I'm back...

Hello, world! It's Dorinda! The team and myself arrived back safely at the airport about 1:00 yesterday afternoon. I shoud have posted this last night, but jet lag numbed my thoughts. Well, not really. I got home about 3, called my parents, showered, took my 10 rolls of film to be developed, picked up groceries and a photo album, picked up my 10 rolls of film, stopped by Wed. evening services at my home church, visited with my sister for an hour, came home, glanced through my photos and FELL ASLEEP about 9:30pm.

A BIG thanks goes out to Jen for her support and abilty to post even when she had no news from the team. We had internet connection three times while I was there, but never very fast or for very long. The intermittent power supply cut our time short and I allowed the moms on our team to email their kids. They needed to check in at home more than I needed to post.

I am so thankful to each of you for your prayers and support. The prayer requests that Jen mentioned were exactly what we needed and your prayers did make a difference. (i.e. it never atually made it to 100 when we were in Central India.) I look forward to sharing pictures with you and more stories as opportunities permit. For the KC/Manhattan people, I'll be in Lawrence on the morning of the 17th if you can make it!

Excited about posting more,
Dorinda

On to Mumbai

Hello, everyone! This morning we were able to see some pictures from the wedding at our prayer meeting. One of the pictures was of our staff team, and everyone looks well! The wedding has now taken place, and the team will be flying to Mumbai tomorrow (tonight our time). This is their last stop in India before leaving to come back to the states.

I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers for safe travel and lots of rest on the plane! Thanks again for standing with them faithfully throughout the trip. =)

Easter time!

Blessings to all of you as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection! What an amazing time of year this always is for me as I remember how the Lord makes all things new!

But this isn't about me, it's about Dorinda. . . . =)

The team arrived at the headquarters Thursday morning (our time) and have a bit quieter schedule for the next couple of days. They were to have had some time to go shopping on Saturday, and will be going to Chapel at the Seminary for Easter services. The following day, they will be able to attend the wedding so many of us in the GFA family have been looking forward to. . . then it's just about time for their return.

Thanks for praying for T. She seems to be doing better, and I'm sure she appreciates your prayers.

He is risen! He is risen indeeed!

It's about to begin. . .

the last leg of the trip, that is! Tomorrow (tonight, our time) the team will fly and then drive to the headquarters of GFA, where they will see both the main office and the seminary. They are located in a beautiful, tropical area of South India.

Please keep praying for T. We heard last night that she's still struggling with her cold, and being able to get enough rest. As far as I know, the others are in good health, though a few have had minor adjustments to the travel and cuisine (you can use your imagination there. . .) =)

Thank you again for your continued prayers. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James5:16b

In South India

Hello! Just a quick report to let you know that the team has arrived safely at the South India headquarters, and will be spending the next couple of days there seeing the local Bible Colleges and churches. It's more humid as you travel farther South in India, so please keep the team's physical adjustments in your prayers.

As an additional prayer request, T., one of Dorinda's former roommates, is a member of the team, and was recovering from a bad cold when they left. We heard this morning that she is still not well, so please pray for her healing, and for sound sleep for her. She'll be staying in India a little longer than some of the others, so we really pray that the Lord would help her to be physically strong. We know that He is faithful in all things!

Have a blessed day!

News for the weekend

Hello everyone! It seems that our team is still doing well and things are going along according to schedule. They have finished a day in which they were to see the Central India office, and are now resting up for spending the next couple of days seeing the Bible College and local churches in the area. On Sunday, they will fly to the South India office.

As the team travels to the South of India, they'll be moving into a more tropical climate, more humid than where they are right now. They will also get a chance to see how different each of the regions where our ministry works are from one another. One interesting thing about this is that even though they serve in such different places, it's amazing how the same heart for the Lord comes through the leaders and believers in each region. Some of the leaders Dorinda is spending time with in the field are brothers who have visited us at the Home Office before, and though each has a unique call, we are always so amazed at the unity of heart and passion for the lost that is common to all of them.

The more the time goes by, the more excited I am to hear Dorinda's testimony and the testimonies of others on the trip! Have a blessed weekend!

On to Central India

Hello, everyone! We've received news here that the team has arrived safely in Central India, and will be spending the next couple of days seeing the work at our main office there and also some surrounding areas. I checked the weather report this morning, and it's supposed to be 100 degrees or more each day that they are there. Please pray for the team, that this change in weather will not distract them from anything that the Lord wants to show them during this time. I know it would be Dorinda's heart and the heart of others on the trip to be humble and not complain about the heat or be a burden to anyone there. We're so blessed that the field leaders and missionaries take time out of their busy ministries to show us what the Lord is doing, and we so appreciate the hearts of all the believers in the churches there!

Thank you again for all your prayers. I know they are invaluable, and that we will hear many stories of how they bore fruit when Dorinda returns. Have a blessed day!

It's nightime in India. . . .

and our team was to have spent the day visiting a local Bible College. Please continue to pray for their adjustments, and for the Lord to reveal His heart for the lost to each of them as they see the work in the field.

Tomorrow, Dorinda will be able to see the radio ministries, and learn more about some of the broadcasts. Currently, GFA is blessed to have broadcasts in 92 languages on the radio sharing the Gospel. It is a truly exciting part of the ministry, as the radio can go before the missionaries into some of the most unreached places.

I don't know anything new direct from the field today, and if I hear anything from Dorinda I'll be sure to post it. Have a blessed day!

It's underway!

Hello, everyone! I apologize for taking so long to get the first part of this message to all of you, which is that we (GFA staff and families) saw the India team off Saturday morning. Dorinda managed to get all things prepared in time, and everyone seemed to be very excited. It was a blessing for me to be there to see everyone off, and to remember what a privilege it is for all of us to be involved with so many brothers and sisters in the Lord's work on the other side of the world. I know this will be a really powerful time in the lives of our staff who are there!

The team has now arrived safely, and since they are on roughly a 12-hour time difference from us here, they've already spent Monday seeing some of the work. I received this email from Dorinda today with her message to all of you:

"Monday, March 14. We arrived safely this morning and have been seeing Dehli today. We've got a quick dial up connection here at our office in the north region, so I'll see if I can get this to post. [She wasn't able to, which is why I'm including it here.] We just finished touring the new office being built here. When finished, the four floored building will house radio studios, guest rooms, and possibly 100+ students for a Bible School. So much more we've been learning and seeing, but it's hard to know how and what I can put into words for the internet.
It was exciting to me today as one of the brothers was saying, "This is an excellent location for an office" and began to explain. His focus? The location of the office leads to tremendous opportunities to share about Christ at the bus stops, nearby pilgrimage location, next-door Hindu temple... He wasn't just excited about the capabilities for productive administrative work in the new building. He was more excited about the ahnds-on ministry work that would take place.
Thanks for all your prayers!"

Yes, thanks again for all your prayers for the team. I'll let you know more when I know more. You can definitely pray that they will get good sleep tonight (which is right now), since their clocks are probably still adjusting to the time over there. =)

1 day...

But not really. In less than 12 hours, we will be standing in the DFW airport checking in.

Yesterday we had terrific news as a team. My visa finally came through. But bigger than that was Dia's passport and visa. Her health was so poor over the past year, there was no way she could go on the trip. But over the last four weeks, God has been miraculously healing her. I heard she was out jumping rope with her girls last week! So they prayed and sent off her passport application 8 days before our departure. And here it is--all ready to go and a seat on the airplane beside her husband!

Today the excitement was building all day. 26 hours... 23 hours... 21 hours and 15 minutes... I think the best comment of the day was when one of my teammates stopped by my desk and casually asked, "Hey, Dorinda? Do you have plans for this weekend?" I cocked my head and looked thoughtful. He continued: "Because I was thinking of heading to India this weekend and thought you might want to join me."

I'd like to introduce Jen to you... Jen will be updating my blog for me while I'm gone. So stay tuned for periodic updates. Thanks, Jen!

2 days...

It's really starting to seem real... My packing time last night has paid off. I'll have a couple of hours of fine tuning tomorrow night--what do I want where and why and how--and my packing should be done. I've decided to take my full-size Bible since that's the one I like the most. However, I'm taking all my notes and journal electronically on my Palm. But then again, I just got offered a journal, so am debating whether or not to pack that. Got a note tonight that God has brought in all the funds I need for the trip and more--Praise God!

I took cookies out to the missions director of Hope Fellowship--my local church. They provided the funds for more than half the cost of the trip. But they've been more than financial supporters--their prayer support and words of encouragement have been tremendous!

To answer the most-asked question today, no, we don't have any updated news on the situation in Asia.

In 36 hours, we'll be checking in at the airport.

3 days...

It's actually about 12:37, but I wanted this posted on the 9th, so I changed the date. I've been busy "mock packing" this evening to see if I can really fit my belongings for 18 days in a large backpack and a medium tote. I think I see success ahead. Now if I just have room to bring gifts back...

Today was another emotional day... I think I'm just hyped inside about the trip and it's coming out through weird emotions? One of my coworkers was a huge blessing to me and even ran a Wal-Mart errand for me over her lunch hour. She's traveled overseas a lot and wanted to make sure I was prepared.

The India Team gathered this evening for chips and salsa and sour cream and stuff at one of the family's homes. We had a good time of laughter and conversation. Pray that we can love each other and encourage each other as a team throughout this trip--being friends, not just traveling companions.

E&N are traveling with us on the trip. They are leaving behind two boys with N's parents. The oldest, Andrew, is 3 years old and has been sick to his stomach since Monday. Please pray!

No new news on the Asia situation. I'll keep you posted if I can.

4 days... PRAY

Prayer Request for today: I'm preparing a lesson for when we might be asked to speak at one of the girls' Bible schools. I don't know what I want/am supposed to share. At all.

A group of our missionaries in Asia are in desparate need of your prayers. I can't publish anything here, but if you're not getting the GFA email updates, email me and I'll send you the information.

4 days...

I was struggling today with the concept of grace. My black and white view of life has little room for grace. There is sin and sin has concequences. And just because God by His grace forgives, that doesn't mean there are no consequences.

My evening went from one mess-up to another--whether the server permissions were messed up, the CD burner wasn't working, a mis-communication with a co-worker, outdated DirectX files, or forgetting the CD I drove half way across Carrollton to deliver. Frustrated after forgetting the CD, I climbed back in my car...only to see the Blockbuster rental that needed returned by noon today! Ironic, I thought. A free rental that I have to pay late fees on. I battled the sin/consequences/grace issue all the way back to Blockbuster. I walked in to Blockbuster, stopped at the desk and said, "I've got a DVD here I forgot to drop off this morning on the way to work. I think I owe you some money." The young man at the counter tooked the DVD, "beeped" it, touched a couple of keys, and replied, "Looks like everything's okay here. Have a great evening."

Grace.

Countdown: 5 days

Got back safely from St. Louis this afternoon and headed straight into the office. The afternoon went well and I joined a former roommate and her parents and family for supper and fellowship. We laughed and joked and told stories and fellowshipped in a truly hilarious evening.

Found out I picked up the wrong camera batteries, so I need to exchange those and pick up a few things I missed...

thanks for all your prayers!

Updating Blog

If you haven't guessed, I'm working on updating my blog looks. Likes? Dislikes? It's still a work in progress, so your input is still appreciated. I may not incorporate your ideas, but hey! you never know.

I arrived in St. Louis without any problems, enjoyed worshipping with a small house church this morning, and then received 45 minutes or so of dental work this afternoon. Then Dr. C got sick. He's got a headache, stomach ache, fever, and yucky gunk in his throat. You can pray for him.

I'm off to bed early tonight. Spent some time today with the Word and with the Lord. India is coming up faster than I can imagine.

Sorry for the length between posts. I've been trying to get up early this week, so I've been curtailing my evening activities to get to bed on time. Unfortunately, that has included my blogging. So here's the big things in my life...

• Two of my roommates are sick... AJ's lupus is flaring up and SE's gallbladder is attacking.
• Lei's parents are visiting for the weekend. Pray Lei to continue to be strong in the Lord.
• My passport arrived Thursday and my visa is being processed with no problems! Thanks for praying!
• Email from my missions pastor said the church is giving $1500 towards the cost of my support trip (that's up from the $1000 promised earlier)!!!
• I'm flying to St. Louis in three hours for dental work. Please pray for wisdom for the dentist.
• I'm spending the next three hours shopping for stuff for India. You can pray I know what to bring and what to leave at home!
• My sister hired someone to help her in the library! Finally!
• Seven days from right NOW, I will be in the airport, leaving for India!

Once again, I am so blessed by my faithful prayer team. You guys make the difference.

We heard the sound today that no computer administrator ever wants to hear--the sound of water spraying out from a broken pipe above the server room ceiling.

The calamity had started 30 seconds or so before I arrived on the scene. One of the air conditioners in the server room had been dripping the day before (enough of a scare) and a young man from the air conditioner company was fixing it today. Or, he thought he was until the end of one of the pipes broke off while he was working on it.

When I arrived, our system admin was scooping water up in a plastic dustpan and frantically shoving it away from the server racks. One person was fetching trash cans, another towels and blankets, another a mop and bucket, and I ran for the wet/dry vac. I tried to help, but Pat kept saying, "Just let the guys do the work, Dorinda." So I sat at my desk and watched as they spread tarps, ran the vacs, tore up the carpet tiles, removed the floor of the server room, and snapped insurance photos.

Praise God that none of the servers suffered any damage!