The Hills are Alive

Greetings! Our stay in the mountains has been full of fun and laughter...and pranks.

We had the opportunity top visit a shelter and learning center dedicated to the empowerment of village girls.

We also had an adevnture in the mountains to a pond....

and swam in a water fall!

Erica got the chance to drive...down an empty street...on the LEFT side of the road!



AND we had the chance to attend Christian Indian wedding:
there were over 200 guests and the food was pretty great.
Catherine ate more than she thought she ever could!



Saying Goodbye to many children and staff in various places has been rough.

But, we have definitely learned a lot from the entire experience.
(Including, not to get to close to monkeys and that they have the ablity to steal diet pepsi bottles...)

Around the bend.

Greeting from India, 

Sorry for the lack of updates, but we have been extremely busy! I, Erica, have been teaching 7 health classes a week at various daycare and after school centers as well as the orphanage, and Catherine has been working with the physically disabled children at 2 different places. All in all, everything is well and good in the land of India, and great things are happening through our ministry among the people.

A couple weeks ago we had the chance to walk
through the Coaker's walk after church.
Although advertised as exciting,
we didn't find much interest in it.

We also had a chance to visit a rehabilitation center.
They actually teach mentally disabled children to create
plates, bowls, cups, and many more things in order that
they can support their families.
If they were not taken in by this center, they would be left on
the streets and cursed by the community due to the belief that
the mentally disabled are possessed by demons.

We celebrated Teacher's Day with the Bethania staff
and spoke the native language in a play!

Here is a group photo of the staff of all the centers
in the area we are working.

Then in the midst of all of the work we do
we get to come home to the orphan girls everyday,
which always make the work we do well worth the
time, effort, and struggle.

After three hard weeks of painting two tables at the
special needs center in a remote village....

.................................

We finally completed the children's main table!

And, again, I mention that we had some more fun in between all of the work
with the lovely children that we lives with. :)

Most recently, we took a trip to Bangalore,
and we met the president of Bethania Kids.
He was a true joy, and desires Erica to create a ten-year
health care plan for the community of Bethania.
She was pretty excited about that!

We also did some site seeing with an amazing family we stayed with in Bangalore.
To be honest, I, Erica, did not think that castles like this existed anymore!

One of Erica's class of students
at the women's empowerment program.
One week remaining!

Another health class at the orphanage.
Also, one week remaining!

The last day of class at an after school care program after 2 and 1/2 months of teaching.
It was a blessing to have had the pleasure to teach such young, wonderful children,
and I, Erica, have faith that they will all do great things!
I, Erica, will miss them dearly.

Our time in the mountains is soon coming to a close, and we will be moving further north into the land of India. The next home will be a completely new experience, and we have faith that great things await just around the bend.

Hope Without Borders

Greetings,
Five days ago we moved into the girls home, which is conveniently five minutes down the street from the boys orphanage. The girls have been a great joy to spend time with and have a tremendous amount of energy. While Erica has been teaching 7 health classes a week, Catherine has been massaging special needs children and staff at 3 different locations. Busy! Busy!

Today we may be learning a traditional Indian dance for the big teacher's day event taking place tomorrow! We are also attending an event at a school nearby on Saturday to see a friend dance for a community event. We are so ecstatic to be a part of the community and the events that surround Indian culture. Indian men and women have been outstandingly kind and open to our friendship, which has been a true blessing.

Below is a story of a young orphan boy at the boys home. 

I, Erica, pray that it encourages you to have Hope Without Borders. 

No individual, 

from your worst enemy to an abandoned child, 

is hopeless. 

Anyone can be made into a new creation, 

and all those who are lost can be found. 

Thus, I urge you, to have:

Hope without Borders

Imagine that:

You are a three-year-old boy with a one-year-old sister. Your mom takes you to town; you are excited as you watch her buy your favorite snack at the corner store. Your mom politely tells you to sit down with your sister and eat your snack. She also says, "Stay here until I come back."

You watch as she casually walks away.

Hours pass...

Tears of fear gradually form until you break into an uncontrollable sob; you shake as time continues to pass and your mother is not returning.

Your sister and you are abandoned, 

alone.

At last, a passerby recognizes your sister and you; they take you home.

Your father is taken by surprise and outraged when he finds that your mother has eloped with another man. He immediately seeks her out and attempts to kill your beloved mother......

Your mother is near-dead in the hospital.

Your father is taken to prison.

Then, there is you and your sister...Where shall you go? Where shall you find rest?
Someone suggest a place of hope called Bethania, which takes in children in troubled situations. Your sister and you find hope, reprieve, and safety.

11 years later...
Your dad visits, your mom vanished, and you feel a sense of hope. You have 30 brothers, your sister is safe, and you are genuinely cared for. Thus, you learn to have hope without borders for all the downtrodden and lost like yourself.