India day 3

Most of our time this week is spent painting and redoing rooms at Mercy Hospital.  It's incredible what this ministry is doing and how they are helping people.  They provide extremely cheap and free healthcare where it's needed, plant churches, and are providing food for over 20,000 people every single day.

The front of the hospital

The cool hospital bus

This woman is getting food from the feeding center - literally filling up a grocery bag with rice to bring home to her family:

Most of what we are doing in the hospital is painting.  This room is set aside for children who are receiving blood transfusions - we're trying to brighten their day:

The culture is definitely different - one area specifically has to do with their view of women.  This sign is posted at the hospital:

When we asked about this, the answer was very simple:  People will abort their baby if they find out it is a girl.


It truly is life changing to be here - God is working in my life and the lives of the people here with me!  Thank you for your prayers.

Kyle

India day 2

I don't have a ton of time this evening but I thought do something quick.

I love the people here.  Here's a few more pictures today of some of the people:

We spend some time in the market today as well.  It's incredible to see the people trying to make a living selling food and all sorts of stuff.  Here's a picture of one woman at the market:

We also we able to go up on a rooftop to see the city.  Here's a picture of Calcutta:

Today we also started what we came here to do - remodeling a part of the Mercy Hospital in downtown Calcutta.  We spent our time scraping, mudding, and painting.

I'm excited for tomorrow!

India day 1

Today was our first whole day in India, and after what felt like a few days of airplanes, it feels incredible to actually be here!

This morning we woke up and went to church.  We were surprised at how westernized the service felt. They sang songs that we sing and the pastor was able to keep most of us awake (the group is still very exhausted from the past few days).  Overall I had a very good experience at the church!

We spent the afternoon walking around Calcutta.  Here's a few pictures from today - these were taken by Beth Ranta and Debbie Zehrer:

We made it!

After a LONG day+ of travel we arrived in Calcutta last night at about midnight (Calcutta time).  We're tired but excited to be here!

Preparing for Calcutta

It's been quite a while since I touched this blog - but being less than 2 weeks away from heading to Calcutta I thought I'd get going again.  The trip will be February 22 - March 3 and we will be volunteering at a place called Mercy Hospital.  I'm hoping to blog and add pictures of the trip!

Follow along if you'd like!
Kyle

Project Langbansi

Throughout the trip I was seeking God for direction specifically in what we can do to help.  I was overwhelmed by what I saw and it changed me forever - and something needed to be done.  For me it is not about giving a one time gift of $20 to a local charity but a life change and a call to generosity.  My sacrificial giving changes the lives of the people I'm helping, but also changes my heart.

Though there are many things that can be done, I found that one of the best ways to attack the issue of poverty is through education.  I saw firsthand the difference between the educated and the illiterate - and children who don't attend school have very little chance of escaping their $1/day life.  The well known child sponsorship organization Compassion International wrote in a blog this morning:  "The best way to get a better-paying job and end poverty is by being well prepared with education."  If done correctly, education is a powerful tool that can be used to fight the war on poverty.

What I saw in the most poverty stricken areas of Africa was a very low percentage of the children attended school, and those that did found themselves in school's that were less than acceptable.  One particular school I visited was started by the small Assembly of God church in the village of Langbansi.  There were 402 students, 6 teachers, no desks, and no books.  The children were laying on the floor to write - and the teachers were struggling to accomplish anything.  While I visited this school, God broke my heart and I found a place where we can literally change the lives and the future of these children.

Over the next 3 years, River of Life Church will be partnering with the Assembly of God Relief and Development program to change the lives of the people in the village of Langbansi.  We will do this by providing the basic needs of the school.

Our 3 year goal is to increase the overall percentage of children attending school by targeting the most vulnerable families in this village, and also to increasing the overall quality of their education by providing desks, books, bathroom facilities, and teacher training.

Changing the lives of one village, one family, one child......

If you would like to help and give to "Project Langbansi" you can contact River of Life Church at 320.352.2315.

Africa day 9 - Reflection

Being alone for the evenings and nights has given me a lot of time to think.  Some days have effected me more than others, and I've found myself quite emotional as I sit in my hotel room more than once.

The children are what get me the most - poverty is all they know.  Many kids don't know their birthday, and some don't even know what it feels like to really have a full stomach.  They're sleeping on the floor and literally dying from fevers and diarrhea.  I fill up with tears when I look at their pictures.

I've seen so much poverty, so many helpless people, so many hopeless people - and it has nothing to do with them sitting on the couch, unwilling to work, and everything to do with the hand they have been dealt.

So many teenage girls living alone on the streets, so many children getting sick because of a simple lack of sanitation.  So many people who are so desperate, so hurting, and so lost.

It's overwhelming.

And I can't solve the problem.  I can't fix things.  In fact I can't even make a dent.

But I can make a contribution.  I can do something.  I can make it better for someone, or some family, or some village.  And doing nothing is not an option.  I can no longer ignore what God has shown me and what I've seen first hand.

I have a plan for my family and for my church.  And you'll have to be there this Sunday, or watch it online to hear about it.

Thanks for following me on this trip and on this journey as I try to figure out what God expects from me, and what I can do to make a difference for lost, broken, and hurting people.

I'll see you at home!