How many is a billion?

India is people. It's current population is 1,147,995,904 ... give or take a couple million. That's over a BILLION people. By comparison, U.S. population is 303,824,640. Even though India occupies only 2.4% of the world's land area, it supports over 15% of the world's population. Only China has a larger population than V-Team's current homebase. But, demographers expect India to pass China's population sometime around the year 2030.

Here are a few examples of the crowds that are everywhere. Above Left, washing plates to feed a crowd. Below, children waiting to play, or lining the streets in greeting. Bottom, crowds gathered for the big tent meeting. These pictures are just tiny glimpses of what V-Team is seeing and experiencing in their current crowded home.

Second-Hand News

This news from India comes second hand.

Andrew's grandparents, Art and Joann Gay, keep in close contact with their friends at IREF -- VTeam's current host ministry. Through their phone calls with Dee and Emmanuel Reba, we receive this news about Evan, Christian, and Andrew, and their work with India Rural Evangelical Fellowship..

(Images -- Left: IREF School Boys Below : IREF Evangelist. Below Left: Small example of crowd).

IREF One-on-One. According to their website, the central and most vital ministry of IREF is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They make a mission of spreading the gospel to those who have never heard the "Good News". Over 200 sponsored Evangelists and Bible Ladies travel by by bicycle or foot to the remote villages around Repelle tell people the life-changing story or Jesus. Telegu Bibles are distributed and villagers are invited to further investigate by attending open air evangelistic and ultimately plant churches. But, twice a year, they speak the Gospel on an enourmous scale...

IREF and the MULTITUDES. This organization hosts two huge annual Evangelistic, or Revival-type, public events; one, for youth; and one, for adults.

V-Team arrived just in time to catch the last days of the 2009 Youth Event. Over 5,ooo teens were in attendance. Immediately after they arrived in Repalle, Christian and Andrew led worship, and Evan gave his testimony for the mass of young Indians. They also briefly crossed paths and spent a little time with an American support team for the Youth Event, from Trinity Seminary, in Deerfield, IL.

Since then, a new team has arrived at the compound, from Michigan. Approximately 15 people make up this team of Medical and Pastoral personnel. They will be serving the people of AndraPradesh, and aiding with the upcoming Adult Revival Event. This event has formerly been held on public land in the rural town, and has had 25 to 30 thousand people in attendance. However, this year, there has been Hindu opposition to public Christian meetings. So, the big event will meet on private grounds and expects a "smaller crowd" of around, 15 to 20,000 people.

The Event. People walk miles and miles from surrounding areas to get to this annual event, and they arrive en masse. The Team has been doing whatever is necessary to get things ready. For the past few days, Christian, Andrew, and Evan have been working to set up the massive facility area for the Revival crowds. Apparently most of their work hours have been spent moving bricks, building platforms, and setting up chairs.

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And, this just in ... from an email to IREF Board Members:

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"All members of the USA team arrived safely. Last night was the first Crusade meeting in Repalle ... no problems with neighbors ... crowds were large. Lots of work to setup for the meetings which are being held behind the school.

Meeting tonight will feature a testimony by the daughter of a high cast Hindu family ... pray for God to touch lives. Emmanuel, Dee, and the staff are very tired ... so many details to attend to ... pray for strength and endurance. "

Hopefully, first-hand news from V-Team will follow ... stay tuned.

"If you don't stand for anything, you'll fall for everything. We take a stand on God's word."

~IREF motto

http://www.irefusa.org/

~KjL

(Repalle countryside)

Arrived Safe in India

Quick Update:

After two straight days of travel, by plane and train, V-Team has arrived in Repalle, India. Evan's backpack is trailing them by a day from Dubai, but should arrive tomorrow.

The guys did not have time to rest. Upon their arrival, a large Youth Conference was already under way. So, they set down their stuff, had breakfast and were immediately involved in the event. They were quickly given the opportunity to get on stage, speak their testimonies of faith, and do worship ... for over 5,000 people.

Today, they have had dinner with their hosts (Dee and Emanuel Reba) and are taking an opportunity to rest in their new home -- a dorm at the IREF Compound.

All is well in India. Watch for more updates.

www.irefusa.org

On the Road Again

V-Team is on the road. This next stretch of travel as the crow flies from Uganda to Repalle, India would be 3,421 miles. However, the actual flights will take them to Dubai, in United Arab Emerites, then to Chennai (also known as Madras), India. After two long flights, the Team will add 8 hours of train travel from airport to IREF headquarters. It will be a long day of travel for Christian, Andrew, and Evan.

From the Team:

"india is dangerous and we want to share our faith but be smart in our ministry. please pray God will show us how to do this exactly. please pray for our travels as well- this one may be very intense! and last, good health -- it would be a blessing if we could be energized and ready, with eyes and ears to hear what all God has done and shown us in Jinja, and what He has for us in india!"

Godspeed!

Destination -- The new V-Team homebase @ IREF in Repalle, India.

Check out the details of this important ministry:

http://www.irefusa.org/

Last Dispatch from Africa

"We loved you so much that we shared with you

not only God's Good News

but our own lives, too."

1 Thes. 1:8

I regret to tell you... this may be the last blog entry for Uganda!

But we are excited to move forward into tomorrow and into India to seewhat the plan is there. Thank you for bearing through this with us with minimal internet availability. We have a few videos that we are eager to post, but the opportunity has not come up yet.

In Jinja. First and foremost: we went bungee jumping. This was a growing and spiritual experience for us three and our host philip. There is something inside all of us that is a deep yearning to jump off a cliffhead first. And we found the freedom that comes with it. Andrew wrotea compelling piece of literature that accurately described what all took place. But i don't think that anything could do it justice- you are just going to have to do it yourself!

The past few days in this week have been very laid back and relationship oriented. Our time has been spent with our room mates and ladies that work for the house. Last night we spent the night justlaughing. It was Christian, Evan, Andrew, Philip, Hanifa, Betty,Rachel, and Jacob. And really- we didn't watch the movie. It was a Nigerian soap-opera that we twisted to become so comical we ended uprolling on the ground. Lines like, "I will give you millions of money...." and "my name is macy, spelled "M-A-R-C-Y" are so funny at late night especially when english isn't their first language.

There is something happening in our house that is so special. Things are beginning to liven up. There is joy and laughter and serving. It is funny how a lot of our time and energy has been spent on our roommates. Digging in with them, listening, learning and serving. One of our themed verses for this time is 1 Thes. 1:8, "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too." And through time and relationship we are able to dig deeper and pray for them. A new guy named Jacob has become our great friend whomwe are focusing on Proverbs 27:17, "as iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend." we have got to walk side by side with him as hehas become a great friend and encouragement. A few new people have been walking into our lives as well which has been amazing. as we meet new room mates that come out of no where (well, Atlanta, Georgia and other places) they are speaking to us.

We are getting wisdom about the future: what to do next. We are beginning that process of what life will look like when we get home. "Now that we have been to Africa- aren't we responsible?" Now our eyes have been opened and it has been so cool to learn from all of these missionaries we've met so far here in Jinja what life and mission work might looklike going back to the states. From much wise counsel and prayer weare excited to go home and utilize what God has given us so we canagain come back more and serve HIM even more with our talents and gifts. And talking to them has helped us to further our adventure infinding our identities and how we can use all of this to serve andglorify God. To give to God what He has given us.

So tomorrow it is very possible we leave for a two-over-nighter camp/minstry thing. we are not totally sure what it involves yet, but Philip is going to have us partner with another organization in a town 60 km away. there we will be joining their HIV/AIDS outreach to offerthem education of prevention and the hope in Jesus.

UP UP AND AWAY!!!!!!

~Evan

"As iron sharpens iron,

a friend sharpens a friend."

Proverbs 27:17