Hello from India!

Shirley Pearce and I arrived here on August 24th, after 17 hours flying time through Frankfurt, Germany. The days and weeks have flown by – and here we are at the midway point in the six weeks, reflecting on the three workshops we have held so far and anticipating a busy time with six workshops in the next three weeks.

We met in the hills of Orissa with three groups of women: the Soura, the Kui and the Oriya. It was wonderful to see the women open up to each other and to God’s Spirit as they shared and learned.

The brilliance of their saris and shalvar kamises made a wonderful backdrop for each session. Their willingness to take a risk and open up in the group brought home to us once more how God is using the program of the Groups of Hope to create a safe place where the women can share.

Yes...you do see a man in several pictures we will post. David Sarma, our wonderful CBM host, felt that it would be helpful if the leading pastors and a few elders attended the workshop to get an idea of what the program was about, as they could then provide support for the women in using the sessions in their churches.

We were struck by many of the comments participants made at the end of the two day workshop. One pastor said he wanted to see women valued more in the church – and expressed surprise that the women had opened up in the group and shared their hearts. One beautiful Kui woman, her head covered with the end of her brilliant pink sari, shared that she couldn’t read or write – but that she felt she could talk in this group because, like the norm said:  we will respect what each person says because in this group everyone is equal.

Shirley and I have enjoyed wearing our own saris for the last two sessions of two of the workshops.  It has been an experience to be ‘dressed’ for the occasion by two of the women we asked to help us. I think we are both more comfortable wearing them now – and I feel very elegant!

We know we are here because God has planned this time for us to share here in India.  We are both being stretched – and are forced out of our comfort zones several times a day!  

Thanks so much for your prayers – we couldn’t be here – seeing God open the hearts of women and men – without you behind us!

Blessings and love.....Faith and Shirley...