Chittoor - 16 June 2011.

Madhavaram - Chittoor, this is a newly constructed church, Ptr Krishnaiah and Ptr Seenaiah belong to this village. During one of the Wednesday evening prayers there was a power cut, the light from the small lantern burned through the service, around 30 had gathered and they listened well as Ptr Ramaiah shared his testimony.

Madhavaram is a big village but is almost divided into two colonies, the upper caste colony is where the church is located and the other colony belongs to the Yanadi people, most of the church members walk a mile from their colony to meet at church.

The people are not around during the day, they wake up early to get to work in the fields and mango farms. The mango season (summer) requires a huge labor force to harvest the crops and fruits. The people get busy during this season and sometimes the village looks totally empty.

This path separates the upper caste colony and the Yanadi community. The land on either side of the path is full of mango trees. It was a beautiful view walking to the Yanadi colony.

Most of the wealthy houses can afford to store fodder for their livestock, some of the poorer families need to walk their cows every day into the forest for fodder. Cattle and goats are a great sources of income to the families.

Dhanamma (a believer at Madhavaram) leading the way to their mango farm, they have about an acre of land and have been harvesting mangos each summer. 

Dhanamma and her husband cutting and serving mangos for us. We talked for a long time under the shade of the trees, the hot air above and the cool breeze blowing through the trees. 

Pr Krishnaiah bringing more mangos.

A Shepard with his small herd. 

Have you seen goat eating mangos ? the goat here love their mangos :) it was a laugh watching them chew through the fruit. 

Enjoying the cool air 

Dhanamma's farm.

Later that afternoon we got busy trying to make a mud stove ( winiarski stove).

The church at Madhavaram.

Some cute little houses on the way to the Yanadi colony

As we walked to the Yenadi home, someone pointed that this house belongs to the village witchcraft man. 

At a Yanadi believers house.

One of believers has a talent for writing and composing songs, most of their worship is from the songs he wrote.

Over looking empty land, one day soon we are praying to purchase land for an orphanage and base for the ministry. 

As we walk by faith and not by sight. .

Rajulapadu GNF

Good News Festivals 0n May 13, 14, &15 – 2011

Exactly a month before the Gospel Meetings, a leaders and volunteers meeting was organised. The 4 little boys on the right are the true underdogs of the whole event. Most of the faces in this picture are natives of this village - Rajulapadu. The village is divided into two communities, the upper caste colony and the not upper caste community. There are nine households and five families are believers. They were all very excited for the forthcoming meetings, each pledged and contributed their shares of lentils, rice and most importantly partook in the laborious preparations.

The land before it was cleaned up and burnt down.

After clearing out the 'pichee chetlu' - crazy trees.. called that way because of the wild nature in which they grow and survive even in the driest seasons.

Putting together a temporary meeting hall and dinning/kitchen. 

The poles were fastened by 3 men who toiled the whole day, and in the evening the roof (leaves from the forest) was laid.

After the people arrived on Thurday morning. Hungry children and grownups cooling off under the shelter, outdoors the temperature was a soring 107 F/ 42 C.

We thank God for each meal which tasted so good and was just enough for all the people at the meetings.

First evening, after the heat waves and dry air, the evening cooled off surprisingly and thunders were heard in the sky. The much awaited showers turned up unfortunately that evening over the open air gathering. Another reason to be thankful to the Lord, as the rain ceased in a few minutes and everyone returned to resume the gathering and it ended of as an eventful and very rewarding evening. 

Sunday morning the believers walk to the river for baptisms. 14 people were baptized that morning.

Prayer after the baptisms.

Sunday communion service.

The final day of revival meetings. 

Stoves - May/2011

Fuel efficient stoves.

 

New Ideas are not welcomed well until they are tried and tested out. The statistics say that around 4% of deaths among women and children in the 2/3rds nations is a result of indoor pollution. We made these stoves out of simple material, a water bucket was used as the mold, the bottle of pop filled with water and attached with a rope to pull out once the mold is turned around and lots of chocolate colored clay. 

They had to perfect it themselves.

More perfecting ..

After covering up all the tiny cracks and gaps, the clay gave way the next morning to more cracks than before .. but the finishing looked good.

The conventional stove and the fuel efficient stove.

After puffing out smoke for a bit the stove began doing a great job with only few sticks to keep its fire going. 

Chapaties 

Breakfast cooking well  :)

Rolling more chapaties

Everytime they added more wood the fire went out, after several tries, they resolved to using fewer pieces of wood. 

Singareddypalli - 1/JAN/2011

The Church was painted and looked dressed up for new year service. The colors were so pretty and the evening sky seemed perfect that sunday after service. Most people who have visited the church will talk about the beautiful sunflower studded land that surrounds the church during the summer months. 

Sunday evening