sew the seed. do the deed. pull some weeds.

Everyone is safe, everyone is calm--those are my biggest praises on our second night in Dehli. It has already been an adventure, but the chemistry of our team is such that every step of the process has been smooth. I think we all felt a bit of culture shock standing outside the airport, waiting for our taxi to arrive. The team was followed around by a relentless young boy begging for money, a very normal occurrence here. These kids will approach your circle as if they are part of the group and just stand there in conversation, wide eyed, trying to engage any one of us that will give them the attention. We could tell them "no" fifteen times, and they would remain. It was our first encounter with how difficult it is to respond to the unfathomable amount of poverty in India.

We have been staying with very gracious American hosts, who have been feeding us a variety of Indian meals, leading us in song and study and introducing us to Indian culture in hours of lecture, video and language training. They live in a wealthy neighborhood, safer than most areas (that's for the parents reading). The team is separated on two floors and the women share their room with the nanny of the house.

We are so blessed in California; we forget. In our teaching today we learned to say "jay ma ski" meaning, "praise Christ" which is so powerful! Another portion of our lesson was our personal doctrine for the work we'll do in India. It starts with sewing the seed, which is the importance of our foundation in God's word. Taking action and living it out follows, referred to as doing the deed. And trying to make change for the better in a country that so desperately needs to see the love of God working through people--pulling some weeds. We know this is no easy task.

This afternoon we visited two temples, one Hindu, one Sikh. The common thread among us on this day was our stillness before the Lord through both visits and travel. That may be our best collective quality as a team. While there were a range of emotions and reactions among each team member afterwards, that blessing stood firm in the midst of the experience.

In devotional time this evening, we realized how heavy the weight of these peoples lives is upon us. We saw a young boy with acid burned eyes drinking water out of a bottle with a long tube connecting it to his mouth. Every person we walk by stares at us and even as we pass they turn their heads to continue looking. The driving is absolutely reckless; incomparable to anything we've ever seen. Cabbies are more like chauffeurs who wait for you at each stop. Monkeys are crawling on roofs. Fathers yank their children's arms in public. Things are different here.

We are happy and excited to be here. Humbled by this calling. Proud to be children in the light. Praise Christ, praise Christ indeed. Our faith and love is shining. :: Sara