Over the last several days, as most all of have written about, we spent the last several days in Goa - One of the most beautiful places I have seen in my life (landscape - beats Hawaii hands down - but can't say the water does). - It is amazing to see this beautiful place that God has created, yet it somewhat confuses your brain when within that masterpice you see the desaltion, opression, and starvation... amongst other things. - Actaully Goa is one of the weathiest places in India and you can tell - but it does not escape the poverty and the opression.

Spending time at.. and with the orphans has been wonderful - each day has been special - from walking in on them during their bible study the first night, to spending the day at the beach with them and the pastors yesterday, or taking them shopping for clothes today. I asked Jaison (the man running the Orphanage) if they had ever been taken shopping like this before - He said no, not all at once. - They have only been able to take one or two at a time - It was really neat to see them all in the store together and being able to pick out pants and shirts that THEY WANTED...not what was passed off to them - From the littlest to the Biggest - There was first a sense of 'what do we do' to then big smiles... that we will never for get.

After Shooping we went back to the orphanage for some of Melona's (Jaison's wife) home cooking - Indian all the way with spices toned down - It was by far the best meal we have had while in India - Yes Cliff the 'younger' - we agree - she is the best cook in India, and we ate some for you too!

From there, Cliff the 'Elder' and I broke off with Melona and began getting stories of some of the children - We learned that four of the older boys were able to particiapte in school Futball (Soccer), and criket and running - all four were asked to participate in state level games for Goa last year - and were given a 21 day trip throughout India to play for the state of Goa - What a blessing this had to be - they beamed as they spke about it. They brought us their ribbons and tropies. - However, the story of these boys past is not special - Each were either left by thier living parents, one or more of the parents may have died - or some were just received with no knowledge of any family - Many of the children here, including several of the boys mentioned above actually came over from Manipur - As state in the far North-east - The is the same state when Sam Thomas has mentioned the 10,000 orphans that they are taking in due to ethnic clashes. I got to meet many of them two years ago - but time was limited so didn't hear many stories. After spending the aftenoon talking to Melona, who is also from Manipur, and meeting many pastors from there (inlcuding her cousin 'Joe' who is a riot!) - My heart once again breaks for so many little ones with no control over their lives - where will they go, what will they eat. - She left me with a picture she had taken of her 'Manipur' - so that I could see it and pray for them in Manipur. - I did not want to take her picture - as I know it was special to her - but it was more important to her for me to have this picture to remember the people and the heritage she cares to deeply about - I think I will scan it when I get home, and send it back to her.

As I leave my thoughts with you, Manipur has many' recent' ophans...but the other 80 million still walk the Indian streets everyday - looking for somthing that you ... and me... both have an opportunity to help with -

Pictures cannot express it - though I try my hardest - it cannot capture the essence of India.

Live from a training station - somewehere in India...

Love you guys... and keep up the prayer.

...ml