We're back in the USA!

It's my third day back in the office after our trip and since Erin is sitting here uploading our photos and videos, it reminded me that I never updated the blog that we made it back - sorry! We made it back to the USA (blessedly) on Friday, March 19 around 10:30 a.m. I cannot tell you how great it felt to be back in the country, especially after I had gotten pretty sick the last few days we were there. The newfound appreciation for all things America -- from our Constitution to religious liberty to bathrooms and trash cans and breathable air to everything in between (including a variety of food). The culture is an overwhelming world of difference between here and India -- I don't think I can even put it to words. But there are hundreds and hundreds of photos to sort through (I took over a thousand the day we went through all the villages in Kandhamal alone), and I have a happy save-the-date announcement as of today that I will post shortly.

More reflective thoughts to come later. In the meantime, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the prayers while we were gone. They were definitely heard! The Lord protected us and brought us home safely.

"The eyes of the LORD are everywhere." ~Prov. 15:3

Orissa

Well, we made it safely through the Kandhamal district in Orissa and visited about 5 Christian villages that had been affected by the violence in 2008 -- we saw the burned homes and churches and interviewed the families. Every village gathered in its entirety to meet with us and they were so receptive and loving. It really was a wonderful day, possibly the best of the entire trip. The roads were rough and it was about 6 hours in and 6 hours out so it made for a 19.5 hour day. The vans were really comfortable, though, and we did not hit any issues that slowed us down -- just one brief incident where we rounded up and headed out quickly from one of the villages that was closer to a big market. The hope and faith of the people was remarkable. I captured some great images and we also had a videographer who taped our Q&A sessions with the villages.

Yesterday we had meetings with a long table of lawyers (that made me happy :) -- some Hindu and some Christian -- who are handling the cases being filed against the perpetrators, and heard about their various difficulties and struggles ... namely, coordination, which was interesting to hear about. We brainstormed creative solutions for them and hope that at the end of our 8-hour long day of meetings, some progress was made.

Today we are having meetings with some of the major government leaders in Orissa, trying to get in under the guise of talking about promoting cultural tourism. It should be really interesting. We may get to meet with the Foreign Minister and Governor. Our 2-hour flight back to Delhi is around 9 p.m. tonight. Then three more days of meetings and we will be headed home! It has been a lot of long nights, early mornings, and not much internet time, so we will have more updating to do when we get back.

In the meantime, thanks for your continued prayers. Erin and I have both been feeling under the weather here and there but not enough to slow us down -- we are managing just fine.

Much love,
Val

We're Alive ... And well!

Sorry all - we haven't had internet access in about 4 days but just want to quickly say we are doing great & have loved our time at the Jubilee Homes. Tomorrow we'll meet with Deveraj in downtown Bombay and fly up to Delhi. Our bags have been located -- Praise the LORD!! -- and we will hopefully get them tomorrow. In the meantime, we have been rocking the Indian clothing we bought at the market a few nights ago. We are soaking in all the sights, colors, sounds (mostly horns honking) ... and interesting smells. We have survived both the food (it's been great!) and the chaotic driving. (There are cows and people and carts that randomly cross the street at frequent unexpected moments.) We have really bonded with the kids, the girls, and today, the women. We have managed to charge our equipment (computers, cameras, videocamera, iPods, you name it) and today captured some incredible testimony about their experiences being trafficked into sex slavery. We look forward to sharing it all with you when we return.

We will update our blogs more fully from the U.S. Hopefully we can write again from Delhi, where we will be from the 9th-12th and the 16th-18th. Thanks for your continual prayers for our safety! ;)

Love & Blessings,
Valerie & Erin

Safely Arrived!

We have safely arrived to Mumbai absent any flight issues or delays ... but also absent our luggage. We think it's left in Delhi (we flew DC --> Delhi --> Mumbai) so please pray that the 2 bags will be recovered quickly and sent to the Jubilee Homes. It took many confusing conversations between the two airports in Delhi and the two in Mumbai (domestic and international) to try to track them down, and we're still not sure. Especially pray for Erin's because she lost her baggage receipt/ticket. Fortunately we both have some basic amenities with us & Deveraj said he would take us to buy Indian clothes today!

We stayed at a hotel in downtown Mumbai last night. Our driver from the hotel was very nice even though we were not able to get very far in conversation. The language has been a bit more of a barrier than we expected, but we are getting around. Erin found a SIM card for our phone last night so she was able to let our hosts know we arrived. A driver from the Homes will be here shortly to pick us up and drive us out there ... Thus our India Adventures are about to begin!

Taking off!

Dear DC: We are leaving now. When we return, we expect the snow to be gone and the ground to be fully visible. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Dear India: Get excited because here we come!! See you in about 22 hours...

Love, Erin & Val

PS: Dear Mom & Dad - try not to worry :)

One Week Mark: Prayer Points

As Erin and I reach the one-week mark until our travel to India on March 3, here are some of the prayer points we hope to lift up with some friends tomorrow night during a send-off get-together ... Please join us!  In light of recent developments, the biggest overall request is for SAFETY, and specifics follow:

General requests:

* for last-minute details & logistics to come together

* for smooth & safe travels

* for uncomplicated digestion of Indian cuisine - especially that Erin will encounter satisfactory vegetarian options as we travel

* for us to be able to stay on (preferably under!) budget 

* for protection from pickpockets & others who may seek to take advantage of foreigners

* for our time at the Jubilee Homes -- that we may be able to bless and encourage those there and come away inspired

* for wisdom and discernment during the second part of our travels to a potentially dangerous area, particularly whether to stay the night 

* for angels to guard us everywhere we go

* for successful scheduling of the meetings by the Coalition leader we are traveling with

* for favor in the meetings we will be attending with various diplomats and prominent policymakers -- to understand and accept the message conveyed

* for integrity and accuracy in our advocacy work

* for the fruit of our labor -- impact & effectiveness

Personal requests:

* for spiritual rejuvenation (something Erin and I have both discussed as a need as of late);

* that God will meet us both in a personal way while in India to renew our spirits and speak to our hearts afresh;

* that we will accept and embrace whatever He puts before us during our journey;

* that we present ourselves as open vessels for His purposes; 

* for God to supply and sustain us with energy & meet the various needs that arise;

* that we openly love & serve those we encounter with ready and humble hearts; and

* that we come away with a deeper understanding of the Indian people and culture and return full of vision and passion about ways that we can convey what we experience to others in a meaningful way ... one that might impact eternity.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~Eph. 2:10 (NIV)

The Countdown Begins . . .

In less than one month, Erin and I will be boarding the first leg of our 19-hour flight to India. Our travel dates span from March 3 through the 19th. Please keep us in prayer as we begin to prepare and work out the nitty gritty details . . .

*that my visa (pending) will be approved
*that we can orchestrate all the miscellaneous travel details such as lodging, etc.
*that any divine appointments we should have will line themselves up in the coming weeks
*that details will come together for an excellent post-trip fundraising event for the Jubilee Homes, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Bombay Teen Challenge and raising awareness for human trafficking issues in India

And join us in praises!

*that we booked our flights (afer a few headaches) & final agenda is confirmed
*that my mom graciously is allowing me to borrow her Cannon camera so I can hopefully take some inspiring photography home with me from the trip and somehow use it for God's glory
*that God has opened doors for the advocacy half of our trip that have been closed to certain others seeking to do the same

A special request: We covet your prayers that God not only goes before us and makes straight the path, but also places a hedge of protection around us and our travelmates as we embark on some rather dangerous investigave reporting and high-profile advocacy. I can't say too much for now other than to please keep us in your prayers for safety.

And on a personal note, praise God for fulfilling my heart's desire to use the journalism background he cultivated in me in a big ... make that really big ... way. He is so famous for exceeding our wildest dreams and humble expectations. The more I grasp Ephesians 3:20, He becomes bigger, his love becomes deeper, and his wisdom becomes wider. Truly, beloved, His ways and thoughts are higher. We are called to simply be still and behold.

And when he says jump ... it's time to jump. :) No looking back and no looking down. "I lift up my eyes to the hills" (Psalm 121:1) -- it's where my help comes from.

And the strength? (Neh. 8:10) It's all the Joy of the Lord's.