Soooooo I didn't get to update like I wanted to. I will try to do some over the next couple days. Anyway, it's been pretty great. We lost time due to unfulfillable plans, but it also gave us great opportunities to see more of India and it's people.

The other night, we spent 4 hours sitting on the floor of the train station playing cards. I think we were more amusing to the people than we were amused by the cards. We had a large number of people watching us discretely (or not so discretely) and our poorly played game of slapjack brought many laughs. Veer says that cards are extremely rare in these parts.

It also gave us an opportunity to shine a little light into a couple kids lives. They may not have been huge things, but they were a chance to do a little something. Eric showed his iPod to an inquisitive 12-13 year old (It's hard to tell ages around here.) He wanted to know where the batteries were as it was so small. He got to listen to some Third Day (I think) and loved it.

Cliff gave another boy his extra set of headphones to listen to his radio with and a piece of gum. He was no more than 12 and traveling alone. His smile was priceless even if he understood nothing of what we said. The kids here grow up much faster than they do back home...I watched a one year old drinking from a regular cup with no difficulty and many kids are taking care of themselves on the streets by 5 or 6. These kids have very little time to actually be children.

Like I said, little things, but in a place like Mumbai, it seems to me that kindness is a commodity little seen.

Today was quite difficult, I assure you. Hanging out with 65 or so pastor students and the orphans on a beach. I don't know how I ever made it. The volleyball, soccer (those kids are GOOOOOD) and getting to see some of the most amazing shoreline ever is quite draining. No, really....haha

It was fun! We taught the pastors how to play volleyball (albiet without the net) and got to spend time watching the kids play football (soccer) as there was no way we were going to be able to even get involved without losing badly. (;

The beaches are amazing. Rocks jutting up out of the surf, some in places you can walk out to and climb up onto. Green, rocky hills that drop right down into the water, and the obligatory shacks on the flat places. It was a great opportunity to just get to know some of the pastors and create frienships.

Later, the team split up and Cliff and I ended up having to speak VERY briefly to the pastoral students. I don't know if what I said was any good as I think I was sparse on details due to nerves.

However, it was a chance for me to pass along something I had been feeling from the first glimpse I got of Mumbai. These guys walk a walk every day that is almost completely incomprehensible to us. They live out the concept of our glory being to suffer for God every day. They have been jailed, beaten, insulted, starved and chased from their homes. We were sent to encourage them and give them a little hope.

The truth is that they very deeply encourage me as well. How can I not look at these guys and not see the example of what I've always thought christianity should be? These men and their families walk in solid faith and amazing compassion that is challenged every day, even unto their deaths. I can only hope to one day be even one tenth of that.