Joel's Indian Adventure

28/03/2011

Shari and I made it home safely. I'll post some pictures today and tomorrow.

20/03/2011

Ok after 3 days of traveling, we finally made it to Kalavai today. It's so good to be back! Honestly its like a second home. Things look a little different they are getting new "cement" roads which will look nice when they are done.

18/03/2011

Ok we just made it to Abu Dhabi, UAE we will be leaving soon for Chennai only a few more hours on a plane!!!

17/03/2011

You can follow along with our trip by going to the blog in the previous update and by following the team on twitter at http://twitter.com/GCCindiaTeams thank you all so much for you support! I should be able to post updates while we are in country.

15/03/2011

Just two more days until we leave for India Shari and I are so excited. We can't wait!

08/03/2011

This article just showed up on a CNN blog. This is exactly why I'm going to India. I can't wait to be a part of something so great! Just 9 days from now!

Uttar Pradesh, India -- An army of workers, their faces encrusted with dust, toils beside a story-high pile of unfired bricks. They are helping build a new India that appears to be leaving them behind.

24/02/2011

Great News! God is so good. With zero time left to raise money we found out that every single penny had come in! Shari and I are so thankful to all of your for your prayer and financial support. Thank You!

17/02/2011

Shari and I just got a financial update we've raised about $3800 - we are so grateful to all who have given so far! We have just over a week left to raise $2200! We need your help, if you could remember us in prayer as we try to raise the remaining funds. Also if you are willing and able please visit the Donate tab to see how you can give. If you do give please let us know so that we can keep track.

31/01/2011

This past weekend our entire team participated in an India Simulation. We slept on the floor, we went to Chicago's Little India, we packed our bags and lugged them around. We even helped one of our other team members move. It definitely wasn't 100 degrees out, but we had a good time getting to know each other. I think we are all more excited about going in just a few short weeks.

19/01/2011

Shari Wolfgang and I just went to the see the doctor this morning. Fortunately enough I didn't need any shots, but Shari wasn't as lucky. Only two months away!

15/01/2011

Great News! We got a large anonymous donation that put us over the top for last Friday's support deadline! Thank you to everyone who has given their support. We are so appreciative. Although we've reached this goal we still have $2700 to raise by February 22nd! If you have been waiting to send in your financial support now is the time. You can visit the donate tab to see the different ways you can give. Thank you.

13/01/2011

I know that most of you got a message from me last night about needing $300 by tomorrow, but I have another update for you! It looks like we now need only $245 by tomorrow! Thank you Thank you Thank you! If you have the ability to donate please do so by going the the Donate tab! We still need $245 by tomorrow. Thank you all for your support Shari and I really appreciate it.

27/12/2010

So we are just 10 days until away from our next deadline. Shari and I need to raise about $1300 by January 4th. If you are able and willing, click the donate tab above and choose from three different ways in which you can financially support our trip. We both appreciate you and all your support!

14/12/2010

Another Support undate just came in and we are half way to our January 4th goal of $1500! We need a total of $3000 by Febuary 22nd. And we leave for India on March 17th.

If you want you can just click the Donate tab above and make your donation! Thank you so much to all of you for your support! Shari and I wouldn't be able to do any of this without you!

03/12/2010

People ask my why I'm going to India - here's just one of my reasons! Ramiya and Pushpa: Irula friends currently "employed" as bonded slaves in a brick kiln. Pushpa is 12. She makes 1,000 bricks per day. She is paid less than $4/week for about 70 - 80 hours of work per week. She has never been to school. The kiln owner makes $65,000/year of raw profit from Pushpa and her family's labor.

01/12/2010

Looks like they made it Nate Stemm and Jessica Stemm are in India enjoying a traditional Southern Indian dish - Thali. And look Kelly Chavis VonGunten in the background!

29/11/2010

I'm really excited. Nate Stemm and Jessica Stemm are leading our trip in March and tomorrow they leave for a recon trip for a couple of days. I can't wait to hear what they find out for us who are going in March. When we land in India in March Nate and Jess will have traveled to India three times in one year. Committed! I can't wait to serve with you guys again!

04/11/2010

This video was taken while I was in India in March great story of a 15 year old Indian teenager and how she came to know Christ.

In southern India, in a small colony in Kalavai, lives a young woman named Manju. Though only sixteen years of age, her life has already been filled with much pain and hopelessness. And recently, hope and joy as well. This is her story.