Pictures from India...

For those of you who would like to see picture I took during my trip you can visit:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032480&id=73201847&l=f36c9caa55

AND

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032498&id=73201847&l=aa108701ab

Blessings,

CTG

Here's to another eight hour flight...

Once again my blog is now in German...

My flight leaves very shortly on the way to Chicago. It is exciting to be back in the States, but sad at the same time. I hate these bitter-sweet moments.

Although it is good to be legal again (coming as a missionary to India is illegal)...

Coming into India is always easy... getting out, not so much. I.E:

1) I had to pay for extra lbs for my luggage (my fault)

2) Air India could not find my name in their system

3) Lufthansa could not find my name in their system

4) I almost missed my flight

5) I dashed through the airport

6) Lost my luggage for about 30 minutes

7) Sat in the wrong seat

The overseas curse has come back. I thought it had finally left me; however, to my dismay it has not. Please pray that it does not strike once more.

I already miss India. The people. The sounds.

I thought I heard Luke laughing on the plane and I searched everywhere for him. It's sad to leave Abby, Gabe and Luke. They were such an encouragement to me when I was stressed with work.

It's also sad to leave Rachel and Amol. I learned so much from them in just the short amount of time i was there...

Here's to another eight hour flight...

Blessings,

CTG

PROJECTS...

I am so sorry for not updating these past few days...

I am currently sitting at a friends house here in the city, using his internet. So this will not be long.

Life has been busy so far. I can't believe it is almost time for me to leave.

All the projects are finished (well, I hope) and the bags are NOT packed (nothing unusual). I have so many experiences. So many different ones from the last trip. I wish I had the chance to explain them all. But since I don't...here is a list:

1) I got chased by a 7 foot snake

2) I saw the wall at the land...HUGE

3) I spent a lot of time with the orphans

4) I remember names, faces and stories

5) I wrote support cards, where I was able to learn each new orphans story

6) There are 19 new orphans, just this summer...wow

7) A roach feel on my head

8) I sweated...A LOT

9) I watched Geckos eat ants...it was late

10) I saw God work in the most spectacular way

I leave Nagpur tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. and travel to Delhi for the day. From there it's back to Germany (Jesus, help me)!

I love you all dearly.

Blessings,

CTG

The Sounds of India...

I love the sounds here in India...

The sound of a million horns blowing constantly, the random cow walking down the road, the increasingly loud conversations going around me (none of which I understand). Then there are the sounds that stick out the most. Like now for instance, I can hear a man working outside. The sound of his shovel hitting the ground, cutting through the dirt. Or the soft voice of a lady singing to her child. Those sounds stick out the most to me. They are the sounds of India...

Yesterday I was able to travel to the church/boy's hostel. My heart started racing as soon as I saw the building from the distance. The tall blue and white block of cement protruding above all the other buildings. There is something about it that says "God made this..."

When i walked inside the church all the children turned around to watch me come in. They all started to grin and laugh to themselves. I began to spot the faces that i knew; Ritesh, Esther, Ruth, Chatan, and so on... I couldn't help but cry. It was one of those moments that will forever be glued into my memory. Afterwards we had snack (curry rice, yum) on newspaper and then I left. It was a short, but tremendous visit. I cannot wait to see them all on Sunday.

Today I am going to visit the land with Amol and a friend from Australia. I'm excited to see the progress that has been made since I was there last (although i don't remember much of it, thats when I got sick). Hoping to take lots of pictures. I've found that I am not taking as many photos as I am writing about this trip. Which is interesting to me because I always take plenty of photos but never write. I need Leanna here to take the pictures so I can write!

Thanks again for all your prayers. I love you all dearly.
Blessings,

CTG

"I'm in India..."

Three days worth of flying and I made it...
I'm sitting here at the turn of the stair case in Rachel and Amol's home completely awe stricken that I am back here. The smells, the heat, the tremendous sense of peace that I get from this place has all come back to me. I woke up this morning with tears in my eyes and I said to myself "I'm in India..."

Last night I was able to take a shower for the first time in days. The cold water was no distraction what-so-ever, I just wanted to be clean and smelling like me again. If you know anything about me, my biggest fear is smelling bad and I am sure I spent way too long washing my hair!

After the shower I was able to sit down and have dinner with Rachel, Amol and the kids. It was so great sitting around a table eating. I hardly ever get to do that in the U.S. Most of the time i am eating in my room in front of a television or eating in my car on the way to Spruce Pine or Boiling Springs. It was refreshing being able to experience that family atomsphere. Thus, i made a goal when I get back home that Iwill eat around the table more often!

It's so great being able to hear from leanna without a 20 minute pause between each word or text. I love hearing about the stories she has from home...

This morning I was able to see Mommy. She is walking now and it blessed my heart so much to see her, although i am sure she doesn't remember me! I am also constantly entertained by Abby and Gabe, who have already given me pictures and cards. Last night Gabe came up to me as told me he had been praying for me and that he would pray for me on my trip back home, I almost cried...

I have found that God has given me sensibility to tears. And if your able to sit and talk with me about my ability or non-ability to cry, i would love to share that with you some time (too long to share on here)! I can be staring outside the window and just burst into tears for no reason. I truly believe that God has sent me here to cry for this country. I would also love to explain that further; however, I do not have that much time, ha!

Prayer Request:
1) Mommy: Mommy had a hip replacement surgery not to long ago, which left her laying straight on her back for months. Not only did this place a finacial burden on the family, but also a spiritual burden to combat this situation. Praise God that she is now able to walk! Continue to pray for her healing!
2) Light in the darkness: Continue to pray that I would somehow be a light in this country. I may not do much while I am here, but for what it's worth I hope to make a dent!
3) Physical health: I am feeling tremendously well. Flights always leave my stomach feeling a little less than perfect! Pray that I would continue to have strength, energy and motivation!

I love you all dearly and I am so thankful for all your encouragement and prayers.
Blessings,

CTG

Mumbai to Nagpur...

This is going to be a very difficult blog to write. The computer I am using in the airport is in half-hindi, half-english. It took me five really good minutes to find the hypen key...

(side note-no religious thoughts today. I am surrounded by thousands of people watching what I type with intent. Thus, i would feel a lot more safe if I didn't reference my mission)

I MADE IT...I am currently standing in Mumbai airport, only one more flight left...

If you have heard me talk about India at all you have heard my story of how I was called to be here.
When the plane left ground in Delhi this past December, it literally felt as if my heart had been torn in two, leaving the other half here in India. I am happy to report that as soon as my plane landed in Delhi today i found my heart once again. I had to sit back in my seat my heart was beating so fast. Confirmation that i'm suppose to be here? I think so...

Although i am overcome with exhaustion and sweat (humidity, anyone?) i am so thankful for being here. I have begun to fall in love with these people, and the culture. I feel at home here and I love it.

I constantly find myself looking over my shoulder wanting to whispher something to Leanna. It is so hard not having her here experencing this with me. I want to capture every moment so that when I get back she feels as if she was there with me...that or bore her to death, haha!

Did i mention that I was sweating? Traveling for three full days without a shower...well, you get the smell!

I found my absolue favorite restaurant again...coffee day. I looked all over Delhi for one, but to no avail. As soon as i got into Mumbai my eyes caught that glorious red and white sign. I was a dart running through security and baggage check. All i wanted was a Cool Blue drink and life would be well again.

I appologize for my briefness, i have grown to despise this keyboard. I also appologize for any spelling errors, I cannot read Hindi... So, that will be all for now. See you in Nagpur.

Blessings,

CTG

ps-thanks to all who have left comments, i truly do love reading them! Keep them coming!

12 Hours in Germany...

My blog is in German, go figure...

I arrived safely in Munich. The plane ride went surprisingly well (only seven hours), minus the man cussing me out in German, I would call it a success!

I'm sitting at my Gate (H38) waiting for my plane to arrive, 12 hours from now...

Despite the obvious sitting and waiting, I get to do two of my most favorite past times:

1) People watching

I love to sit and watch people as they go by (and no, not in the creepy way). I just love to observe people: their personalities, what they're reading, where they're going. It interests me to observe people who are from a different culture.

2) Meeting new people

I found that if you smile at flight attendants, cashiers and transit employees the ride seems a lot more enjoyable. You get extra bottles of water, blankets, pillows, luggage tags, etc.

I also love talking with the passenger next to me. I usually strike up the conversation by asking a simple question (could you watch my bag, what are you doing in Germany, do you want that extra slice of cheese?), showing a friendly smile and going from there. This always opens up the opportunity to share with that person the reason for my trip, which always brings up the conversation about religion and faith. I had a really nice conversation with a St. Louis architect on the way over, he was a believer as a child but later in life rejected his faith. His name was Tommy!

I just got off the phone with Leanna. It was so refreshing to hear her voice, and the comfort of reliable communication is always a plus. Although i miss her terribly I know that she is back in the states cheering me on!

I am kicking myself for not fully charging my computer before I left the states, and my previous search for an outlet came up short. Thus, I am out. Next stop... New Delhi, India.

Blessings,

CTG

T-Minus 18 hours...

Tomorrow's the day...

I always enjoy the day before I leave to go on a trip. I wake up early, make last minute adjustments...

-Hair cut: check

-Cell phone: check

-Wal-Mart run: soon to be check

-Post-it note packing: check

-Sanity: well, almost...

Plans are finalized, tickets have been purchased, passport is in hand...

It's a time to stop, and reflect. The journey I am about to begin is possibly larger than I could ever imagine. Yes, I am only going to do a bunch of paper work, but somehow it seems a lot more than that. This is what God has called Leanna and I to do, this is where God has called Leanna and I to be. This is HUGE!

It's also a time to sit and watch. I love to watch my family; my mom, my dad and my niece. I get such a purpose out of observing them living out their dream, and it gives me hope that one day I will be doing the same. They have been my biggest supporters throughout my entire calling to be a missionary. They were the ones who said "yes" to all the trips, when in their hearts they were screaming "no." I understand that being a missionary is possibly one of the hardest jobs one could have in the ministry; however, I am convinced being parents to those missionaries is even harder.

As I sit on my bed here in Spruce Pine I am currently waiting on Leanna to return from her job in Boiling Springs. And I'm reminded of this day two years ago, leaving for Uganda. I remember the worry I saw in her eyes and the pain I felt from leaving her. It's never easy to leave the one you love so dearly behind, even if it is for two weeks. She is such a strong woman and her faith in God is insurmountable. That alone keeps me going. I have so much to learn from her, I am just happy that I have the rest of my life to figure it out!

Prayer Requests:

Travel/Safety: Pray for my travel from Charlotte to Germany, and especially my flights within India. I fly from Delhi, to Mumbai and finally to Nagpur. Also, pray that I would stay alert and conscious of my surroundings.

Witness: One of the largest mission fields are airports. Pray that God would place people in my path; terminal, transit, seat next to me, restaurants, etc. Pray that I would be a witness of Jesus Christ.

Luggage: I have yet to loose my luggage (yes, I just knocked on wood). Pray that my suitcase would make it all the way to Nagpur!

Family/Youth: Last night I got to spend time with my youth group! I am so blessed to have a group of young people who are so loving and caring towards me and my safety. Pray that God would bless them as they return to school next week. Also, pray for my family + Leanna as I once again leave them.

I love you all dearly!

Blessings,

CTG

Flight Schedule

Hey Everyone,

I thought it would be helpful to post my flight schedule from Charlotte to New Delhi. I do not yet have my flight from New Delhi to Nagpur information, but as soon as I get that I will post it...

On each flight I have included the flight number, if you visit www.flightaware.com you can track the actual plane as I fly...it's pretty cool.

Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009 Charlotte, NC to Munich, Germany

Depart: 5:25 PM Charlotte, NC

Arrive: 8:10 AM Munich, Germany

Flight: Lufthansa Flight 429

Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 Munich, Germany to New Delhi, India

Depart: 8:10 PM Munich, Germany

Arrive: 7:00 AM New Delhi, India

Flight: Lufthansa Flight 762

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 New Delhi, India to Frankfurt, Germany

Depart: 1:10 AM New Delhi, India

Arrive: 6:20 AM Frankfurt, Germay

Flight: Lufthansa Flight 1613

Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 Frankfurt, Germany to Chicago, Illinois

Depart: 8:25 AM Frankfurt, Germany

Arrive: 10:33 AM Chicago, Illinois (August 15)

Flight: Lufthansa Flight 9152

Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 Chicago, Illinois to Charlotte, NC

Depart: 1:16 PM Chicago, Illinois

Arrive: 4:05 PM Charlotte, NC

Flight: Lufthansa Flight 9184

Blessings,

CTG

Trip Information

Well, here I go again...

I'm off to Nagpur, India.

I am amazed at how God has provided for this trip over the past month. Thanks to all of you who have given support through money, prayer and time. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by those who care so deeply for the calling God has placed on Leanna and I. Although at times the calling seems to big for us to handle, God always provides a way. I am in tears now just thinking back on how good He has been...

Since I will be traveling alone I wanted to create a blog so everyone can follow along with me as I travel. Check back regularly, I hope to update it often.

Here is my trip in a nut shell...

Sunday, August 2 I will be leaving Charlotte traveling to Nagpur, India. If you remember, Leanna and I just returned from Nagpur back in December. When we returned we had a huge burden for the ministry/orphanage in India, so we continually searched out God's calling. Eventually we concluded that God had called us to serve in India as full time missionaries. We are not certain of when or where He is calling us to go, but we do know that God has placed a tremendous passion inside our lives. Although it will be awhile before we pack up and leave the U.S.A, we hope to take trips back and forth until He says "go"

Thus, at the end of June God provided the opportunity for me travel back to the orphanage to work alongside the Pawars (founders of the ministry). While I am there I will be doing the following tasks:

-Creating flyers, brochures, pamphlets for the ministry

-Running errands for the Pawars

-Helping the Pawars prepare for their trip to the U.S.A

-Ministering to orphans the ministry currently houses

-Prayer walking (India in general and hopefully the future ministry site)

-Sharing my testimony with bible college students

-Preaching at the ministry's church

-Spreading light in such a dark country

All these tasks are not set in stone what-so-ever. The hardest thing about working in missions is your ability to be flexible. Nothing goes as planned and events arise that require you to shift around ideas and schedules without notice. But that is something that I have grown to love and expect, I am sure you will be hearing plenty of those stories over the next few weeks.

Finally, I want to leave you with a list of prayers. These trips would not be possible without our constant communication with God, and my desire is give Him my full attention. Please pray for...

My family + Leanna:

leaving them behind is truly difficult for them; pray for strength, encouragement and reliable communication.

Travel:

Safety is always a big deal these days. Pray for my safety as I travel to and from India. Also pray for those I may encounter along the way (airport, airplane, taxis, shuttle cars, rickshaws, etc.), pray that they would sense Christ in me.

Health:

In December I got really sick from food poising. Pray that my body would be healthy so that I may have the strength to perform the tasks God has called me to do.

Spiritual Warfare:

Satan has such a huge strong hold in India, at every turn you see a Hindu temple. Pray that God would use me to be a light in such a dark country.

I love you all dearly. Blessings,

CTG