Mission

This summer, a handful of young adults from EFCC will be leaving San Diego and heading to the Andhra Pradesh province of India for a three-week, short-term project in July. While there, we will be helping an Indian organization by way of teaching English to college students on campus. These students have joined church planting teams so they can go out all across India to plant churches and assist in certain needs of many different communities (social work). In the first year, the students (called Freshers) come to campus for two months to learn English (by the way, all of their classes are taught only in English), and take other Christian courses as well (i.e., Spiritual Development, Penteteuch, Discipleship, SMS- research & citation, etc). If, after four years, they pass all their classes they will graduate with a degree in either theology or in Christian Studies which will help them in their church planting ventures.

Mark 16:15-- He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Thursday, July 11, 2013

We're here!

We made it safely to Hyderabad, India!  The motion-sickness patch worked wonders for Risa on every plane! Praise the Lord!  No delays, only a missing strap on one of my suitcases [again]!  Sorry Adam Hammill, but apparently my luggage strap wasn't meant to survive the trip :-(  I don't know why it always goes missing in Hyderabad...  We had a few minor explosions in our suitcases, poor Risa had two of them (one exploded chemlight in one bag and some Sqwinchers that leaked onto her clothes... but we were able to hand-wash her clothes and everything came out just fine.  They were dry before we returned home for the evening).  Chris had a toothpaste eruption in his, but everything else turned out okay.
Our first day at the college, we had a self-guided tour, sat with Manju for orientation, took a second tour with Marina and visited the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) and learned about the various programs they have to help save young girls (5-13 years old) from ritual prostitution and teach their mothers why the girls should not partake in that.  They have a home for rescued girls that either were involved or were more likely to be a part of that.  Currently they have 18 young girls at this home who are receiving some counseling.  We also visited the Lydia's boutique on campus and saw the beautiful purses, shirts, earrings, stuffed bears and elephants, necklaces, and much more that are for sale by the ladies who are removed from the streets to learn the trade of sewing to earn a living instead of prostitution.  After leaving there, we walked off campus to the grocery store "Spencers" so the guys on the team could have a look at a typical grocery store in the area.
Wednesday was our first day of teaching and meeting our students.  Please pray for wisdom for us on how to best teach our students, understanding for the students, that they would take advantage of the tutoring sessions that begin today (Thursday), confidence in our ability to teach and teach clearly, and that we would develop some wonderful relationships with our students that will earn their trust and confidence.
Tomorrow Chris will blog.... so please be on the lookout for it!
Thanks for your support.  We definitely appreciate and feel your love and prayers all the way across the globe!

God bless,
-Tiffany

3 comments:

  1. Praises...Praises! I am so glad to hear that you all made it safe with minor errors. Huge praises that the motion sickness patch worked for Risa. Can't wait to read the next blog.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So glad to hear of all the ways He has taken care of things. Will continue to speak to Him about the things you are doing there, and for the students' responses to all you are teaching them. Looking forward to the next blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats! Sorry to hear about the "explosions" and the missing luggage strap again, but it could have been much, much worse! Praise God it was all minor stuff. Glad to hear that the patches worked well for Risa and hope she has enough for your trip to the Taj Mahal and back, as well as the trip back home. :-) I enjoy these blogs a lot!! Keep 'em coming.....
    God's blessings on you all & will continue praying for the team, as well as the students & professors.

    ReplyDelete