The countdown begins...

Plane tickets...check.

Passports...check.

Visa applications submitted...check.

Long list of vaccines needed...time to start working on those!

With only 5 weeks left until we leave for India, we are starting to shift into high gear as we prepare.  I won't lie, the checklists are a little overwhelming at this point!  We have both been on mission trips before, but nothing like this.   And while we have heard a little from friends who have been to India, there are still a lot of unknowns.  Will the villages we visit be open to us and our message?  How will they receive us?  Will this be the first time they have heard the Gospel?  And then there are the practical things.  Just exactly how hot and humid will it be?  Will the food make us sick?  These are just a few of the many thoughts that have been swirling around in my head.  It is a curious mixture of excitement and anxiety at this point and I expect that will only increase in the weeks ahead!

Despite all of this, we are really excited to see what God has planned for us and the rest of team!  We learned at our last team meeting that the exact location where we will be ministering is still up in the air.  Apparently the district that last year's team visited and where we were originally planning to go has encountered some opposition lately.  As a result, it looks like we will be going to a different district which is an hour further by train.  This new district has over 100,000 people in more than 50 villages with only 35-40 Christians.  Most of these Christians are new believers and the handful of leaders there told our contact that they have been praying for 2 years for some outside help and encouragement.  This honestly blew my mind.  To imagine these precious believers crying out to God for help and encouragement, and that God could potentially use our team as an answer to their prayers.  It is humbling and sobering, and makes me fall on my face before God.  We simply want to be willing and obedient vessels that God can use!

Over the next few weeks, we will be practicing with some of the materials that we will have in the field.  This includes the e3 evangecube (you can read more about it here), as well as some health related tools for HIV and malaria.  Please be praying for us as we practice and learn how to use these tools!

God has been so faithful to provide the funds needed for our trip!  This has been a real faith walk for us and we have been reminded once again of God's goodness.  He always provides in His perfect timing...not any sooner and not any later!  He has really strengthened our faith in this area and we are so grateful for all of you that have partnered with us!!  We still need another $500 or so to help cover the costs of our vaccines.  If you would like to make a donation, you can do that here.

Please be praying for all the preparations that need to be done in the next few weeks.  We will continue to keep you updated as the trip grows closer.

Called and ready to GO!
Chris & Jennifer

{for more information on our trip, click on the "India" tab at the top of this blog
and for current prayer needs, click the "Prayer Requests" tab}