Reflections On The India Vision Trip

February 14, 2012 - 9:18 AM - Vision Trip Traveler


Above:  ICM partner, Selveraj of Vishwa Vani ministries, explains the strategy as he points to pictures of ICM churches in the local area.



Above:  A woman from the refugee church, which is rebuilding after having their homes and church destroyed by terrorists who attacked them because of their Christian faith.


We are back in the States, and have regretfully parted ways. Lasting friendships have been made and new chapters in our lives have been written.  Our bodies will eventually adjust to the jet lag, but our spirits have been unalterably changed.  It will certainly take some time to process all we have experienced and how these experiences have changed us.
 
Our last few days in India were almost all on the move, and taking the time to organize thoughts and put them into writing was impossible.  As I mentioned already, one of the purposes of my emails was to memorialize in real time (or close to it) what the immediate impressions of our trip may of been.  For this reason, what will follow will complete the memories of our trip activities.
 
FINAL DAYS
 
I previously described the wonderful events at Tarangada Learning Center and our night spent there.  I want to emphasize that this place, though new, was in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  It is a beautiful site, with mountains all around.  We slept well and on Saturday morning, went up on the roof and had devotions and breakfast as the sun rose over India.  We then left to visit three churches in various stages of growth.  Two of these churches were donated by our friends, Charles and Saundra, from Savannah, GA.  They had given these churches to honor their parents, and were delighted to finally see them.  Charles and Saundra are remarkable people of faith, and their commitment to use their resources for others is a manifestation of true Christian spirit.  Prayers were given at each location, and conversations with pastors and people encouraged us all.  As with other churches in the Sora area, these are in small villages, and are the most substantial buildings there.  The people are proud of them, and with what we had learned during this trip, we were encouraged that things in these villages had the great potential to get better.
 
To put these particular churches in context, it needs to be remembered that both ICM and Vishwa Vani (the India ministry partner through whom ICM places churches) require that when a congregation receives a church, they must promise to start 5 new "daughter" churches in a certain amount of time (I have forgotten if it is one year or two). This requirement is usually fully complied with, and ICM has fairly reliable statistics that the nearly 4,000 churches it has helped build in the last 25 years have resulted in almost 20,000 Christian congregations of at least 100 members each in 61 countries.  The amazing thing is that these numbers keep growing beyond any of our expectations.  No church has said that this requirement is "too much" to accomplish.
 
The three churches we saw on Saturday were a "mother" church, a "daughter" church, and a "daughter becoming a mother" church.  Daughter churches eventually grow up, and as they do, they by their own definition become "mothers" to new congregations.  This concept of church growth, with accountability through the Vishwa Vani ministry, is working magnificently in India,
ICM sees new generations of Christians taking the lead in churches build 15-20 years ago, and I think this is the ultimate proof "in the pudding".
 
After leaving the Sora area, we began the long trip back to Visakapatnum, our home base, to retire for the evening.  We arose early on Sunday, and flew to Delhi for the last day of our trip.  We visited The Good Samaritan School for slum children, where they have a Sunday Service for children in the area, and participated in the last part of service.  These children were bright, excited, and most anxious to speak with us and shake our hands.  They knew English much better than any other children we had met, and we marvelled at how their lives were being changed by this remarkable school.  This school was started about 20 years ago by a young woman India teacher to provide education to children who lived in the slums of Delhi.  The growth story is amazing, and now they have, through worldwide donations, a 4 story modern building for grades 6-12. There are 1500 students here.  The school was so successful, the Government tore down the slums around it and put up modern apartments and condos.  The school for grades 1-5 is still in the slum area, and has about 500 students.  ICM has helped with the building of the upper school, and no visit to Delhi is complete without a visit there.
 
The most telling tribute to this school is that many government and business leaders of Delhi want to send their children there, because they know the graduates of the school can successfully go to college or trade school just about anywhere.  The school had adopted a policy of allowing no more than 15% tuition paying students, the rest of the children being required to come from the slums.
 
After visiting the school, we toured a bit around Delhi, and met at a local hotel for brief rest, as most of us were flying out at 11:30 pm Sunday night (India time).  We said goodbye to our friends, Jim and Kaylinn, from Austin TX, who were staying in Delhi another night to be with friends there.  The rest of us went  to the airport and gave our last hugs and thanks to Burt Reed (ICM Asia consultant) and Augustine (our Vishwa Vani minister and guide).  We also said goodbye to Susan, of Richmond, VA, who was staying in Delhi a few extra days to be with friends.  We were down to six: Charles and Saundra, Nancy (a pediatrician from Albuquerque, NM), my Cousin Matt and his wife, Adrienne, of Washington DC, and me.  We began the long trip home, and eventually split up in Newark airport, individually heading back to our American homes, tired, but spiritually and emotionally overflowing. 
 
FIRST REFLECTIONS
 
There are so many memories of this trip that continually flood my thoughts.  The trip to Newark was over 14 hours, with 6 more to follow,  and I only read a little of the books and magazines I had with me.  I couldn't concentrate on reading because of the recollections I was having, and on several occasions I found myself wiping away tears I didn't know I had shed.  The cultural, economic and religious contrasts of our two countries cannot be more overwhelming, and I was continually reminded of how good things are in the US. 
 
The purpose of this trip was to be an ICM presence at churches in India, participate in dedication events, and to try to gain an "on the ground" view of church growth in India.  These objectives were accomplished.  What was not expected was how much these visits meant to us personally.  We met people who will become a positive part of the fabric of our own lives, and shared events that most Americans will never be a part of, or will even understand. 
 
I have become convinced that the true message of the Christ event was not so much to create a doctrine, but to bring "life, and to bring it abundantly". These churches bring that message.  The pastors preach and teach, certainly.  But they also do all they can to assist with the needs of their congregation, both collectively and individually. The building of churches usually results in other services being provided to the towns, which benefit all citizens.  But if people need food, shelter, medical care or any other assistance, these churches become an oasis in a desperate world.  One cannot help but feel positive about all of these efforts.
 
My reflections will certainly continue, and I will try to jot them down somehow as they come to me.  But for now, I have to say that this trip was a meaningful part of my life, and will be part of me forever.  Thanks to ICM for letting me go, to my new friends who travelled with me, to the Indian Christians who made us feel so welcome, and to God for the blessings that flowed.
 
In closing, please remember these churches in your prayers.  Especially the Refugee Church. I do, and will.  The haunting of it will be with me the rest of my life.
 
Long live India.  Long live us all.


-Aubrey Rosser


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The Journey Home

February 13, 2012 - 6:18 AM - Vision Trip Traveler





This will be brief.
 
We're in Delhi awaiting our flight and this will be my last letter from India....will send one final letter when I get home to wrap things up.
A 15 hour flight from Delhi to Newark awaits, followed by another flight to Raleigh and a 2 hour drive home (I'm being picked up at the airport so that I won't fall asleep on the way home).
 
We are still haunted by the memory of the church that was displaced and rebuilt, and I appreciate all of your prayers for them.  The name of the church and village was Kekisingh, the new name is New Kekisingh.  We call it the Refugee Church.
 
We must go...see you soon.
 
My love and prayers over you all.
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A Glorious Welcome From 3,000 Sora Indians

- 6:18 AM - Vision Trip Traveler
Here are some pics from the amazing welcome we received at the Learning Resource Center that we helped dedicate (along with the childrens home and the church that are part of the complex)...





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Trailblazing For Christ in Orissa

February 11, 2012 - 11:21 AM - Vision Trip Traveler





It's Saturday night about 8:00 pm and we just returned to our hotel in Visakapatnam after two days in Orissa.  We're tired, but in good spirits.  We left here Friday morning and travelled to Tarangada, where Vishwas Vani just built a church, children's care center and learning center.  ICM helped with these projects, and we arrived for their dedication.  As I have mentioned before, the children's care center is really an orphanage, and the learning center is built to serve at least 25 churches train their pastors and leadership.  This means that there are at least that many churches in the area.  We understand there are 52 there now, with 25 of them having been contributed by ICM donors.
 
We were not prepared by what we were met with at the gate to the church compound.  Most of these church/learning centers are in remote places, and we knew this was true here because of the dirt, ungraded road leading in.  About 250 yards from the front gate, however, we met a crowd of several hundred people, who mobbed us as we got off the bus.  We were surrounded with cheering, singing and smiling Sora Christians, all of whom trying to shake our hands and give us the traditional India greeting of hands held in a prayer fashion.  We didn't so much as walk to the gate as respond to  the crowd's movement.  We noticed an even larger crowd under a meeting tent, and more people inside the compound.  We were told there were about 3,000 people there, just to greet 10 of us from the US.  The overwhelming nature of the moment had us all overcome with emotion.  Never had any of us experienced this before. Some had walked over three hours to be there.
 
Our attention was drawn to the gate opening ceremony, and then to each of the 3 buildings for their respective dedications.  Without pausing, we were led to the large tent for more singing, prayer and dedicatory remarks.  Children were everywhere.  It was a remarkable time.
 
One custom of the people caught us off guard.  As they approached us, either individually or in a group, they would bow, touch our feet and reach to shake our hands.  We were puzzled by this, and were told that these people do this as a form of respect and honor.  It happened both days we were gone, and at all locations.  I never got used to it.  What I did enjoy, however, is the warmth and willingness to greet us that was expressed so openly by them.  We never shook hands with just one person...always many.  It certainly warmed our hearts.
 
After the service, and before dinner, Our guide, Augustine, took us a few miles away to another small church, recently built by ICM.  To me, this was the most meaningful visit of our trip.  We were told the story of this group of Sora by their pastor, who couldn't get through it without tears.  Although India has freedom of religion, the nation is two large, with too many people, for the police to protect everyone, all the time.  In 2008, a group of fundamentalist Hindus decided to mount a campaign to destroy all Christian churches in this area of the Sora people, and to kill all their pastors.  When they reached the village of these people, who were all Christian, the men of the church wanted to fight them off, but their pastor told them this is not the Christian witness.  The people and pastor fled to the forest as these Hindus destroyed the church and all of their homes.
 
The people hid for a few days, then went to a police station to report what had happened to them.  The police put them in a camp for 6-8 weeks, and the government agreed to give each family 20,000 rupees (about $400.00).  Having no where to go, they relied upon the generosity of other Sora villages until they decided to pool their money and buy land for a new village.  This they did, and Vishwa Vani, with ICM's help and a donation by my friend and Greensboro attorney, Janet Ward Black, last fall dedicated a new church building in a new village where all 125 congregation members now live. 
 
We once more were touched to our core, as we marvelled at this faithful pastor, and his dedicated congregation.  They had lost everything to religious intolerance.  They had nothing.  Nothing.  They simply prayed, because they didn't know what else to do.  Deciding to pool their funds, and joining together as a group allowed them to have their new place and new church.  All is not perfect, of course.  They still have daily issues of finding work and supporting one another.  
 
 The inspiration of this story and this place will not be forgotten by us for as long as we remember.  We have heard many stories of the arrests and persecution of pastors occasioned by Hindu radicals, and we marvel at their faithfulness.  Of course, on reflection, we wonder how many of us would be so brave.
 
We journeyed back to the Learning Center and spent a pleasant night at another service, followed by a meal, and then to bed.  Our accommodations were simple, but very adequate, and all of us had a wonderfully peaceful night.  It was interesting, though, to see that several hundred other local people stayed at the compound as well.  We were told that since they came from so far, they were encouraged to plan to spend the night.  It was almost like summer camp again...they stayed up and shared time with each other until late.
 
Saturday's report will have to come later.  There is so much to tell, I can't do it all tonight.
 
If you have it in you tonight, please say a prayer for our Sora friends and pastors who suffer from religious persecution.  This type of hatred is the worst, and we are naive to think it doesn't exist.
 
"As much as you have done it unto the least of these......."


-Aubrey Rosser


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A Church In Honor Of Baby Logan

- 10:59 AM - Vision Trip Traveler





We are on the 8th day of our trip and the group has settled into the routine of an ICM vision trip. The days aren't really all that routine, as new adventures in new places are always what we discover. A vision trip is physically hard, as we arise early and get in late, and generally go all day long, travelling some of the roughest roads imaginable.  Our guides are very interested in showing us as much as possible, and as a result, some late night travels have resulted.  Today we insisted that we needed to be back at our hotel by 5:00 pm in order to prepare for a very busy next few days.
 
Today we visited again in the area of the Sora people in northern Andhra Pradesh (this is a state, just like Virginia, only bigger). Our visit was to an area that could not be more remote.  Indeed, the term "remote" deserves an apology.  We went much farther into the hills than we have ever been before.  The minister who accompanied us said that most villagers had never seen an airplane or train. and had only gone in their lifetime to the next village to market.  We encountered another form of transportation...the jeep.  We arrived in the Sora area this morning, accompanied by their area coordinator, Phillip Timoti, his wife and 2 of his 4 children.  On the way to the first village where he was working, we encountered the daily bus...yes, daily...only one a day.  Most villagers taking this bus were only going to other villages for a bit of bartering.
 
The first village was called Venkatiguda, and was completely Christian.  The church there is half built, needing about 3 more months to complete.  One of our team members, Susan, from Richmond, VA, gave the money for this church in honor of her infant grandson, baby Logan, and so she shared with the congregation her hopes and dreams for them.  It was a most touching moment.  Later in the evening, I asked if she would ever come back here, because there is no way this village is on any "beaten path", and she firmly stated, "Of course", and intended on also bringing her son.
 
The congregation at this church was warm and receptive, and seemed to enjoy our visit.  After drinking from recently cut coconuts, we listened to Pastor Phillip, and you could see in the eyes and body language of the people that they held quite a bit of respect for him and that he held compassion for them.  Incidentally, Pastor Phillip's father was an Indian church planter for years before his death, and the churches and other centers he started are still in existence.  ICM has partnered with Pastor Phillip with 3 churches, with 2 more in the plans. Note: This is a different ministry from Vishwa Vani, whom we had been with most of the week.
 
Pastor Phillip took us to other churches and told stories of how they have survived, despite desperate acts against them.  One of their pastors has been beaten twice by Hindu fundamentalists, yet still shows up every Sunday morning to preach.
 
We left this area in time to arrive back at the Hotel in Vishakapatnam by 5 pm.  We needed to slow down a bit in order to prepare for the next few days.  Our dinner was an Indian food buffet, and I don't know what I ate except for the ice cream.  As the old timer said, "I can't pronounce it but it eats good."  We enjoyed fellowship around the table and planned for tomorrow.
 
Tomorrow (Friday) will be a travel day to the State of Orissa to visit churches and a new learning center.  We plan to spend the night there, so there will no letter tomorrow, as we will not have access to the Internet.  We will return to Visakapatnam on Saturday after seeing the work in this area.  Orissa is the state next to Andhra Pradesh, where we have been since Tuesday, and we are excited about seeing the work there.
 
India continues to intrigue us, and we constantly are reminded of how different this culture is in comparison with the US.  We all realize how good we have it back home, and that Americans really have no reason to complain about anything.  These people here are industrious and driven, and I don't think they have the luxury of stopping  what they are doing in order to contemplate the niceties of life.  We can learn a lot from India, not the least of which is that life can be lived simply.
 
We are continually being blessed by what we see and experience.
 
 
 
"Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake
we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace."
 
                                      (Compline,Episcopal BCP)


-Aubrey Rosser


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A Visit To The Sora People

February 9, 2012 - 8:57 AM - Vision Trip Traveler


It is 9:30 pm and we just arrived back at our hotel.  It was a long day, but one that gave great nurturing to our hearts.
We travelled north from Visakapatnam to the last region in the State of Andrah Pradesh, home of the Sora and other tribal groups.  We dedicated two new facilities provided by ICM: a child care center at Donubai, and a learning center at Javapuram.  The child care center is really an orphanage, which entails quite a commitment from the people there...they will be raising these children 24 hours a day until they finish their secondary studies.  The learning center serves as a school for pastors and church leaders from around the region. What was special for me is that the two churches that received these new centers were churches I visited two years ago.  It was exciting to see that these  churches had not only grown in numbers, but that they also had the maturity and strength to take on new ministries.  The dedication of the people is amazing.
 
We visited other churches in the Sora area that I had travelled to in 2010, and the most significant change in that time is that the Government has built paved roads in most areas that did not have them 2 years ago.  We marvelled at this and were told by our guides that if a church is placed in an area, the people know that they will soon receive electricity, roads and housing from the Government.

Evidently, a church gives some stability to an area, and the villagers can use this to their advantage.  We were also told that as a village church grows, eventually Christians are elected to leadership positions in the village.  They are not corrupt like previous leaders, and will contact the authorities to provide those things that the Indian government has promised in well-known public law to every village in the Country: Electricity, Roads and Housing.  Schools eventually show up as well.  There are over 640,000 villages in India, so the government has its hands full.  I will point out, however, that the Electricity is basic, the roads are just the one-lane paving of existing trails, and the housing is so modest, I can't compare it to anything in the US.
 
The ministry of ICM through Vishwa Vani is growing so well, and the partnership has shown such success.  These folks have a well thought out plan to spread churches through all unchurched places in India, and it seems they are well on their way in doing so.  They are resilient in their determination.  Add to this their other wonderful traits (love, compassion and great humility) and I don't see how they can be stopped.  ICM is fortunate to have such a dedicated partner here.
 
To us, the significance of what the building of a church does to an Indian village is remarkable.  Not only does the village receive a church for religious services, the building also is used for weekly classes and meetings, and in many places becomes the area's community center and purveyor of public interest information.  This is only the beginning.  Placing a church in a particular village almost assures that the village will receive electricity, roads and housing, as well as the hope for better schools and medical care.  We have been shown that when a church is donated by ICM to an Indian village, the donation goes far beyond just a building...a new future is being given to thousands of people.  How is that for changing the world!
 
Our travels continue to bond us as a group, and we take great strength and encouragement from one another.  This group comes from Virginia, Georgia, Texas and New Mexico, and  contains a pediatrician, ophthalmologist, singer, nurse, business folks and a scraggly old country lawyer.  We come from Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Catholic and Community Church backgrounds.  Despite our denominational differences, we all take our faith journeys seriously, and find growth in hearing the stories of each other. Although we are not necessarily like-minded, we do have unanimity of spirit, and this sustains us...we have bonded in ways we never expected.
 
India continues to show us remarkable things.  It is a poor country, overall, but the people generally appear to work hard for their sustenance.  Our travels today to rural areas introduced us to the sugar cane crop, as well as rice fields, and the continual presence of bovine animals keeps us amused.  Goats and sheep also abound.  We continually marvel at how resourceful the people are in these rural areas, and then remember that they also lead the world in information technology expertise and computer science.  What a place!
 
The day is done and to bed we must go.  As we prepare for our rest, our thoughts go to small villages and young children, to new roads and old religions.  Reflection can be a wonderful time, and for me is probably the highlight of each day of the trip. We can't be everywhere, or do everything, but we can commit ourselves to pay more attention to people around the world who live without hope.  This is what has become abundantly clear to our group this week.....small things, such as gifts to ICM, can change the world, and actually bring that hope.
 
 
"Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen"
 
(Compline, Episcopal Book of Common Prayer)


-Aubrey Rosser
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Church Growth Outside of Vizag

February 8, 2012 - 12:19 PM - Vision Trip Traveler








The events of this day are so remarkable, I am finding not only the words hard to come by, but also the experiences hard to describe. Our ICM group of 10 was simply blown away by what we saw and experienced.  I guess the best way I can put it is that we witnessed what can happen when one Christian takes it upon himself to help an entire people.
 
We left Visakhapatnam (look it up on Googlemap) around 1:30 today for a trip we were told would be the first ICM work in a particular area. By the way, Visakhapatnam, or Vizag, is a smaller city than where we have been previously (Mumbai, Delhi and Surat), and appears more successful.  The abject poverty is not quite as noticable. There are many, many family businesses here, as well as nice hotels, as the city is on the Indian Ocean, and has beaches for tourists. 
 
Our travels took us to Lake Dhadipudi, where we embarked on another mode of transportation---motor boat. We crossed the lake to meet with villagers and leaders of a village named D.K. Pardhi.  They had donated 5 acres and wanted to use it for a church, school, clinic and learning center. ICM has agreed to help with these projects in some significant way.
 
Little did we know how special this day was going to be.
 
The background we were given by our Indian hosts is that when the lake was dammed about 50 years ago, a group of 37 villages (about 9,000 people) would be cut off from signicant contact with the outside world.  The lake is a reservoir for several cities in India and is about the size of Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.  The difference in the two lakes is that there is NO development on this lake, and it is pretty much still in a natural state.  There are no marinas, hotels, condos, or even villages along the lake shore.  The lake sits in a bowl, surrounded by mountains, with significant areas of flat land where these villages are located, unnoticed from the water.  There is no road over the mountains to these villages and the people, to reach the outside, had to either walk long distances over simple wooded trails, or take a boat across the lake to a road that eventually leads to civilization.  These villagers, however, did not go out that much, as their lifestyle of self-sufficiency generally sustained them.  They have crops and animals, and survived by simple fishing.
 
Other locals knew the people were there, but just let them be.
 
One day, about 7 years ago, a local pastor in this area was so curious about these people, that he took a hike over the mountain into these villages to see what was going on.  He discovered these people, and initially began to perceive their medical needs. In particular, he found a young boy who had an eye problem caused by lack of fluid in his eyeball.  At some point in the past, the child's father had even taken him out of the village to the city for help.  The doctor who examined him said there was nothing he could do, the child would just be blind in that eye.
 
The father asked the pastor to pray for his son, although none of the villages had any Christian presence.  The father stated he was willing to try anything to save his son's sight.   The pastor prayed for the child, and then took him to his own doctor, who just happened to be the one the boy had visited in the past.  The doctor pulled the boy's chart, and was emphatic in his diagnosis that the boy's eye was permanently damaged.  After much pleading, the Doctor finally took another look at the child's eye and found that some fluid had located in the eye and that with an operation, they might be able to restore his sight.  This happened, and the boy's sight in that eye returned.
 
Was the restoration of sight in this child due to supernatural power, or did medical professionals find a way to restore sight?  Even the pastor holds reservations about the answer to this question. However, the father of this child knows that "my son was blind, but now he sees", and he was convinced a miracle occured.
 
He is right.  A miracle did occur.  A carng pastor decided to visit a village and offer "the hand of Christ" to a forgotten people.
 
The pastor became consumed with helping this village, and discovered that the people had been "forgotten" by the Indian government.  No one knew they were there, officially.  He reported their existence to the authorities, and just last year electricity was brought to the village (In a crude fashion).  The government is now constructing a road to these villages (not done yet) which will connect these peoples to medical and education opportunities they have never had.
 
This pastor didn't stop with the social ministry he had started.  The father of the ill boy invited him to preach, and eventually significant numbers of villagers were converted to Christianity.  They now have the assistance of an Indian denomination (Vishwa Vani) to sustain them far into the future.  Congregations are popping up in other "cutoff" viillages, and Vishwas Vani is supplying pastors. (Incidentally, Vishwa Vani is ICM's partner in this part of India, and our guides are associated with them. They are remarkable in nurturing congregations all over India)
 
As we took the boat across the lake to the village, we were struck with how remote the area is.  Until the new road is completed, there will no way to get supplies or equipment to them except by boat, and there are no boats of that size available on this lake. We were also impressed that the people had alreadly crudely laid out their plans for buildings on a five acre parcel with a most beautiful view of the lake and mountains.
 
But what struck us in our hearts was the enthusiasm of the villagers for what the future was bringing to them.  They were isolated, destined for obscurity, with no hope of a better existence.  Now they have electricity, and are definitely going to receive a church and school.  (We found out that the school system has also forgotten these people.)  They want to include a clinic and learning center as well.  Our Vishwa Vani friends joined us in telling them that we would do all we could do, but that these things take time.  They joyfully accept this reality, but continue to dream.
 
Upon arrival, we met under a tent at the new site, and were greeted with loving smiles, and warm songs.  The pastor then intoduced us to the boy who had the cured eye.  It didn't take much for us all to realize the significance of the moment.  Another young man gave a testimony of his having been convicted of killing his father (probably manslaughter, rather than murder). He stated that he was visited in jail by a pastor who led him to a conversion to Christianity from Hinduism.  He was released from prison after serving less than 1 year.  The healings,  life changing stories, and changes to their community have convinced these folk that God is working in their midst, and they will see it no other way.
 
We stayed way longer than we should have, as we needed to get back to the other side of the lake before dark. After the service, we joined them in a ground breaking ceremony, and all 10 of us from ICM took a turn at the task.  It was great fun.
 
The villagers were not ready for us to leave, They wanted us to see where they lived and worked.  So, we went into the village and toured thatch roof huts, cattle and goat pens, and dodged all sorts of animal droppings everywhere.  The young girls took a liking to the 5 women in our group, and insisted on holding their hands as we walked. We were told that the first while people these folks had seen were Burt Reed, of ICM, and a missions pastor, Dave Gibson.  The women on our team were the first white women to visit this area. 
 
 The boys took delight in having theirr pictures taken with Matt and me, as we were easily the tallest men there.  Handshakes, smiles and laughter resulted. The hour grew late.
 
We finally left, and on a boat ride across a full-moonlit lake, we began to process what we had just seen and experienced.  We were moved beyond tears.  Our group has decided to raise the funds necessary for this village to have its church and school.  Vishwa Vani has agreed to assist with the hospital and learning center.  It is the least we can do for these simple folk who have nothing of value to this world, but much to give us in showing a love for their faith, and a Christian commitment to improve the lives of those who live around them.
 
 
We will be processing this day for quite some time.
 
Later...

When reflecting on what I have seen today, I cannot help  but think that humans need to be connected in order for all of us to prosper.  I strongly believe this is what Christ was trying to teach us. My readings and convictions have led me to the conclusion that Jesus was not here to make sure we were doctrinally pure, all believed the same thing, or were liturgically proper.  Nor do I think that he was trying  to organize a new religion.  His teachings reflect that he desired that all humankind love God, and love each other.  If this happened, human devisiveness could be ended, and we would make sure that "the least of these" would be provided for.  Is this a panacea?   We'll find out.


-Aubrey Rosser



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Faces of India

- 12:15 PM - Vision Trip Traveler










All of these pictures are the faces of a tribe in a remote area outside Vizag that until seven years ago, the Indian government did not even know about.  Now, these people have the Gospel, and are getting a church building.  They are no longer the unknowns, but are known in the body of Christ.  They have a new identity.
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An American in India 2012, letter 2

- 10:45 AM - Vision Trip Traveler

Dear friends:

 

Sunday is about over in India ... it is now almost 9 p.m.  We know many of you back home will be watching the Super Bowl, but it probably won’t be seen here.  Because of the time difference, it won’t start until 5 a.m. Monday here.  We will be sleeping ... and needing to.

 

We arose in Surat today and travelled to three church locations in the State of Gujarat.  At two of the locations, we participated in foundation laying, and at the third, we worshipped outside of a church building about 30 days away from completion.  The churches are located in rural areas, but crowds attended each service.  The people at these churches are so warm and giving.  They have no wealth, and yet they shine in their hospitality.  At both churches where the foundation was dedicated, songs unexpectedly broke out, and we were able to join voices, often in two tongues.  It doesn’t take long for trusting Christian folk to find things to share.

 

After the visits, we went to the Surat Airport to fly to Delhi for the next portion of our trip.  The Surat Airport is about comparable to the Lynchburg Airport.  It is served by only two airlines and the boarding gate is easy to find ... they only have one.  We were on the last flight of the day (4:20 p.m.)  It is amazing that a city of 3,000,000 is served by such a small airport.

 

We are in Delhi now and will go to Agra tomorrow to visit the Taj Mahal, something that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

 

We are exhausted.

 

Since leaving on Thursday morning, I have a combined total of eight hours sleep.  Our hosts have us up by 6 a.m., and we usually don’t get to bed until after midnight.  My nights have been shorter, due to other duties and emailing.  I was so exhausted today, I had to stay on the bus during one of the visits to just collect myself.  Fortunately, tonight I can get at least seven hours of sleep, I hope.

 

The visit to India continues to inspire.  It is a diverse country, with new sights around every bend in the road.  There is much to be sad for.  The great number of people taxes the infrastructure in every way, and the lack of wealth keeps most cities in need of much repair.  Traffic is insane ... I can’t tell you how we have come to this place still alive.  Nevertheless, I am still inquisitive about every scene, every person, every custom.  The intrigue is so compelling.

 

America has so much to be happy for.  We are indeed a fortunate nation.  I wish all Americans could come to India just for the comparison.

 

Good night … the eyes are too heavy. 

 

Bless you all.

 

Aubrey

 

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A Day of Contrasts in India

February 7, 2012 - 2:16 AM - Vision Trip Traveler



 
Monday was quite a day with the ICM team.  We arose at 5 am in order to catch the train at Delhi station for Agra, site of the Taj Mahal. It was on the train that we were able to ask one of our guides to check his cell phone internet about the Super Bowl, which ended on Monday Morning, India time, at around 9:30 am.  No one on the train cared about it except us and a group of 5 people we met who were from Rhode Island (they were with Project Hope, I think).  There is absolutely no mention of the game on any Indian TV or in any Indian newspaper.  We get to see daily English language newspapers every day and scour them for US news, but very little is reported.  The CNN channel is local to India, so we can't even follow things there.  The internet provides us info, but we are going so hard every day, that we can only go on line at night, when all we want to do is sleep.  Most of us were pulling for the Giants.
 
The Delhi train station is a trip.  There is no way our group could have made any sense of the place without our guides.  There is no rhyme or reason to the many tracks and walkovers, and people were everywhere. We were constantly accosted by beggars, and it was all we could do to keep our group together. Most people at the station are taking commuting trains, and they appear to be of the lower classes.  The train to Agra, again similar to Amtrak, had all kinds of people on it, including tourists and businessmen.
 
Incidentally, the sports news here is all about a major cricket tournament going on in Australia.  India lost to the Australians, which has the sporting community tied up in knots.  We are trying to figure this game out, but to no avail. Cricket shall remain a mystery.
 
We visited the Taj Mahal, which is absolutely amazing.  Although I visited it two years ago, the majesty of the site is still awe inspiring.  The white marble has been cleaned (a process that the Indians have learned to make a year-round chore), and it shines like a jewel. It commemorates the tomb of a Muslim king and his wife, and attracts all sorts of people from all over the world.  It is a remarkable place, of which the Indians are extremely proud.  The only down side of visiting the Taj is that the road to it is lined with run down shacks posing as stores, and one is constantly accosted by children trying to sell souvenirs.  We were told that last year over 4 million visitors came here. One of the highlights of the trip was that we were able to ride to the gate of the Taj by camel cart...quite an experience.  This visit resulted in hundreds of pictures.
 
Agra is an historical capital of India, and has a very large Muslim population.  Of course,, there are large numbers of Hindus here as well.  Both groups bring much tension to bear upon the Christian community, and our guides have told of stories of oppression.  Although India has a constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion, the country is so big that the government  cannot protect everyone all the time and Christians often have to pay a price.  They are solid in their faith, however, and we all marvel at their fortitude.  It is quite a blessing to hear their stories and hear how they have ultimately been blessed.
 
The contrast  of the poor in Delhi, the majesty of the Taj Mahal, and the difficulty of Agra Christians was further focused when we then visited a church/orphanage not far from the Taj, which is supported by ICM.  The pastor gave his home and adjoining lot of land to the church, and it now serves as home to 12 orphans.  The church is on one side of the building and the children live on the other.  These are children who have no parents living, and they are precious.  This church will be responsible for their education and training for their lifetimes.  We were so impressed by the committment of the orphanage leaders and their dedication to raise these young people, our emotions took over.  Most of us were wiping our eyes when we left.
 
Incidentally, our tour guide for the day was a Hindu young man, who went with us to the church.  He was absolutely amazed at what was going on, and stated that he had no idea Christians were doing this.  He was  visably impressed.  The testimony of this church will stand well in Agra.  We are praying over it...even now. If there are angels in heaven, we called upon them to protect that place and guard those precious children, who are living in a country where so much is stacked against them.
 
The contrast continued when we were treated to lunch at a 5 star hotel by our hosts.  Although the lunch was simple, it was delicious.  We were stunned at the luxury of this hotel in the midst of so much poverty.
 
We arrived back in Delhi around 10:30 pm and immediatly went to bed.  It is now Tuesay, and wakeup was at 3:45 am in order to catch a 6 am flight to Visackapatnam, where we will be the next 5 days. We are resting a bit before going out this afternoon.
 
Our spirits are still high, although we have slowed down a bit.  Our Indian friends want to show us so much, and they have so much to be proud of.  We are astounded at their enthusiasm, and marvel at their sacrifices.  ICM calls these trips "vision trips", and we are certianly expreriencing all of what that term means.  We have seen what can happen when committed Christians leave dogma and bickering aside, and simply love and assist each other.  These churches are making a difference in the lives of so many people in India, who may have been headed for a difficult existence. Good things can happen here.  I have witnessed it.
 
Blessings abound here...and I am hoping they will for you as well.


-Aubrey Rosser


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The Pace of Life in India

- 2:09 AM - Vision Trip Traveler






Fast, very fast.  Life in India seems like a busy street in New York, except with more people and animals and cars, running and wandering and honking.  With a staggering 1.2 billion people, there are few places to go where you are not surrounded.  So far, the pace of the trip has been quick and we have not spent more than one night in the same hotel.  We've taken planes, trains, and automobiles to get to some remote destinations.  As you can see from the pictures above, we've run into some traffic.  But, we've been able to get safely get to all of our destinations, and been able to spend valuable time in remote villages.  

On Sunday, we had the amazing opportunity to visit one small village outside of Surat in Southeastern side of India.  The village was a pretty typical rural setting with mud and thatched roof huts, cows and chickens sitting or wandering about, and the occasional satellite dish connecting the community with the world.  We had the opportunity that morning to help build their church.  Vishwa Vani ministries has been able to reach out and evangelize to a growing church there and now they are in the process of building a church building in partnership with ICM.  We all grabbed large round buckets of cement and poured them into the foundations that had been dug for the church building as we prayed and sang hallelujah with the congregation.  It was an unforgettable experience - experiencing the body of Christ working together, all made in His image.  We look forward to seeing the church building be used as a tool to continue building the body of Christ in this fast paced country in need of the Gospel.

-Matt Allen

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Prayer Answered for the Gujarati Mountain Tribes

- 12:54 AM - Vision Trip Traveler
During Sunday's 7am devotions, we were joined by Sonny (left in picture) and Ramdas (right) from the Gujarati mountain tribes.  They drove 3 hours from the mountains that morning to tell us their amazing story.  While Christianity has been growing in the Gujarati tribes, a Hindu political leader recently made it his goal to forcibly convert all Christians back to Hinduism.  He ordered everyone in the tribes to hang a flag outside their homes if they were Hindu, and hang nothing if they were Christian.  Local police, meaning aggressive leather-clad gangs on motorcycles, were to round up the Christians from their homes and force them to be rebaptized as Hindus.  The Hindu leader also approved plans for a massive Hindu temple to be built in the area as a landmark for Hindus to come and worship.

The people were afraid.  Over 500,000 Hindus were expected to come and watch (and possibly enforce) the rebaptisms.  The Christians asked ICM's Burt Reed for counsel.  Burt and the tribal leaders discussed the Bible's promise that you will suffer if you choose to follow Jesus, but they also discussed the power of prayer.  The people prepared their hearts and prayed fervently as they saw Hindus begin to set up their tents.  When the day came, God answered their prayers!  Less than 50,000 Hindus set up camp, and the local police never arrived to force the Christians to the water.  

The Christians are not out of danger, and the Hindu political leader is running for a higher office, but God is continuing to perform miracles in these tribes.  Sonny told us that their group has partnered with ICM to build 11 churches, which in turn have planted 55 daughter churches.  They have now reached 12 of the 20 mountain tribes and baptized 14,000 people, all within the last 12 years.  They plan to reach the remaining 8 mountain tribes by the year 2020.  Our group was humbled and blessed to be with these men before our day of visiting ICM churches and blessing the foundations of two new ones to be built.  God is doing powerful work in India, and we can't wait to see more in the next few days!

Adrienne







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An American in India 2012, letter 1

February 6, 2012 - 10:22 AM - Vision Trip Traveler

Dear friends:

As most of you know, I am once again travelling in India with my family and friends associated with International Cooperating Ministries (ICM).  In order to record my memories of this trip, I am creating letters somewhat contemporaneously with the experiences we are having here.  This is to help me remember things when I return home.

Twenty-five years ago, my uncle formed ICM with the assistance of Rev. Dick Woodward, for the purpose of constructing churches in mainly third-world countries.  Since its formation, it has built more than 4,000 churches, over 1,200 of them in India.  They have built churches in at least 62 countries. This ministry also provides Bible study literature in 31 languages.  The congregations receiving these churches agree to form five other congregations, which most of them do.  We think 20,000 churches benefit from ICM’s efforts.  ICM has a goal of 10,000 churches by 2020, and it looks like that will be accomplished.

This trip has been planned to visit new church efforts in India, especially Resource Learning Centers, newly constructed to provide continuing education for pastors and church leaders.

We will also visit an orphanage and The Good Shepherd School in Delhi.

We left the U.S. on Feb. 2 and endured a 14-hour flight from Newark to Mumbai (Bombay).  We arrived here around 10 p.m. local time on Feb. 3, completely exhausted.  Bombay was 80 degrees when we landed.  The weather in most of India this time of year is hot. After finally getting our luggage, we checked into our hotel for a short night, as we had to arise at 4:30 a.m. to catch a train for the city of Surat.  The train was as close to Amtrak as could be hoped for, and we were served breakfast and coffee for the ride. My seat was in the middle of a row of three, facing another row of three.  I was the only American, sitting next to a Muslim, and across from two Hindus.  The other two gentlemen were Indian businessmen whose faith I could not determine.  This unlikely sextet travelled together for 2 1/2 hours without incident, and with mostly congenial conversation.  The biggest question they had was why an American would want to travel all over India.  They really sold their country short.  I shared with them that I found their country and its people and culture very fascinating.

What one discovers here is that there is no one faith experience uniting all of India.  Of course the largest number of people is Hindu, but there are millions of Muslims here.  Christianity is growing. There are also many other faith expressions.  It is hard to find a “typical” Indian.  When we travel in the rural areas, we find tribes that have their own history and culture outside of what is thought of as the norm.

After arriving in Surat, a city of about 3,000,000 north of Bombay, we were immediately accosted by scores of children on the railroad platform, begging for anything.  It was very pitiful.  We were told by our guides to give them nothing, as they are made to do this by gangs.  Nevertheless, our hearts ached at the condition of these children.

The day was spent in a rural area outside of Surat, where we dedicated a new Resource Learning Center.  We were received by a congregation of about 300, with almost 60 pastors from other churches.  They decked us with flower leis, and sang and danced their tribal music.  The pastors are most impressive.  They are not “schooled” as U.S. clergy are, but their love and fervent expressions of faith convince us that they are very dedicated to their calling.  Several of them had experienced beatings in the past, when other religious groups became concerned about the growth of Christianity.  I must say that when called upon to pray, they speak with an intense expression of their faith.  Hugs, handshakes and laughter are the result of being in their presence in these holy times.

And the children. ... Our hearts are stolen from us.  Tears erupt as we observe the pure innocence of them in these places.  They are respectful and warm, although not many of them know English.  They give us flowers, and we give them small toys we brought from the States.  Connections are made that will linger in our minds and hearts for a long time.

I am convinced one of the major by-products of true Christian faith is the openness and trust one Christian has for another.  If all the world could experience this ...

It is late and sleep is needed ... I dream of India under a clear moonlit sky tonight.

Aubrey

 

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Next trip!

February 1, 2012 - 9:23 AM - Vision Trip Traveler

An ICM team is headed to India this week! Stay tuned.
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