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I will work backwards on my recent work so I can at least update you on the latest work here. Since I returned from London and Mumbai (I will get to that), I have been working on a video to show what has been happening in the Indian state of Orissa. If you are unaware of what is happening, lets just say that a lot of Christians have lost there lives and more than 50 thousand have been forced out of there homes and are being forced out of the state as well as into refugee camps, and this is just within the last 6 weeks. They are welcome to stay in there homes but they must publicly denounce Christ and become a Hindu.
There are thousands of Hindu extremists that are burning down homes, churches, orphanages, and christian schools. There has been several HBI pastors and familys that have been affected by this tragedy and it has been really hard for me to see so up close and personal. Over the last 4 weeks I have helped interview several pastors that have been displaced and have been threatened to be killed. They are safe for now, but they are on a hit list and have been warned not to return to Orissa. The family I have been closest to here at HBI are from Orissa and it has been hard for me to watch them go through all the emotions that they have been subjected to. Please watch the video below so you and your family knows how to pray for the people here. Orissa is about 350 miles north from were I am.
Before I headed to London and Mumbai (I will get to that I promise) the beach camp that I have been preparing for over the last 3 months finally took place. "SonTan", as it was called, was a great success as we had about 45 young adults show up from all walks of life. We had Christians, Hindus and young professionals come for 3 days of fun, worship, and fellowship. We have gotten so much feedback from the people that have attended and said that they have really had a great time and seemed to connect with God in one way or another. We held a concert on Saturday Night and had bands come in from Chennai as well as Bangalore. 
We all rocked out that night, before we were all rocked by the testimony of a man from Orissa that was staying at the camp. (Scripture Union camp site in Mahabalipuram) He and his family were staying there for a few days until he could figure out what he and his family were going to do now that his house, car, bike have all been set fire to. He did say one way or another that he will go back because that is where God has called him and because the people of Orissa needs to know of the love of Jesus.
OK, back to the camp.... The time we spent in preparation for this camp was well worth it and I think we were all definitely tanned by the Son at the camp. It has been 3 weeks since the camp and there are still people on Facebook that are talking about the camp. Praise God for his guidance and his direction.
My job was to arrange all the audio and needed equipment. I also took care of all the video elements that were used in our sessions, as well as, getting the worship songs together and the lyrics for the video screen. I also had to prepare the band to lead the camp in worship. What a weekend it was but I did not enjoy myself as much as I hoped as I was so drained of energy from all that I have been involved with lately. While the group was playing football (Soccer) or making human sand sculptures, I was sleeping. Outside of my tiredness, I am very pleased with the weekend. By the way, if you need a banner made like the one you see in the background of the photos, I guarantee that I could have one printed and shipped to you cheaper than what you could make it there in the states. That 25 foot by 8 foot backdrop cost me only $65 dollars!
Before the camp HBI held a Missions conference where hundreds of pastors from all over India came for a week of refueling and learning. What this meant for me was 2 weeks of preparation before the conference and a full week of video recording and conducting interviews of Orissa pastors.
We had a group of pastors from Australia that did the majority of the teaching along with a writer from Lancaster, Ohio. The entire week was focused on strategies that will help reach our Muslim neighbors. That was a busy week in the communications department as it was up to us to prepare all the Audio, video needs as well as the backgrounds for the stage and class areas. As the conference went on, what was going on the stage was translated into 5 languages in real time which was something to hear and see. When I look back on it now the 3 weeks were just one big blur.We finally completed the Firewall project which has helped increase HBI's network security and has given the IT department the tools it needed to add some improvements to the network and some upgrades that should come next year (providing the money is there). I am praying that I can help raise some money for these upgrades while I am there in the states. I will be home in 5 weeks by the way :O
As promised.....
Praise God! I came to India with the hope that along with the training and work that I am doing with HBI that I would also make some extra cash by doing some radio work and this is what the trip was for. I was hired to link a Indian radio station that is in London with a production company that is based in Mumbai India as well as setup the software that is on the right of the photo that runs all the On-Air operations.. This gave me a great opportunity to see London and obviously I had a blast! I was there 7 days working for Zee Radio and worked most of my time, but I did have the weekend to get out and enjoy the city. First I loved the history of the city and to see building that are still thriving after hundreds of years of being used. Saturday night was an evening out seeing the sights with Monks, the engineer for Zee, and Sunday was a day out on my own seeing all I could before I had to head back to India. 
I got the opportunity to sit in on an Pipe Organ recital at the Westminster Abby Church Sunday afternoon, and all I can say is wow and I will never forget what I saw 
and heard. I took an illegal picture in hiding so not the greatest picture but you get the Idea. And I enjoyed the travel from place to place. My hotel accommodations were on the wrong end of the city, so I had an hour and 15 min train(s) ride each way to work every day so I became extremely filmier with the London Underground system and the way most that live in London travel. Extremely fast, efficient and expensive. That was the only major downfall of the train rides as it cost me almost $100 for a week of travel. If I wasn't taking a train, I was on a London bus, and by the end of my time there I was well versed on how to travel in London. Coming back on the British Air flight I watched a documentary on the London Underground System and how haunted it is. I am glad I saw that after I left and not before. London is an amazing place to visit and I hope to return there someday. 
By the way if you ever travel to London and you want to buy some chocolate for Bobby, get him the "Cadbury Bournville Plain Dark Chocolate" and not the "Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate". Sorry Bobby, maybe next time I will get it right.
After London it was time to head to Mumbai to finish the India side of my radio project. No site seeing on this trip other than what was around my Hotel, besides, I was so ready to fall over all I wanted to do was go back to Chennai and find my bed and hide for a month. Believe it or not, I am back in Mumbai right now as I am writing this doing more radio work, so Praise God the work is coming in. I have been so desperate for the money and God has provided it at the exact time I needed it, so as usual my needs have been met.The only other major thing that has been going on, as if there hasn't been enough, is I have started to cook in my room. Some American, but mostly I have been cooking Indian food. I have cooked for my neighbors and the guys I have been working with and that said that I am a good cook. Butter Chicken was my first attempt to Indian food, and I was told that it was very good and was asked to make it again. I also cooked Spaghetti for the guys I work with and most really liked it. All but one was eating Spaghetti for the 1st time, and it reminded me that I truly am in a different place (yes I need reminded now and then because I am getting so used to my surroundings). Last week I cooked Butter chicken for the Personal department, but it was no where close to as good as my first attempt. It was too watered down but everyone was nice and kept a smile on there faces even though it was obviously not that good. maybe next time. I will be bringing some Indian ingredients home with me so we will have a meal or 2 while I am there.
Sorry again that it has been soo very long between Updates, but I literally have not stopped in 2 months and I am defiantly feeling it right now. Please pray for my strength and attitude. Also please pray for my safety as I am in a less than safe place for Christians, though right now the fighting in not near me, lets pray it stays far away from me. Please pray for the fighting to stop and for the Government to step in and put a stop to the violence and protect the Christians. The New Life team have come with in the past will be here at the end of the week and I can't wait to see some filmier faces. Please pray for there effectiveness and safety while there here. Also please pray giving continues to come in for my needs here. I have received very little over the last few months and I am concerned I will not have enough for my upcoming time here next year. It took me sitting down 5 times over the last week and a half to complete this, so I hope it made sense and I will look forward to hearing from you all real soon. I'm home in 35 days!!!!
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