THIRD DAY FAN MISSION TRIP TO INDIA STARTED YESTERDAY!

I've been in India a week with a team from my church, but yesterday they flew home and I was joined by Meghan and Melissa for the next week. Jamie came a week early to experience my church team as well-so now the whole Third Day fan team are here in Rajahmundry staying at Pastor Prasad's house along with his family. Over the next few days we shall be spending time at the Come Together Compound checking out the Gateway School and the newly opened Gateway Children's Home and visiting various Ignite India churches. Third Day have generously helped buy the land, pay for the final part of construction of the school, purchased a school bus, and funded teachers salaries for the first 3 years of school life, and some of the Ignite India churches we will be visiting were constructed from funds collected at Third Day UK concerts in years gone by. To check out more about Gateway and Ignite India then visit:

www.igniteindia.org.uk

www.nigeljames.typepad.co.uk

Jamie Beals, Third Day fan from Pheonix shares the following for you:

When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was the kindness of the Indian people.  They are very hospitable.  Prasad’s family is a prime example of what it means to truly have a servant’s heart.  What I consider a sacrifice, they consider a pleasure. 
We’ve visited many churches--some built with Third Day funds, others built with funds from generous people.  It warms my heart & inspires me to see the Indian people worshipping God with so much passion.  What a privilege to worship God with my Indian brothers & sisters in Christ!  The healing prayers have been the most powerful part of the services for me.  I’m honored to pray for these people, yet humbled & heartbroken at the same time.  I can’t describe the feeling I got when a beautiful, young lady stood before me & told me she had HIV.  I was completely taken aback & fought back tears while I prayed.  As I prayed for another lady, she was holding her sleeping child, who doesn’t speak.  One lady cried the entire time I prayed for her because her husband isn’t a Christian.
Also, we’ve visited a leprosy colony.  I was given the opportunity to deliver an encouraging message to the people with leprosy.  When I return to the U.S., I will be further investigating this disease.  There is a vaccination for it, & there is no reason for these people to be isolated from the rest of society. 
On a more positive note, the Gateway School is unbelievable!!!  Shortly after we arrived, I noticed my cheeks were hurting from smiling so much.  Everyone there is filled with joy.  When I saw what the children were learning, I was in awe.  These children are far more advanced than most children in the U.S. & in the U.K., yet they are part of some of the lowest castes.  What an amazing opportunity they’ve been given!
It’s not about the churches.  It’s not about the school.  It’s about the people & the children. God’s people who’ve escaped a life of idolatry. God’s children who’ve escaped the vicious cycle of poverty due to lack of education.  Between Pastor Nigel & City Temple Cardiff, Pastor Prasad & his family, & Third Day & their fans, greater things ARE being done in this city.  Please know if you’ve given your time or resources to the Come Together Compound, it is being put to great use.  If you have not witnessed this yourself, I strongly encourage you to visit.  I thought Kevin & I sacrificed a European vacation so I could come here.  These people have helped me realize it’s a pleasure to be here.