Throughout the day, we experienced the fire of the Holy Spirit – first in numerous candles on four birthday cakes – two joint cakes for Carla and me and one for each of us from the local team. From there, we headed out in the pouring rain and floods for a delectable lunch where the fire continued to fall in the form habanero peppers in our soup. They made my favorite dish chili chicken look tame by comparison. Thankfully, the rest of the lunch accompanied by fresh lime soda and sweet lassi quenched the fire in our mouths.

We finished the day wrapping up a few things at Albert’s and then progressively making our way to the airport through the flooded streets. Sean and Carla off to Cape Town, Dena off to San Francisco and Suma, Robin and I off to Jakarta, Indonesia for the next rēp Venture!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. God is moving in India, His Kingdom is coming and His will is being done. We were so excited that we (and you!) could be a part of it.

Kim Wilson

It was a privledge to pray with three consultants / clients from the first Venture. We started the morning with Alex and Susan Mathew.  Alex was our first training lead for the first two cycles in Chennai. We then went to Prem and Shelina’s home. Prem was also a Venture 1 consultant and led the next three cycles of training.  We finished the day with Natchi and Tina – clients from the first Venture who have since been married and just moved into a fabulous [with a “God is so abundantly amazing” testimony] home. So for me, it was like a homecoming! It’s amazing to see God’s faithfulness in each family’s life and pray, encourage and bless each with all that God has for them. Illnesses were healed, feet were washed, tears were shed, truth was spoken and we stood together in agreement and unity of Spirit before the throne of our King. What a privilege to approach him in prayer together on behalf of our wonderful family through Christ Jesus.

Aside from Homecoming, we also had a chance to visit Ruth and pray for her and Sumithra (the lead intercessor) at World Vision India. They shared with us testimony of a recent fire that broke out in their 3^rd floor prayer room. It was contained to that room alone and all were safe. We rejoiced with them at the grace of the Father’s plans to contain the fire (scaffolding already up for a building next door to access the room from the outside, insurance man in the lobby to write up the paperwork…). And we also rejoiced with them for the Holy Spirit’s fire that has come to their organization to refine, bring truth and power in greater measure of Christ-likeness throughout the organization.

We finished the night with a scrumptious team dinner at the Taj Hotel.  We haven’t laughed so hard the whole trip. It started with the drive up to the Taj. 6 of us were stuffed into Natchi & Tina’s car. So, when security checked the boot of the car and found Tina crammed in there – the look of shock on his face was priceless.  Even the guard was laughing at his own reaction! And thus began a raucous evening. The night was full of recounting cultural faux pas, misunderstood gestures, embarrassing moments, and the famous Indian “bobble head.” Joy has been a major theme of this Venture, so may the joy continue in greater and greater measure!!

Tomorrow is our last official day in Chennai – with a Birthday Lunch for me and Carla, an afternoon local leadership meeting, dinner and then airport!  I am excited to take 5 Indians with me to Jakarta -  three are travelling from Chennai and two from Kerala!

Kim Wilson

Off to VGP for prayer first thing, then errands in the middle of the biggest rainstorm I have ever experienced! And I am a native Seattleite! 

Streets flooded, cars stalled, knee high pedestrian wading across streets, autos creating wakes worthy of wakeboarding; ceilings leaking, creating storms inside of buildings – waterfall worthy in some places…in the words of Sean the bouncer turned rose, now shepherd, it was HECTIC!  And he earned a new tag-name – gallant.  The guy stood in the pouring rain to hail the car, THEN opened and held the car doors for the ladies; while the driver remained ensconced in the mini-van!  Soaked to the skin he entered the vehicle and promptly caused every window to fog.  We are so thankful for Sean.

Back at the hotel we continued prayer meetings - Carla met with Helen for several hours and Sean, Kim and I prayed for Francis.

Tomorrow is our last full day meeting with clients; we check out of the hotel on Friday and head off to Jakarta, Cape Town and San Francisco that night.  It is bittersweet knowing that we only have a few more hours in the intense, hospitable, and currently soaking wet, land of India.

Dena Andrews

Moving on to a birthday lunch at Zameendar we had a feast of great food & company in a gorgeously decorated atmosphere just before Janet had to jet set off to Hyderabad for work.  After a luxuorious afternoon break from all the activities of the past 10 days we joined in worship at Apostolic Fellowship Tabernacle (AFT) which seats about 2500 people; and really very much like any other big chruch.  Suma introduced the rep team to the senior pastor, Sam Chelladurai, and I received a birthday blessing from him.  It was wonderful to see and experience a Bible-based church in India.

What an awesome relaxing day for me as the birthday girl.

Carla Olivier  

We stopped for lunch at Ideal Beach Resort and Margie Cook joined us.  We toured the beach (breathtaking) and the grounds.  Kim reminised about the fist venture which was held at this location.  As usual, the food was fabulous, spicy, and flavor-filled, and it was enhanced by the depth of conversation and the people around the table.

After lunch we made four stops - first, to an almost completed house in a small village; second to the factory where all the roofing and side panels are produced; third to see houses #3,4,and 5 and meet the families inhabiting them, and fourth to Don & Margies house to have tea, biskets, and pray for them and their project.  It was amazing to see what they are doing for India.  Widows in India are regarded as forgettable and seeing the Cook’s compassion changing and challenging societal mindsets was imactful.

Back into the cars, and off we went to Sudhir and Aruna’s - once again, hospitality was above bar and we were wonderfully received by them and their family.  While waiting for them to arrive we went to see some shops across the road - and felt like we were playing a real live video game dodging the cars, autos, motorbikes and cycles as we crossed the road!  It was more of an adrenalin rush than riding anything Disney World can offer!

Aruna provided a lovely dinner of baked chicken, chicken nuggets (Indian style) and rice.  My lips were burning but it was great food! 

Back into the cars once again and off to the hotel.  It was a long day but the impact was incredible - to see what the Cooks do despite mindsets, heat, humidity, financial constraint, and language barriers was humbling.  Please pray for them and their ministry www.equipfoundation.org. 

Off to sleep we go…to prepare for Tuesday - it’s my wife’s birthday!

Sean Olivier

A visit to St. Thomas Mount (where the body of the apostle Thomas is buried) - which was quite a hike up 133 steps in 90 degree heat and high humidity…no shorts or sleeveless blouses allowed!  Up at the top we went into the chapel (interior below) and took in the panoramic views of Chennai. Other than willing the heat to not affect us, we didn’t have anything to worry about because of our dear teammate Sean. It’s not easy for four foreign women to blend in here and we walked by a few groups of dodgy looking young men. Sean earned another name today: Sean Bouncer-turned-Rose Olivier turned into Shean Bouncer-turned-Rose Shepherd Oliver. Every so often as we walked a voice came floating over saying “Ok, come together girls. Gather up. Come together please.” I think he has eyes in the back of his head.

Shopping and eating - we went to “City Centre” and shopped for souvenirs and gifts. As you can see, we were quite successful. I think we were helped by a lively performance down in the main area of the mall, which drew a lot of the crowd away from the stores.  We then had a “veg” meal at a local resturant.

Rest - to bed early since we are still recovering from the all night prayer meeting last night!

Janet Wu & Dena Andrews

We had 18 attendees – and only 5 of those were previously affiliated with rēp…most were from World Vision Chennai.  It was a fun day of hard questions, great answers (God can replace you in ministry – he can’t as easily replace you at home) and good fellowship.  The favored part was a panel of two couples (one arranged, one love match) who where asked a series of questions…thanks Don/Margie, Robin/Prema for participating!

We retired back to the hotel for a debrief, dinner, a short rest and then began an all-night prayer meeting at 10:30pm that went until 5:30am.  We praised and thanked God (thanks Robin for coming with your homemade guitar); we repented for sins of the city, state, and nation; took communion; did affirmation; and prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and prayed!  We had a great time.  We started with a force of 14 and ended with 11…who all went immediately home and into bed before starting their regular Sunday routines.

As I write this I am a bit groggy after only 5 hours of sleep.  We are off to “brunch” at 12:30 and then St. Thomas Mount for a visit.  Ah, back out into the sights, sounds, heat and smell of Chennai, India!

Dena Andrews

Pray for them as they push into new markets that are government based, they are concerned about the demand for bribes that can often come in the procurement process.

This faithful company has vowed that they will not pay bribes, and are trusting God for breakthrough in this market.  After we prayed for Ratnikar and his firm Carla stepped up and gently asked Ratnikar to bless our team, which he gladly did.

Friday draws to a close a remarkable week of prayer and blessing.  I have come to learn that visiting businesses and homes to pray and to bless has truly evoked new love, and joy and hope in many lives.  Marriages are being restored; business owners are opening up to God in prayer, admitting weakness, seeking forgiveness and thanking the creator for his provision.  God is in the marketplace.  He reigns in business and in the hearts and households of those we have had the privilege of praying for and blessing. 

As I write this note, tearfully I am leaving tonight part way through our all night prayer meeting to return home.  Even now our local consultants have come to our hotel suite; it feels like a big family at Christmas. 

When people ask me where I spent my vacation I’ll tell them I went to the Kingdom.  Not the magic kingdom in Anaheim, but the Kingdom that God is bringing to the whole world, it’s here, it’s real, and it’s expanding.  Come Lord Jesus, Come.

Phil Curran

The teams then split for the day. My team (Natchi, Jalet, Sean “the rose” Olivier and Suma) headed to Tidel Park for a Christian Fellowship meeting. This is an extremely large IT Park in Chennai. About 50 Christians gathered from a variety of companies to worship, pray and share God’s Word. With an amazing voice I hadn’t heard before, Janet led a great worship time and then I shared rēp’s teaching on our businesses being part of our Households. At the end of the meeting, we had a brief but powerful prayer time with the leadership team for the fellowship. Can you imagine the impact they are having in their companies and the whole IT park as they meet together? I can and I am so encouraged! Then, two of the leaders, Pradeep and Melvin, hosted us for a great lunch in the “Planet Yum” food court which had at least 10 restaurants to choose from!

In the afternoon, we met-up with Esther, an alumni consultant and one of our primary intercessors for Chennai. “The Rose”, Jelet and I had a wonderful time catching-up with her, encouraging and praying with her. She is such a blessing to the rēp community! Of course, she wouldn’t let us escape without praying for us and buying us coffee and snacks. Indian hospitality is amazing…

The majority of the team returned to our hotel for a night-in.  We enjoyed good food at the [somewhat] Chinese restaurant in the hotel, shared stories not fit for print, gained wisdom from Sean and Carla and are now turning in for an early evening and a full day tomorrow. Good night!

Kim Wilson

Carla Fortunato-Olivier