"KELLYGRAM"

We arrived home safely at about 9:00 P.M. Tuesday night.  We are tired but glad to be home. It is so nice to turn the tap and have drinkable water, to sleep in your own bed, to see family and enjoy our wood stove in  the Oklahoma cold weather. We thank God for a beneficial trip, a safe journey and for all YOUR support.  

On Our Way

Well, we are packed and ready to go to the airport.  It's a few hours yet but soon.  We are ready to be home but have truly been blessed by our time here.  To all of you who have helped send us, THANK YOU.  Anything we have been able to do in helping this work is because of your generosity.  We could not have done this without all your help and prayers. I have been invited to speak again at the lectureships December 1-4, 2009.  I don't know about that but we'll see. Raising funding for myself is not something I do well, but we could not do any of this without it. If those who oversee our work and those who contribute to it choose for us to come again... well, we will see.  Right now we are ready to be home. While it has been thrilling for us to participate in the spread of the gospel in India, it has been very strenuous as well. We dread that long flight but anxious to get started. I don't fit well in airline seats! But, we would not trade this experience for anything.  We have really "connected" not only with the American missionaries here but particularly with the native preachers.  I spent hours talking and encouraging them when not speaking somewhere.  We discussed scripture, the church in America, and they felt free to discuss anything with me.

I was really miffed to have to try to explain things like: "Why are some churches in America turning to instrumental music."  My only explanation is that some preachers and some elderships have chosen to do things not authorized in scripture.  I assure you, the average Indian preacher is better grounded than such preachers and elders.  They KNOW BETTER and you will not fool them into worship in a way which is an abomination to the Lord.  I wish some of them could come and preach to such churches!  Believe me, they would be kind, but would take such false teaching APART! They just don't understand such apostasy---- well I don't either.  It is just that some seem to not respect the authority of scripture. And NO, I won't apologize for my thinking about those who have taken the church down that road. THEY KNOW it's in opposition to the will of God and have done it anyway......

Thats enough soapbox.  We love you all and look forward to seeing and reporting personally about all you have made possible.  I'm sure I will talk too long! God bless us all in His service.

Bidar and Back

We traveled Saturday morning about 3 hours north of Hyderabad to the city of Bidar, India, a city of 500,000 people.  I taught preachers all afternoon and Elaine taught the ladies-- many also preachers wives. The daughter of one of the preachers translated for her. These are amazingly intelligent people.  One of my translators  can TRANSLATE in 5 different languages and is FLUENT in 8 languages. Saturday night I preached at 7:00 and at 8:30 in two different congregations in Bidar.  Then Sunday morning I preached for one congregation at 10:30 then at another at 12:30. We really enjoyed this last or our preaching appointments in India.  There were all the members of that congregation and 8 preachers and their groups from some surrounding villages.  The building was packed and we really enjoyed them all.  We observed the Lord's Supper there and after services they covered us with flower garlands as is customary when they greet a guest they consider special.  It was Great! ---- and we were thankful as they spoke about how we had helped them.  That's what we came to do and it was nice of them to tell us we had encouraged and helped them.  This is a marvelous group of Christians in a difficult work area.  Bidar is dirty and the lives of these Christians are a daily trial.  There is no persecution here (as yet) but their work is full of hardships.  The building are set so close on most streets it is impossible for more than one car to go up them.  The streets are all just red dirt and the buildings appear to be very old.  But their spirit is great and we had some great assemblies. Robert Hall, a regular here from Hamilton, Alabama went to Bidar with us and he preached at several other places in the area while we were at ours.  Robert comes here for a month twice a year to help and preach. He is a great guy and lot's of fun to be with.  We have had some great OU and Alabama "battles." I told his it was too bad OU was playing for the National championship while Alabama was relegated to that "inferior" bowl!  One of our driver/translators went back to his village after a Saturday night service there, studied with 12 people until 4 AM, baptizing 8--- 4 being denominational preachers. John is a marvelous person, a great preacher and about as hard working an individual as I have known.  We will miss him! We are all (Me, Elaine, Robert, and John) are exhausted after a long trip but elated we were able to serve the Lord in Bidar. We fly out at 3:35 AM on Tuesday--(Monday Night!) so tomorrow will be very busy.  I will try to post one more time before we go to the airport.  God bless us all in His work!

Thursday/Friday in Hyderabad

THURSDAY:
We are spending the rest of our time in India with the Clayton team in Hyderabad.  We are going to try to make the most efficient use of our time left.  They would like for me to speak at the school in Bedar and then in Several congregations Sunday.  Trouble is, at this point I have no voice.  I have never experienced not being able to talk above a whisper but yesterday and today---nothing. My voice has always been strong so I don't know how to deal with this.  My mother always said I had a STRONG VOICE, Elaine says I have a LOUD MOUTH!  Oh, well.  The Lord will lead us where he wants us to go.  We stayed last night, and the several days we were here earlier, in the home of Kyle Clayton and his family. They have made us feel very much at home and we love them for it. Sony is native to India and Kyle is a full time USA transplant. Sony's father was B.D. Emmanuel, a great preacher here in India. (Left to right) Preethi, Sony, Sunshine, Kyle, and Jordan are in one of the pictures.  They have made us feel like family.  Karen and Ron (in the other picture) are going to Bangladore today and then back to the states in a day or two so we will spend our remaining time in their apartment at the church office.

FRIDAY:

Since my voice won't work, we went this morning for a little sightseeing to Golkanda Fort here in Hyderabad.  Truthfully I have never seen anything like it in my life! It is a Fort they began building in 1363 and huge parts of it remain.  It has two hugh walls made to repel about anything including gates elephant battering rams could not penetrate.  Then the inner wall. The inner wall is over 80' high, 5' thick and 7 Km around it.  I have been to many ancient ruins---the Parthenon in Athens, etc.  But this Fort dwarfs anything I have ever seen.  I have some good video and PIC's a couple I have posted.  We leave in the morning for Bidar, 3 hours north of here.  I am to teach in the school of preaching in the afternoon and Elaine will again teach the women. Then tomorrow night we will hold a gospel service there in Bidar.  Sunday, I am to preach at several churches on the way back to Hyderabad.  I hope my voice hold out.  I am better and think it will be OK. And, to paraphrase Jesus statement: "We must work the works of Him that sent us WHILE WE ARE HERE for the airline cometh and takes us away so we can no longer work." 

Now in Hyderbad

Not really much to report today since most of our day was in travel.  We spent som time in Rajamundry checking on the work of M. William Carey for the St. Louis church. I will report to them what I have found when I get home.  We were an hour and a half late getting out of Rajamundry because of the arrival of some "Big wig" politician.  The last 4 Km to the airport were a night mare. There was easily 100,000 people around and on airport grounds to greet him and you can guess what that does to a one lane entry road.  It was crazy! Ricky and a policeman had to help us fight through a dense crowd with all our luggage to get to the terminal.  They had armed police at the locked door and these nuts tried to force their way in while they let us in.  I was ridiculous! People jumped over the airport fences and ran out on the taxi way and runway to "chase" that plane in.  As tight as security is right now it's a wonder those police fella's with automatic weapons did not shoot them. We thought about it later---- if they had they would have probably had a riot with no telling what results.  I can't even describe it.  I told Elaine I can now understand when you read about people being trampled to death at European soccer matches.  This crowd was so dense, if anything had "touched them off" surely some would have been hurt!  Anyway, I thought I would just post some scenery for today.

A Day With The Children

We spent the whole day today with the children at the orphanage.  First, a birthday cake for one of the girls.... then a walk about 2 Km to the Rajiv Ghandi park..... lunch and then to the beach.  I may not have told you Kakinada is on the coast, specifically on the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean.  We had a great time with the kids, though a bit taxing.  We are not as young as we used to be!  But we had fun.  People here "pray without ceasing." Note the kids praying before we leave the beach. We have spent the evening with Bro. Joshua Gootam and his wife Kabita.  I learned a great deal about the beginnings of the work in India and specifically in Kakinada area. We leave here tomorrow to go back to Hyderabad.  Ron Clayton called today and advised of the VERY tight and heightened security even in the small airports.  He had flown back from Vijawata and thats a small airport and his time through the security was considerably longer. It's hard to say goodby to everybody here.  Bro. Gootam keeps pressuring me to come and work with him...(we are both about the same age) He tells me every day that the older a person gets in India the more respect they get.  He maintains all preachers in America should come to India when they reach 60.  Funny, in America churches all want a "younger" preacher.  Experience and knowledge and ability don't count much, I guess.  Anyway....... Ricky preached to about 300 in a village gathering last night with 17 being baptized.  The remote mountain villages are eager to hear. All of us who go in and preach with these kind of responses know the real work has been done by the local preacher and we just get to motivate a little.  These preachers are something! Well, here are some pictures of our day.

Elaine on Monday

Jim talked about us going to the villages. I spoke at the one we went to on Friday. All the women wanted to shake my hand and wanted me to pray with them and each of their children. There were 4 Baptisms there before we left. In each of the churches we visited Saturday, we were given seats on the podium and then ceremoniously a different person would put a garland of flowers around each of our necks. Just the men spoke this day, but afterward the women and children would crowd around me - asking for prayers, and shaking my hand. Most of the men were still in the fields working long after dark. I don't think many women (white or otherwise) go to these remote areas very much - if at all. Maybe for them to see a woman taking interest in them was very important. Maybe I encouraged them and let them know we care and God cares. In these remote villages, cow manure was mixed with straw (by hand) and made into small patties and stuck on walls to dry. This was their fuel for cooking and heating. Most of the children (3 and under) wore no clothes. We were constantly passing herds of Water Buffalo ambling down the street ("speed slowers"). We saw one herd swimming in the River (Cool). Saturday, two of the churches fed us. It was hard to eat their food (as they stood and watched) for the two preachers that fed us had little or no food for themselves. They were so generous and encouraging us to eat more. Both preachers had a wife and a little baby and lived in a 10 X 10 square room with a shelf for a kitchen and mats on the floor for beds - that's it. These people are so dedicated and self-sacrificing. Everyone knows that I am a dog lover. Most of the dogs are semi-wild here and fend for themselves. I was wishing people would feed them some because they are so thin. Then I realized - so are the people. They are too busy trying to feed themselves and their families. Surviving each day is the goal. You will notice in the one picture,  a stainless pot in the corner.  These people always give to the church what they can.  Many times they have no money so they bring some rice to help feed the preachers family.  It may be only a bowl...and maybe it makes them short of food themselves, but they give. At first, we were critical that things were not cleaner and painted up and repaired.  We soon learned that when you have to make a choice between feeding your children or paint on the wall....the paint has to wait! This work is very humbling and really puts things into perspective. God Bless - Elaine.

The Villages---and Sunday

I missed my post yesterday and I think Elaine is going to post in the morning again.  Saturday was a LONG day. we went from Kakinada to Rajamundry and then 5 village congregations.  Talking to them about their work and having services at each one--we did not get back to the hotel until 11:30 P.M and then another one of those wedding parties was going on outside.  They moved us to a room on the other side of the hotel so we get away from the noise.  These little "village" churches are amazing.  They have from 50-100 members in towns from 1000-3000.  They are all REMOTE. They are agricultural villages working rice and sugar cane.  These people come by bike or by foot some from 5-6 Km to worship.  One 80 year old lady walks all day to a friends house--halfway to services---then walks the rest of the way the second day to worship and study the bible.  Then after services she reverses the trip.  They say she never misses--several miles each way.  The older man in one of the pictures apologized over and over that they had not finished and painted their building before we arrived.  They are proud of these 25 by 40 or so buildings.  They cost about $4000 for materials and they do all the labor. Then any paint, interior, etc. comes from their contributions.  The Blue River church in Kansas City has provided the money to build 9 of these.  One of the preachers was concerned about his large group of young people in relation to Instrumental Music and other worship issues.  Ricky asked me to speak and address those issues.  It's tough organizing thoughts and getting ready for that on a ROUGH country lane---in the back seat----in about 45 minutes but we got it done. I hope it helped them---I think it did....they seemed to respond well.  When you show these people the truth---they follow it.  I preached for the morning service here in Kakinada this morning and really love how these people listen.  Then I spent all afternoon with my notes on the sermon "Who is this Jesus" putting it in manuscript form so Joseph Gootam can print it in his newsletter and in tract form.  I am humbled the lesson was so well received. Not my MY spirit--but the power of God. It's just 8:00 PM but Elaine is already OUT! She is exhausted but she jotted a bunch of things down she wanted to BLOG so I am sure in the morning she will write. In fact I think I will go to bed too! God bless us all in His service.   

In The Villages

We spent the day today in the village of Yeluru, about an hour and a half  from Kakinada.  They have a nice building in this little town out in the country. They have no seating, so they sit in the floor and listen.  We went through rice and sugar cane fields all along the way in very beautiful areas. They greeted us like royalty with flower Lei's and throwing flowers as we came.  Amazing! Humbling!  All the men spoke for a while, with Joshua Gootam translating.

After lunch the men went walking through this little village and Elaine spoke to about 50 ladies. She spoke to them on the scriptures teaching about "How to be Truly Beautiful." Bro. Gootam again translated.  I did not get to hear her since they made all the men leave, but Joshua said she did a great job. Judging by the response, he was right---they just mobbed her after services. We could not hardly get her away so we could leave. I am very proud of her since I know how hard it was for her to do this. She really fits the scriptures description of beautiful! To have a woman speak to them is rare and they obviously loved it. There were 4 young women baptized at this village today.  

An Eventful Day

Today was the last day of the lectureship and an eventful day it was! We are somewhat sleep deprived since we had a Hindu wedding in the event center right out our window.  Drums, horns, and loud music all night long.  It concluded at 6 this morning. Indian weddings can go on for a week.  Then 24 hour ceremonies and parties on the day of the wedding.

It was a great closing service today and inspirational to hear these people praise God in song even though we know none of the words. I was privileged to close the lectures with the final speech this morning and we are taking the afternoon off before going out to preach and teach all day tomorrow. People take off work, give up a precious days pay and come to hear the Gospel all day long.  I am afraid I am not going to be too sympathetic to those in America we have to beg to come to worship let alone give up anything to study the Word. Seeing the hunger of these people for righteousness, it disgusts me to think of those who have none.

Then, how 'bout this dedication....after services today 2 men asked to be baptized.  One a business man and one a Baptist preacher..(Now former Baptist preacher)   This man has to give up so much!  His church, his financial support--- everything ---in order to obey the truth.  I had a chance to visit with this man for a while and must tell you, men like this are very special. And yet, this is typical of India.  They have a willingness to seek the truth and then the backbone to follow it. It's happening everywhere. I told him how proud I was he was willing to do what he was doing---he was grateful for the encouragement....but I was very aware he was much more thankful he was doing what God wanted him to do than my being proud of him. He will probably convert his entire former congregation. 

I met some men from Orissa last night. They came from hours away to attend.  You may have read the "sanitized" media version of the violence against Christians in Orissa.  Orissa is north of here a couple of hundred kilometers.  The version in our USA papers is BULL to say the least.  These men recounted how Hindu militants went through villages and if people refused to put up the Hindu flag and professed to being christians----they burned the house.  They burned down the houses of hundreds of Christians. They have burned all the church buildings and every Bible they could find.  They made people renounce Christ or die...... no numbers appear to be accurate but from their reports, they have murdered thousands.  Their government stood by and did nothing during all these attacks. They brought the names of 580 Christians in a compound outside Khandhamel who have lost everything.  There is some question if the government has them there for their protection or to jail them.

Bro. Gootham offered to send 500 Bibles back with them but they said the government guards (sympathetic to the terrorists) would not let them bring them in. The church here sent blankets and food by truck we hope gets through. They have no where to go and are afraid to return home. I can hardly contain the tears just writing about these wonderful people.  I pray for their safety as they return to the compound today. 

Terrorists fired on police in Hyderabad today and 8 were arrested. We go back there on the 10th. We are careful but who knows.... Pray for this work and the safety of it's workers. 

Wednesday's Activities

The Pictures: Some of the ladies at the home;  Their Kitchen: Darin Kennedy; Lee's Summit, MO. ; Jim Kelly, Asher, OK. Scott Elliot; Wilburton, OK (Bro Sadguna Rao translating for Darin and Scott.  Bro. Joshua Gootam translating for Jim.)

It has been another full day of work and study.  The schedule here calls for 6 lecture periods per day and those are interspersed with teaching preachers, visiting elderly and children's homes, Etc. Sometimes if there are native preachers  preaching in the assemblies, (None of us speak Telegu!) the rest of us are working in the other areas. The church here operates a home for elderly ladies---all of whom have no one to care for them but these loving christians.  There are about 30 in the home right now. It is a small house and all these elderly ladies sleep on the floor, cook in a small kitchen room. Baths are ----- well, you wouldn't understand! We talked about some way to put beds in but there is simply no room for furniture.  They are glad to have food and a roof over their heads but it still tears at your heart and conscience to see elderly ladies having to live like that. 

This ones from Elaine

SOME SCENES FROM KAKINADA       

Jim has been doing most of the talking (what's new!), but I wanted to add a few observations of my own.  After arriving in Hyderabad, Karen (Ron Clayton's wife) took me shopping for a couple of punjabi's. (A long shirt and pants with head covering scarf.) The shopping area was like a long alley with little 10' x 10' shops solid on either side.   The hustle of the people going everywhere (100's of people, bicycles, motorcycles - all fighting for the right of way).  The little shops were very specialized.  Punjabis in one, shoes in one, belts in one, and so on.  Selection is nothing like it is in the states.

The next day, I went with Karen to shop for Thanksgiving dinner.  We went to the market.  This was a very small store with limited amount of goods.  Eggs, for example, were on a small shelf in cartons of 6 eggs only.  You could buy pasteurized milk, but only in one pint plastic bags. There were a few cereals from the states, but they were over $6.00.  Fruits and vegetables were fresh and cheap, but everything else was high.  There was no meat in the grocery store.  If you want chicken, you call the man with chickens, etc. etc.  We went to the florist for a flower centerpiece.  It was a little space outside, with a selection of about 10 arrangements, with only about 6 different flowers to choose from. Nothing like the florist I am use to.  The accommodations have been good and the food great. Flying into Rajahmundry was an experience.  We taxied in on the same strip we landed on.  The terminal was one small brick room.  Baggage claim was a wagon at the sidewalk by the gate out. 

I think Jim told you about our visit with Ricky's father-in-law and the two Australian girls visiting there.  I have enjoyed visiting with the speakers and listening to them speak.  They have fed us lunch and dinner at the church during and after the lectures.  My hair dryer blew up, so Jim and I caught a taxi ( an open little motorized vehicle with a seat for two in the back - unless you are Indian - then six or so can ride) and went to look for a place to get one.  This was quite an interesting tour.  The driver could not understand us and we could not understand him - so we circled around for some time - and then we gave up. We went down narrow streets with small venders all over the place, cows laying or grazing along the street, three or so pigs in groups, scrounging for scraps, small herds of water buffalo or goats wandering down the street and this was among the bicycles, motorcycles, taxis, pedicabs and cars - very crowded, yes very crowded.  When Ricky heard about our little trip, he said we should not have gotten into a cab. They might take you anywhere - not safe.

Ricky's mom loaned me a hair dryer and saved the day.  Crystal was right the little kids tug at your heart. They are so hungry for attention.  They sit quietly through the lectures, with an occasional glance back at us and a shy grin and a little wave.  They could really use some clothes.  One little girl, maybe three, was just dropped off by her mom the day before Sunday and her little face told the whole story - she was lost!  I haven't had a chance to tour the orphanage yet, but they seem to take very good care of the children.  They are clean and well-fed (lots of rice).  Last night as we were leaving the lectures, we walked through the crowded auditorium I saw the many poor people with small sacks or bags.  I found out later that some of these people had traveled a long way to listen and Ricky had invited them to stay there for the night.  They would sleep on the floor in the auditorium and they fed them supper.  Well I could go on forever.  This is quite an experience for me - a once in a life-time experience.

The Speakers

The speakers at the lectureship, Left to right:

Back Row: Ricky Gootam, Kakinada, India; Jerry Manning, West columbia, SC; Scott Elliot, Wilburton, OK; Gary Young, Richmond, Tasmania, Australia; Ray Maples, Mississippi; Joshua Gootam, Kakinada, India.

Front Row: Billy Bland, Memphis, Tennessee; Jim Kelly, Asher, OK; Shaym Salam; Guwahati, India.

Ricky and Joshua Gootam operate the preaching school, orphanage and preach all over this area.

Jerry Manning preaches for the West Columbia, SC church and works extensively in prison ministry.

Scott Elliot preaches for the Church in Wilburton, OK

Ray Maples is now retired as the Police Chief of Memphis, TN. living in Mississippi.

Gary Young is a Professor at the University of Tasmania, Australia with a Phd in Roman History.

Billy Bland is an Elder at Coldwater C of C in Senatobia, MS and teaches at the Memphis School of Preaching.

Shaym Salam operates a school in Guwahati, India with 1600 students K-12.  They all then get assistance for college. They are taught normal school along with the word of God.

Also in the picture is Ray Maples grandson.

(Not pictured and yet to arrive: Darin Kennedy, Lees Summit, MO)

With such a distinguished group of men, I feel like a mule in a Thoroughbred race ---- I'm just glad for the association!

I did not preach today but speak daily from now on and then close the lectures on Thursday morning.  The remainder of our time here will then be working with all the activities of the church here in Kakinada.