The team arrives into Atlanta Wednesday morning and will be involved in debrief for a couple of days.  This will be a valuable time to debrief and process both as a team and individually.  We, as AIM staff, are looking forward to this time to pour into the team, celebrate what the Lord has done, and help bring closure to this last season of their lives.

Based on the original plan, all of the students have flights to depart Atlanta on Monday, December 8^th to their respective homes. However, with the recent change of events, it is now possible for them to return home early.  We will be finished with our debrief on Thursday evening.  Therefore, the students will be able to fly out as early as Friday morning, December 5^th. 

We would ask that you, as parents, contact the airline and switch their domestic flight to depart Atlanta Friday (Dec 5^th) after 9am. In the event that you cannot make these arrangements please let us know. 

We know that you are anxious to get your son/daughter home and we appreciate your patience with all of this.

We wanted you to know that we are still following the situation in India closely. The team is doing fine; although the recent attacks have cause apprehension in everyone in India. As things unfolded, we made decisions to change plans and because of this the team has stayed in their ministry location instead of traveling for debrief.

The Christmas parties they have been planning and raising funds for are being moved up and we are working on plans to get the team back to the US early. Instead of spending their debrief time in India, we will debrief them in Georgia upon their return to the US.  

We would ask that you would continue to pray for those in India that have been affected by this situation. We would also ask that you would be praying for the team as they finish up their ministry and begin to get ready to travel home.

We will continue to keep you updated as plans progress.

Thanks for your support and prayers as we make decisions regarding how best to care for the team.

Scott

I just spoke with a very sleepy Jennifer in India. The team is doing well and really nearing the end of their time there.  I am excited about all that God has used them to accomplish while they have been there and I am so proud of their passion and perseverance.

I did want to ask everyone to pray for those in Mumbai India where they have just had another bombing. This one was on a different level than the ones we have seen in Delhi and that is why I am bringing it to your attention even though it is so far away from the team.

Hello again to all of my sponsors, family and friends! Sorry that I personally have not been able to give many up-dates on here; life in India has kept me pretty busy and there are a lot of us trying to get blogs up! Before I go into other things, I wanted to again thank everyone who has financially supported this ministry. Without you, none of the amazing progress happening over here in India would have been possible. So THANKS! J

How we celebrate in India

BIRTHDAYSYep, we have celebrated quite a few of these here! I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be away from family and friends on a day such as this. (One year older and!!...I'm in India?) If it is someone's birthday while we are here, they are allowed to:

·        Call loved ones & use the internet

·        Go out for a nice dinner with the team

·        Get a yummy homemade ice cream cake J

·        Do something fun for the day

o       Shopping, coffee shops, ect. with the leaders

Birthdays have been a fun event for the whole team. Better yet, I'm sure another birthday celebration will happen as soon as they return home! (No pressure if you know one of these people)

 Although this is not a Christian holiday by any means, we made sure costumes and candies were present on this day! The children at the orphanages have never heard of Halloween. Shocked, our team decided to throw a Halloween party for them. The party included candy bags and fun Halloween stations! After ministry for the day, a few of us put together a little Halloween party in our "living room". The room was lit by candlelight. We had carmel apples, sparkling apple juice, candy, music and ridiculous costumes. Characters attending the party included a sumo wrestler, two teenage mutant ninja turtles, a gangster and an umbrella! We all danced and laughed the night away.

THANKSGIVING; a holiday that has yet to take place. I believe I can speak for everyone when I say we will all be missing the turkey, gravy and stuffing we would normally be enjoying on this day back home! This year, though, we have an amazing opportunity granted to us for this celebration. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving at the leper colony. Our team will supply all of the food, and the women of the colony (along with the ladies of our team) will cook a feast for everyone to enjoy! How many people can say they had the opportunity to eat thanksgiving dinner with the Untouchables?

CHRISTMAS Although we will not be in India for Christmas, that does not stop a party from taking place! As most of you have read, we are putting together a Christmas party for the orphanages. We have the planning well under way. The party will contain Christmas carols, presents, cookies, hot chocolate, craft stations and games! The orphanages will also be transformed into winter wonderlands; fake snow included. J If you have not done so already, I ask you to deeply consider donating toward this cause. This is the only holiday these children get to celebrate; they deserve a good one! For more information, take a look at the Christmas Party Blog.

I hope all is well for everyone back home! We miss you all so much, and are thankful each day for the ways in which each of you have helped to make this mission trip a success!

God Bless & much love,

Kelsey Scherven

Dear family and friends,

                Words cannot express how much God is doing in me. For example I can't even think of what to say to you all when I get to talk to you on the phone because well, there is so much to say and I cant form words. My birthday was on the third and it was awesome to see how my team took time to make it special and fun for my sad heart. I got to thinking about it though and realized something, how many people get to say they turned 18 India?!?!  I do!

   You guys, I have never felt this much love for a child in my entire life! Radha told me I couldn't leave, and so I pretended to sleep. It didn't work, sadly. So I got up and grabbed her hand. I pulled her into the room that held my purse and wrote her a letter telling her she was loved and always would be. We walked out to the cars hand in hand, she hugged me and told me I had to come back to see her. I couldn't tell her yes. That killed me! I told Radha I would try and with sad tearful eyes I grabbed a bracelet I had made and gave it to her. I told her that I would never forget her and I would try my hardest to come back. As we pulled out she held onto my hand and ran for a few steps before letting go. I cried to myself out of a broken heart for this single little girl.

                When I think about it now I feel as if my heart is somewhere else, and it is. I believe Jesus wanted it that way. I believe he desired for us to love people all over the earth and have our hearts spread out over oceans. Well guys, mine is and always will be. I never thought God would bless me with a love for his people that is so strong. I said from the moment we landed that I never wanted to come back to India ever again! He has changed my heart. I long to come back and see the people I have fallen in love with. I will never be the same and I love it! I pray that I never lose this, I want to come home and bring it to everyone I encounter, the love of Jesus!

                Could you guys do me a favor? Would you pray that I get to see little Radha at least once more? She inspired me to hold onto the child inside of my heart. I see Jesus in her eyes, I feel Jesus in her touch, and I love Jesus through the least of these.  I will never see people the same. I will forever see Jesus in their eyes. It blows my mind that we are living out Gods word. We are taking care of the lepers, widows, and orphans. It is humbling and amazing. If you are struggling with loving people I challenge you, spend some time out of your comfort zone! Go to a homeless shelter and volunteer, God will open your eyes and heart to his presence around you. He will give you a love that is stronger than anything you have ever known. Love the unlovable, for theirs is the kingdom of God. You will be surprised how loveable the unlovable are. They just need your love, they just need Jesus' love. Stop holding back. Start loving.

                Well until my next blog, I love you so much and I hope you take me up on my challenge. I am praying for you and I know your praying for me. I can feel it strengthening me. Thank you for your support and love. We will be with you in a month. Hugs and kisses all around!

                                                                              Living in Him,

                                                                                 Kaley Ann

 (pic of kaley and rada)

I spoke with Jennifer and Jane, our team leaders, this afternoon and they gave a great report on the team. They're continuing to engage in ministry and are falling in love with the people of India. 

We also received news of bombs going off in New Delhi again.  Today's bombs went off in an area called Assam, located 1.5 hours drive from where the team is located in Dwarka.  We wanted to let you as parents and supporters know that we are aware of this and have been in constant communication with our team there. The team was nowhere around where the bombs that went off today and they remain safe under the careful watch of our staff and ministry host. Their host is taking utmost care of them and is very aware of any happenings in the city. The team trusts him and feels safe under his watch.

We're are continuing to watch this situation carefully and are constantly evaluating the safety of the team.  At any point when we deem it unsafe for them to remain in this area, immediate action will be taken to unsure their safety.  We understand the importance of frequent communication with the team and with you all. We will continue to keep you posted with the happenings there and look forward to sharing incredible stories of all that the Lord is doing in and through this team. 

                However, this is not the typical Christmas for most people around the world, including here in India. There is a great need here, and this is a call for YOU to step up and be Jesus to the children and staff at Asha House and Asha Mission through giving. Jesus did not come and die so we can sit back and enjoy life. Jesus came and died to save us because we cannot save ourselves, and He has called us to love. That love needs to extend to all people of all nations, including the children of Asha House and Asha Mission.

                We, the India team, are asking you to be Jesus to these children and staff by giving. Your giving is not going to useless wants, it's going to lagitament needs. Here is a list of items that the orphanages have a need for:

Asha House:                                                                      Asha Mission:

-soap                                                                                  -winter clothes

-shampoo                                                                           -closed toed shoes

-toothbrushes                                                                     -sweaters

-mittens                                                                              -blankets

-hats                                                                                   -bed sheets

-sweaters                                                                           -new bunk bed

-underwear

                Some of these items seem so basic to us, but the means to attain them do not exist for these orphanages. We have included the address and other information t o send money to below. You can be assured that every cent sent in will go to these orphanages for their Christmas.

                Please prayerfully consider giving even just a little so that these children will be taken care of as best as possible. PLEASE don't finish reading this and ignore it as you continue on in your comfortable life while these children continue with so little.

                Step up. You have the opportunity to be Jesus to these children.

"Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" James 1:27

--India Team ‘08

Address:

First United Methodist Church

301 South Main Street

PO Box 35 Randelman, NC 27317

-Make checks payable to: First United Methodist Church

-Write "orphan fund" in memo line.

Website:    www.sixty1.org

                   www.ashahouse.org

                   www.ashamissions.org (Soon to be available)

 

 

"You can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave."

Living in India is opening my eyes. It's scary but it's real and I think that is what's important. 2/3 of the children on this Earth are living in dire poverty. 2/3! Did you know that? I didn't. I didn't know that slavery still existed either, but it does. Nor did I know that there are over 10 million children involved in the sex-ring industry. I guess involved really isn't the right word to use – they are forced – because what child would choose into that horrid lifestyle?!

If you are anything like me, these statistics might make you sick to your stomach. They might make you want to close your eyes and pretend that they aren't real, which works for a second until we reopen them and nothing has changed. The truth of the matter is that God doesn't want us to close our eyes. God wants us to know what's up with our brothers and sisters in need. After all, we are family. Would we walk away from our family when they needed bread or water? Would we leave them in the cold, alone and scared? When our mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters become sick and beg us for help, do we turn away? God keeps the poorest of poor closest to His heart and He asks us repeatedly to do the same.

In Matthew 25:35 God tells His people, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

The LEAST of these! God straight up hits us with the truth, that when we help a person in need, when we visit a wrongdoing prisoner, we are doing these things directly to Him! It's pretty exciting to think that when you gave that homeless man a dollar last week you were actually giving money to Jesus, huh?! He says something else in this chapter though too. "Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." That one is a little harder to stomach.

Over the last 10 years 60-100 million little girls have gone completely missing from this Earth. Missing as in no one has any idea if they are dead or alive, starving and thirsty, being forced or tortured to do horrible things. Jennifer Toledo, an amazing Believer and passionate speaker, asks us to put faces to these statistics and to stop thinking of these children as numbers. When I do this, I think of my little cousin Emma and imagine her lonely and scared, hungry and homeless, it breaks my heart. Try putting the face of your favorite little girl into these numbers and you might start looking at them differently too.

Let's continue to pray for these suffering babies all over the world, but as your sister in Christ I challenge you to do more. I read a story the other day about a pastor who was praying with his congregation for a group of needy people. They were praying and praying for God to bless these people with a certain amount of needed money, a few hundred dollars. Finally the pastor stopped praying as he had a realization. He and the rest of his congregation where already abundantly blessed financially. They could easily each give a little and completely cover their brother and sisters needs. God doesn't just want us to pray. He wants us to walk with the poor, to give what we can, and to trust that he will provide. "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matthew 5:42)

It will be easy for me to leave India. It will be easy to hop on that plane in December, knowing that my family and a Starbuck's pumpkin spice latte are waiting for me. But as easy as it will be for me to check out of this place, I can never really leave. I know now that in the summer the orphans sleep in 125 degree heat because they have to keep their doors shut due to thieves. I know that in the winter they don't have enough blankets or clothing to keep warm so they all huddle together on the cold stone floor like puppies, relying on each other's body heat. I know that they pray for everyone else first and themselves last. I know that they are God's children and that He loves them immensely. And, I know that He expects us to do the same.

                I love you all,

                                Kasey

P.S. God CHOSE to be born poor. Something to think about.

P.P.S. I miss you guys! And Starbucks. And America in general. 6 weeks!