A Life in Mission

We woke up early Tuesday morning to leave for the airport, and got all our things packed, but our driver hadn’t arrived! After waiting a little while a quick phone call woke him up and got him on his way to pick us up. Pastor Alfred and Jeff and Noah were headed home, but my plans kept me in India for 3 more weeks. It was a little bit hard parting after spending a week together. But we didn’t have to part until we arrived in Chennai. It was sad to leave all the deaf Bible Workers… One of them had taught me the signs for the alphabet in Indian Sign. I didn’t learn very many other Indian signs, although some of them are the same, many are different. I wished I could stay longer and see them working in the field. But our driver had arrived and our time had come to leave. After saying goodbyes to our deaf friends and the people there at the blind school we drove out the gate waving goodbye.

The roads were almost empty as it was 5:30 in the morning, and we made good time. When there were closed gates across the road we stopped and soon we got to see a train go whistling past. Soon we were on our way again, and as it began to get light I could see Indian people walking along the side of the road on their way to work. We soon came to Vizak, and started to see more traffic. But it wasn’t too bad, and soon we arrived at the airport. After getting our luggage, we made our way to the door. But before passing the guard that was checking ID and tickets, we lingered a little bit talking with Pastor Wilson and Pastor Rao, who had accompanied us to the airport. I had become specially connected with Pastor Wilson, who is responsible for the deaf work and has a great burden for it. But finally we said goodbye, and the four of us passed into the airport. After checking in and getting through security it was only about 5 or 10 minutes before our plane was boarding. We would be flying to Chennai where I would be getting off, while Pastor Jeff and Noah, and Pastor Alfred would be going on to Bangalore to catch their flights back to the US. When we disembarked we found baggage claim was close and I retrieved my suitcase, and then we continued out to the gate where everyone holds signs looking for the person their to pick up. I waved good bye as I walked out watching for Israel…

We left Kollegal on Thursday afternoon, and went to see the Kings Palace. They said that we couldn’t come to Bangalore and not see the King’s Palace! It is from the time when Britain ruled India. It’s the place where the King and Queen would come when they visited India. It’s very beautiful still, and speaks of the luxury they enjoyed. When we arrived in Bangalore after 3 hours or so of driving, we found the place that Pastor Wilson had arranged for us to stay at, and we spent a few hours there until we had to leave in the morning. I stayed in a room with Pastor Alfred, and we had a squat toilet and running water. After sleeping a few hours we got up and headed to the airport. We made it on our flight and after a short layover in Hyderbad, we arrived in Vishakapatnam (Vizak for short). It was about another 2 and a half hours to the Blind school in Bobbili, and finally we arrived. There are about 200 blind students that go to school here. Some of them are totally blind, and others are partially blind. They were all out lined up just inside the gate on either side of the driveway to greet us. After greeting them all, we found our sleeping quarters. The house that we are staying in is very nice even by Western standards, it even has AC! I feel guilty staying here knowing that none of the locals have quarters like these. But they insist that we stay here, ‘because they want us to have the best’. Of course we pay for it too!

It’s been great to see all these deaf Bible workers here. They didn’t all make it here for Friday night, but they arrived for church on Sabbath. It is really something to see so many deaf people sign a different sign language! Their signs for the letters of the alphabet are all different too! And a lot of the signs are different as well. Some are similar, such as ‘eat’. Some of them are just different enough to throw you for a loop. I can’t say that I’m able to communicate with them very well at all. One thing that’s really interesting to me, is that when Pastor Wilson teaches at one of the classes, that he speaks in Telagu –the local language here– and the interpreter translates into sign… I can’t understand anything that he’s saying, but when it’s translated into sign I can pick up a few things here and there! It’s kind of interesting not being able to understand the person talking but to understand a little bit when translated into sign! Yesterday we presented the Bible workers that work nearby with bicycles so that they have transportation for less cost. They were very appreciative of them. I need to get a few interviews from some of the deaf workers, and this afternoon is my last opportunity, so please pray that God works in that situation. I also wanted to get some video of someone that doesn’t know sign language, but I haven’t found anyone yet, and I’m praying that God will help me find someone if that is His will.

Tomorrow we will be leaving Bobili school at 5 am and driving to Vizak, then the rest of the group is flying to Bangalore, and then back the US, while I am flying to Chennai to meet with Israel. I will be with Israel until I leave on the 30th.

Here are some pictures that I just posted… Pictures .

Thank you for all your prayers, and may God bless you all.

From the Mission Front of India
Daniel

Hi from India!

I’ve arrived safely here to the Kollegal deaf school.

Pastor Jeff and his son Noah and I had a safe trip. It was a fun trip too! We left at 6pm Sunday from Atlanta, and then we flew all night, and 8 hours later we landed in Frankfurt Germany, where it was 9am! While there I went and claimed a box of CDs and DVDs that I had checked just to Frankfurt and gave it to a lady there that’s directing the Light Channel in Germany. I’ve never checked anything for only part of the journey, so I was thankful that it went without any problems. Then we boarded our flight to Bangalore. It was a big plane, a double deck, capable of carrying about 340 people! … the biggest that I’ve ever been in! Again we flew through the night, landing at 1:30 or so am. Once we got through customs and immigration we then found a place to wait for Alfred as he was coming in later. He actually found Pastor Wilson before we found him though, and so when we found them then we headed out to the car to go to Kollegal. The trip was good, and we got to see some of India… I have to say that at least in Bangalore it’s much nicer than where I was in Africa. The roads seemed relatively clean, at least most of the time. There were even LED lights on the roadway in some places to mark lanes. We were driving in early morning however, and as it began to get light, I began to see more people coming out. But in Africa there was a lot of people also, and so I didn’t feel culture shock like I did when I first went to Africa! I guess one of the things that I’ve noticed is that there is so much variety. In Africa there are cars, but most of them were from a certain era, some older and some newer… but not too many. Here in India the modes of travel are in stark contrast… You can see almost anything on the road! There are bicycles, motorcycles, cows pulling carts, motorized rickshaws, not to mention cars, a few very old ones, and quite a number of new ones.

Kollegal is a school that is operated by Asian Aid. They tell me that there are about 100 students that are going to school here. All of them are deaf. They come from all over India as this is the only SDA deaf school in India. About 80% of the students are from Hindu families. Many of them love Jesus but haven’t yet chosen to be baptized because they know that their parents will be upset with them, and they can’t communicate very well why they have new beliefs. I have been getting lots of video footage of the kids, and pictures here.

On Friday we are flying to Vishakapatnam to the Blind School there. The Gospel Outreach Bible workers will be there and Pastor Jeff and Alfred will be having meetings and teaching there. I wish it could have been here at the deaf school, but that didn’t work out, and God must have some reason… We will see.

I want to personally thank each of you for your support and your prayers for this trip.

God Bless,
Sincerely,
Daniel