Chirala Church Dedication

The longer we are here, the wider IREF's outreach is revealed. We traveled 2 hours by bus to dedicate this church building.

After marching around it 3 times with music playing, I helped cut the ribbon. Below is the pastor and his family with Emmanuel and Craig Darling (US Director of IREF). 

It's easy to love these people. And almost everyone is eager to get their picture taken. When you have Christ in common, you already share so much.

We continued the dedication under a tent. Several of us had a chance to bring greetings. When the power went out, they had a truck battery ready to go to keep the amplification strong.

They served us lunch. It is a bit risky to partake given food born illnesses. But you also want to be grateful for your host's extravagant display of hospitality. So several of us partook. The IREF team forgot to bring forks. So we ate true Indian style... with our hands. 

The church dedication took place in a fishing village. So we walked less than a mile from the church to the beach. Fishing boats lined the coast. 

The man I'm standing with plays a major role in the history of IREF. He comes from a community well known for it's violent crime. This man was reported as dead. Emmanuel's dad, Prasada, prayed for him and he miraculously recovered. That set in motion much of the outreach that continues today.

Water buffalo are prevalent here. Lilly is making friends with one that went into the water to cool off.

We travel today to one of IREF's satellite schools to do a mobile health clinic. Some of the team will be pitching in with the health clinic, some will be entertaining kids while they wait in line, and others are forced to stay back to recover from illness. A stomach bug has been going around. So please pray for recovery of health before we need to begin the long journey home. Pray also that we would fulfill every divine appointment that God has in store for us.