India brings a whole new meaning to the word, “color.” The women’s saris here are absolutely amazing bursts of color everywhere you look. Even in poorer communities, the women have bright, beautiful material wrapped elegantly around themselves as a sari.

I’ve never had a sari, but here it is crucially important, it seems, that when I preach, I wear a sari. So, I went with my Indian friend, Shulimite, to buy some. In the shop there were hundreds of beautiful fabrics stacked ceiling to floor. I told them 4 colors I liked, and fabric started flying off the shelves and onto the pillows where I knelt. It was like a parade of color! After much deliberation, I picked a bright magenta one, a beautiful pale blue, a red, and a black with gold accents.

Then, I had to get petticoats. Under each sari, one must wear a simple, cotton wrap skirt which is tied tightly around the waist with a drawstring.

Next, I went to visit the tailor, who measured me for the blouse, which is a short sleeved shirt that comes to just above a woman’s belly button, leaving the lower sides, back and stomach exposed. The blouse is made from the same material as the sari.  

When we went to church on Sunday, Shulimite helped me get dressed in my new sari. First she tucked the material into my petticoat, then around my waist, then folded it and pinned it to my shoulder. Then, she folded the extra material accordian style in the front and pinned it to my waist.

I’ve never felt so colorful in all my life! The Indian women are very happy that I now dress like them and many have kissed my hand or cheek to express their joy in my choice of attire. 

This afternoon, we were going to preach in an open air meeting about an hour away, but no more than ten minutes after leaving the house, our contact was called by the host pastor and told that police were informed of our presence and that without a "missionary visa" we would not be allowed to speak.

Interesting that India claims to have freedom of religion, but when the Hindu hardliners push for action in their favor, they receive it. This exemplifies the deep struggle for people to remain in darkness without the knowledge of Christ. Pray for the believers here in India to share their faith boldly with Hindu’s.

We sent some of this to a few friends via email and they encouraged us to share it on the blog because they were moved by it…

“We are pretty far out into the countryside in a small village town, but it’s beautiful – rice fields are everywhere as well as huge coconut trees, monkeys, and of course, the never ending “holy cows” everywhere. We are staying on the property of an Apostle who is responsible for churches all over India. On his property is a children’s home.

We are loving being with the kids in any spare time we have. They are so full of love and excitement even though they are so poor. We were so moved by their lack of – well – anything. We went into the room where the kids sleep and we were shocked that they have no beds! They sleep on a long, low wooden table covered by a sheet. They just sleep side by side on the table with no padding / mattress or sheets or pillows or anything. They each have just a few changes of clothes and one pair of flip flops and they share one small spicket to shower. The girls each have a dress or two, but their dresses’ zippers are broken, so their backs are exposed and the dresses are just held together by the sash around their waists.

On the terrace, they have a couple of wooden tables with benches which they use for studying, eating, and everything else. It is some of the only furniture they have. We went to the store yesterday and bought some beautiful red paint to paint their desks / tables and we bought little paintbrushes for all 30 kids and together we set out out to repaint all the wood on 9 desks and benches (for about $10!). We had so much fun, got SO messy and the desks now look beautiful and new again. It’s amazing how so little goes so far.”

A few people have written in and asked if they could give something specifically for this home. We have never done this before….but if there is anyone out there who wants to send a little extra money for us to buy some pillows or clothes for these amazing little ones, feel free to donate on our website and write a brief note about what you would want us to buy for them and we will surprise them by buying it and bringing it to them.

Although Paradigm Shift is not an organization who gives handouts to adults, when it comes to orphans, we believe the Bible says to care for them. God has put us here for a brief moment in time – so we are poised to do what we can.

No one here has asked for anything. We are, like many of you, so moved by their joy in the midst of having nothing, and would love to bless them from the Christians in America. Let us know if you want to help. We will only be here for another week and a half, so write to us know soon. Thanks!

Grameen Bank is credited as being the first microfinance institution in the world. Started in Bangladesh by Mohammad Yannus, Grameen focuses mostly on agricultural, rural areas. Effectively using social collateral – group lending and guaranteeing – rather than physical assets to make small loans to entrepreneurs, Grameen has become so successful that they have exported their microfinance methodology to many nations in Asia, including India. Yannus was recently the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize because of the innovative way he created to empower the poor to get out of poverty.

Read the full post…

Paradigm Shift is currently working in the south eastern coast of India, outside of Rajamundry in a small village. We are here with Pastor Samuel Finny, who is the head of Indian Pentecostal Churches – a network of over 100 churches, children’s homes (orphanages) and Christian schools.

On the same property where we are staying is one of these children’s homes, called “Wings of Healing,” named after Psalm 93. And truly, to these 30 children, this is a place of hope in the midst of impossibility, a family in loneliness and joy in darkness. Children from all over India are here, some because they are orphans, some because their mothers or fathers have passed away and the remaining parents cannot afford to support them, and some because their own families are just to poor to feed them at all.

You would think that these children would be overcome with despair or frustration, but instead, they are incredibly joyful to have the chance to be in this home where so much love envelops them every hour of the day. Each morning they sing glorious praises to God and eat a healthy meal prepared by the loving hands of the grandmother type of ladies who live at the home and graciously care for them. Then, they go to a school right there on their own property where they receive a good education, including two additional languages. In the evenings, they play, laugh, love, and study. Finally, they read their Bibles out loud together, pray with grateful hearts overflowing and sing praises again to the Lord.

We have the amazing chance to be near to and minister to these precious children who are learning to love the Lord. Every morning we wake up to their sweet voices and every evening we bask in their fluid Telugu (the language they speak) reading the words of life.

This home is rightly named “Wings of Healing.”