Construction, oh well...and the village with the girls

Today Jim and I helped the OC group do some work at the Childrens' home. Jim helped paint and I poured concrete for a couple of stoves. We poured a 6x6 pad which we mixed by hand. We rented boards to use as forms for 15 rupees a day. Jordan, one of the guys from the OC group, shared the pleasure of carrying the boards back to the childrens' home with me, on the back of a bicycle. We finished the pouring the concrete. However, it started raining about three hours later. I hope it is still there in the morning, oh well. We have been staying busy and we love all the kids here. Please keep us in our prayers. Love Aaron

Crystal: Today Ricky, Ronnie, the girls, and I went to a village called Gunlapallie. This congregation started about a year and a half ago with only 4 members. Now, there are 60 adults (mostly women) and 70 children. Ricky said that the preacher is really hard working there. He actually made our delicious meal, which is usually made by one of the women in the congregation. The girls (Sarah, Michelle, and Marie) taught the children three stories using the puppets. They taught the story about Jesus getting left in the temple as a child, Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and Jesus calming the storm. As I was talking I kept on hearing the children clapping and giggling when the girls were teaching them. The girls said that they LOVED the puppets, so it was good that Beverly brought them. I got to talk about God's perfect knowledge of man, in which I also talked about grace, idolatry, Luke 9:62 which talks about not returning to your old life.... It was really fun. Afterward, Ricky preached to them, using Judges 2 and some other stuff about idolatry. Afterward, the woman surrounded me and wanted me to pray for them. It was really neat. The people were incredibly sweet. The old women always grab your hand tightly and tenderly and kiss you. They were really loving.

Beverly asked Ricky how many congregations are around Kakinada and he said about 1000. Ronnie said that Ricky visits each one at least once a year. Wow, he is really busy! He is making us busy too, which is good. Tomorrow they are having an eye clinic at the church.
We are having a preacher's workshop on Friday and Aaron, Beverly, and I are speaking. Aaron is speaking to the preachers and Bev and I are speaking to the wives. Fun! Fun! Everyone is doing such a good job and is getting along really well, I am so proud of them! We are all becoming good friends. Today one of the girls at the Children's Home have told me that Marie is their best friend...she is so loving. Please continue to pray for us.