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