Summer Link India Preparations

This weekend, we had our Summer Link India retreat to prepare for six weeks in India! There will be 3 staff members and 9 students traveling to India from June 23rd-August 4th.

We had a blast hanging out together, laughing, playing catch phrase, water skiing, and wake boarding. Team leader Chad Ferrell did an excellent job of opening God's Word and teaching on the gospel in Ephesians 2 and how to engage the culture as seen in Acts 17. We also spent time practicing 2-3 minute testimonies and learning more about Hinduism. It is our hope that this weekend helped prepare students as they have to cope with cultural differences and culture shock in India.

Above everything else, we emphasized to our students the importance of walking with God before they leave for India and while they are in India. The best way to overcome culture shock and the American ethnocentrism so inherent to our natures is to be saturated with the truth of the gospel. We want our students to be humble learners of the culture and to engage the millions of lost people in India with the gospel through tears of compassion.

In preparing to leave for India, I have been reading through Acts. One of my favorite passages in Acts is Acts 20:19-24,
"You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."


Please join with me in pr@ying that our students would serve the Lord in all humility, even in the face of fear, cultural differences, and persecutions. Pray that like Paul, we would speak in boldness being constrained and directed by the Holy Spirit. Pray that we would not account our lives as having any value if only we may finish the course and ministry we have received from Jesus to testify to the gospel.

If you would like to stay updated with our group over the summer, check out our blog at: http//summerlinkindia.blogspot.com.

Our whole team! Front row: Jenna, Christy, Chad; Back row: Anna Grace, Corey, Jared, Sean, Joel, Aubrey, Abbie, Lindsey, and Jordan

Summer Link India 2011 is Underway!

This weekend, the 2011 Summer Link India team had their first meeting! We discussed why we want to go to India and other important matters like our favorite smells. We are happy to have 10 students (5 girls and 5 guys) traveling to India along with 3 staff members. I think I can say for each person that we are incredibly excited to be going! Please pr@y for the students as they raise support in the next 2 months. Check back here throughout the summer to hear about our adventures from various students and staff members!

Back in Clemson

Hey everyone,

I know the Summer Link ended August 5, with life being hectic, I am only now writing.

I wanted to thank you all for following us on the blog. Your support has meant more than you know to us. Thank you for all of your pr@yers. Thank you for the financial support. Thank you parents for sending your children.

This summer has been successful all around. We accomplished everything we wanted to on this trip. Praise be to God. This summer has left a meaningful impact on the people of India, to our team, and to everyone who has joined our team in support and prayer.

This was indeed a challenging summer--physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Each day we pushed ourselves to do the work the Word has called us to do. Each day we sought God. And truly, He is faithful to His Word.

We had a great tour seeing Delhi, Indore, Ujjain, Agra, Bhopal, and a village. We have a better understanding of India in the sense of culture, history, religion, and geography. There were many fun stories and events that took place. With that said, there were many challenges as well.

We had a great team that went to India. No one could ask for a better team. They stepped up to the plate and knocked the ball out of the park. They pushed hard and pushed each other. They grew in the Word, they grew in living life together, they grew in living out the Gospel. They now come back with the challenge of taking what they've learned to home, school, and work. Continue to pr@y for them in transition times.

And to all of you who supported and prayed, you are a part of this success. Rejoice for we serve a faithful Lord.

Heath

"I'm leavin'...on a jet plane"

Yes, we are ALL coming home...in case some of you were worried! It's been an amazing summer for each one of us. I know everyone is eager to share with you our experiences as well as hear about how your summers have been. Today was a completely free day for everyone, but somehow we all managed to stick together! We went to see Inception at the theater at 11am, enjoyed a nice lunch at TGIFridays, and shopped at a local market. I've included some pictures below from our past few days. Here is our flight schedule, Lord-willing:)
Leave Delhi on American Airlines flight 293 at 12:15am (August 5)
Arrive in Chicago Ohare at 5:00am (August 5)
Leave Chicago on AA flight 3844 at 8:00am (August 5)
Arrive in ATL at 10:50am (Aug 5)
We should arrive back in Clemson between 2:00-3:00pm Thursday.

Taking the gondola up to the top of the mtn in B-town

(notice Burk's face)

Mary Liz, Lauren, Abbie, Molly, Burk, and Emily looking out over B-town

Playing UNO while waiting on our train in B-town

The guys dancing

(this is the dance they have been working on secretly for 3 weeks)

Delhi Days

Hey y'all, the days are dwindling down. On Sunday we had the morning to pack and then we headed to the bus station. We had some of our friends take us to the station and some more met us there to say goodbye. It was so awesome to see all the relationships that we have created while in B-town. It was a long 8 hour ride to New Delhi. During that time Walker had a guy walk past him and give him a little one year old girl and walk away(turns out he went to the bathroom). They both got really attached to each other and spent a lot of the time together on the train.

Today was our debriefing time. We got together with the team early this morning until lunch. We were able to evaluate the program, for good and for improvement, and was a valuable time to spend with the team. We then had our banquet at Hard Rock Cafe. It was awesome to get some red meat in us, even though it was buffalo. We had a projector set up and had a slide show of pictures from the entire trip. There were some good laughs, which continued into our superlative awards ceremony. Afterwards we had a few hours to ourselves to spend time in the Word and in prayer. It was a good relaxing time to also reflect on the questions from the debriefing. We then had some pizza for dinner followed by some story telling time of good experiences during our stay here. The guys then performed their own choreographed dance that they prepared secretly from the girls.

Just another chill day of traveling through the city.

Cool little chairs the girls found while going to Hard Rock Cafe.

Walker and the girl he met on the train.

Happy FRIENDSHIP Day!

Here in India, Friendship Day is a big deal and celebrated as such. We think America needs to learn from their ways. :)

Yesterday was our last full day in B-town and the guys decided to make it extra special for us. After a little debriefing, all of the ladies were led by some of the men to one of our favorite restaurants where we were greeted by the rest of the men and asked to sit in the seats with roses. So sweet! And they ordered a favorite menu item that we usually do not get because it takes an hour to make, but I think the cook was sick or something so they would not make it... but still so considerate and thoughtful of them to order something we liked!

Then, the fellas arranged to have us picked up by our favorite mode of transportation, THE Tata magic, and whisked us away to a disclosed location so we could go paddle-boating (which kinda turned into bumper paddle-boating). Afterwards, we headed up to a cafe with a great view of the lake and ordered coffee, desserts, etc. and had some great conversation and laughs (see picture below).

We then headed to this "mountain," took the gondola up, and enjoyed the beautiful view of the city. The rain had been really threatening the guys' plans throughout the day, and it started drizzling, but it didn't stop us from having a picnic at the top. The men surprised us with PEANUT BUTTER and jelly sandwiches, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, American-esque chips, and of course, some tasty Appy Fizz soda and chocolate for dessert--definitely one of my favorite meals in a very long time. Who knew there was peanut butter in India?!?!

I totally thought our sweet day was over, but when we got back to the hotel, the men had something else planned. Before this, though, we were surprised by some of our friends who came to tell us good-bye and give out presents. It was bittersweet for sure, but we have hope and confidence we will see them each in heaven one day.

Finally, we headed to the guys' room where they had set up a projector (what the devil!), and we enjoyed the last of our dessert while watching a Bollywood movie. So fun! Although Didi (Amy) fell asleep. :)

What a great way to end our time here. Thanks guys for an awesome and encouraging day!

(Pssst-These loaded backwards, so look at them in order from bottom to top!)

Me and my B-town roomies on top of the city
Josh not only has fast-growing facial hair
Lauren enjoying the paddle boat ride
At lunch with some fine men and pretty roses

Breaking News from India....an ALL GIRLS orphanage equals an ALL BOYS hostel.

Each day has been full of surprises for us India. Tuesday, the ladies when out fully expecting to be visiting an all girls orphanage, but to our surprise, this all girls orphanage turned out to be an all boys hostel and school. This has probably been one of my favorite days we've had in our time here in India. I mean really, who can honestly say that sharing the Go$pel with 50 boys and teaching them the Clemson cadence count doesn't count as an awesome day? We were also able to act out the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3: 8-30). It was quite the presentation. Pam is a jam up King Nebuchadnezzar. Before we left the hostel, they treated us to chai and gave us roses. We even had the opportunity to teach some action songs to some ladies that worked at the school.

Please be pr@ying that the Lord would make His name known among this school and that His story would pierce the hearts of the women and children we were able to meet there.

Amy meeting some of the boys at the hostel.

Acting out the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Some of the boys at the school.
Teaching the cadence count. There maybe some future Clemson Tigers in the crowd.