It has been an awesome 5 weeks with the people in Nagaland. Their hopitality has been great. And now comes the time to leave. There were a lot of tears, hugs, handshakes, and goodbyes. But we all hope to see each other one day in the future.
As of now, our team has already left GCKA. We've traveled to Shillong, Meghalaya and stayed there two nights. And just today we rode on an Indigo taxi to the Guwahati airport and flew to Kolkata. Now that we are in Kolkata, we have 11 hours until our next flight, so we'll be chilling and debriefing while we wait. We can't wait to be home. Pray for a safe journey home.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
SHOUT OUT FROM NAGALAND!
We will be leaving Nagaland one week from today. Everyone has been super amazing, from the kids to our hosts and the teachers. It has been a struggle. No one ever said that it was easy. Getting used to heat is still impossible. I still hate mosquitoes.
Anyways, back to the kids. Last Sunday we had a special evening worship service with the kids and we had it outside. The drama and choir teams that we started got to perform. They really only had about two weeks to practice so they did an outstanding job. It was a fun night for everyone; everyone was so alive and there was so much energy after it ended. We met again this week with drama and choir. We gave the drama kids a pizza party. It was the kind of pizza that we’re used to, but it was still really good. For some of the kids it was their first time having pizza. Some of the girls didn’t like it, but most of the kids seem to enjoy it. It was really cute the way all of a sudden all of them got really shy and turned away as they ate their pizzas. Our hosts have been feeding us really well so we turned it on the kids and kept saying to them “Eat more, eat more. Take more, take more.” We all laughed. It was a fun time. Yesterday Blong treated the choir kids to samosa and momo (some local food). He said that they enjoyed it a lot.
Although every single kid here is amazing I’d like to point out one kid who just stands out to me. His name is Ombeto (I probably spelled it wrong). But he is the nicest and most well behaved little boy that I’ve met. I think he might be prime minister or something one day. Cute kid too. A lot of them crack me up. I sure am going to miss all of these people.
So one more week and everyone is tired and drained and really for some air conditioning. LOL. So I guess in sports terms you might say that it is “crunch time.” It where everyone gets tired and everyone wants to quit and you get to see what everyone is made of. I’m more than sure we’ll be fine. We’re a solid team. Pray for a safe journey home. And pray for Nagaland.
-SHOUAYANG
Anyways, back to the kids. Last Sunday we had a special evening worship service with the kids and we had it outside. The drama and choir teams that we started got to perform. They really only had about two weeks to practice so they did an outstanding job. It was a fun night for everyone; everyone was so alive and there was so much energy after it ended. We met again this week with drama and choir. We gave the drama kids a pizza party. It was the kind of pizza that we’re used to, but it was still really good. For some of the kids it was their first time having pizza. Some of the girls didn’t like it, but most of the kids seem to enjoy it. It was really cute the way all of a sudden all of them got really shy and turned away as they ate their pizzas. Our hosts have been feeding us really well so we turned it on the kids and kept saying to them “Eat more, eat more. Take more, take more.” We all laughed. It was a fun time. Yesterday Blong treated the choir kids to samosa and momo (some local food). He said that they enjoyed it a lot.
Although every single kid here is amazing I’d like to point out one kid who just stands out to me. His name is Ombeto (I probably spelled it wrong). But he is the nicest and most well behaved little boy that I’ve met. I think he might be prime minister or something one day. Cute kid too. A lot of them crack me up. I sure am going to miss all of these people.
So one more week and everyone is tired and drained and really for some air conditioning. LOL. So I guess in sports terms you might say that it is “crunch time.” It where everyone gets tired and everyone wants to quit and you get to see what everyone is made of. I’m more than sure we’ll be fine. We’re a solid team. Pray for a safe journey home. And pray for Nagaland.
-SHOUAYANG
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
HELLO
so this is my first blog since we left the U.S.
so emotions have gone up and down. it took a while to get used to being gone and now that it has been about 3 weeks it's much easier. it was hard at first because we stopped in Kolkata and that place is very sad and crazy busy. one thing that was nice to see is majority of the children, that i saw, were smiling and having fun and playing and running around but they seemed to be without adults. then we got stuck in Kolkata because our flight was cancelled and then there was a strick with the taxi's. that was really hard not only because the place was sad to be in but because i wanted to be at GCKA and i wanted to get started with the ministry. Only God know's why we were stuck. when we met our host at the airport it was so awesome, she was very concerned with us and she just made us feel so at home. i could have cried i was so happy! I didn't know what to expect when we got there, i wanted the kids to like us so much, i was nervous they wouldn't. From the start we were welcomed with open and curious arms. :) the power goes out a lot and the toilets are not at all the same as home and the shower either but it really is a great expierience and when your with the kids none of that matters. they are all so smart and want to know so much about america and how the kids act there. some of the girls I talk with think that all americans are christians, because the american's they come in contact with are christians. they are so sweet and most of them, which is almost all of them, have a desire to work for the Lord in missions. If not in missions they want to be doctors! they all have very high goals for there lives. The team just keeps encouraging them in whatever they want to do.
The team has been doing great! Our health is good and we stay pretty busy with teaching and working in the library. I teach a science class and 2 english classes. the extra classes we offer are voice, piano, bass, football, basketball lot's of sports, thanks to shoa and blong. all the kids, boy's and girls love to play sports. we also rotate every night with devotions and we rotate with chapel, there are 4 dorms, 2 guys and 2 girls. Me and allison will be speaking on this coming sunday to the school(pray for us). The kid's mostly just like to talk and get to know us as much as they can. It's has only been 3 weeks and they are already saying that they will miss us sooo much when we leave but we still have 3 more weeks.
tomorrow we are going to Kohima and the host will show us the battle feild of their 2nd world war. We will also see the cemetary. so remember to keep us in your prayers for good health and to keep focused on our ministry because it's almost over and we want to give them as much as we can of ourselves. God Bless!
Love,
Julia
so emotions have gone up and down. it took a while to get used to being gone and now that it has been about 3 weeks it's much easier. it was hard at first because we stopped in Kolkata and that place is very sad and crazy busy. one thing that was nice to see is majority of the children, that i saw, were smiling and having fun and playing and running around but they seemed to be without adults. then we got stuck in Kolkata because our flight was cancelled and then there was a strick with the taxi's. that was really hard not only because the place was sad to be in but because i wanted to be at GCKA and i wanted to get started with the ministry. Only God know's why we were stuck. when we met our host at the airport it was so awesome, she was very concerned with us and she just made us feel so at home. i could have cried i was so happy! I didn't know what to expect when we got there, i wanted the kids to like us so much, i was nervous they wouldn't. From the start we were welcomed with open and curious arms. :) the power goes out a lot and the toilets are not at all the same as home and the shower either but it really is a great expierience and when your with the kids none of that matters. they are all so smart and want to know so much about america and how the kids act there. some of the girls I talk with think that all americans are christians, because the american's they come in contact with are christians. they are so sweet and most of them, which is almost all of them, have a desire to work for the Lord in missions. If not in missions they want to be doctors! they all have very high goals for there lives. The team just keeps encouraging them in whatever they want to do.
The team has been doing great! Our health is good and we stay pretty busy with teaching and working in the library. I teach a science class and 2 english classes. the extra classes we offer are voice, piano, bass, football, basketball lot's of sports, thanks to shoa and blong. all the kids, boy's and girls love to play sports. we also rotate every night with devotions and we rotate with chapel, there are 4 dorms, 2 guys and 2 girls. Me and allison will be speaking on this coming sunday to the school(pray for us). The kid's mostly just like to talk and get to know us as much as they can. It's has only been 3 weeks and they are already saying that they will miss us sooo much when we leave but we still have 3 more weeks.
tomorrow we are going to Kohima and the host will show us the battle feild of their 2nd world war. We will also see the cemetary. so remember to keep us in your prayers for good health and to keep focused on our ministry because it's almost over and we want to give them as much as we can of ourselves. God Bless!
Love,
Julia
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
We are at GCKA
For the past few days we have been hanging out at GCKA. Our team has gotten to know our host and a few of the staff and students. If you could imagine, the weather here is hot and humid, not as bad as Kolkata though.
We've been able to teach a few classes and lead a couple devotions since we've been here. Thank God no one has gotten sick, except for me. Just a little stomach ache.
So each day now we are beginning to take some classes. Julia is teaching a vocal class and a piano class. Shoua is teaching P.E. and other sports. Allison is leading drama. And I am teaching TKD. It's all a blessing to be here.
We've been able to teach a few classes and lead a couple devotions since we've been here. Thank God no one has gotten sick, except for me. Just a little stomach ache.
So each day now we are beginning to take some classes. Julia is teaching a vocal class and a piano class. Shoua is teaching P.E. and other sports. Allison is leading drama. And I am teaching TKD. It's all a blessing to be here.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Delayed in Kolkata
The day we arrived in Kolkata was June 4. Into the humid air and hot weather. We expected to sleep the night and continue our travel to Nagaland the next day. But the weather and timing wasn't so pleasant. That night, a huge storm came our way. I mean huge, the thunder woke us up a number of times in the middle of the night. And as we found out the next morning, June 5-7 are the taxi strike day. So we're without taxis or buses for our time here.
Today (Friday June 6) we went wondering around: from the Mother House, to Sudder Street, to the Victoria Memorial, to Flury's restaurant, and back to BMS. It was a long 3 hour walk. We definitely experienced the heat and humidity. But I thank God that we are well and safe. Maybe the Lord allowed us to stay here so we may have team time before going into our ministry in Nagaland.
And so, with our flight canceled and being unable to find transportation, we're stuck here in Kolkata until tomorrow, Saturday June 7. Pray that we may be able to fly out tomorrow to Nagaland, transportation provided.
Besides that, we are all hot and sticky. Peace.
Today (Friday June 6) we went wondering around: from the Mother House, to Sudder Street, to the Victoria Memorial, to Flury's restaurant, and back to BMS. It was a long 3 hour walk. We definitely experienced the heat and humidity. But I thank God that we are well and safe. Maybe the Lord allowed us to stay here so we may have team time before going into our ministry in Nagaland.
And so, with our flight canceled and being unable to find transportation, we're stuck here in Kolkata until tomorrow, Saturday June 7. Pray that we may be able to fly out tomorrow to Nagaland, transportation provided.
Besides that, we are all hot and sticky. Peace.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Singapore!!!
We've arrived into Singapore airport at about 12 pm. What a long 19 hour flight...with a stop in between in Hong Kong.
We decided to go around Singapore a little on a free shuttle. It took us to the Suntec Shopping Mall 30 minutes away. I never knew that Singapore was once colonized by the British. But what amazing building and spectacular views there are in Singapore. We passed huge apartment complexes and business buildings. After just 3 hours of walking around, we tired ourselves out. Here it was 3 pm, but at home it was 12am. So, we aren't use to the time change yet, give us a couple more days. As of now, we are awaiting our flight from Singapore to Calcutta, another 4 hour flight. We'll be spending the night in Calcutta, and finally flying into Nagaland on the 5th at about 11am.
As our team had our first experience in the heat, they feel that it was very draining. Please pray for strength and endurance as we begin the first steps into our ministry in India. May the Lord continue to bless you all with His loving grace and peace.
blong thao
We decided to go around Singapore a little on a free shuttle. It took us to the Suntec Shopping Mall 30 minutes away. I never knew that Singapore was once colonized by the British. But what amazing building and spectacular views there are in Singapore. We passed huge apartment complexes and business buildings. After just 3 hours of walking around, we tired ourselves out. Here it was 3 pm, but at home it was 12am. So, we aren't use to the time change yet, give us a couple more days. As of now, we are awaiting our flight from Singapore to Calcutta, another 4 hour flight. We'll be spending the night in Calcutta, and finally flying into Nagaland on the 5th at about 11am.
As our team had our first experience in the heat, they feel that it was very draining. Please pray for strength and endurance as we begin the first steps into our ministry in India. May the Lord continue to bless you all with His loving grace and peace.
blong thao
Monday, June 2, 2008
Itinerary
Team India leaves the US on Tuesday, June 3rd at 1:20am.
After flying through Singapore and having an overnight layover in Kolkata, they arrive in Dimapur, Nagaland on June 5th.
The team consists of:
Blong Thao
Allison Maldonado
Julia Barrow
Shoua Yang
After flying through Singapore and having an overnight layover in Kolkata, they arrive in Dimapur, Nagaland on June 5th.
The team consists of:
Blong Thao
Allison Maldonado
Julia Barrow
Shoua Yang
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