Reports from the Field: Exhausted but Encouraged in India

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The last two days have been long and hard, yet exhilarating as we've spent time with our ministry partners who are pouring out their lives to care for others, and even risking their own lives for the sake of the Gospel.

Asha Kiran Special Needs School provides a quality education for 100+ mentally disabled young people. We were inspired by the staff's dedication to these young people and their families. They have a high regard for the mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational needs of all who are affected by disabilities. Although Asha Kiran is not a Christian school, faith in Christ is highly regarded at every level. They have a vision for expanding the school to include more students, including a hostel for teenage girls. Pray for these needs to be met, including sponsorships for 20 students.

Indian Evangelical Mission (IEM) provides full missionary support for more than 700+ missionary teams of husbands and wives serving in 23 of the 28 states of India! Today we studied the life of Priscilla through the Women in the Window inductive Bible study and found many personal applications in areas such as obedience, dedication, and love for God and others. One of our small groups wrote a song inspired by Priscilla's story to the tune of "Everybody Ought to Know."

Everybody ought to know...who Priscilla is!

She is the wife of Aquila, she is the daughter of the King
She is a lover of the Bible, goes to God with everything
 

Everybody ought to know...what Priscilla did!

She was a teacher of the Bible, she encouraged and she gave
Tireless in every effort, leading many to be saved
 

We ought to know...what we should do!

We should always teach the Bible, encourage one another, tireless in every effort,
Leading many to the Lord!
 

Prayer Requests for our ministry partners and team:

Asha Kiran: Growing the school to accommodate more students, including a girls' hostel; ministry and counseling for the whole family, especially the parents; financial support for 20 students; and a new voluntary prayer group for faculty in 2012.

IEM: Traveling mercies for missionaries who go to the remote places of India to reach the unreached; for their children, who often stay in hostels (boarding schools) while their parents minister on the mission field; salvation for family members; and fasting and prayer every Friday!

PI Women Team: We have had non-stop 12+ hour days since we arrived, so we are exhausted. Please pray for our health and for good rest! Also pray for traveling mercies in the busy Indian streets where 5 lanes of traffic somehow fit into 3! Last but not least, please remember our families in prayer. We miss them, yet know that they are in God's loving care. Pray for each of them to know that we love them, and that God does, too!

Tomorrow (Friday): We head to Oasis India to visit 3 different sites for street children, vocational training for Muslim women, and a cooperative social work venture with the Indian government. The afternoon will include a time of prayer and fasting with the Oasis India staff.

Lastly, there is a Hindu harvest festival taking place this coming week here in India. Pray that the countless unknown gods and goddesses of the harvest festival will be replaced by the one true God who can be known!

With love,
Kim and the PIW team