Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Land of Vellore

Hello to all, we have been in Vellore for the past week.  We started our journey to Vellore on our first experience ridding the public bus.  These buses are just like your typical greyhound buses.  Except for the fact that they have no A/C and no Toilet.  Our travel time from Trichy to Vellore was suppose to be about 6 to 7 hours.  It troubled me to think that I would travel this long without using the toilet.  Luckily with the heat and everything my bladder has been a lot easier to control.  After traveling on a main highway for awhile we suddenly found ourselves on a very bumpy ride.  In the end our travel time was cut to about 5 hours, it was a shocker to all of us as well as our host.
While in Vellore we have been able to do a bunch of different things.  We have gone to orphanages, villages, churches, small groups, as well as schools.  I would like to highlight a couple of the places and people we met.  During our time here two people have really jumped out at me, Alfred and Pastor Charles.  I am going to tell you about Alfreds story.  Alfred is the founder of a school for students with Cerebral Palsy.  The thing about Alfred is that he also has Cerebral Palsy.  His story goes something like this.  When Alfred was born his parents had dreams of him becoming a doctor to follow in his families footsteps.  Well Alfred was born with Cerebral Palsy and was unable to walk.  As he grew older he hit a point in his life where he was discouraged about his condition.  He talked to God about his condition and was frustrated at the "card" he was dealt.  Soon after this he felt the Lord had brought him to Isaiah 60:1  When he got this verse Alfred started to work on trying to walk.  After 2 years of hard work he was finally able to start walking with the help of crutches.  Then he got another word from the Lord that he was suppose to open up a school for people like him.  That it would be a training school where kids could learn to walk and learn to overcome their condition.  Alfred fought God on this and couldn't see how he could have such a school.  After 7 years of resisting what God had put into his heart to do he was again brought to Isaiah 60:1.  Through this verse he has been able to arise and do amazing things for kids like him.  He now has a deeper vision of owning some land and having a bigger center where kids and their parents can stay and overcome Cerebral Palsy.
Alfreds story reminded me that God doesn't see what we see.  God has a way of seeing the heart in person.  What we call a hindrance, he may see potential.
Our time in Vellore has been great and the Lord has blessed us with a wonderful host and we have enjoyed the different varieties in our meals.  Ridding in the Auto Rickshaws have also been a great adventure.  Josh was able to find some fireworks, so tonight we will celebrate the 4th.

 Blessings from Indiland 
Kevin Wood

Posted via email from Team Indiland 2010

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