Once a month is good....

although not the daily writing that some of the family would like to see, but hey, it's a start! We have just returned from a weeks vacation at the Outer Banks, NC. It was our first "family vacation" in quite a while, and it was nice! Extended family was there... Bryan's mom, my mom, and our dear friends the Eashoo's with their two children. We rented a nice home about a block from the beach, and spent almost every morning out on the beach, and nights eating, watching movies, and walking lots! We even took Tucker, and he enjoyed himself on the beach! We was great around the other dogs that were lucky enough to go on vacation with their families! This was a learning trip - we learned that leaving the house at 12 midnight is great for avoiding traffic onto the Outer Banks... not so great if you have to find somewhere to go and spend 8 hours waiting for your house to be ready, while keeping a dog cool in 100 degree weather! We learned that there really are great grocery stores in Corolla, and we didn't have to pack the kitchen sink! We learned that sunrise really is beautiful and worth getting up for! We learned that 4 women in a kitchen is too many!!! We learned that kids have endless energy for playing in the sand and surf, but fall asleep very quickly in the dark! We learned that sand gets everywhere!!! We learned that jelly fish are just a fact of life, and you can avoid them and still enjoy playing in the water! We learned that even 51 yr old men like to fly kites! We learned that fresh seafood is really delicious, even if you don't like seafood! We learned that leaving at 7:30 am is not early, according to traffic trying to get off the Outer Banks! We learned that making time to spend with family and friends who are really family is one of the most important things you can do. We learned that traditions are worth starting, and this is one that has just begun.
We loved our trip, we already miss OBX, and we shall return next year with more people, more planning, and more time to spend slowing down and paying attention to whats really important!

Attempting to start again...

It's been a looooooooong time since I've posted, and much has transpired since I wrote last. I'm not going to take the time to detail the occurences, since most of you reading this know everthing already! Just wanted to get my fingers ready again to start sharing... Time flies by so fast. Our family is in the middle of summer vacation... visits with extended family, vacations at the beach, swimming and biking are on the agenda. I pray each of you is healthy and peaceful. Blessings,

Home - sort of...

Hello again, all! Well, we are finally back in our home in PA, but somehow I think part of my heart and most of my brain is still in Chennai, India. Jet lag is supposed to be easier coming east, but my body just can't seem to make up it's mind what time it is. Please pray that Bryan and I can adjust quickly - time waits for no one, and our life here needs to be picked back up without much delay.

I will have to really sit down and prayerfully consider how to write of most of our experiences.. but I will try to give you a very quick accounting of what we did while there... (in order, starting with the first day in India, Sat the 28th). SAT - Shopping at a beautiful jewelry store, lunch at a restaurant, early night, we were all sleep walking! SUN - church at Bishop Samson's church, lunch at Samson's home (quite an honor...), an outdoor evangelistic meeting in a slum area, where I was blessed to share my testimony. MON - Pastor's conference (over 3000 pastors and spouses), again I spoke. TUES - drove to Bangalore, along the way stopped at an orphanage (broke our hearts, we dedicated 5 wheelchairs for handicapped children there), arrived in Bangalore late. WED - another Pastor's conference, about 300 this time, again I shared my testimony, stopped at Domino's Pizza for lunch! Drove back to Chennai, arrived late, but was met in the lobby by the hotel staff with fresh grape juice! THURS - met with a precious little 3 year old girl and her mother, who wants to give her daughter up for adoption to our pastor's daughter. Heart-wrenching stuff.... this mother loves her little girl and just sees no hope of a future for her in India. Drove to a church in Hindu village, dedicated land as they are starting to build a church building there to replace the thatched-roof lean-to that they are meeting in currently. The villagers (brand new Christians who have next to nothing...) served us lunch that would have fed their families for a week. I felt so honored and ashamed all at the same time. Fell in love with a little girl, whose mother asked me to bring her home with me. Drove to another meeting, dedicated a new church. Had an anniversary party for Bishop Samson and his wife - 25 years of marriage! FRI - went to a zoo, rode an elephant!! Had a wonderful time with our new family in India - we all laughed so hard our stomachs were sore. Had another evangelistic meeting outside in a Hindu area, I spoke here also. We were served an amazing meal on the roof of a pastor's home - again, to be so honored made me feel so uncomfortable. We were there to serve them.... not the other way around. SAT - went to Tsunami Beach, saw St. Thomas Cathedral and the tomb of St. Thomas (powerful... it was untouched by the tsunami, although it is on the beach.) Spent the rest of the day shopping, had a wonderful time! Back at the hotel, we rested, ate room service (the best french fries!), packed and left the hotel at 11:30 pm to get to the airport. Spent a few hours in the Chennai airport, boarded the plane and then sat on the runway for 1.5 hours while they worked on the engine! Got into London late, missed our connecting flight back to DC, and eventually made it back to DC 5 hours later than planned!

I will never be the same again. I was constantly aware of how content these beautiful people are with so little, and how they are so willing to give, even out of their lack. We are such a blessed nation, we have more than we even understand, and yet we want more and we grumble at giving out of our excess. I pray that God never lets me forget what I saw.....

I'll post pictures as I get them organized.... that may take a while!

Blessings,
Bryan and Terri

On Our Way!

Hello loved ones.... we are all packed and ready to drive to the airport in just a little while. We must be there 3 hours early, and our flight leaves at 4am Chennai time. We had a wonderful day today.... we did lots of shopping, went to Tsunami Beach, and visited St. Thomas Cathedral. We had lots of fun - and we have filled in all the spaces in our suitcases that were emptied with things we brought over for the ministry here. Please pray for safe, uneventful travel! Pray for a beautiful time of goodbyes with our new family here in India. We have become quite close in a relatively short period of time! That's what happens when you spent 22 hours together in a vehicle!! We'll talk to you all soon.... we'll be home in PA within 30 hours or so!!!
Blessings, Bryan & Terri

Planned arrrival time back at Mt. Rock

Just a quick note to let you know that our flight leaves around 4 am (Chennai time) and we are scheduled to arrive at Dulles at 3pm (ET). I am fairly sure that we will all want to stop for dinner on the way home to eat meat! But we hope to be back in town around 7-8pm. We'd love to see as many of you there as possible! Love to you all!

Time flies..... and God is Awesome!

Hello to all.... it's Friday night our time - the middle of Friday day for most of you. We have just spent the most incredible day! First let me tell you that we are all fine - enjoying the Indian food (spices are wonderful!) and the weather is the total opposite of what you are experiencing in the US). We have been very busy, travelling around, speaking every day to different groups, praying for people to come to Christ, and learning much about this culture. These people are very beautiful, inside and out, and when they have Christ in their hearts their faces glow! Today we went to a zoo - wonderful time of just relaxing and fellowship - and we all got to ride an elephant, her name is Asuni, and it means "precious jewel". We have laughed so hard today that our stomachs hurt! After the fun at the zoo, we went to an outdoor meeting in an area right beside a Buddhist temple. We (yes, I spoke again tonight - 4 times total!) boldly proclaimed that Jesus is the One and Only God - and we watched as people in and around the temple listened to us speaking. Many came to Christ tonight, and there is a strong church in that area that will disciple the new believers. Tomorrow we will go to St Thomas Cathedral, then to Tsunami beach, and then SHOPPING!!!!! The sari's I have seen here are beyond description, and I hope to find one to bring home, as well as outfits for the girls.
We are all exhausted, but in a good way - so we are all going to sleep and get ready for tomorrow. Blessings to each of you that have been praying for us while we are here. We have felt your prayers, and God has worked in mighty ways! We'll be home later Sunday night. Pili and Adie - Mommy and Daddy love you so very much, and we miss you! We'll see you soon!

Praise God!

We have walked on the land of India for 3 days now, and I am amazed at how comfortable we are here. We landed safely around midnight on Friday night/Saturday morning, and while we have been busy, we are getting breaks every now and then. The hotel is nice, and the food is spicy! Yeah!! We worshipped at Pastor's Samson's church on Sunday morning, which was an amazing time. They worship with such passion and abandon.

Sunday evening we went into a slum and did an evangelistic meeting outdoors.... which was an experience I will never forget. This was the first meeting for Pastor Samson in this area, and right next door is an area run by gangs. These people were not believers, for the most part. When Pastor Samson called for people to give their hearts to Jesus and accept Him as savior.. there was hesitation. Here, if you accept Christ, you are very likely to be kicked out of your home and disowned by your family. Yet even knowing that, over 30 people came forward to receive Christ, and many more followed to receive prayer.

It was an awesome time - I was invited to share my testimony to these wonderful women and men, most of whom have never been told that they are loved, valued, and can be heirs with Christ.

Today there was a pastor's conference of over 2500 people - and again I was invited to share my testimony at the beginning of Lloyd's teaching.

I am humbled to be used in such a powerful way, and God is taking my life and turning it for good! I have to go for now, shopping calls!!!! I will write more later on today, and post some pictures for you. God bless, and I ask that you continue to pray our list.... Love to all..... Bryan and Terri