From December 28 to January 13, the missionary team of volunteers from Grace Avenue Church visited Chilakaloo, India which is a small village about 200 km north of Hyderabad. This is an impoverished region mostly inhabited by the tenant farmers, although this region also has some industrial developments.
The population of India is 1.3 billion people, 80% of which are devotees of Hinduism, 14% are Muslims, and only 2.4% Christians.
The main goal of the trip was in serving the orphanage of New Hope Ministries serving children who lost their parents or were deserted by them since the parents were unable to support them. Moreover, brothers and sisters helped to clear the land for building of a new school for the orphans and the poor, as well as participating in Evangelistic services in the neighborhoods.
The camp organizer is a preacher of the Grace Avenue Church Gary Ball who has been to many missionary trips to India. He considers this to be a great experience for the youth. The spiritual as well as financial help for the poor, weak, and the deserted is a sign of true godliness. The youth got to know the ministry of the pastor from Chilakaloo, Prabhudas Papabathini. Brothers and sisters went with him to people’s houses and prayed for the needs of the people. The youth admits that this was a very humbling ministry since they felt themselves inadequate of such trust by these poor people who despite their material poverty are abundant in spiritual riches: sincere love, joy in the Lord, and the desire to serve.
Brothers and sisters listened to the local people’s stories who when they were children were supported by Christians from the U.S. This helped them to live a proper lifestyle and dedicate themselves to the Lord who shows Himself through the care of believers to them. Many young men and ladies from the missionary trip will continue financial support of the children in the orphanage. Missionaries are volunteers who sincerely believe that this ministry has a great future and their ministry will bring good fruit for the glory of God.
Report by Irina Karhut
Short video of the trip can be found here.
