HI pat,gr,and everybody else waiting to hear from Phil, We Have a great team here and we are really well received,This morning we had a great 1st yr anniversary celebration at Madurai. Yesterday I preached on The Journey of a Missionary. That was a very encouraging experience. Pat, I guess you're down in Nashville visiting the kids with Wendy, Kylie and Beth. Hi to charlie, Carolyn, and the kids! I hope you're able to relax, swim, and read some books. I'm still struggling with my leg and the heat really makes me tired along with the Advil and Malarone. But I'm [View Full Entry]

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Here are a few more pictures from Coimbatore that we couldn't upload till now. I'll caption the ones that need it. The others we'll explain when we get back. we got some great shots from the conference today but we'll just wait to post all the Madurai photos at once. we just had dinner with Felix and Smiley and it was great since we didn't get as much time with them in Chennai. I wanted to let everyone know that the books are a huge encouragement to the churches! They actually need a lot more. Some Christian books can be licensed [View Full Entry]

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So...it's been a crazy couple of days. Yesterday was our last day in Coimbatore and we got to hang out with Saji, Sheeba, and the boys at their place until it was time to go to the single's meeting. Debbie and I preached about fear and it went very well. It was a long day that was supposed to end with an overnight train ride. We left the meeting hall and scooped up some dinner on the way to the station only to discover that our train already left. Staying in Coimbatore wasn't really an option since we were all on [View Full Entry]

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Hi all, Ben here. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN!!!!!! I love you and hope to see you soon! We've got some more guest bloggers here for your edification. I won't waste any time so... Hi Jen wish you a very happy birthday.... I am Aruna & Sudha from coimbatore church, we are in campus Ministry and so glad to see disciples from detroit church.. Thank u so much for supporting us . I love you all. Take care. Our Prayers and Love to All........... Heay!! Brothers and Sisters..... Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement... We are so happy and proud about your [View Full Entry]

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Hey all, Ben here. We are finally able to upload a bunch more photos! We leave tomorrow for Madurai and we wanted to take advantage of the good internet since we don't know what the next place will offer. [View Full Entry]

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"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." -Matthew 6 I decided to stop growing a beard and shave so that I don't look like a mountain man. [View Full Entry]

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Here are some more photos of Chennai and our first day in Coimbatore. Enough typing, they won't all have titles and captions cause I don't want to waste precious uploading time! Love you all, Ben [View Full Entry]

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Hi family, Ben here! I wanted to put a quick post up before breakfast. I am printing off all of your comments so we can read them around the breakfast table. Thank you so much for all of the encouragement! All the team members are doing well and I would say thriving even. Ask any of the past mission team members and they will tell you that heat, bugs, stomach pains, and travel woes cannot damper the love we get from the brothers and sisters here. Maybe that could be a special challenge from me to you, find a past mission [View Full Entry]

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HEllo Detroit Church, I hope this message finds everyone well back home. We left Chennai last night around 10:00pm and "slept" on the train ride to Coimbatore, arriving this morning at 6:30am. Brothers from the Coimbatore church were there at the platform to greet us and escort us to our hotel. We had a small amount of time to shower and eat breakfast and then we headed out to visit some of the homes of our brothers and sisters here. It was increadibly humbling to be invited in homes that consist of no more than 2 rooms (a large home) and/or [View Full Entry]

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Just wanted to let you know we got here this morning by overnight train. It went well and the brothers greeted us at the train station and helped with the luggage. We'll leave a proper posting once we get back from our visits for lunch. To all past mission team members, we're at the Heritage Inn (you remember that right, Nate?) and they moved the computer up from the basement into the lobby. Not as cramped and hot but we're right out in the open so we can't be loud and I'll have to sneak my card reader around to the [View Full Entry]

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