From the Ward

18 months ago when I lived in the girls home I spent a substantial amount of my time taking the kids to the doctors, patching up wounds and distributing medicine. In India when a person has an infected wound they use a liquid on it which removes all the dead skin (a nurse once told me it is illegal in the UK). As the liquid removes all the dead skin it causes lots of pain, so, as you imagine the girls don't like it at all! When I used to sit down with the girls to tend to their wounds and they knew the liquid was coming we used to sing together...

'Jesus loves me, yes I know...'

The song never finished because the girls would either laugh or cry, but either way were learning that even in the painful times, God is with them. 

Last night I can quite honestly say I have never ever been in so much pain in my whole life , so I didn't find myself singing the song I so adamantly thought would relieve pain when I tended to the kids not because I have any doubt that it is true, but because the only thoughts in my mind revolved around how much pain I was feeling.   All I could do was trust that God was there and that those around me had me covered in prayer.   If I could have mustered the words to praise Him I would have.

 It probably sounds like I'm exaggerating, as is my tendency when telling stories, however this blog is being written in part from the hospital bed, where the pain is still fresh in body and memory.

 At 8am on Wednesday morning I started to get pain in my stomach, as the day continued the pain increased to the point where I didn't want to even eat my lunch! That was when we knew it was bad! We then began the tour of medical facilities in Goa. We first went to the government hospital where they tested me for Malaria, the first of many injections to be endured, praise God it wasn't malaria. We then were referred to a private hospital at which point the pain became unbearable and began to move up my body through my ribs and to my shoulders.   At times before when I've had pain, there seems to always be a way to relieve it, not so this time.  

I saw quite a few doctors all of whom thought it was a good idea to prod my stomach, in a manner similar to that of kneading bread.  As far as I was aware, they were not really figuring anything out just adding to the horrendous pain. After many eliminating tests, the eventual diagnosis was that I had an acute intestinal infection. 

Frustrated, in pain and once again stopped from serving as expected here in Goa on mission, I am sure that God is using this to teach me many things.  I am learning to trust more and more in His synth and power and not my own.  I am seeing Him at work in things unexpected and at times unwanted.  Most of all I am learning that joy doesn't always look like happiness, and a super smiley energised character.   Instead I've learnt that joy is always trusting and praising God in spite of all other things, knowing the truth that He is with me always, even now, even in this place, and nothing will rock that truth.

I am now back from hospital, still in a tiny bit of pain but feeling positively better.  Thank you to everyone who kept me in prayer, I felt them, especially when we got the team to pray I would have a full bladder for ultrasound! 

See you all soon

Big love 
-Soph

X

Perking Up Again

This is just a quick update to thank you for all your prayers. As a team, we are feeling better, in body and mind. We are sure that this due to both medicine and the presence of God, especially as the lovely Doctor Nitin, who paid two consecutive house calls, managing to see the whole team, prayed for us too. We are generally well rested and we are looking forward to putting all our efforts into serving through the last week of our trip.
In particular, we would request prayer against self-induced malnourishment for Anna, whose fragile taste buds still have not acclimatized to Indian cuisine. Prayer would also be appreciated against dehydration as most of the team still struggle to accept that they require water to function. Finally, we hope that this final week will be a joy and a privilege, and that it will see the full completion of our work in the younger boys' home.
God's will be done.

The India summer missions team is currently recovering from a bout of illness! Sorry to start this blog post on a negative note guys, but we'd all appreciate your prayers in the matter, it's nothing serious so fear not! Mainly just diareeah and dizziness however this has made the week a struggle with members of the team simple to unwell to serve, we've been blessed with a great doctor who mends us and prays with us, rebuking the enemy.

On a brighter note, the time spent with the children of Bethesda life centre this week we have cherished, from the 8am bus ride to school where they are all incredible energetic which in turn fills us with energy for the day to The awesome Jo SImpson helping out the older girls with their Mathis homework at the end of the day. It's the little things we love in the children, between them rolling their R's when they speak to them finding it hilarious to call the boys 'di di' (meaning sister) and the girls uncle, they have filled us with joy and we've loved serving them.

Only one and a half more weeks left of summer missions 2012! Please pray against what's attacking us and we all look forward to telling you all about it when we return onthe 6th!

SAME SAME, BUT DIFFERENT

Touching down on Goan soil was filled with a mixture of emotion, both excitement and anticipation, joy and anxiety at what was to unfold.

As we walked into the wall of 30 degree heat, I was also walking into a wall of memories that flooded back, smells, views, palm tree laden roads. Greeted at the airport by a huge grin from Pastor Martin, arms open wide and an embrace that said, 'welcome' in depth more than words could ever express, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace about being here again.

As we drove through the winding roads from the Vasco airport, the sounds, smells and sites bombarding our senses, I began to acknowledge the significance of this return journey, a year on, with a group of young people all willing and eager to serve the people of BLC and Goa Life Centre, to share in God's heart for these precious people.

I was too excited to meet the kids again and as we did, it was incredible to see how much they had grown, not just physically, but in confidence, self assurance, joy and understanding of who God has made them to be.
They continue to look after each other with a care that speaks of the love of Christ, unconditional, unselfish, no boundaries, against all odds, forever kind of love.
They welcome us, visitors into their home, as though we we family, recognising the uniqueness in each person as they do so.

The thing that struck me the most about my return was how the children laugh, it's a raucous, from right down in their bellies, laugh. It's a laughter that is the overflow of joy, a joy that comes from knowing they are children of the most High, treasured, loved, wanted, and saved. Perhaps, coming from places where darkness has filled their sight, they now bask in a light that only they can fully comprehend as we draw alongside them in their journey, a journey filled with a true understanding of freedom.

It has so far been a great trip, seeing the team in action, getting alongside the children, teachers, staff and Martin & Beena. Pouring out their energy and love in abundance.

We have also all managed to be sick, it meant that we could not go on a youth camp arranged especially for our journey. It has taught us what it is to be truly joyful in the midst of sickness, and the teams spirits have been amazingly high. We continue to trust and rest in God knowing that there are lessons to be learnt, and the pruning and transformation of our hearts and characters continues.
It is an honour to be able to serve here in Goa with such an incredible group of young people, who give everything even when they are feeling weak, relying on Gods strength and standing firm in faith, praying for each other and speaking words of encouragement over one another in the good and the hard times.

It is vastly different beging back here leading a group of young people, but yet, coming back is so familiar, so much like a home away from home. I am truly blessed.

- Sophie