Sunday, November 24 - Play Day
First, my apologies. I started the morning by mistakenly deleting all of the web updates from the team for the week. Not a good way to start the day. So if you notice a different order or pictures missing, that’s why. Thankfully, it only got better from there on out.
The team (minus Brett, Lyn, and Giju) headed out early to visit Don & Margie Cook and the equip foundation’s housing project in Mahaballipuram about 90 minutes outside of Chennai. It was such a blessing to get to pray with so many men & women in the villages Don & Margie are working in. It was an incredible privilege to see the changes that have taken place in the lives of many of their families in the past year. Given that Don & Margie see them day-to-day, they don’t see the marked changes the six month gap brings. I witnessed increased peace, joy, love and health (at least in appearance) as a result of Christ’s love being poured out through them. From there, we traveled a short distance to see the site of the new factory where the panels for the homes will be made. The space will be large and it’s the Cooks’ hope that the community will gather there. There was evidence of that already – and being placed adjacent with a church, I’m sure God will provide the people!
After visiting the villages and the site for the new factory, the team went to a traditional South Indian lunch of Thalli – small metal bowls of curry, sambar and sauces eaten with rice and chapatti. It’s so good and filling and never ceases to amaze me that you can feed everyone for less than $1.50 each!
After lunch, we headed back to The Cooks’ home for a little downtime. Most of the group went to the beach. That group ended up swimming if they wanted to or not. The rain came pouring down and drenched the whole lot. Those of us who stayed back (to relax or re-upload the website…) enjoyed some fabulous coffee and conversation. We said goodbye to Sheryl and Joe, prayed for the home and headed back toward Chennai.
On the way back, we had a chance to stop at TIL Spices to stock-up on yummy spices and pastes so we can make authentic tasting Indian food when we get back home – so feel free to invite yourself over. It was also a special treat for me to get to meet an incredible woman working at TIL who accepted Christ a little over one year ago. Up to that time, she had suffered incredibly from a hole in her heart. After accepting Christ, she prayed that if He lived in her heart, her heart would be whole. Immediately, her pain was relieved and she has been healed for over one year. Praise God!
From there, Sudhir and Aruna and their children invited us over for the most heavenly dinner made all with TIL spices. We ate out in their rooftop garden overlooking Chennai. We learned some Indian dances and had a wonderful time of fellowship. What a refreshing way to end a busy week!
The majority of the team has departed now. Tomorrow, Mike & Clint will stay in Chennai to visit St. Thomas Mount and other sites and Joe H., Jordan and I head out to explore the rest of India. This team and the past 10 days has been such an incredible blessing to all involved. I praise God for the breakthroughs we’ve seen with clients and in our own lives. I’m so thankful for the privilege and opportunity to co-labor with God to advance His Kingdom in business. - Kim W.
The rep-er
Saturday, November 23 - Repurposing Business
9:23am
Most of us started the day waking up to a blaring, earsplitting thunder and lightning storm that woke us up early in the morning, around 5 a.m. (those that can sleep through absolutely anything, and I mean anything, did not hear – I’m baffled). Thunder immediately followed the strike of lightning and rain dumped down, making the sound so loud, powerful, and close. It was as if the Lord was making his presence known and declaring to all of Chennai, “Be still and know that I am God!” God is angered by the idols and indifference to His truth, but he has not forgotten India and is rising up a small army to expand and proclaim freedom in Christ Jesus.
The beautiful, inside and out, Lyn Johnson led us in devotions at 7:30am beginning with stories of crying out to the Lord for Him to fight our battles for us and usher in the glorious kingdom of God in the darkest of moments and places. We sang worship songs with enthusiasm and praise to the Lord, asking for the Holy Spirit to make His presence known and overflowing in this boardroom as Brett preaches on repurposing our lives and business for the glory of God. We are expecting the Lord to bless Chennai, India today with marketplace miracles that can only be explained by God’s sovereign hand at work. We are in full anticipation of the Lord! The group also gathered around Brett, Lyn, and Kim, to pray over them and give them encouragement and support as they bear the burdens of the calling God has placed on their lives. Together, we lifted them up to the Lord, as well as our team, and the local India consultants, and visitors of today’s conference, and all of Chennai, in hope and anticipation that the Lord will provide endurance, strength, faith, hope, and love and make his presence known to us today.
9:50am
Brett is speaking truthfully on Fatalism dressed up as “cultural differences” and greed dressed up as “business is business” - explaining instead that God has a purpose in businesses and in our lives. He is preaching that God has given not only individuals a calling but also companies and nations (e.g. Israel).
11:14am
Brett asks the group “Can one person make a difference?” Absolutely! But you have to be willing to stand up. One example is William Wilberforce who worked for 30 years to abolish slavery in Great Britain when there was so much financially for the British to lose, yet because he trusted and believed in the word of God and His love for all people, he worked boldly to do what was right and godly and more people came alongside him to live for the mission until it was finished. Or as Brett mentioned, until slavery was abolished and they could move on to the next injustice to abolish. William Carey fought against social injustices in India as well and suffered many losses along the way, but he did not back down in the fight.
12:45pm
We gathered on the steps of the Beverly Hotel, our home away from home in Chennai, India, for a group photo of all those involved in the blitz venture! What a fantastic group of people!
3:30pm
Kim blessed us with sharing her story of how she quit her well-paying job of 11 years at Gallo, just after they had moved her down to Southern California. She felt that God was calling her to leave her job without having a plan, but God did! Next thing she knew, she was volunteering to work with rep for a few months and now she has been working within rep for 1 ½ years. We are blessed to have her as our venture leader in Chennai, India and preparing the way for us to serve the Lord on the trip. We are grateful that you listened to the Lord and followed his leading! Thank you Kim!!
After 5:30pm
The seminar on repurposing your business ended and concluded the end of the business venture – with the exception of tomorrow’s trip to the beach! We all gathered together to pray for one another and say our farewells to local consultants and our leaders Brett and Lyn. What an amazing journey this has been with such a godly and warm team the Lord has chosen! Many of us are going to be up late finishing our final client deliverables and reviewing the scorecard one last time. May God bless the work that we have done and plant the truth into our clients hearts to go out and seek first the kingdom of God. Amen!
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