"Both are Favorites"

Dear friends,
I am enjoying these handful days in India as my friends and I have been at a beach front resort in full view of the Indian ocean. The Asirs are taking some much needed rest from ministry, and we are all enjoying the scenery, the beach, and the fun times very much.
It has been said by one very wise and clever comedian when commenting about his days in junior league baseball and his love for snow cones...."Cherry and grape...don't worry about which one to get...both are favorites, and if you only play half a game, you still get whole snow cone. So I would rather play half a game, because I still get a whole snow cone."
This is how I feel about two of my favorite activities in India thus far. I love getting Chai tea in the morning with the men, and I love riding on the back of Benesh's motorbike to and from the Asir's house. I will begin with going for tea.
In the morning, Benesh, Raju, Andrew, and I all wake up between 6-7:30 A.M. We live in a rented out apartment on the second floor. Adjacent to our house on the right are people doing construction--this means we wake up every morning and see men and women carrying anywhere between ten and fifteen bricks on their head up and down the stairs. We walk down the stairs to be greeted by the heat, the Hindu signs freshly drawn on the sidewalks in chalk, and, usually some India children all grabbing at Beneshs' arms. We take a left and start our walk down the street. At the end of our street, before we take a right onto a new street, there is a dump.
It is a place where everyone throws their huge amounts of trash like old rugs, old clothes, or broken appliances. The smell is thick and inescapable. It is about this time in the walk when we take a right, and the streets become strewn with trash and filled with people. Instead of being a street lined with houses; it is a street of commerce. People are selling food, newspapers, drinks, coconuts, and, of course, Chai Tea. When we get to the end of the street of commerce (about seventy steps), we are welcomed by the sound of bells of this elaborate and extravagant Hindu temple. The priests are chanting to the gods and ringing the bells. Two weeks ago, this raptured my attention, but it is now slowly becoming normalcy to my everyday routine. On the street of commerce, we take a sharp right and arrive at our Chai Tea place. We get a seat because we are Americans and some reading....then we try to blend in by smiling sheepishly and muttering a few words from our small list of Tamil vocabulary. The cups which we drink Chai Tea in are comparable to shot glasses. On the way back to the bachelor suite, we pick up an Indian newspaper written in English for Andrew and me. It is entitled, you would never guess, "The Hindu." We go home, take baths in buckets, and Benesh gets an auto for Andrew, Raju, and me to take us to the Asir's. Then when the auto (a yellow, three wheeled vehicle) arrives, I run up to Benesh and very excitedly ask, "Benesh Ana (older brother), can I ride with you on the motorcycle?" This begins my other favorite actvity in India thus far.
Riding on a motorcycle here in India gratifies my manly need for an adrenaline rush. It is everything, except safe. The ride lasts for about ten to fifteen minutes, but there are no stop signs or traffic lights where we ride. Thus, Benesh has to be able to turn, avoid being hit, or stop on a dime. The first time I rode; I almost pulled both of us off as Benesh weighs, maybe ninety pounds, and I weigh 210. He corrected where my arms should go, and we have not had that problem again.
In America, honking is rude, but here it signifies, "Hey, I am coming around a corner, or I am about to pass you." No biggie. The smell of smoke from the exhaust pipes fills my lungs, and the rush of passing people accelerates my serotonin levels. The-always-desired, but very-infrequent breeze pushes my wet-shower hair back off my forehead...and India, for a moment, almost feels cool. Instead of almost falling off or almost pulling Benesh off, I now feel like an expert at riding. I know how to turn with Benesh without making the back of the motorbike swerve. Also, when he turns, I can feel myself compensating for the turn by gently leveraging my weight to the opposite side to ensure a smooth turn. Whenever, we get where we are going, I am always disappointed, because I want to go further.
In my mind, I am comforted by the fact that I still have about nine weeks left to enjoy these things. So I dismount the motorcycle and smile to myself, because that morning I have been able to enjoy a motorcycle ride after some chai tea and "both are favorites."

In Christ Alone,
Seth Flores

Eyes to See and Ears to Hear

Dear friends,

We have just completed the Word for the World conference in Kodaikanal, India and have returned to Maudurai before heading to the Asir's home in Chennai. The conference was wonderful; it was held to encourage the sponsers in their spiritual walks. The conference emphasized the importance of not only praying and sponsoring Word for the World, but also the importance of partnering with Word for the World in their mission to spread gospel truth and love (especially in thier families and in their everday lives).

After having an intense discussion with my team last night, I realized how easy it will be to live in the safety of my team and to actually miss being here in India. The word for today is "do not hide." In all the missions' settings I have been in so far (Ukraine and Haiti), I have come to acknowledge how capable all the missionaries already-on-site were. They are following the Lord and are bringing in the Kingdom. Then, my team shows up. A rag-tag bunch from the "America" (in a country accent). The question always come to my mind, "Why am I here again?" In the briefness of the prior trips, I have only been able to answer this question when I have come home, but I am in India for another nine weeks.
I have met people here whose lives have been faithful to the Lord longer than my dad has been alive, and they, themselves, have been in ministry longer than I have been alive. Yesterday, I met a woman, who was sponsered to come to the United States to do research on cardiovascular heart diseases. Two days ago, I met a woman who, in my opinion, reminds of an Indian Beth Moore. To say the least, whenever this lady spoke, everyone's attention was captured, and everyones' hands were writting down her thoughts. During my first Sunday here, Uncle Augustine gave a message that challenged me as a man, as a Christian, and as a spiritual leader. Again, I am reminded of the very clear and sure leading I felt from the Lord to come to India. I am sure that I am supposed to be here. The question is, "Why?"
Because of my American mind, I am always trying to fix people and trying to become the Holy Spirit in their lives. In my short time here in India, God has called me to a deeper understanding of "humility." He has shown me that India belongs to Him, and not me. He has shown me that if I am to be used by Him here, then I, as one of His sheep, will have to learn to really listen to His voice. This is my plea for today that I would meet God in India as I determine in my mind and heart to surrender to His leading to serve the people here in anyway that He sees fit. All things belong to Him, and all things are being reconcilied to Christ's feet. May God give me the "humility" to not miss Him and to not miss India while I am here.

In Christ Alone,
Seth Flores

I have been trying to get around to posting a blog, but with three of us trying to do the same thing, it is difficult.

However, I am here now, and I would like to say, before I say anything, I love it here in India. I woke up this morning thinking, "How do I begin my first blog? How do I describe what I am seeing, smelling, feeling, eating, trusting, praying, and believing?" As already mentioned, it is incredibly hot; my skin has already negatively reacted to the heat and has developed a pretty disgusting heat rash that moved from my arms and my legs to my forehead and, now, my upper lip. Steriods and Benedryl are on their way, and I dearly covet your prayers right now and so does my skin.
Our hosts are the Asirs--Augustine (the Father); Auntie (his wife); Sharron (His daughter); Jim Assir (a handicap son of Augustine, who is completly responsive, but cannot take care of himself or speak, oh yeah, and he never stops smiling and laughing); Sam (Sharron's Son--Augustine grandson); Benesh and Raju (my and Andrew's roomates). All of these people and more make up the ministry based in Chennai, India known as "Word for the World." I could take five pages and tell you how I learned joy from Jim's effectious smile; how I enjoyed a blend of Indian food(igglee and Chai tea) and American food (fried chicken and panckaes) from Sharron's cooking; how I learned to live like an Indian man from Benesh (who takes us to Chai tea every morning in Chennai) and Raju (who talks to me about Jesus Christ with a faith that surpasses my own); and how I learned to teach sermons as God's messages and not mine from Augustine Asir (after he preached and said, "This is the message God gave to me to give to you; I hope it has helped.").

The driving is crazy, my skin is killing me, the smells are not so bad, the food is great, and the people are of the best quality. I love it here. I have not even been here a week, and God is being more faithful than I had anticipated. Isn't this always the turth? Pray for my sister Kristen as she builds relationships with the women here, pray for Andrew as his love for his family and friends occassionaly surfaces in homesickness, and pray for me to be healed of my skin rash and to be healed of everything inside that is not of Christ. My most frequent prayer is that Christ and His gospel would tear down every wall that I have knowningly and unknowningly placed around my heart and mind. Your prayers are my miracles, and I looked forward to sharing them with you face to face.

In Christ Alone,
Seth

Wanna Come

It means "hello, and good day to you" in Tamil. Greetings from Chennai, India. I hope these next few months God makes His Son permeate through my entire being. I want to be crucified with Christ, and I want Him to live through me. I want the people in India to see my life and be shown His Son (Gal. 2:20, Matt. 5:15-16). I hope to keep you informed as all of you have played a role in my being here whether it was from teaching me, praying for me, or supporting me in this trip. My life is richer, because of all of you. I hope to keep you involved in my experience here, so that you, like the first century church did with Paul, will become partakers in grace with me. (Phil. 1:6-9) By praying for me, you enter into this time with me and are very much involved with my ministry. May God be gracious to us as we serve together.

Safe in India

Thank you all for your prayers for us as we travelled. Andrew, Kristen, and I have safely arrived in India and are adjusting to life here. It is very hot! I will post more information soon. Keep praying for us to overcome the jet lag before we fly to Muaderai on Monday afternoon.