for years…. I’m officially crazy. But when I found an airfare that would save us $1600 if we left on June 3rd, I couldn’t pass it up. But that now means just under 4 short weeks as we prepare for teacher training, shop for school needs, and finalize the set-up of 10 new tablets, donated to Achiever Academy by the Faith Builders class of Whites Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake, TX.  Thank you!  And thank you to John Boelens, who tirelessly assists us with purchases, donations, refurbishing, trouble-shooting and downloading of apps for computers and tablets. You are our valued ministry-partner, John, and we truly couldn’t do it without you! 
 
So, facing the last weeks of school, a week in Seattle for Jim’s Vietnam reunion, and leaving for India, I have what seems to be a zillion more things to do before we go. So I was not looking forward to taking time to go garage sale shopping this morning.  But, like most detours God leads us on, within just a few minutes, we knew it was time well invested for His holy purpose. We know 

All too quickly, the day for goodbyes has come. Three weeks ago, we arrived in Mahabalipuram in a downpour that rivaled our spring floods back home in Texas. “You're here! You've brought the rains from Texas!”, John and Carol Christian literally shouted as they rushed out into the pouring rain to welcome us “back home”. We all ignored the downpour as they shared that the southern state of Tamil Nadu has been suffering from drought for months. Wells in the farmlands were dry. Water tanks in the cities were dry. South India was thirsty.

Buildings in Chennai are supplied by varying sizes of water tanks mounted on the roof, which in turn, are supplied by wells. When the wells run dry, everyone scrambles for water. Large trucks bring water from neighboring regions (if they have any water), but the need is great and sometimes the wait for water is 2 weeks or more, even for those who can pay. Villagers learn to store up water in any available container when they can and it reminds me of my childhood back in south Texas during hurricane season. Only this is every day life for most Indians, constantly living in what we would consider a near-crises state. “Incredible India” in the 21st 

It was a great day at school today as we celebrated the annual Achiever Academy Chapel Dedication Service.  This is a very special service held in the first quarter of the school year with the purpose of dedicating the academic year, the children, and Achiever Academy to God. Parents, children, teachers - we all love this event. Brightly colored tents are erected to protect attendees from the heat. Parents, teachers, and community members attend with their children, with about 150  typically in attendance.  The children lead the ceremonies which include singing, prayers, national anthem and pledge, words of encouragement, and more.  Jim usually is asked to pray a prayer of dedication while I speak with the help of a translator. A few audience members speak English, most speak the local language of Tamil, and some speak other tribal languages from faraway places, understanding only our smiles and bowed heads. Most are Hindu, some are Muslim,

Today's message is simple and straight to the point. We need water. 

It's hard to believe that in the 21st Century, in a village on a peninsula surrounded by water, our children are thirsty, it's true. At our Chapel Dedication service yesterday, parents questioned why Achiever Academy leadership asks parents to provide drinking water for their children while at school. The Director explained that Indian government regulations prevent a non-profit school from providing water, food, etc. to students. He went on to explain that when the inspector examines school records and discover receipts for water, they require everyone who drinks this water to appear in person at the government office to swear they received the water, and thus prove the Director did not drink all the water himself.. This is India's answer to preventing corruption within non-profit organizations and while we respect the purpose, the devil is most certainly in the details. The parents were notified of the problem and asked to send drinking water for their children each day. Many of our parents cannot afford to purchase water and do not understand why the school cannot provide it. So the children come without water, the school cannot pay for it, and the result is, our children our thirsty.

It's hot here in southern India. Really, really hot. The latitude is about the same as Panama. Air conditioning is rare here in the village and nonexistent in schools. We spend hours each day without electricity to run fans in rooms with virtually no ventilation. 

Be sure to read Jim's "Incredible !ndia" blog post below this video.  We hope you, too, will enjoy Incredible !India

For the previous blog post honoring President Abdul Kallam, please continue to scroll down below these stories. 

Today, India is in mourning. Schools  are closed in memory of former Indian President Abdul Kalam, who suffered a fatal heart attack last night as he was making a speech in the village of Shillong. This is the same village where our friend and teacher, Grace, currently is with her family. Today, we are learning much about this amazing man and leader. From the India Times: “...Abdul Kalam was a President like no other. … Kalam embodied the new India story, born into a poor Muslim family in Tamil Nadu, he rose by sheer force of education to become a missile scientist, the "missile man of India" becoming chief scientific adviser to the Prime Minister, then secretary of the DRDO, and then President of India.” 

There is sadness in this country today, as this beloved leader is remembered. We are encouraged and inspired by his story. He was raised as a poor boy in Tamil Nadu, the same region of India where we serve. We can imagine him on the streets of our village, huddling in the huts handmade from palm branches, watching his mother cook over an open fire each night, yet somehow finding his way to school each day. He attended Madras Institute of Technology in Chennai, nearby to where we worship each Sunday. He rose to greatness, first as a missile scientist and then to the Presidency, by “sheer force of education”. Love those words...”sheer force of education.” He embodied the vision of Achiever Academy and is the role model for every one of our Achiever Academy students. We come and train and teach and pray, so that these children may learn and grow, think and solve, experience and create, discover and explore - all for the greater purpose of serving society and improving the lives of others.  We are growing leaders and thinkers here.  They are worth the effort and deserve our best. We have the added vision of believing we are furthering God's Kingdom for a higher purpose. In the words of the beloved leader, Abdul Kalam, "Let us sacrifice our today so that our children may have a better tomorrow."  

Please join us in praying for President Kalam's family and the children of India,
Susan & Jim

Our journey and arrival in India have been filled with a flurry of activity and we will have some exciting news to share soon about our work this summer. In the meantime, as we work to get our plans underway, we hope you will enjoy this "rerun post" from Jim last summer, sharing more about our setting, the exotic, colorful village of Mahabalipuram.  Enjoy!

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Originally published July 2014

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” 
1 John 1:5

As we begin our Indian adventure each year Susan and I always wonder what new development there will be in Mahabalipuram. 2014 would be no different. The village of Mahab (as the locals call it) covers about 4 sq. kilometers and is located about an hour south of Chennai on the southeast coast of India. Driving south into town along the East Coast Road from Chennai, the landward side of the road is lined with stone carving shops turning out an endless supply of huge stone idols. Although I do not recognize all of them, many are massive figures of well-known Hindu gods. When I say massive, I am talking about granite figures 10 to 20 feet tall. Specially designed cranes must be used to lift the raw stones and the completed figures. The tapping of chisels and the whine of electric grinders is incessant.   (click "read more" below-right to continue)

A Baby Changes Everything

After the 4th of July fireworks in Illinois late last Saturday night I stayed up late writing a first blog post for our 2015 trip to India. I planned to write about trip preparations and losing my To Do lists but the words just wouldn't come together. The more I wrote, the more my writing changed into the topic of family, a twist that surprised, yet pleased me. It became emotional for me to write and emotional for me to read as I was being reminded just what a precious gift our families are to us. I thought it was emotional because I was anticipating our India trip but would soon discover it was more - a preparation for the changes that were to come. I was anxious to get the blog posted online, return home to Texas, and get back to those endless To Do lists. Jim and I left Illinois at 6:00am Sunday morning, settling in for our 15 hr. drive home. Though the road trip would be daunting, we were excited to start the journey home and anticipated a busy 2 days of last minute preparations before our departure for India on Wed., July 8th. Within 2 hours, we were reminded of that expression, “If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans.” With a buzz of my phone, our world changed. 

Around 8:00 am, I received a message from my son, Ben, that he and his sweet wife, Ashley Marie, were at the hospital. She was 7 months pregnant ( 1 day short of 32 weeks) and when she saw her doctor last Thursday, had been complimented for having a “picture perfect pregnancy”. But now, with this concerning news, Jim and I began to pray and he pushed a little harder on the gas pedal as we raced across southern Illinois, my heart racing even faster than the car engine. Almost immediately I heard the 

“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.”  John Bowring  

 One of the most important common values and priorities we share is the love of our families.  When we married, we planned our wedding celebration as a casual “Family Reunion” style event and were blessed to be surrounded by so much love from both families and many dear friends whom we consider extended family.  In the 2 years since, the love has continued to grow and at the same time, our families have continued to grow as well. In recent weeks, we’ve enjoyed some extended time in family celebrations and we consider this time together precious. We also have learned that spending time with our families is an important part of our preparation for our trip to India each year, for from each of them we draw love, peace, joy, and renewing of our spirits.

Next Wednesday, July 8, we leave for Mahabalipuram, India, where we volunteer with Acts of Mercy, an international mission agency dedicated to education and compassionate outreach to widows and children.  This will be our 7th trip to India to work at Achiever Academy, an English-language school, where we teach and love on pre-K through 5th grade children, and train teachers in English and 21st Century

The weeks fly by so quickly each year here in India and all too soon, it's time to say goodbye to our old and new friends. As we head for home tonight, we thought we might provide a few updates to some of the many things that we have experienced. 

Little Trisha – 4 year old girl from Calcutta who doesn't speak the local language. Trisha still cries for her mother from time to time but Venkat goes to her and comforts her when she does. Sometimes, he takes her from her class, so as not to disturb the others, and teaches her outside. He now has her writing numbers and the English alphabet for the first time ever! Last week, she ran up to me and smiled and said, “Good morning, Mam!” in English! She stands in the line with the other children and folds her hands and bows her head to pray the Lord's prayer. Venkat was a gift from God for little Trisha! Can't wait to see her next summer. 

Ashwani – A hindu Kindergarten student whose father was hospitalized after a motorcycle accident the first week we were here. Chitra came and got us as soon as she heard the news and together with a few other teachers, we prayed immediately. We then

 asked you to pray too and many reported to us they did so. Her father made a full recovery very quickly and her mother came to us a few days later to thank us for praying. Last week, little Ashwani came to me and in perfect English, thanked us for praying for her Daddy.

Our Daily Activities – Sometimes people ask us what we do while we're here. Most importantly, we engage in relationships. Each morning, we ask God to give us opportunities to reveal His love for others. Sometimes this becomes relationships with villagers, students, parents, teachers, and their families. We train teachers in English and instructional best practices. We sing and laugh a lot too! This year, we brought 10 E-Tablets loaded with Bible software and other educational apps. We deployed these in the school and trained the teachers in how to use them with all ages of students. They are a big hit with children and teachers alike! We also brought 3 laptop computers to add to the 10 we purchased/brought last year. If you've not had an opportunity to read the “Someone's Coming” blog, I encourage you to read the incredible story of the computer donation program. And, if you would like to donate a new or used laptop, or cash to purchase one, please let us know by clicking the“Contact Us” link above. In the evenings, we plan for the next day, write for the blog, answer emails, and sometimes even, walk on the beach. Our favorite beach is at Koklimedu, a nearby fishing village that was decimated by the tsunami in 2004 and where some of our beloved Achiever Academy children live. They welcome us warmly each time we visit and we've enjoyed watching the children grow up in our 6 summers here. Sometimes, we run into former students or teachers in the village who have moved on to other schools or villages. Often, shopkeepers and restaurant owners greet us as old friends. We feel loved and warmly accepted here. It always feels like we've come home again and it is hard to say goodbye.

We hope you've enjoyed our journey this summer and appreciate your prayers for us and our friends here. We have experienced so much more than we have had time to write about so we hope to continue blogging in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, please continue to pray for the teachers, children, and staff of Acts of Mercy. 

If you are interested in learning more, or even perhaps, in joining us here in India next summer, we'd love to hear from you!  Send us an email by clicking on the link Contact Us above. All questions and interests are welcome! 

May God bless each of you and your families as richly as He has blessed us here in India.

Feeling Blessed,
Susan & Jim

A few weeks ago, on our first Sunday back in India, John Christian spoke at church about the importance of heritage and of those who fear the name of God. He shared with the group that several years ago, he had an opportunity to preach the Sunday sermon in the church back in Illinois where I was confirmed as a boy. From India to Illinois, it is really an amazing story that began 2 summers ago and yet continues to impact our lives now. 

Those of you that have followed our blog might remember that in the summer of 2012 I spent much of my time here engaged in some pretty hot, sweaty activities, including moving the church in Chennai to a new location. At the end of each long hot day, John and I would spend about an hour driving back to Mahab together and in that time, we had many discussions about the challenges of dairy production on his "Fresh Winds" farm in India. We talked about the care and feeding of the cows as well as the nutrition, and care and delivery of the milk. I told John that I wished he could meet my long-time friends Chris and Carolyn McMillen, owner and operators of "Paradigm Farm" in Toulon, Illinois John agreed that he would enjoy talking with a long time dairy man but I am ashamed to say that having spent time with John and observing his hectic schedule, I didn't take those comments too seriously. I have often marveled at how John manages to keep so many things going at one time and how many people want to have a little portion of his time, both here in India and on his infrequent trips to the US. Truthfully, I thought this potential meeting between my Indian friend, John, and my boyhood friend, Chris was only a fantasy.

Over dinner one evening just before our departure that summer, John suddenly turned to Susan and said, “Susan, I don't think Jim is taking me seriously. I told him I wanted to go to the farm in Illinois but I don't think he believes me.” I was surprised to 

Gr-r-i-n-n-d. Click, click. Rattle, rattle. Kathunk. Erk, Erk, Erk. Harrumm. Tootle-tootle-tootle. Ah-h-h-h-h.... all music to my ears. 

For the last few years our Indian adventure has been enhanced greatly by having a vehicle provided by Acts of Mercy. This gift provides us extraordinary freedom to be able to focus on Achiever Academy during the school day and then have dinner, shop a little, and even take in some sights during our free time in the evenings and weekends. 

Some of you have told us how much you enjoyed our adventures in the little white van that we drove for 5 summers. It was a peach of a vehicle: no air conditioning, windows that sometimes refused to roll down, doors that sometimes couldn't be coaxed open, and a head clearance so low that I couldn't sit up straight in the drivers seat. The day we crammed 12 people inside, it looked like a clown car at a circus. But despite our neglect and disregard for its temperamental need for fuel and water, it valiantly served us faithfully... until now. Sadly, we must report that the little white van has passed on. 

On the day of our arrival a few weeks ago, John Christian apologized that, this year, the only vehicle that was available for us was a 1990's era, well-worn Jeep Scrambler, that looks like it has been “rode-hard and put up wet”. We first met the Jeep back in 2009, during my first visit to India and when we were invited to stay longer that year, I immediately responded, “If we stay, will you let me drive that Jeep?” They did, I did, and my fondness for this Jeep began. 

Some of you may know that as a boy I always dreamed of owning a Jeep someday. During the summer of 1968 my father found a 1953 Willis CJ-3B ¼ ton jeep with a four cylinder F head motor. “Jeeper” already had over 100,000 miles on it when I bought it 

"Someone's coming."

It was a familiar voice and a familiar message. I had heard the message several times before and it was comforting to hear it once again. Comforting for so many reasons: a new window to the world would be opened, lives could be changed, and yes, comforting because it meant I didn't have to figure out how to solve this problem.

The year was 2011 and the location was Achiever Academy in Mahaballipuram, India. Jim and I had just arrived, excited to get started on our volunteer work training teachers in English and loving on children. As we unloaded our bags and begin to set up in the computer room, we were greeted by old friends.... VERY old friends ...8 ancient dinosaur-age computers that been donated to Acts of Mercy as used cast-offs years earlier. As we set about trying to boot them up, I chuckled, realizing that a good boot in the side might be just what they needed. Despite our best efforts, we finally managed to coax only 3 of them to turn on with only 1 of those with Internet capacity. After waiting about 10 minutes for my GMAIL inbox to open, I discovered that the operating system was so outdated, we couldn't open much of anything from the Internet. It was then that we stopped and did 

It was a soft touch that brought great joy today. For some, it was the joy found in the promise of great things to come.  For others, it was the joy of warm childhood memories. For us, it was the joy found in the soft touch of the Holy Spirit. 

Each year, as we make final preparations to come to India, we are amazed at the small miracles that God seems to give us to increase provisions and multiply our resources. This year, Susan stumbled upon a 20% off coupon from Mardel's but still she was in a tizzy as she considered what would be useful and what could fit in the suitcases and also be within the weight restrictions of international travel.

As she was making her way through the store she came across a large set of brightly colored felt board Bible figures, from Adam to the Zachariah and Birds to Whales, it also includes a book with over a hundred stories and instructions on how to