What a great gift it was to be back in my beloved India, first land of my call. So much has changed, and yet, in some places it seems very little has changed. I was in total culture shock to see KFC at the airport! When I had left 26 years ago, India had been a nation of Hindu vegetarians and meat eating Muslims! On this trip, I was amazed at the really good roads and highways connecting one side of the state to another, but I roared with laughter to see young goatherds guiding their flocks up onto these new superhighways to share the roads with 18 wheelers and tour buses. Oh! And it was pointed out to me that one small barefoot shepherd was chatting away to someone on his cellphone, his stick perched jauntily on his shoulder. Oh, MY! The most exciting change by far, though, was the large dynamic, healthy and ever growing congregation of believers in Chillakallu. When we were there that Sunday there were between five to six hundred were in attendance. The gospel has more than a foothold there. It is flourishing. under the leadership of Pastor Philip and Lilyís son, Pastor Prabhudas and his wife, Ruth. My heart, and my cup, were full to running over to see such things! God, You are so good!

~ Debbie Ecker