Encouraging Words

Since returning from our trip to the Precious Children’s Home in Kerela, India, we’ve already spoken in one elementary chapel at ICS, and will also share in our Middle School chapel this coming Friday (April 11).   We’ll show our pictures, and give some testimonies to our classmates.  Then on the 19th we have one final party to celebrate a successful trip.   But for today, I just wanted to once again express my gratitude to Ms. Mirian Word (our trip leader) and to all our other teachers, adult supervisors, teammates and of course our supporters.   And I wanted to share with you this encouraging word from Ms. Word that she emailed to our parents.

Ms. Word wrote:   “I want you to know how proud I am of your children. They exceeded my expectations of them. They were always willing, always cheerful, always kind. They did not complain about the cramped quarters, lack of hot water, electricity that went on and off, rain, heat, mud, smells, bucket baths, or food. They showed the love of Christ in all that they did. They hugged on the children and allowed the children to hug on them. They gave of themselves and their hearts, and in the end, they were as affected as the children we went to minister to.  Thank you for sharing your children with us. They were a blessing.”

Well, thank you too Ms. Word, you were (and are) a blessing to all of us as well.   We were all glad to be “shared.”

Home Sweet Home!

We are back home! Arrived last Sunday morning at 6:35 AM. We took the “redeye” flight from Cochi to Singapore! It was really sad to leave the “Precious Home” but it’s good to be back at my home. When we said our good byes last Saturday the children at the home were crying, we were crying…..

One of the things that really struck me most on this trip was how THANKFUL the kids at “Precious Children’s Home” are for everything. These are kids who have lost parents in tragic situations, many have been victimized by crime and abuse, one or more of their parents are in prison, and some have no family at all. They have very few toys, games, clothes, etc. They don’t have computers and PSPs and Xboxes or iPods. They make their own toys out of tin can lids and strings, or rubber bands and plastic and have a blast playing with this stuff for hours! Their grateful attitudes really makes me want to live my life with more gratitude — always!

Speaking of gratitude, I want to THANK YOU all again for your generous support of my trip, and for all of your prayers. We have new brothers and sisters in Christ now because you helped to send us to India.

I’ll post more pictures, videos and blogs about my trip in the weeks to come…so stay tuned!

Healthy Bodies, Heavy Hearts - Update #3

(Again, thanks to our leader, Ms. Word, for sending in these updates for us).

I think that everyone is well today. Thank you for your prayers.

Today was our last day of sessions, and it will be hard for us to say goodbye.  We’ve really had a great time working here and getting to know the kids at the orphanage.   We have developed some really good friendships with the kids.

Tomorrow we’ll be doing some site-seeing in the morning, but will have to say our official goodbyes in the afternoon and evening.  Please pray that all goes well and that we will finish strong.

And don’t worry.   We’re all still taking our malaria pills.  In fact, I’ll be taking mine still for seven days after I return.  Yea.   It’ll be good to get home EARLY on Sunday morning, but we’ll sure miss the kids here.

Resurrection, Rain & Revival - India Update #2

(Thanks to our leader, Ms. Word, for supplying these regular updates).

We had a wonderful Easter. It was great to celebrate the RESURRECTION with
our new friends at the Precious Children’s Home. We were all reminded that we all
have a great hope in Christ, as adopted children of the Father! After the service, we ate
breakfast together at the church. Then later that day we were treated to
a special dinner out by the director of Prison Fellowship India!

Today (Monday) we are finally having some sunshine and are on a regular
schedule now. We have had a lot of RAIN and have had to make
adjustments, but all is well. We are all taking turns speaking in the (5:30 am) morning
devotions and the (6:45 pm) evening devotions that the children have every day. We are also
sharing briefly at the singing times in the mornings and afternoons. There’s so much singing,
speaking and worship here that it feels like a REVIVAL!

On top of all our speaking, we are all enjoying our other assignments too (crafts, sports, etc).
You’d all be really proud of the way a bunch of us Middle School students are working! I know I am.

Some of our group went shopping last night. They are taking us in small groups to town.
So you better place your order now if you want me to buy anything for you in India,!
Some of us were also privileged yesterday to see three elephants walking down the road
in front of the orphanage!

By the way, Sarah is well. Hannah C. was a little under the weather yesterday, but she is
also much better today. Thanks for your prayers. But we still need you to keep on praying!
Please add the following requests to your list:

1. We have 3 students who are not feeling well: John, Sam, and Rebecca (again). Please pray that
they will recover quickly and that no others start to feel bad.

2. Please pray that the weather will stay good, that God will work through all the things we are doing, and
that we will follow His lead.

THANK YOU again for all your prayers, love and support!

Easter Weekend with “Precious Children”

Our new friends, the precious children & their dedicated guardians of “Precious Children’s Home” in Kerala, India.

I along with 16 other 7^th and 8^th graders (including six teachers) from International Community School have the privilege of spending our Easter break serving and befriending the kids at this incredible children’s home. The Orphanage is a project of Prison Fellowship India. These kids either have at least one parent in jail, or they are orphans. Please check out their website for more information (http://www.preciouschildren.org/). Maybe God will call you to visit them or help them one day too! In fact, if you are one of those who helped send me here with your financial gift, you are already helping these kids — and me of course too! So THANKS AGAIN for your generous gifts.

Here’s a quick update on our first couple of days here. First of all, we left Singapore late on Thursday night, aboard Tiger Airways flight TR #608 for a 5 hour flight to Kochi in southern India! After that, we had a long bus trip (over two hours) to Kottayam, the location of the orphanage. But on the way we were able to see alot of Indian festival activities along the road, so that was pretty cool. We were exhausted by the time we arrived, but excited to be there. We are actually staying at the orphanage with the kids so we can really get to know them this way.

This morning, some of our team helped serve breakfast for the children, and Nathan Chow and I gave a short devotional together during the morning assembly time. I was nervous but God really helped us. We will continue giving short devotionals in the children’s evening devotion time as well. I will also be helping with arts & crafts, and sports activities while we are here.

Tomorrow is EASTER — in INDIA — WOW! One of our teachers, Mr. Goode will be speaking tomorrow morning shortly before communion, and then our new MS Principal, Mr. Bridgeman, will be sharing the Easter message. If you receive this before Easter Sunday, please pray for them.

Here are some other prayer requests:

1. That the daily activities would fall into place, and that what God has planned will be done, even if all our plans are changed.

2. Sarah is not feeling well. She thinks it may be food that she is not used to. She is resting today.

3. Rebecca is having allergy problems. Please pray that both girls recover quickly, and that everyone stays healthy.

Thanks again for your prayers and support. Happy Easter to you!

HE IS RISEN!

Taylor

 

Trip Itinerary

Just so you can follow our day-to-day activities, I am sending you our itinerary.

Actually, I can’t take credit for this. Jonathan Hane, one of my trip mates’ (and fellow Nazarene MK’s) typed this up before we left. By the time you receive it we’ll already be at the Precious Children’s Home in Kerala, India. Anyway, here is what our trip will look like.

Mar. 20 – Depart Singapore on Tiger Airways #608. Arrive in Kochi at 2255 hrs.; Travel to Kottayam by van.

Mar. 21 – 22 – Meet children and begin working with them at the orphanage.

** We will be doing Bible Study activities, arts and crafts activities, and sports activities. (I’m helping with crafts & sports).

Mar. 23 – Worship in a local church for EASTER Sunday!

Mar. 24 – 27 – Work with children at the orphanage each day.

Mar. 28 – Site seeing in Kottayam.

Mar. 29 – Travel to Kochi. Site seeing in Kochi. Depart Kochi at 2345 hrs.

Mar. 30 – Arrive in Singapore at 0635 hrs.

POSSIBLE RIVER TOUR:

We may have the chance on our last day to go on a four-hour backwaters houseboat ride to see how many of the people in this area live. The backwaters of Kerala are a series of interconnected waterways, lakes, and rivers that form a network along the coast of Kerala, India.

http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/South%20India/KeralaBackwaters/KeralaBackwaters.htm

THANK YOU again to everyone who has helped make this mission trip possible!

PRAYER REQUESTS

PRAYER REQUESTS: (I’ll send you updated requests along the way)!

* Pray that we will show God’s love to the children at the Precious Children’s Home.
* Pray for safety for the team.
* Pray that our team will be unified in all we do, no matter what happens.
* Pray that we will be respectful of our Indian hosts and their culture, of our team leaders, and of each other.

THANK YOU for praying.

Taylor !

India Team Sending Service

Last Friday at school in our chapel service, our Middle School Principal Bob Newman led us in a sending service for all those who are going on the India trip. Mr. Newman shared a story about how he and his wife loved their adopted daughters even before they ever met them. And since we are going to India to serve at an orphanage, we were challenged to make a choice now to love those kids even before we get there.

After his message, Mr. Newman had our team come forward to stand in front of everyone. The he asked those who had helped our cause by donating money, time or prayer and it was amazing to see most of the people in chapel standing. It was a great feeling to see how many people are supporting us and praying for us to make this trip possible.

Please continue to pray for us as we leave TOMORROW (Thursday 20 Feb ‘08):

1. For safety & health during our trip, our work and our travel.

2. Unity of everyone on our team.

3. That we develop great relationships with the orphan kids, and that we learn from them.

4. That we are Christlike role models for them and will make and impact on their lives.

5. That we ourselves will be transformed.

Tell Me Why ? !

This is an awesome song by a very young kid, and it’s very appropriate for our mission trip to the

Precious Children’s Home in Kerala, India.

Instead of just asking why, we’re trying to do something to help these kids in need.

Thanks for your support and prayers!

Taylor

U14 Basketball — Victorious !

Guess what? My ICS U-14 basketball team just finished our season last Friday night with an incredible victory. We defeated our opponent (I can’t even remember which school they were from ) by the score of 30-27 to capture 3rd place in our league tournament. Our overall record for the year was 4 W - 3 L. It’s been a fun season, in spite of some lopsided defeats to larger schools — including one game where an 14-year old opponent dunked on us! Thanks to coach Eric and my team mates for a great year!