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India Report and off to the Philippines

AlongSideAsia Trip to India October 8-30, 2006

A week ago I returned from the first Alongside Asia ministry trip, which appropriately, was to India. Thanks to all who prayed and gave to make it possible. The first week was spent with Mala, Greg and four of our grandkids at 7,000 feet in the Nilguri Hills. What momentum is building in the Freedom Firm ministry based there! The Team has grown from just the Malstead family four months ago to over a dozen. Last week two more girls were rescued. An aftercare house has been rented and is now under renovation. This home has a name, Rojo, which means rose. An application for State licensing has been submitted. Rojo staff workers are gathering and staff training is underway.

A highlight for me was facilitating a team building workshop where we walked through the basis for team life and work in the first two chapters of Philippians. We focused on the resources that are available, and the basis of practical unity. The Leadership team worked very hard in the midst of everything else they were doing to finalize their mission statement, core values, vision and international structure. They worked through essential steps towards strengthening and/or establishing boards of trustees in India, the UK and the USA. At the end of the week they looked back with satisfaction at all that had been achieved.

The next week I traveled to Hyderabad visiting several mission ministries and participating in the Transform World India conference on the grounds of the OM India headquarters. Everywhere I turned I was reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Instead of the 500 expected, 800 plus gathered for an amazing week together. During the Conference Luis Bush, the International Coordinator of Transform World (TW), ask me to join him as part of an India Liaison Group consisting of two Koreans, Luis, (an Argentine), an Indian and me, the token westerner. I had first worked closely with Luis during the AD2000 Movement in the 90’s. The purpose of the liaison group is to serve the Indian leadership and the Transform World movement in India as the movement grows. Several states including Karnataka, Kerala, Mizoram, West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh are already planning to sponsor TW events. The liaison group will meet with key state and regional event leaders at the end of March in New Delhi.

Posted in Updates.

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