November 1, 2008@6:15AM (Saturday)

Good Morning, although it is about 6:45 in the states. I wanted to get caught up to date in case I don't have a connection for awhile. Yesterday, we left our hotel at 6:30 and visited 3 Mercy Homes. The roads here are very poor. Lots of bouncing and jarring. It takes a long time because we have to drive slow. At the first home, they kept the kids home from school so that we could see them. They wanted to meet us very badly. The conditions in the homes vary, but all are worse than anything we could ever imagine in the states. Our worst housing is so much better. The kids again have a school uniform and another outfit, all kept in a very small carry on suitcase sized container.

When we asked the kids what they wanted to become, alot said the ministry. We asked them why and they said that they wanted to do for others as others have done for them. Many also wanted to become lawyers, doctors, engineers, policeman and mayors. They all had prepared songs for us. What a huge honor for us. When we asked them what they praid for, they said things like wisdom, pencils of their own, and one home didn't have a toilet. Now, we aren't talking about a western toilet, but a hole in the ground to a septic tank contained within a small brick shed. That way, they wouldn't have to go over the hill anymore in the rain to go in an open field. Cab u imagine? It broke our hearts. A stinkin bathroom is what they wanted. $500 us dollars. How could we say no. You should have seen and heard them. We have been asking God for a bathroom since June and He answered, He answered. They than began spontaneously praising God, shaking our hands. How do you not cry over that. How humbling is that. God used us as an answer to their prayers.

When we left the states, I felt that God wanted us here for reasons other than us just seeing the homes, but I didn't know why. Now I know one of the reasons. To provide a toilet!!!

At one of the homes, a pastor had 4 girls plus 3 of his own. There were 3 more girls, all sisters, who he had also taken in, but weren't part of the home. Just on his own, he couldn't leave them on the streets, so he took them in. He actually hid them from us. We are now trying to get them included in the home so that the pastor can get financial help. So many stories. All 3 had malnutrition. In one home, 6 boys slept on 2 twin mattresses put together. These kids were so proud of being able to go to school. Nobody had to motivate them. In one of the homes, they served us coconut juice straight from the nut. It was amazing!!!

These pastors and their wives are true heros. They give up themselves, spend themselves, to care for the orphans, yet nobody will ever know their names, but God. And that is enough for them. They are now seeking to put wells in or next to the mercy homes, so the whole village can have water without having to walk miles. The cost is $1,000. Another witnessing tool for the Gospel. In one of the homes, they had a water holding tank and they used the water, not only to drink, but also as a baptismal for the church.

The doctors from the UK have shared alot with us. Young girls being sold into prostitution is a big problem in India. Infant girls are also still being sacrificed to appease false gods. Can u believe that still happens?
44,000 kids are reported missing every year and 11,000 are never found, yet nobody cares because they are just poor village kids. They have no voice.

At the girls home, 2 of the girls didn't have complete Bibles, so we bought them at the cost of a whopping $8. I gave them the pictures I had of my girls and told them that they were now sisters. They took the photos and put them right on the wall. You should have seen their smiles.

So many thoughts swirling around my brain. Keep praying for us. Everyone is feeling well. No illnesses yet. They are running us like crazy, yet it is amazing. We are going this morning to another home and then back to the headquarters in Cochin.

We will be preaching in the church of 300 on Sunday and then again at a pastors meeting on Monday. On Tuesday, we are flying to central India to visit the rest of The Pursuit homes and then back on Friday. I will try to update if I have connections.....

Grace, Gary