Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year's Eve Thoughts


New Year’s Eve 2008

Cheryl again blessed the group with words of exhortation from John. We came face to face with the command, “Do whatever He tells you to do.” We are finding our “box” being taken down one wall at a time here. The welcome and familiar footsteps and the clink of the cups announced the arrival of chai and breakfast. Sweetie, whom many of you know, came in to help serve breakfast. Andrew, taking a page from Brother Henry’s book, lay his hand on her head to pray a blessing over her before she left for school. She immediately bowed her head and closed her eyes to receive it.

Watching Andrew administer a very familiar event to her, I was overcome. Yesterday, when we were in town we saw a group of the kids from the orphanage walking home from school and Sweetie was among the cluster of Chudedahs of white with blue scarves. I couldn’t help but think that this very child whose mother and/or father was willing to throw away a little over a decade ago was blessing us with service, not to mention walking home from school. Amazing…

In the small village that hosted today’s free medical clinic and immunization camp, we were very warmly received by a small band and formation choreography from the students. We were a bit surprised to see a smaller turnout than expected for the vaccines and learned that the polio vaccine administered only a little over a week ago had claimed the lives of at least 4 children in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Parents were very cautious about handing over their child on the heels of such an experience. Notwithstanding this, the camp served over 350 people who saw a variety of doctors and received medication absolutely free.

One baby in particular caught Cheryl’s attention simply because it was lethargic and its eyes did not appear to be tracking properly. He barely even cried when he received his shot. His mother also caught my attention because of the most intense look of love and protection I’ve ever witnessed. Again, I was reduced to tears realizing many like this one never know that kind of love and protection.

We returned to camp and again feasted upon Mary and Ranga’s lunch creations and were sent off with the familiar exhortation to “Rest sister, rest brother!” in preparation for tonight’s New Year’s eve festivities. Like us, you will have to wait to see exactly what that will look like!

Mollie Myers



Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

I John 4:11-12 (TNIV)