After a long day with air plane food and a little stress we were there, and I stepped out in anticipation to meet Rebecca and Stephen (Stephen Devakumar is an elder of Open Door Church. Rebecca is his wife). The first became a quiet start of the journey; it went by with some shopping and watching how life goes on in Chennai.

Saturday was a delightfyl visit with 37 boys and 38 girls and the staff members of the childrens' home with Annie Devakumar to lead them. They wer full of life, as most children are, but when Annie or Rebecca told them something, they listened and obeyed. It seemed to us as though everything was in order, there was a good atmosphere, and the children were in good shape. After a brief distribution of presents, we were asked if the children could sing for us - and they sang with empathy and joy that beamed from the. A lot of pictures were taken, which they enjoyed, and when I attempted to learn their names, I was almost assaulted because of their eagerness. They wrote down their names and tried to teach me. As a father of four children of the same ages as these children, this was a special experience. Of course I thought they should have been with me.

For information, Ina and Monica (who previously worked a few months at the childrens' home) were asked after. I received a sheet of paper with the 38 girls' names, and in the bottom it said "we miss you". It's good to know what the months of their visit left a very positive trace. To all of our missionary friends: All of the children and the staff told us to greet you. They pray for us, just like we pray for them.

On Sunday we first had a service at Stephen's house, and in the evening with Nelson in Tambaram. The last Sunday, the first service was in Maranatha Church, and then in Nelson's other church. People were open for the message of the cross, they responded to it, and a lot sought forward at the alter call. Later in the week we had seminars in Chennai, Theni, Trichirapelli, Thanjavur (where we also participated in a sercive with a lot of people) and in Sirkali. We visited the pastors Alphonse, Peter Mathi and Chelladuraj between seminars and services.

We also went to see Job's home for boys, who slept and dined in what also functions as the church room. There we met David Inbanathan; one of those who receive support from IRR Mission. What captured my heart was the fact that all of these lacked something (for instance a roof of the rooms, windows, half of their walls, etc.), but they still had church services, and their joy beamed from them as they worshipped God. They had joy even though they wanted a lot of the thing we take for granted. The childrens' home, which Job and his wife started (for orphaned boys, of whom most lost they families in the tsunami) is without funding; they started up in faith that God would provide.

If I should sum op all these impressions with a bible verse or two, it would have to be, "for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10) and ”Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). This spoke to me: they weren't preoccupied with what they didn't have, but with Him, hallelujah! So even though there are things we don't have or if we have problems, let us look to Him and rejoice in what He has done and what He is and continues to be for us. He is my Lord and my God, as Thomas Nelson said, but He is also our brothers.

We are not to pull ourselves together in order to rejoice; no, were are to look to Him, trust Him, and let Him do the work. This is the greatest for me: I died with Him on the cross, and the life I now live is Christ who lives His life in me. Therefore I have every reason to rejoice, and this I will. Amen.

A brother's greeting from someone, who would gladly visit India again,

See the image gallery from the journey here.