Hi Phil,
I was so encouraged to get your message. Glad you are getting rest and at the same time able to do so many things there. We decided not to go to Nashville. Just wasn't the right time for us, but there's a lot going on here in Ft. Wayne and I'm enjoying being with Wendy and Tim. GR is pretty vacated right now with so many away. It will be good to get back there. I know the disciples in India are so encouraged by having all of you there. Take care. We love you, Pat
Wow Hey Laurel and Debbie- I remember those things you are talking about. How soon we forget! It's such a nice reminder that there are brothers and sisters the world over who are doing the work of God....even better than I ever have. God bless all those who do go the extra mile.
BTW, no blog notifications are going out to subscribers!
Ben, I miss you and love you. I've had a hard couple days and wish you were here to help me get through emotionally. Halfway done though, so the countdown begins! See you next week!
xoxo
Jen
Hi Dad! It was good to hear your update! We will keep all of you in our prayers!! I love reading the blogs--they are very encouraging! It will be great to hear all your stories when you get home. I love you--Carolyn Thanks Ben, Debbie, Mitch and Laurel for look out for dad. :)
Hmmm Hey Hon For some reason I have not been getting the email notifications when you blog. I hope something isn't awry. I wonder if other folks are getting them. Also, don't forget to go back to previous posts. There are some newer comments on older blogs! Just an FYI!
Love yoU!
Jen
Missing you Hey Wow, I really do miss Saji and Sheeba! Please relay my love and concern for them and their family! Can Phil post a blog?? I want to hear from him too! Ben, all is quiet right now. I tried to call you earlier but you didn't pick up. I did get the Indian type ring though, so I assume something was going through. Ev has a huge sty on his eye--looks like he's been in a fight! But he's OK. They are both sleeping so I think I'm going to go outside for a QT. Can't wait to see more blogs!! Get the team to write more!
love
Jen
Mitch,
Wow! My favorite part of the India mission team in 2005 were our visits to the disciples' homes! It truly was a blessing to be greeted so warmly. It's amazing how God takes us from our comfortable lifestyle and allows us to witness a different lifestyle across the world! God wants us to be grateful no matter what we have! You are doing a great job!
Go team!
Christy Krawczyk
Ben,
You are doing such a great capturing each special moment! I really wish I was there with you guys! Your love and sacrifice is so encouraging! Continue to treasure each moment.
Christy
Sigh Hey again- Glad you made it to Madurai! I'm sure that cab ride was one where you were all silently praying to see the light of day....!! We are OK here. Ben, your car is dead. Really. Undrivable. Unsafe. I can't believe you've been using it until now! Yikes! We need to talk about that. Other than that, no real drama. Freddie might be teething. He hasn't been sleeping well since you left. Ev is funny as usual. Had a great time yesterday playing "Mama, Daddy and baby" where Ev was Daddy and pooh bear was baby. He has it down. He even said "I'm Daddy. Here's my coffee!" And something about going to work. He's really imitating you! Well that's about it. I'm so jealous about that pic of Laurel on the motorcycle. I can imagine it so well, even down to the smells and the dirty warm air hitting my face...
Love you all
Jen
You guys are AWESOME ! ! The Kingdom is so lucky to have disciples like you. We are all in awe of your incredible journey and your sacrificial hearts. We pray for you daily and pray for the poor and struglling people there in India.
We love you all so much. Grand Rapids has a big hole that Phil used to fill. We can't wait to get him back !!!
We know that God is with you and leading you to promote HIS cause.
Ron
Ben's Face & Mitch's Hair Alright Ben, now Mitch are you gonna cut your hair with something found and dull? You could leave a lock of hair with all the kids there that have been giving you alot of attention because of it.
On a serious note. I am very encouraged by all your posts. I hope you are able to continue to share these little antidotes as you continue your missionary journies. Your stories help all us us "experience" your trip just a little bit more, and feel like we are kind of there with you.
Love you all (miss you all)
Mark
hubba hubba Hey Hon- You look hot in that pic.... heheheh
Nice to see some familiar faces; Xavier, Jhancy and Suresh, Saji and Sheeba and some other guy whose name escapes me. Whose baby is that? I am so happy to hear about Mitch and Laurel preaching. I bet they did awesome! Phil looks like he's doing great, and of course Deb- I miss you! I'll bet you are having an incredible time, just like I told you! I totally remember that lobby. Is there the chalk art on the floor?
Can't wait to read the next blog. Love you Ben!
xoxoxo
Keep on keepin' on! A society grows great when men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. - Greek Proverb
Bless you all, Mission Team, for sharing the culture of Christ because you know the truth.
The 90+ degree weather here is nothing compared to the heat you guys are facing. Fight the good fight. (Even if it is fatigue at the moment.)
Prayers for all of you and whom you touch!
Tell Ben, Ev has been sportin' his 1st VBS t-shirt. He makes a great poster child!
wash your face ben,
you short note made me think how I need to take more pride in myself and stop being lazy... and not just in how I dress but in everyday things.. thanks..
Hey Ben,
Jen shared your post today at church and there were some sisters there from Ohio I believe who were really encouraged about the Mission Team. I'm really grateful to be a part of a ministry with faith and service in action. We are praying for you all.. and realizing that we need to pray more for the churches in India.
Hey Bennifer,
I wanna go on a mission team!
Big Everitt (ha!)
miss you guys
Laurel,
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Wow, threat of evection for having other christians in your home.
Ben,
Jen read your blog to the church at midweek. We're looking forward to the pics. You're right, God is much bigger then the kingdom.
P.S. Just wanted to say hi to Mitch, Chief and Deb.
YBIC,
Le
Scrape your face Hey Hon- I'm sure you look just fine. Unless you tried to shave using the top of a wall "barbed-wire fence type thing" (that's what Nate called it in 05)! I remember those tiny homes we visited. Sometimes I think I'd be just fine with less to clean...
Tell everyone I am praying hard for you all to have great impact and to be safe.
Love
Jen
Sounds great Wow! Ben shaved on a mission trip? Miracles really do happen, LOL. Debbie, Mitch and Laurel, I'm soooooooooo incredibly proud of you. You are doing things that I know are WAY out of your comfort zone. Ben and Phil, you are awesome too, but know guys know what I mean. I know all your lessons will impact the church. You are spirit led individuals. God works through each of you in powerful ways.
I love you all and look forward to reading more.
chad
Prayers sent up Bless each of your hearts. When you find it tough, and sometimes you will, remember that "greater is he that is within you than he that is in the world." When tempted to focus on your dependence on outer things, circumstances or situations, try to remember and rely on that inner authority as a fully empowered child of God. Thank you for exercising your soul's potential. I pray for your strength, health and enlightenment. Let me share a brief excerpt of a book I am reading: "As we surrender more and more deeply to the transformative process through our spiritual practices, we realize that we cannot remain inwardly the same. The ego, however, tells us that if we could just somehow manage to change others or the irritating details of our environment, we ourselves won't have to change." I pray that you and those you impact be not only improved or changed, but transformed by this experience. I sincerely love you. Know that the family here are sending up "mad" prayers for you. Just in case you didn't know, "mad" is a good thing in this case. :-) Feel the love, Dana
Clean I think your trip (and the wonderful pictures your taking of the people) proves that happiness isn't measured in square feet and neither is a clean shaven face the reflection of a clean heart. We're so proud of your heart!
Love and prayers, Grandma Sally
Hi Mission Team Thank you very much for keeping us updated with your daily activities. You guys are such an inspiration to Melvin and I, as well as the brothers and sisters you are meeting with in India. Yes, Ben I too tend to think God is only as big as my local church but I truly know He is much, much bigger than that. Your trip there is an encouragement to the disciples in India but also I am sure you too are being encouraged by them as we back home are by your journal. The mission team and family members are in our prayers as well as the disciples in India. We love you guys and look forward to your return home.
To Laurel and Mitch Laurel and Mitch
Erika and I are glad that you got there safely. Thank you for the Birthday card and we will have to get together after you get back home and settled so we can hear all about the trip. I hear that it is really hot out there. try to stay warm. Be safe and we will talk to you when you get home.
Hi G'pa I hope you are having bunches of fun. I just got back from Honduras and I hope you have as much fun as I did! God is good he will take me many places in my life and I hope India is one of them. I luv you bunches--Bethany
Thanks for the reminder Ben,
Thanks for the appeal to share our mission experiences! I think about India probably every day, but fail to share how God changed my heart when I visited India in 2005. The examples of the Indian brothers and sisters impacted my soul!
Please tell them how amazing they are!
Christy
Ben,
Thank you for your reminder of how BIG God is! Satan tends to distract us with our own problems and needs. We forget that there are so much more important things in life that we shall focus on! Please tell Rosario and Helen that we said HELLO! Ben, you are so lucky to be on the team again! I think this is your third time, right?
Christy
Wow! It doesn't surprise me that all of the mission team members are having an impact on the brothers and sisters in India! I'm so proud of all of you!
Christy
Ben Weatherston, Mitch and Laurel Zoet, Deb Steinke, and Phil Morr on their way to visit the churches we support in Tamil Nadu and Kerrala!... full info
anonymous
non-member comment
Hi Phil, I was so encouraged to get your message. Glad you are getting rest and at the same time able to do so many things there. We decided not to go to Nashville. Just wasn't the right time for us, but there's a lot going on here in Ft. Wayne and I'm enjoying being with Wendy and Tim. GR is pretty vacated right now with so many away. It will be good to get back there. I know the disciples in India are so encouraged by having all of you there. Take care. We love you, Pat