Life Changing Words Ministry

President's Journal

November 29, 2006 – Gorgaun – 7am

The morning after Agra at Gene's was laid back. We didn't actual do the planned currency-exchange because of an unfavorable rate, as compared to that which I got when I first arrived. We headed back to Gorgaun around noon. I was then taken to see Agnes school and meet the kids. Wow, that was overwhelming and amazing. Their English was quite impressive to me. And I've always loved seeing children growing up in and experiencing a truly Christ-centered education – and after hearing their praise, and getting to see them listen to Georgene read and explain a Psalm... wow. I then got to experience being a non-tourist: I read the kids a Dr. Seuss-like version of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: rhymed English isn't the easiest for non-native English speakers to understand, so Principal Sunil summarized it in Hindi to make sure they understood the message of the story, not just heard the English words. While at the school, we also had a "meeting", where Angel went over how she runs the Agnes School ministry.

[I will eventually be putting up some pictures from Agnes school here.]

Georgene also made sure I saw something even more perspective-changing: we visited a poorest-of-the-poor village, where one of the pastor-teachers tutors the village children. It was just—wow, even as I'm editing and transcribing this to put on the web three months later, with my photos out of sight, my mind's-eye brings it vividly back. I can't describe it, but the picture's there in my head. The image I'll attach won't do it justice. Trust me.—They just stuck in my gut and heart in a way I didn't know possible. We brought snacks and pop for the kids... most of which got hidden away in pockets, to share with their families later. [Editor's Note: I'd forgotten the names, but based on Georgene's Nov. 19th Journal, it must've been Daulitabad.]

After that heart-rending experience, I needed something a little lighter... so Georgene and Sarah (Angel's daughter) took me shopping: this time, for the saree Mom asked me to bring her back. Shopping for clothes with women was quite an experience... since I had no idea what I was looking for in a saree, their input for how to go about buying and choosing such an item was much appreciated [no, I don't shop for women's clothes all that often, are you surprised?].

Well, it's time to finish getting ready this morning... we're leaving for the train to Mumbai soon.