Dubai en route to Kolkata | 05 July 2010
Kingsland Kolkata Team
Over the next two weeks more than three-hundred and fifty Kingsland students and adults will serve from Houston’s inner-city wards to the slums of Kolkata. And, one adult team will venture to the bush in southwestern Tanzania to continue our work among peoples in remote villages. I am privileged to lead our team of high school graduates from suburban Katy to bustling Kolkata. In the mornings, our team will serve the destitute and dying at Mother Teresa’s homes. In the afternoons our girls will serve at the aftercare home that we support for young girls rescued from brothels. Our boys will serve at a small school for boys located in the heart of Kolkata’s slums.
I first visited Mother Teresa’s homes in January of last year. This is my fourth trip to serve at the homes she founded but my first to do so with a team of students. Over the next two weeks our students will be exposed to the harsh realities of what life is like for the least of these and for victims of injustice. And, that’s not a bad thing. It’s too easy for us to enjoy the comforts of suburban life without ever considering the difficulties that the poor and vulnerable who live in places like Kolkata face every day. Survival for these individuals is a never-ending struggle. My hope is that the exposure to these realities will help our students to become more aware of and responsive to the needs of the suffering and oppressed everywhere. My prayer is that as our students become adults, they will continue to address God’s concern for the least and the lost.
While waiting to board our flight from Houston to Dubai, one student approached me and said, “Please pray for me because I’m scared.” She paused and then looked directly into my eyes and confessed, “I’m scared because of what I may have to face in Kolkata.” I affirmed this student for having the courage to leave everything familiar in order to love and serve others in an unfamiliar place like Kolkata. She continued, “I keep reminding myself of what you told us in our meetings — how Mother Teresa would look for Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor.” And then she said, “I think I can do that. I think I can look for Jesus in the faces of the poor and then serve Him by doing for them what Jesus would do.” I think she can do it, too. In fact I know that she and each of the students on our team can do it.
Over the next couple of weeks these students will be stretched in ways they never thought possible by doing hard things. They will love and serve the poorest of the poor and those who have suffered unspeakable abuse at the hands of the strong. They will affirm the worth of those they meet by loving and serving them as Jesus would. They will wrestle with the disparity between the privileges they enjoy and the poverty that defines those they have come to serve. Many of them will weep at night as they reflect on what they experienced during the day. They will learn that, with God’s help, they can do more than they ever thought possible. I not only think that our students can do hard things, I know that they will do hard things and, as a result, make a difference and return home different.
I often tell others that, in each of our lives, there is a line that marks the farthest we’ve ever been and the most we’ve ever done for God and His purposes. Everything on our side of that line is familiar, comfortable, manageable, and predictable. We’re seldom scared on our side of that line. It’s only when we dare to go beyond — to take even a single step beyond that line — that we become a little frightened and wonder what we’ve gotten ourselves into. The other side of the line is where we wrestle with “I’m scared but I think I can do that” kind of thoughts. And, that’s a very good thing. So, I challenge you to follow the example of our students. Step across the line. Go a little farther. Wrestle with what you think you can do and discover the great things that God will actually do in and through your life when you are willing to go beyond.
Go Beyond 
GOD bless you all !!!
The LORD says in Psalm 37:23: “The steps of a man are established by the LORD,And He delights in his way” Well, that’s what He is doing right now. He has a CALL for all of you to go to Kolkata, and you answered it. Some with joy, others with doubts, and others with uncertainty. Let JESUS take control of everything. For He is our rock, our shelter, and be filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, for He will protect and guide you in all your ways there in Kolkata.
” …. Do not grieve (be distressed), for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” ( Nehemiah 8:10 )
I’m so proud of all you. I love you Vanessa !!!
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU !!!
By: Nancy Rojas on July 6, 2010
at 12:06 PM
Praise God for You and all at Kingsland Baptist.
I praise the Lord will use the teams richly and to His Glory. Do keep me up to date on your trip so I can pray for you. Any You tube videos as in previous Kingsland trip.
I visited Kolkata a number of times in the 90s and support the work of New Life Fellowship and Hope Home. My niece is working in Kolkata at the moment with EMC.
By: Paul Beniston on July 6, 2010
at 3:51 PM
Praying that each of you will touch and be touched by all you experience. Please know that we love you all and are praying for you…Vicki
By: Vicki on July 6, 2010
at 4:51 PM
Please know that you are in the prayers of Caitlyn’s grandmother’s church, First Baptist Church of Jackson, Ms., Madison, Ms.
I pray Jesus will wrap his arms around each of you, and give you a rich and rewarding experience of his love through this entire mission trip, and bring you all home safely, and I thank God for each of you willing to go through this experience which will be filled with things you never imagined or experienced, joy, sadness,feelings you’ve never had to deal with, but ,”with God all things are possible”, He will give you strength and courage, remember that you have an extra resource in God’s promised help in time of need.
You will never be the same, but PRAISE GOD !!NEITHER WILL THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES YOU TOUCH!!
Thank You Jesus for this mission and this wonderful group who love You and want to follow Your will, amen.
By: Sherry on July 6, 2010
at 8:17 PM
May the words each of you use, the works of your hands and the thoughts of you minds be pleasing to our Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer! We are praying the Holy Spirit will use each of you to make the Name of Jesus famous and the desire of all you encounter. We love you Court.
By: Bob Kincaid on July 6, 2010
at 8:19 PM
Beyond the line you speak of is the very presence of God. Enjoy His presence, challenging as it may be. There is no greater joy in this life.
By: Scott Reeder on July 6, 2010
at 9:46 PM
Thanking God for Team India! Encouraging and challenging blog Omar. Praying the Lord will remind each of you as you encounter hard stuff: with Him…
” You CAN do this.” Please remind Amy – Im praying for her requests and more…
Sandy
By: Sandy Westervelt on July 6, 2010
at 9:54 PM
Precious ones,
In prayer today as you arrive in Kolkata soon. May God be with each of you as you begin His work and as He works through each of you.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion”
Isaiah 61:1-3
God bless you – we love you!
By: Laurie Reeder on July 6, 2010
at 10:05 PM
Hebrews 13:2 says “Be careful not to forget to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unaware”. I am so proud of my nephew Brett Davis and the other young adults who have willingly left behind the life of plenty they have always known to witness a life they could never imagine people must endure. By doing that, they will certainly “entertain” angels – unaware! Let Brett know he is in my thoughts and prayers – and my heart is with him as he goes!
By: Tami Fast on July 6, 2010
at 11:23 PM
I thank God for each of you who once again strive to be ” Jesus with skin on.” We love you and admire your courage in caring for the least of these. This expirience will not only change the lives of those whom you reach, it will change your’s. Find the time to journal. This you provide a way for you to process how The Lord is using you,, it will provide a legacy that you can share with future generations. You are a blessing. Thank you for your obedience.
By: Julie Francis on July 7, 2010
at 10:12 AM
My friend forwarded this devotion that popped up on July 5th! Divine timing! 🙂
VERSE:
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the
nations what he has done and proclaim that his name is exalted.
— Isaiah 12:4
THOUGHT:
It is wrong to think God’s love for the nations began only with Jesus and the Great Commission. Remember Jonah’s preaching to save Israel’s great enemy, Nineveh? Remember the precious story of Ruth, a foreigner grafted into the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus the Messiah? God loves all people and wants them to come to
share in His grace. As Christians, we are His salt and light. We are here to touch all the peoples of the world and beckon them to come back to the one Father who truly loves them.
PRAYER:
Holy God, stir in my heart a greater passion to share your love
with the world. May my life, my money, and my concern be used to do
more of your work throughout the world. Please bless the efforts of
all those who share the Gospel of Jesus in a culture other than
their own. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
We eagerly await your stories and are praying that God will provide daily encouragement as you seek to love and bless the people of Kolkuta.
Love you all!!!
By: Bette Puffer on July 7, 2010
at 10:15 AM
Ambassadors for Christ,
Thank you so much for your willingness to leave your comfort zone and serve the least of these. Remember the words of Jesus, the services you are providing these dear soles, you are also providing to our Lord. Matt 25:31 – 46. Be strong and courageous.
We love you!!
By: David Bateman on July 7, 2010
at 12:21 PM
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we could ask or think, according to the power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.
Eph. 3:20-21
Keep pointing others to Jesus! It’s about Him! And I know you all can do it – I’ve seen many of the students doing it on previous trips and in their lives. God has not wasted anything in His preparation of you and He has called you for such a time as this. Love and prayers to you!
By: Kay Lowry on July 7, 2010
at 4:30 PM