India Day 4

I am physically in India, but tonight I find my mind drifting back to Marianna. When I spoke with Sherry today she told me about a friend and church member, Murray Whiddon. Bro. Murray is fighting cancer and the battle is not going well. I have been praying a lot for both Murray and his wife Phyllis. They have both been so loving towards me and my family. He is an amazing believer and a true servant of Christ. I do not know what their future holds, but I pray they both experience the incredible peace and presence of God.

Today, we began with breakfast at the senior pastor's house. It was a great time to sit and talk about ministry and just share life together. I really enjoy the two men with me on this experience. They both have a heart for people and a desire to be used by God. Later in the day we came to the hotel to get ready for the concert. The concert is a big deal for the church.  There are several hundred people here and many of them are important officials in the city. Everyone has been on edge today because the high court in India was set to make a ruling that involved a 60 year old case over a disputed worship site in another part of the country. This site is claimed by muslims, hindus, and seeks. If I understand right the decision was handed down this afternoon. So far there has not been any major disruption here in Hyderabad.

The music at the concert is incredible. Jeff sang my favorite worship song! I have met so many people that my mind I'd on overload with trying to remember all the names. Afterwards we are having a huge buffet here and getting to stay the night at the hotel. I am excited about the soft bed and hot shower. This is a very nice hotel and would rival some of the finest hotels in the States. However, down the hall from our room on the sixth floor you can look down on a city block of people living in tents, shacks made of scraps, and some just under a tarp. The contrast from where I stand in luxury to the slum below reminds me of the contrast and disparity in this country and really throughout the world. It also reminds me that despite economic situation, cultural background, skin color, family status, or natural talents there is only one common and equalizing truth in this world. We all have a need for a savior. No matter what our differences we all can experience the love and grace of Jesus. I hope you will spend some time today thanking Him for Grace. Thanks for praying for me and join me in lifting up the Whiddon family.

India Day 3 continued

It is about 11:00 at night here. We are fixing to eat supper. There are probably 30 of us in a dining hall. We are at a hotel that is hosting a big church concert tomorrow night. They have been practicing for the past few hours. Jeff and I got a tour of the hotel while we waited. I don't think I have been in a more upscale/modern hotel before.  The food we are going to eat is called bryiani (I think that is how you spell it). It seems to be a very common dish. Everyone eat with their hands which would make those of you who are germaphobes freak out. Fortunately my parents will tell you that I have never had a problem eating with my hands.....

Ok so I ate the Bryiani. It was good. It was a rice that was very spicy and had pieces of lamb and chicken in it. They serve it with something call "roadies" that it kinda like tortillas. I had a full plate and I am now stuffed. We are heading back to the church to sleep on my board.

India Day 3

In India it is 7:00 at night. Which doesn't sound bad, but my body says it is 8:30 in the morning. To top it off I have only napped a little this morning and a little on the plane. Speaking of the plane...when we arrived at 3:00 this morning we went through the immigration line. When it was my turn, there was a problem. I noticed the lady had my passport number written down before I got to the counter. She called a gentleman over who escorted me to a little room and interrogated me for about twenty minutes. They eventually let me go. It was very scary for a little while.

We went to the church and rested for a little while then started meeting people. The one thing culturally I have noticed different from the US is the role church plays in everyday life. We seem to have the approach that church is an important part of our spiritual life. We go to church to learn and build relationships. For most of us church is a segment of our lives.  Here the people I have met so far have a different perspective. Church cannot be separated from their lives. In front of the sanctuary there is a courtyard. Many of the people we have met congregate in this courtyard. They come and go but life seems to revolve around the church. I have met several guys who have taken off work for the upcoming youth event. They are proud and excited. Seems that sometime in America we use any excuse to not be at church. I think we may be missing what community and the "body of Christ" is about.

I am learning to be patient and flexible. The culture here is a lot of hurry up and wait. It goes against my blackberry scheduled lifestyle. Maybe I am here to "be still and know that He is God".

Pray for us that we will get the rest we need. Also pray for me health wise. My sugar is extremely high (383) and I believe it is effecting my vision. I think that it is a side effect of my malaria medication so I stopped taking it to see if it gets better.  One last thing, Saturday, I have to lead a game time at the conference for 5000 -8000 people. I have no idea what I am going to do!

Today I was reminded that I am a fat guy. At least I am bigger than the micro corrals the airlines house you in while you are flying. At one point I had three stewardesses standing in the row in front of me stuffing me from the front while a fourth greased up the arm rails from the rear. And why do they bother putting a back row of the plane? If they would eliminate the back row and use the space to store more drinks then no one would be forced to hunch over and sniff the hair of the person leaning back in your lap, and they could serve more than one 12oz coke per six rows. Of course they would need something bigger than a medicine cup to serve it in.

I think it is funny, but I have had a good day. I have been to a new place and I am focusing on "going with the flow". There are four of us in our team. Me, Brent Allen, Jeff Spooneybarger, and Jeff's nine year old daughter Hannah. We have had a good time so far and are about to board the plane for the overnight trip to Dubia.

Thank you all for the prayers and encouragement. I do not know when I will update or communicate with the outside world again, but I did have a huge hamburger for supper. It will be the last beef I have until I am back in the states!

The Adventure Begins...

Well in the morning I will board a plane to head off to an unknown land.  I think I am packed and I have weighed my luggage about ten times!  I just hope it doesn’t gain weight overnight.  I am still unclear exactly what I will be doing to entire trip.  For those that know me best, it is the unknown and lack of details that will be my greatest challenge in the next few days.  I am told it is part of the culture, but it is outside of my personality.  So more than anything pray for my flexibility.  I have tried to prepare as much as possible and I am anxious about what God will teach me. 

Tomorrow, we leave Pensacola at 11:00 am we arrive in India on Wednesday at 2:00 am.  I will spend over 21 hours in the air.  I hope the people I sit next to are pleasant and smell nice.  Hopefully, I will be able to update this blog often during my adventure.  Maybe I can even put up some pictures too!

Shot in the arm

Today hurt! Not really but there was a slight stick. I got my shots today. The first one was for Hepatitis A and B the other one was for Polio. I must admit I thought Polio was some ancient disease that kids used to get a couple hundred years ago. I guess we just take some things for granted.  Like not having to be educated about some of the illnesses that effects other parts of the world. Sometimes being blessed causes us to forget about the plight of others. I also got medications for Typhoid and Malaria. A few weeks ago my travel visa was approved and now I am medicated. It seems like all that is left is pray and wait.