Dear friends, and family.
I would like to inform you all, of my future travels and the people I will be staying with in India. I leave the country January the 10th; spend three days in Milan Italy. Then land in New Delhi India on the 14th of January. From there I will go to Ponguturu India, which is southeast of Hyderabad. Here I will stay three months with Joseph and Prema Mallipudi, which are the couple that run "Jesus echoing ministries" which also manage the orphanage that I will be assisting.
"Jesus Echoing Ministries" is as the title would suggest and not much more or less. Joseph and his wife are native Indians and have devoted their whole lives to serving Christ and furthering his work on earth. Joseph and his team of 43 pastors are highly evangelistically minded and gain souls for Christ all throughout the surrounding villages. The Monthly letter that I have signed you up for is written by Tamar Childs. A childhood friend of mine that has gone to see Joseph and Prema and the children, and out of the kindness of her heart she has been faithful in raising awareness and support for Joseph and his ministry in India. (his only help in caring for the 48children) While the letter is mainly written to update sponsors it will also keep you informed about where I am, and what is going on there. Most of you already know that are on Facebook that it is the best avenue of connecting. I would encourage you to become "Friends" with: Joseph Mallipudi. He keeps pictures and news up to date on what is going on there.
My main goal for this trip is to be a big brother to the 48 parentless children there. As well as helping out in every way possible in the many tasks that I am skilled at. I also would like to help them become more self-sufficient, because right now they are having a very hard time making ends meet feeding the children, and I believe the LORD has strongly prepared me for this growing up in a family business in the country where I learned how to do just about everything handy, and also have a good grasp of how business works which is something I find lacking where I will be going. Please pray for a business opportunity where the children can help, and learn such skills that will prevent them from ending up back where they came from after they get out of school.
My Brother Ben designed the children a new 5000 SQFT building, which is going to be built this year. A Generous man gave the money for the new building!!!!! I got my Grandfather, an engineer of Prudue, to design the structure for me, so LORD willing it will last more then a couple years!!!!!
My Deepest desire is to see Christians "know" The LORD JESUS CHRIST to the best of their earthly ability. I see my role in the kingdom of God very much so tailored to Teaching, and discipleship. I now live in Grand Rapids. I am taking a year off School, working here to prepare to visit India; I was formerly studying music at GRCC, one of the passions the lord laid on my heart to worship him with. Here in Grand Rapids I live in My brother Ben's house in the "worst" black ghetto in town which is the only place in this city that I would live. I love it here The LORD has been doing amazing things the past year I have lived here, I have loved over 30 boys in the hood aging from three to sixteen some are being drastically changed by the love of GOD. Some of the boys escape their horrible home lives daily, retreating to our humble abode where they find love, wisdom and acceptance for who they are. Drae (12) one of the boys that comes over daily lives with his mom, her boyfriend, and three older sisters. His mom’s boy friends is also a drug dealer. His three sisters one of whom is pregnant, the other is in jail, and the last just had an abortion, and is on probation. I say this to give you a reality of what these poor kids grow up calling normal. It is very exciting to "see" the change, something that I didn't think I would ever get to witness.
Back to the future, I will be staying in India till the 4th of April, then I will fly back to my dear city of layover, Milan, there I will spend six days and fly home to Chicago on the 10th of April. Please pray that I will catch ALL 12 of my flights there and back,,, (wow that is a lot of flying for someone that has never been on a plain) Also pray without ceasing for all forms of my spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health, there will be countless exhausting time I for see.
While preparing for Indian culture and studying Hinduism. The LORD blessed me by bringing Bhutanese refugees into my life. These people where forced out of Bhutan, a small Bhuddist country between India and China. They found refuge in Nepal as of now. Nepal is trying to rid themselves of them now, and we the US offered to take 60,000 of them. There are hundreds of them living here in my city Grand Rapids, and they are Nepali in culture, which is the same as Indian for the most part. They have invited me into their hearts and homes, and I have taught me more about eastern culture then any one could! I went on a trip to Philadelphia just after meeting them where I met dozens of there families and friends and ate goat with my hands, and had a blessed time feeling more “at home” then any place I have ever been. I don’t think I was raised to be an American!!!
I thank you first for taking the time to read my looong letter here, also thank you in advance for all your prayer support which I will not be able to survive without while in that wild country India, as well as Italy, which you are probably wondering why am I going there to begin with? I created a layover there for $200 those of you that know me, know that I have longed to study the Italian food, fashion and people for a long time, plus you also know that I can't pass up a good deal:P So please pray that I will be able to have meaningful interaction in Italy as well, I am really praying about this myself, that I will be able to connect with them there as well. If there is ANYTHING you need want or wish for me to get you in either country or both please tell me I would be honored to shop for you, shipping back from India is not to costly for light things, and cloths should be very cheap!!!
I love you all hope the LORD blesses you abundantly in all you future years fallowing him!!!!!!
Namaste
Great post, more pics!!!
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