Home Safe & Sound

Hello All,
I wanted to write a quick update to let everyone know that our team is home safe and sound. On Friday we had the opportunity to go to Delhi and tour the city. The city has more infrastructure than Chennai and there seems to be more afluent areas, but there were still a vast amount of slums as well as people who beg for money and food on the streets daily. Poverty is very prevalent in Delhi as well as Chennai.

We flew to Dubai on Friday night and had a tour of the city on Saturday. All of the new construction is quite remarkable. We were able to see the tallest building in the world as well as the newly built "Palm Islands."

We had a wonderful debrief on Saturday afternoon and were able to discuss our action items going forward in terms of how we will continue to support CMCT as well as raise awareness and money for this amazing ministry.

Our flight home was a long one and a few of the team members got sick. Everyone is home and I'm sure jetlagged, but we can't wait to share our experiences with all of you.

Thank you for your continued support, prayers and encouragement.

Colleen's 71st Birthday Celebration

What an honor it was to be part of and witness Colleen Redit's birthday celebration. The day was centered around all of the amazing work Colleen has been a part of in Chennai. It was absolutely astounding to see how many hundreds of people's lives Colleen has affected for the better. Teri Gundlach spoke at the beginning of the program, giving  a very honoring message to Colleen. She compared Colleen's faith and obedience to that of Abraham's. It was a very fitting analogy.

Teri Gundlach speaking at Colleen's birthday program.

The program then featured each department of CMCT (there are over 25) doing some sort of tribute, whether it be a performance, song, poem or elaboate skit. The respect and adoration the entire staff has for her, is like nothing we have ever seen. Throughout the day, there were lines of people waiting to give Colleen gifts and to express their gratitude for Colleen's ministry, her generosity, her vision and her outreach. Members of the leprosy village, parents of sponsor children, women who attend the rooftop bible study, recipients of food from the soup kitchen, HIV medical patients and employees all came to present Colleen with not only a gift but an overwhelming outpouring of thankfulness. This was a tangible showing of how many people Colleen not only helps but gives dignity and respect to.

Colleen blowing out her birthday candles.

The girls who live in the orphanage singing a song in honor of this special day.

Women from the rooftop bible study doing a traditional Indian dance.

Just one of the hundreds of people who presented Colleen with a gift.....

Wednesday, February 3rd: Our last full day at CMCT

Our day began with Kirsten encouraging us to claim God's faithfulness when we are anxious or fearful. Off to chapel where Marilee spoke on trusting God in our lives. What a priviledge to also join the AIDS patients from the clinic for another chapel with Anne speaking on loss and the joy of seeing God work through pain.

Marilee speaking on God's peace.

Anne Storm speaking to women/men and children who are affected with HIV/AIDS. This ministry has grown tremendously and many people have come to the Lord as a result.

Then off to one of the 5 soup kitchens run by CMCT staff daily where we served the poorest of the poor and Leslie beautifully shared the gospel of Christ.

The women who receive lunch from CMCT each day via the soup kitchen. For most it is their only meal of the day.

Sundare, Allison, Carlin and Marilee serving the food at the soup kitchen.

After a great lunch at CMCT, we saw the AIDS blood machine. Thanks to many of you for donating toward this gift. The medical staff were thrilled and told us how it will now diagnose not only AIDS, but rat fever, hepatitis, and other infections in 3 hours. The benefit to patients is tremendous, with medication dispensed the same day instead of waiting 3-4 days for test results that were sent out.

The HIV/AIDS blood machine that many of you contributed money towards. They are very appreciative!!

We were able to meet many of our sponsored children today.

Teri with the young man she sponsors.

Thank you to all who sent gifts with us--we took lots of pictures. Tonight we will enjoy more Chinese in Chennai--a meal we all look forward to in celebration of Colleen's 71st birthday. Yum.

Experiencing India: Leslie Casserly puts it into words...

India is definitely a place where all your senses are on overload.

• Sight: The masses of people and vehicles is amazing. The color, even in the slums with the bright plastic water containers, women's saris, and painted buildings are beautiful.
• Sounds: incessant horns, not out of irritation but to politely say, "I'm here, do you see me? Honk Please, Sound Please. I'm coming."
• Touch: all the hands reaching out to greet us. And, the mosquitos to remind us why we need our malarone.
• Smell: India has a distinct smell but the slums add the filth of the waterfront, excrement, cooking fires and trash everywhere.
• Taste: "What is this?" Will I like it?" The people we see aren't worried about the pleasure in eating as much as trying to fill an empty stomach to sustain life for one more day.

Leprosy Village

CMCT has adopted Alampakkam, a Leprosy colony of about 130 families that is two hours outside of Chennai. Originally, the people from the village had heard about CMCT and travelled by bus to come to the CMCT facility and receive medical treatment. After 75 members were consistently showing up at the medical clinic, CMCT decided that to make it easier on the people, they would go to the village.
CMCT has a ration distribution for the village once a month and the medical staff go regularly and help train the people to care for their hands and feet to avoid further deterioration. CMCT also distributes free wheel chairs when needed. CMCT also teaches the villagers handicraft skills and herding goats in an effort to stop the villagers from being forced to beg for money. This is a fantastic ministry as it brings dignity to a group of people that are otherwise considered outcasts and the "untouchables" of society.

Collen greeting two of the women who live in the village. Both are affected by leprosy.

Teri and Mary meeting the families of the village. Through CMCT's work and education, the disease will not continue to be passed down to future generations.

This man's joy was infectious as he had recently received a surgery to partially restore his sight. Despite his challenging condition, he was continually praising God who he knows as his personal Lord and Savior. Throughout our time in the village he shouted, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

God is doing a great work in this community through CMCT.

Tuesday ~ Tsunami Relief for Chinnakuppam Village

On Tuesday, the group had the opportunity to visit the Tsunami Village that CMCT has sponsored. What is particularly remarkable is that CMCT has committed to rebuilding all of the 140 homes of the village that were demolished by the Tsunami in December of 2004. This is a very special project for CMCT because they feel a tremendous desire to fulfill their promise to restore housing for every family.

The villagers all expressed that many organizations came right after the Tsunami to provide aid, but CMCT is the only organization that has committed to and delivered consistent support. This was such a great reminder for us all that even though we no longer hear about the Tsunami in the news, people are still very much afffected and experiencing the repercussions. If you have the opportunity to give to CMCT, this is an area that still requires great financial support ($300,000). Here is a link to the CMCT website: http://christianmissionsindia.com/

A panoramic view of the new homes CMCT is building for Chinnakuppam.

Our group getting to know the children who live in this village that was devastated by the Tsunami.

Allison and Kirsten with the children of the Tsunami Village. The children joyously greeted us, showed us their home and the nearby beach.

Susan Bramel was able to spend time with a boy that she is now sponsoring.

Colleen and the other CMCT staff members giving us a tour of the new homes that have been constructed. CMCT is about halfway finished constucting the 140 houses. Each house costs $6,000 to build and CMCT is still working and praying to raise the funds to complete the project.

Anne Storm was able to meet her sponsor child: Susithra. Susithra invited Anne into her home and introduced her to her parents. The family is very encouraged by the sponsorship.

CMCT: Ministry Overview

Monday
Today was the first weekday we visited CMCT. The building was bustling as we entered the chapel for their daily staff service. Cindy spoke to about 150 people, sharing how God perfectly orchestrates our lives, how He cares about every detail, and see us through the good times as well as the very hard. She used her own challenging life experiences and beautifully shared God's promises from the Bible. Her message was powerful and quite impactful to us all.

Later in the day we were able to visit the secondary and primary schools affiliated with CMCT. The little children, mostly from the slums, looked darling in their school uniforms. We were overwhelmed, asking them if they knew Jesus and that He loved Him. They responded yes. Never have those words seemed so powerful, knowing we are all bonded together by the love of Christ.

We finished the afternoon seeing all the other ministries inside the main CMCT building. We saw:

•  Medical Clinic: provides extensive care for all types of illnesses. People from the slums can come at no charge and are given top rate care. 
• Dormitories: housing for 150 hostel girls as well as 40 women who work in the handicraft center.
• Handicraft center: an entire floor of CMCT where women are employed and taught a skill (such as sewing or making jewelry), their finished products are sold at CMCT.
• Kitchen where over 1500 meals are served daily.
• Social services department: organizes the entire sponsorship program as well as all outreach programs (tsunami village, leprosy village, neighborhood rallies, etc.)

It is truly remarkable how God has used one woman to touch so many people's lives. God is so good and loving even in the midst of remarkable suffering and trials.

Mary Hendricks, Susan Bramel, Pam Emery and Marilee Schneider with the headmaster and her assistant of the Bethany Secondary School (grades 6-12).

Cindy quizzing the Kindergarteners on their English (they were studying animals).

Leslie Casserly meeting her sponsor child.

Lunchtime for the children at the primary school.

The girls who live in the hostel showing off their bunk beds (three high, 20 girls per room).