Sunday - Our desire to bless -

Morning was spent at the Hebron Castle Church. Our students sang; Sarah and James spoke of why they came to India; Paul introduced each member of the team and prayed and I shared a message and gave greetings from St Andrews Christian College.

The service was in 3 languages and everything we spoke was translated into Tamil. The music was SO loud, our hearts thumped. Even my Bible that I was holding was vibrating with the extreme loudness of the music. The church needed our tech team from STACC!

After packing back at the hotel and a quick lunch at KFC - Indian style - we unfolded our bodies from the local transport - Autos (automatic rickshaws!) where we crammed 4 Aussie bodies into each to take us to our next mode of transport for the next 8 hours - and airconditioned bus.

An interesting very long ride which provided only 1 toilet stop (hole in the ground) for the girls and 2 stops for the boys,who were catered for with bushes next to the road.

Arrived at the hotel around 10pm -where after a brief team meeting some chose to go to bed where others ate butter chicken and Naan bread.

The hotel here is a bit more 'local' with regular power stops. The aircon is presently not working - supposed to come on after 9pm - but it is now 10pm. :)

Monday:

Praise God - all team well.

Met for devotions/prayer/team meeting before a breakfast of omelette/roti/rice dishes and spicy sauces and gravvies.

Travelled to the Good Shepherd School on the school bus.

The Good Shepherd school was set up after the Tsunami hit and devasted coastline villages/towns in southern India. In Velankanni 3000 people (of a population of 10000) died in this tragic event. The Good Shepherd Ministries saw such a need to minister to the community and commenced the school.

There are 430 students (from a pre- prep to Standard 7) with only a dozen teachers. 30 families are Christian and a majority of the staff are Christian. The school is very tidy and clean and freshly painted in some parts.

I led devotions with the staff and then we had an official welcoming assembly in which garlands were placed on each member of the team - who were introduced by Paul. Nathan and Jeremy talked about where we are from in Australia.

After a tour of the school (classes have upto 56 in a class) our students were placed in a class to do some teaching! They taught from the local textbook, used by all students in the state. They also shared about themselves, led games and songs!

Our students are extraordinary - Mums, Dads, Teachers - you would be so proud of them - We are! All are giving their best and doing things that would be difficult for a trained teacher to do. A couple found it hard - as one class did not behave well - but it is all part of the experience.

We did not leave the school till 5pm and then walked through the bedlum of the local markets and shops, arriving back at the hotel around 7:30.

We are all tired, hot, sweaty- but well.

We look forward to another day of working in the school tomorrow.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever" Ephesians 3:20-21

God Bless,

Catriona

PS - Cannot upload our photos - and BLOG will not send without a photo. It is a photo uploaded from the internet!