Dear All, We arrived safely at 3am Sunday morning and were up eating curry for breakfast by 7am.

Sunday

We went to church at the OM base which was a really great experience. The worship was excellent with many familiar songs. The congregation was predominantly indigenous, about 300 in total. 

We spent the afternoon resting then we went out to explore Hyderabad on foot. It is a busy, noisy city full of contrasts - it's very difficult to describe in words. It felt familiar yet with striking differences such as the wealth and poverty sitting side by side - a glimpse of the social structure of the city.

Monday

Today we spent the day at the OM base in Hyderabad. We had a tour of the campus and were stuck by the scale of their operation. This tour included:

• The Omega music studio which reproduces and distributes international christian music throughout Asia.
• The child sponsorship team where ten people are coordinating 9000 students in 67 schools across India with 6000 international sponsors
• The 'AICC' (All India Christian Council) who were training senior pastors on site whilst we were there. 
• The medical centre which consisted of a clinic, dentist and x-ray and ECG machine. We met the doctor of the centre and Phillip took this opportunity to check his shoulder (see prayer requests).
• The Library where 30000 Christian books and journals are managed by 15 people for use on OMs BA, MA and MD programmes.
• The book warehouse that weekly ships out 3 tonnes of Christian books across India and Asia.

Monday Evening

We had the privilege of going to an outlying area of Hyderabad to OPEN a vocational institute ran by OM. This was AMAZING!

The children flocked around us and were delighted to see us and have their photos taken. We then commenced the inauguration ceremony. Jennifer was asked to open the centre by cutting the ribbon and we were all presented with garlands of fresh flowers. The centre focuses on training women on sewing skills and micro credit projects coordinated by the local pastor. Phillip prayed for the projects and Katie tested out the machines.

Tuesday

Today we went to a DEC School in a village about an hours drive from the city centre. We were introduced at assembly and we were again presented with garlands. The children were great, they began the day with a song and a prayer - this was altogether a very special experience to share with them.

We then taught five classes using the wordless book. Every child made a bracelet. We taught them new songs which was interesting seeing a class of 70 children trying to do the actions to Wide, Long and High and Deep in a very small classroom!!

Whilst at the school we visited another Vocational Training centre which has been established for a few years on the campus of the school. It was good to see how the previous days experience could be developed as this was a really established work. The centre now has a tailoring shop in the village where all the school uniforms are made for the 67 OM schools in India.

 

Tuesday Evening

We plan to go to a church meeting. Phillip is speaking, Trevor is giving his testimony.

We aim to update you again tomorrow,

Please pray for the following:

• James - who is currently ill in bed and unable to come with us this evening.
• Phillip - who has an aching shoulder and is in some pain.
• General Heath - that God will continue to protect us from ill health.
• The projects cited above
• This evenings meeting - that people will respond to the gospel.
• Visits tomorrow at NIRD (see previous prayer list)

Thanks for your continued prayer,

Phillip, Trevor, Katie, Jennifer, Mark, Gail, Esther, James and Andrew.