LINK and Prayer Meeting

Well it is Friday. Sorry this post is coming so late, but look at it this way, you will have 3 posts to catch up on!

Friday, we started the day with the usual LINK team of evangelists. They are in charge of follow up for many of the patients and their family members who are interested in knowing more about Jesus or have been baptized recently. It is too bad that many of the local Christians are so uncomfortable with HIV positive Christians (many of them new, sense they have recently thought about dying, or rather life after dying), that they don’t really accept them – or have programs for them.

Anyway, the LINK team, besides my family here, are the closest men in my “Indian” life. Good, good men! We actually had a great time discussing the last 10 years, since the team was established, and where they are at with their goals. Many things have not been met, but a new approach is on the horizon for ministry, family and business in their life. So maybe it is good that I am joining with them now, as their plans change. They will get back to me in July with a new timeline till 2020.

After joking around and talking through ideas and other stuff, not really a time line, but the things a time line should include, we had a prayer time and were dismissed by 4:30pm. That was enough time to say hello to a few people, and relax with Kathryn in the dining room (watching… c’mon you can guess… cricket!).

Prayer meeting for the Yerpedu Church of Christ was at John Basha’s house. He had eye surgery last week and will be wearing eye gear (sunglasses) for the next 30 days. It was good. One of my favorite Telegu (the language here) praise and worship songs was sung last night. It basically says “no matter what problems in life.. Jesus in the answer”. It reminds me of my trip to Haiti in 1997 where “Jesu la unique solution” was painted everywhere.

We had a fun conversation on the way home with Rhamachandria (he is the farmer that became a ward attendant… that became a store room manager… that became a social worker in the last 6 years). He basically went from a $1,500 rupee p/month job to around $5,000 rupees a month (oh.. sorry… $30 USD to $100-120 USD) over the last 6 years through hard work and education. He is a very fun friend to have.

After stuffing myself at John’s house I sat around in the front and played with puppies from 10-11pm before bed… we got home just in time to see Chris win American Idol. I am actually happy. I wasn’t a huge fan of Adams. Yet I think Chris was milking the “girlie-girl” vote. I wasn’t surprised as much when you think about it. I could see Danny’s voters going for Chris’ music much more than Adam’s releases.

And.. that was Friday. The day before my first Indian B-day.

Thanks for your time…