Finished Well | India 2012

I had written in an earlier blog post {click here to read it} about a mud hut village we had come across on our drive to take pictures of  Guntur. When we got there we were told the closest well was a long way off and so we took action! Today we got to dedicate the well, which was a first for me. We prayed for a blessing over the well, the ground it was dug on and those that would use it. It was a wonderful experience. More prayers need to be said for fresh water, it is currently a bit salty but should clear up with use.

The new well before we cut the ribbons.

Very often the little ones are scared of the white people, but family members ask for pictures.

Fresh water.

Taking a sip of it.

Prayers being said.

Sisters

All smiles after just a few seconds.

The little things they were playing with.

Ground Breaking | India 2012

Two ground breaking's in one day! There are two new church's that are going up. When a church is being built we go, traveling several hours, and pray for the land it will be built on. The one below is actually in a Hindu community. They had said they would give us land if a miracle of healing was done. God did it and here is the land to prove it. Those that had come out to witness were very open and welcoming. We go to the corner of the land, dig in three times, and pour oil into the ground while praying a blessing over the land, those that will built the church, the church, all who enter and leave and the paster and his family. The little boy below is the pastors son. The picture of him laughing with his hands on his face brings joy to us just by looking at it. He thought seeing himself on the camera was very cool. It was a wonderful day filled with good food and God's blessing.

Monkeys | India 2012

How exciting this post will be. There was monkeys hanging outside across the road. Last year they said that a big fat monkey used to sit across the street but he wasn't around at all. Until now, there was a baby with a momma, then medium baby, a big fat one, and then a normal sized adult one. We threw an orange at them and they grabbed it and ran into someones drive way. Where they ate it up and watched us cautiously. Below is them in the cuteness.

A Birthday Party | India 2012

A birthday party... how very exciting. So below (the little boy hiding) was the birthday boy. He turned five. And let us just say that the party itself was very interesting and quite the cultural experience. It was basically a meeting. In the street (a dead end street) was a stage with seats on it and a table. They sang worship for 1-2 hours, then had a scripture reading, a short message, a long message from Harley, a cake cutting (with Ben and my help) and then the poor kid had to eat cake from every family member there AND wait as the photographer took the picture. He looked a bit miserable. After all that we had a couple people do thank you's and then two prayers to end the service at 10:00 pm. With a chicken curry dinner to follow, oh my! Like I had said it was a interesting experience and left us belly full and dog tired!

A poster in their living area, X is for Xmas tree. Had to share it!

The cute neighbor girl who wanted to come say hello. She was too cute!

The Plans For A New Well | India 2012

When we went out on a drive to take pictures we came upon the little place below. It is a piece of land that has been here for a while, with mostly mud huts on it. There was just a few brick homes, no school in the area and just some tiny hut shops. The people were so welcoming. We decided to get out of the car to walk the streets to shoot some video and when we got back to the car where Jan & Harley were it was covered by people. He started talking to them, with the help of Kumar. And found out that none of the wells in the village work, and that the closest water source is a stream (which needless to say is not fresh water or clean). It was so dry there, the sun was so strong! By the end of our time we had walked to the center of town where Redemption will put in a new well. And the plans for the kid's club to do some little visits. It is amazing how God guides you to the places in need. We will be doing the well dedication, God willing, before we leave. So stay tuned!

The village from the main road.

Walking from far away with water on her head.

They asked for prayer, they had no idea who we were they just assumed.

A worn out well that hasn't been used in a very long time. | The communist flag, because it is land given from them to the people.

Ben and I walked away from the car and within a minute it was covered in people! | The new site of the well, center of town.

View from the car, one last picture.

Taken from the car window.

What Lies Around Us | India 2012

I wanted to go out, in the car and take pictures to share of what India is like. Looking back at last year I know what a huge culture "shock" it was to come here. I wasn't literally in shock it was more just pure amazement that life could be so different else where. I shared with Ben that I wanted to spend an afternoon driving around in order to capture the city, the houses, the shops, the cars, the traffic, the life. The pictures below are just that. As we all spent the morning in the car I had my head out the window the shutter continuously going. I hope you get to see a little of what we see everyday when we are here. There is so much beauty and yet the dirt and human garbage piles up in every corner of the cities/villages.

a muslim man.

Hindu Temple, along with landscape, above is a young boy at work along with trucks and travel!

making flower leis.

hard at work, all the kids you see came along with mom to sit in the sand while she works.

we came across these camels.

xo, carissa