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Blog Entries for: Short-term Missions

Aasha Hope Home Journey with Dwain Banner

What a great trip! Deacon and I were able to see what the Lord had done over the past 3 ½ years and what He is continuing to do through Hopegivers International. On October 31, 2006 God gave our home group (through Wellspring Baptist Fellowship) the funds to build a Hope Home in India. Dr. Thomas informed us the orphanage would be built at in the slums of Delhi, India. We were so excited about this orphanage, its location and the opportunities there to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most of the people in this community are dalits, the unwanted, people who do not count in the population because by many of the upper class they are not considered people.

In March of 2010, Deacon and I were able to return to Delhi once again. This time we were not there to lay the first brick, but to dedicate the completed orphanage building! It was so exciting to see the building and especially the children, 50 of them, wow, the Lord had granted the pastor his heart's desire of taking in 50 children!!

June 18, 2010 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

A Fruitful Trip to India with Team Banner!

Team Banner serving the Aasha Hope Home I am so happy to share with you the adventures of our recent journey to India from the United States. We brought a group of nine friends to visit Hopegivers' staff, students, and Hope Homes in India. I cannot begin to explain completely how much my heart personally has been touched by these loving and giving people and the children of India. So, I will just share with you some of the adventures the Lord graciously took us on during our recent visit.

First, it was such an honor to be a part of the growth and development of the Aasha Hope Home and to be able to be a part of the dedication of this new home for the children! We are so excited to see how God gave his vision to one of your local pastors and shared that vision with another member of the body of Christ half way around the world in order to provide the means for that to come to fruition. Also, it brought us great joy to witness God's faithfulness in filling the Home with 50 children. What an amazing and loving God we serve.

May 4, 2010 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

A Smiling Spirit

As I was standing in the monsoon rain outside a Bombay train station, huddled under my large blue Marriot umbrella ( a billboard for privilege), a young cripple walked out of a crushing crowd just below my vision. I looked down a bit as he tilted his head and looked up at me, blinking through the pouring rain, and smiled. He could only look up at the world since he walked through it on all fours with sandals on his hands. His deformed spine has him walking head down, face in the dirt, through life.

November 23, 2009 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

Follow the Path!

The village is my kind of place, cause I can relate well to the people. They ain't smart, I ain't neither! They live in the middle of nowhere, so do I! But the reason I went on the 6-hour jungle excursion wasn't to give clothes, shoes, undergarments, soaps, or sporting goods. No, I went because it was the love of Christ that compelled me...

March 27, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Crying Like Crazy Over a "Widow's Mite"

After receiving an outfit provided by some of you reading this, a little old lady came to me after the service. After receiving prayer, she stuck her hand out and placed 10 rupees in my hand! It was the most humbling thing I have ever experienced!

March 8, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

On the Train Again with Willie Nelson

I feel like the Willie Nelson. Yep, I'm on the train again. We are going south to visit about 20 children's homes in 2 weeks time. Please pray for our revival in the villages this upcoming week, that God would shine His light in the darkness...

March 6, 2009 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

Super-Saver Shopping Saves Lives

I bought 1,500 pairs of jeans and 300 skirts for 400 USD. Pretty amazing, huh? The money I saved will keep a pastor on the field for one year, and provide enough food for a kid for one year. I saved 800 USD by being a super shopper, and what kept running through my mind was that I'll be saving a child's life and saving lost souls through this investment...

March 5, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Having A Cold One in the East

"It is time for another cold one," I said this morning. But trust me, it doesn't have the same meaning here as it does in America. In the U.S. a "cold one" means a brew. Here in India it means my next bath. I want you to say, "Thank you Jesus! I have hot water on cold nights, in my nice warm house."

March 4, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Happiest Words: Thanks for being a dad to me...

The other day, a girl brought up in the orphanage called me. I know her whole family. There are three sisters and one brother. She was 12 the first time we met. I watched her grow up and have always been her good friend. Yesterday her baby was brought into this world. She called me to share the news...

March 3, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Lives are Being Changed Every Day

I have been able to accomplish a lot this past week upon my arrival in N. India. I spent two days on a train, and trust me dear friend, after 2 days on a train with a 2 year old, you pray that the rapture will happen sooner than it's supposed to!

March 2, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Paralyzed Man Walks, Family of 9 Saved!

Does God answer the prayers of children? There was a girl named Anna from the children's home who came 2 years ago. Her father had fallen from a tree and was paralyzed. So Anna prayed for her father, and he began to feel strength come into his back at the same moment she had been praying...

March 1, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Making Orphans Smile

Many days I ask myself, is it worth it? Is what worth what? Is the time on trains and time away from family worth it? I feel like the answers is no sometimes, but when you visit a children's home like the one I did yesterday, the answer is yes, it's worth it, and then some...

January 15, 2009 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Todd & Gracy in India

Would you believe it if I told you I was bucked off a stupid water buffalo the 2nd week I was in India? Otherwise, it has been an awesome first few weeks in India, giving all the shoes and clothes to more than 600 kids...

December 31, 2008 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

August 2008 Haiti Construction Trip

The recent trip of one of our Hope Adventure teams was a resounding success. Find out how God did a wonderful work through this team to help repair a school building despite an impending hurricane and other trip surprises.

September 16, 2008 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Joy Unspeakable

"Joy unspeakable" are the two words that are constantly in my mind when I see the children here; and as I said previously, my heart breaks for those of us that think that we have so much, but do not have that joy unspeakable. That is why I cannot help but give to this work, from both my time, my talents and my treasure.

July 16, 2008 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

In a Trip Around the World, India Shines

The following is feedback from a Global Challenge Expeditions (GCEX) team who recently spent some time visiting HG-sponsored projects in India on their way around the world. GCEX is an awesome ministry that we love very much, check out what they had to say about their time in India.

July 16, 2008 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

The Cost

I praise God that He took me to India through Hopegivers International and has shown me the true meaning of counting the cost to follow my Lord. I have found it is a magnificent thing to have such an incredible reason and purpose to live. If you don't believe me come with me and let me show you my India.

May 22, 2008 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

My India Top 11

Instead of re-hashing all the things we did here the last few days, I'd like to propose a list of my top 11 favorite things in no particular order about the country of which I've become so fond. We're speaking of India, for those who've not been paying attention.

May 14, 2008 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

Malawi Recap

You know how I like to recap things. I hate to leave things un-recapped. In light of this I will now attempt to tidily summarize the balance of my Malawi journey in a concise manner.

March 20, 2008 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Short, sweet + right on!

Pre-India, I think had somehow mistakenly equated a person's amount of privilege with their ability to give, but that notion is a grave lie.

February 12, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments

A Holiday Away

For the first time in my life, I spent Christmas away from my house, family and friends. I was surrounded by my brothers and sisters in Jesus...I woke up to the presence of God through hearing 600+ children sing praises at 5:30 am.

February 5, 2008 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

Haiti Update

What a neat thing it’s been to see the progression of the work here—especially seeing the improved health of the kids in just over a year of good diets, care and medicine. Many of whom were underweight, and quite twirl-able/throw-able on our first trip back in August ’06, are now far too big for successive rocket-ship rides.

February 4, 2008 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Mission Trips, Shmission Trips

My girlfriend was asked to lead worship for the orphans of India over Christmas? Gulp. That sounds nice. And she's going to skip Christmas with family? Um-hmm. And she wants me to come? My eyes grew to double their size as I hypnotically nodded...

February 3, 2008 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

A Nebraskan goes to India

The most important thing I noticed during my trip was not how much the children ate or the clothes they were wearing or the warm beds they slept in. Instead it was how loved they were, and how much they loved.

January 15, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments

I Went Back to the New Testament...

I saw people without enough to eat give me the best food they could buy. I saw Christians take everything they had to buy flowers to put on my neck, when they barely had enough for food and clothing. I saw a zeal in believers common in this land, that is missing in my land.

January 14, 2008 | 4 Comments | View or add comments

A Thousand Steps

"A thousand kilometer journey begins with one step," this was the reply the Indian pastor gave to me as I described how God gives me these seemingly small tasks to accomplish...

January 14, 2008 | 2 Comments | View or add comments

Trip of Paradoxes

The Lord doesn't ask us to be super men and women. On the contrary, in the Bible he often uses the humble, meek, and those of little influence in society as conduits of His work.

December 17, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

The Birthday Gift of India

Today, 2 very important things happen. First, I can officially run for the office of U.S. President. Second, I get to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my license. This is the closest thing to purgatory that a Protestant like myself will ever experience...

December 17, 2007 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

The Journey

Each one of us has embarked upon a journey whether we realize it or not. God places the road map in our minds, the directions and rules are written upon our hearts and He decides the appointed time to go. The time had come for my daughter Hillary to return to India and I also decided to come along.

December 12, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Thoreau on a Train

One of my simple pleasures in Mumbai is to pore over the morning newspapers. I do this to pursue India. I think--maybe vainly, that if I can read the text behind the text then I can better understand what my eyes see. I hope that by reading of the hopes, desires, and disasters in the daily newsprint it will help me see past my own cultural blind spot of pre-conceived notions.

December 7, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

First Haiti Experience

A lifetime of travel has brought me to thousands of places in some 52 countries. Ouanaminthe, Haiti is the most desperate I have ever laid eyes on...

December 5, 2007 | 3 Comments | View or add comments

Haitian Holiday

This was a very special trip for me, because I was traveling with legendary folk singer, little league coach, movie writer, putt-putt golf course designer and optometrist extraordinaire, Dr. Benji Brumberg aka Horrell McGann. This would be our first trip to Haiti together, and the thought of uniting two Brumberg's on the same trip promised great adventure, excitement and the possibility of a major international incident.

December 3, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Action! Adventure! Heroic Soap! India Trip Recap

Last we spoke I was in rural West Bengal. Today, we are back in Delhi but it is only by the grace of God and an amazing bar of soap that we were able to get back at all. Allow me to elaborate...

November 29, 2007 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

Julie from India!

After almost a month in mostly the back country of India, we're excited to get home! But it's been an amazing trip...monkeys, cobras, dancing tribal children, the World Toilet Expo in New Delhi, encountering mice, bandits, and also there was the day we got into Bangladesh...I'll post the picture later. But really, I hate to give too much away...

November 20, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

West Bengal, East India, South Asia

Hello friends, we are now in West Bengal. How about that.

Last time I wrote was from Rajasthan and much has transpired since then. To recap, we took the 10 hour train ride from Kota to Delhi wherein me and Steve were upgraded to the VIP lounge--and by VIP lounge I mean the linen closet.

November 16, 2007 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

A Wounded Neighbor

Am I willing to risk myself? Will I chose rightly in that divided heart of mine? The dividing line of my heart is so clear here because the suffering is so close. I feel most alive when there is risk and the risk here comes in touching the suffering. Will I care? Will I try to help? Will I suffer with you? Or will I simply pass by you?

September 25, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

He Equips the Called

Words will never describe the extent of what we saw and experienced in India, but just know that Hopegivers ministry and God's people in India have transformed my perspective on life and have burned in me a passion to see his Glory shown all over the world...

September 10, 2007 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

We Came To Encourage...

taj_150px We went to encourage, and they encouraged us. We went to serve, and they served us. We went to teach, and they taught us. We went to provide, and they gave us more than we ever even expected, more than they will ever know. Never have I ever seen the Body of Christ so united and so incredibly strong.

September 6, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Reflections on A Life Changing Trip

brooke_150px Children really are an inheritance and blessing from God. They are like peaceful arrows of God's love, and blessed are those whose quiver is full of them. EMI and Hopegivers have a lot of arrows in their quiver, and they are working hard to sharpen each arrow, and send them into all the world with love and peace in their hearts...

September 5, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Looking For Life in Haiti

phil_100px Being human, having the right to exist, is the beauty of creation. God in his infinite mercy created humanity with the utmost dignity and worth. And when that's rejected, when human life is cast aside as just a means for survival, then leaving a 2 year old-HIV positive-little boy in the woods is normal. This is your end. Look around the world. When humanity isn't seen as the culmination and ultimate wonder of God's creation...Things get really ugly.

August 22, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Monsoons and Demons

As I ventured out this morning to get some breakfast (even nice hotels get stuffy!), I had to keep stepping over and around the sleeping families who live under the eaves of the buildings while it rains. They live in these little dry spots on the side walk, so you have to tread carefully so as to not splash water on them with your footfalls. It is quite the trick to do that and keep your umbrella from folding into a useless form.

August 6, 2007 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

HG Spotlight: Angie Bechanan

angie_100px I am in awe of our faithful brothers and sisters that I have met in India and Haiti that truly give out of their poverty. If they cannot give materials, they give their smiles, hospitality, and faith. These are the true blessings I received through traveling with HG. I have had the privilege to see real-life examples of those great Christians that we read about in the Bible...

July 23, 2007 | Comments not allowed for this post

Recent High Schooler's Trip to India

chelsea_blog_100px I recently took a trip to India for 12 days and I would like to just tell you a little bit about what it did for me. As a photography student, I was looking forward to the opportunity to shoot beautiful photographs. The moment we drove up to the first orphanage my heart sank, the children that I met were true spirits. Every single child had a smile on their face and in that very moment I felt like I was sent there for a reason.

July 1, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Malawi Team Update - June 2007

mzuzu_orphans_06_2007_100px Rob Robbins, of Osborne Baptist Church in Eden, NC, sent this report in recently detailing Osborne’s recent trip to visit Hopegivers and CitiHope sponsored outreaches in Malawi, Africa. Praise God for such an excellent team!

July 1, 2007 | 1 Comment | View or add comments

Rob's Farewell Speech

sugarcane_rob_small Everything is copasetic here in Andhra Pradesh and I just wanted to send a quick note to recap this amazing, slightly ridiculous journey. We've covered an incredible amount of miles by plane, train, jeep, scooter, bus, and briefly camel, but our time is sadly coming to an end.

There've been many highlights, some lowlights, but this has been one of the most exhilarating, exhausting, and educational experiences of my life. Whereas on my last India trip, I was content just to dip my toes in, hesitant to do or try new things, this time I dove in head first-literally-into the Krishna River and Bay of Bengal, then figuratively into Indian culture itself.

April 30, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

Bathing With Buffaloes

corn_pile_100px Greetings friends--everything is bagundi (Telugu for kosher) in Andhra. We've had an amazingly wonderful, indigenous, Jungle Book-esque 3 days in rural AP. We've swam in the Krishna river, played cricket with the orphans, and befriended a mischievous talking bear named Baloo.

April 14, 2007 | 0 Comments | View or add comments

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