My Journey Continues

Today we travelled ( flew) from Chennai to Kerela- a beautiful on the beach Hawaii like coastal area to meet with Pastor Daniel whom I met at MVCC. His lovely wife picked us up and we drove to Trichur to really nice hotel ( not a YWCA), and out to lunch then a rest before reconvening in the Pm.  I must admit i am fighting something- a cold plus the big D and it's just likely a result of the water ( brushing my teeth in the tap) or the food, which is very spicy and i love it, perhaps it's just  life on the road. Anyway I could use  your prayers and thank you in advance for healing petitions.  Also i am very tired, somewhat grumpy right now, but we are in another state in India which is like being in another country. While money stays consistent, language and customs varry state to state, making travel to a new area somewhat challenging.   

We are down to our last 4 days in India and i haven't really been able to write much on this blog, but then I don't know if anyone is ready it anyway. 

DID ANY OF YOU GO TO FACEBOOK TO SEE THE SUPER PHOTOS?  Sandy my traveling companion, has posted many of the pics from the last two days on facebook and i would love you all to see them. I know you don't use FB Arlene or Carolyn but you do Jen.  And knowing they are there, maybe someone can show you how to get on to see them. 

This has been a fabulous trip- meeting some really wonderful people and experiencing good ministry. Arlene you will be pleased to note that some of your money along with Lee's has been used to bless a pastor who has 3 girls, a lovely wife, and houses 20 orphans.  That alone justified giving him some seed money. But then he runs a mercy home for blind children and now wants to open another home for the children with leprosy. Yes it's still running rampent here in India and the kids are so stigmatized.  So a hundred dollars meant a lot to him while his real goal Paul is to build a home for himself, family and the 20 orphans he houses-  They want $28,000 for a concrete slab 3 bedroom house, and i'll just be you could build it much cheaper, if he weren't in the middle of INdia in the interior.  Of course transporting your materials would be too hard. 

i have to get ready for going out with Pastor Daniels wife with whom i feel very comfortable. i don't feel too good so i will come back as early as possible. but then Carolyn  you remember what's its like to try to set your own schedule when you are overseas.  it's at their mercy that we are. 

much love to all and hope/pray all is well with you. 

blessings Kathi

Please Go To My Facebook Page

Praise reports from last two days of ministry. Our first micro finance loan was made to very poor widow with 10 year old who desperatly wants to start her tailor business. We bought her a sewing machine. I cried. And we met non profit organization that uses music and comedy to teach morals and help hiv people to want to live. Today we visited (4,hrs) a safety net home for children with aids. It was over the top. 

I'm able to post photos of my India trip on Facebook.  Please go there to view them.

https://www.facebook.com/kathi.winter.104

Email from Pastor in India

Hello Kathy,
This is pastor Sanjay n family from north India. 

Would like t give much thanks f ur kind precious time n fellowship of aids ministery seminar u done in our church, Y's it was blessing _ learn. Many people like n blessed. Even people heal by yours prayers.

We use t continues follow up n like u do this precious service in our community too.
Thanks t sandy too.

My family send love.
Sanjay n family. 

Poor Internet Connections

Dear friends

I'm sorry I haven't been able  to reach you on  internet as it keeps crashing and I've just been sad but all is well and this is the most fascinating trip.i am  In south of india in chennai and it's 90 degrees and foods hot  too. I love it-a beautiful city as we prepare 3 meetings -1 is at  aids children's home. I will forward email from pastor of little village church in North where we held 3 hour Hiv education to many non believers. (Lots of muslims). It was a powerful time and I was so blessed.

Last night sandy and I rode auto taxi (LIKE ONES IN EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL MOVIE). India is busy noisy crowded and fascinating. Wonderful to travel with my friend sandy jackson.-she knows customs including keeping scarf over front of me for modesty at all times in public. Try doing this while sweating. But I want to respect cultural norms.

please continue to pray for our health. And know I wish you all could see this country. 

Sorry  for no photos here in. Cant figure out Internet much less pics. It's so hard. This is my first time. 

So glad to chat with you. 

Love kathi

A few last minute thoughts….

1.   Some of you have gone to my new website www.kathiwinter.com and to the blog. I have posted some articles/HIV educational material.  Soon I will be able to comment on my travels.  My brother was kind enough to suggest some instructions:

a.       If you want to send me a comment you have to have a google account

b.      Go to the bottom of the blog and click on “no comment.”  That brings up a window to post a comment but you have to select a profile which offers a drop down of google account, etc.

c.       I would LOVE to hear from some of you just to know I am not forgotten ( there is a good Christian song that says “ I am not forgotten)

d.      I found out the reason it’s good to have a google account to sign in is to avoid spam- google prevents all junk spam.  So thank to web designer Paul, this is good thing.

2.   Yes there has been a heat wave in India and many people are suffering. I am asking you to join me in prayer for those who have little water and no covering to have the Lord intercede to assist them. For me I will be with Sandy in the North near New Delhi for the first 5 days. But by June 8 I pray the heat wave will have passed. We know in the South it will be hot and sticky. Please pray for me.

3.   Finances:  I am covering Sandy’s travel costs as she hasn’t been able to do much fund raising- but her arm while stiff at times and swollen, seems to be good enough that it’s all systems go.

Lastly I couldn’t go on this trip if it weren’t for my friends and my Church.  I have such great support from people like Jen l who is watching my house, Terri W who is lovingly taking my cats into her home, Arlene who provides excellent computer support, John who takes my Esther dog whenever I am gone, and on and on.  I thank you one and all for loving me, and caring about the hurting peoples of this world.

I promise to do my best to stay healthy, not complain (I signed an agreement with God), and to enjoy this great opportunity to grow and stretch myself.  I won’t deny it- I have some concerns.  But I know I am going for a purpose, and serving in God’s army is the best thing I could ever do.

Be blessed and see you soon (home June 20). Love you very much. God bless you all Kathi

Notes on being a widow in India

Hindus form the majority of the population in India. For a Hindu, widowhood means not only the loss of a husband, but lifelong misery and pain, suffering and agony.  They are the talk of the community. Yes there has been some modernization- i.e.  Women leaders like Indira Gandhi, plus the child marriage age was moved to 14 yrs. Old.

However,  even girls of 5 are married off to 75 years old (no dowry required),  and yet once she is a widow, she is forbidden to remarry.  There is no doubt that widowhood is more scary and painful than death.  Her sinfulness is thought to be the cause of her husband’s death so she has to lead a life of deprivation and misery. 

India women especially become the target of many superstitions and social attitudes. In traditional societies, especially in rural area, widowhood is considered as a curse brought about by some sin.  Even her shadow is considered polluting or offensive to the “cleaner” members of society.  A Hindu widow is not allowed to attend any rituals or celebrations that form an integral part of Indian life. 

The help is to be found in Scriptures for widows and the bereaved.  Works like

John 14:18 I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS. 

PROMISES in Isaiah 54 :4  “Fear not, thou shall not remember the reproach of the widowhood.”

6-7:  “The Lord has called thee as a women forsaken and grieved in spirit- with great mercies I will gather thee”

James 1:28:  “True relation is caring for the widows and orphans. “

Prov.15:25  “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud; but he will establish the border of the widow.”

Jer 49:11:  “Yet leave to me the orphans. I will save  them -your widows too trust me.”

Ps 16:9 “The Lord sustains the fatherless and widow” 

There is a vast difference between being a widow and a widower.  A widower is often economically independent.  He does not face social stigma, nor does this change his very self- identity as it does a woman. Note there is no word widower in the Bible. Very realistically portrayed.

As mentioned previously, the  word “widow” is derived from Latin: Vidua means divider or separator.  A widow is set apart- To be a widow is pure humiliation, and there is no preparation for what is the biggest most difficult and most challenging of life’s tasks.  There is a dress code that widows are forced to accept that aims to “ de-sex” the widow, and even some are required to disfigure her head by removing all her hair and is made to look ugly. They can’t even eat good food – in some cases they are allowed to eat only once a day and survive on a simple diet. In some cases she is allowed no spices, only bland food.  She has to eat before sunset. She must never sing or dance. She is to remain in seclusion and avoid all social gatherings such as weddings.  For the remainder of her life, she must remain an ascetic, even sleeping on a mat on the floor. 

Widowhood brings into its territory a number of socio-economic, emotional, and health problems. On the social front she faces a total change in her relationships. Some people act as if they are afraid the widow’s misfortune will somehow be transferred to them if they offer assistance.   A widow is shunned and ostracized as inauspicious.  She is considered as a bad omen. People perceive her very differently. There is  pure isolationionism. Loneliness is evasive. Because they don’t socialize nor eat well nor sleep comfortably, she gets ill often and dies early.

Mainly the widow’s condition gets aggravated due to a sudden stoppage of her husband’s income.  This is why microfinance could help to free them from the bondage of poverty living. 

Prayer requests for India

1. For safety, protection, and health throughout the trip and when I get home.
2. For God’s divine touch for me to preach His gospel in an effective way
3. For gratitude for this opportunity that he provided me through you all.
4. For Sandy, my travelling companion, and her arm to heal totally with no more pain.
5. For doors to open for micro – finance to help some women start businesses.
6. For me to not  be affected by the vision or smell  of the poverty  with no judgement of the people’s cultural way of caste system
7. For God to lead, and me to follow
8. For friends at home who are suffering with life defining situations i.e. Shirley trying to find housing for Sister Sue, living with Stage 4 Cancer, and Maria whose husband is still in coma from the medicine to avoid a stroke and for all the others I know who need your touch Lord.
9. For those who don’t pray often, reading this request, to not discard the list but to send good wishes and good thoughts- for these things. This does help. Of course asking God to intervene is best.
10. For miracles to occur for healing in the hearts of the widows and those with HIV to know they matter to God and that we are all equal in His eyes so hope is available to rise above the stigma. 
11. Pray that I stay in the Word and meditate on God’s teachings throughout the time I am in Africa and upon my return.
12. Pray that my body will stop screaming when I want something to eat, or want hot water or some other comfort. Let me walk in the spirit with strength and rise above my cravings. It seems there is always a time of adjustment once I arrive overseas. Let this adjustment be short as I remember to Praise Him for this time to serve.
13. Pray that I may flow daily in the Love of God, having compassion and giving mercy to those around me who aren’t doing it “right” but are just trying to do the best they can. I pray for compassion and love TO GUIDE MY INTERACTIONS.
14. Pray that my HIV preventions be impactful and fruitful; that many may come to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And please pray that during the pastors’ conferences all are blessed to hear my testimony and to learn what actions can be taken.
15. Pray that my home and pets and friends be kept safe and enjoy their time together.
16. Pray that the funds raised will grow abundantly and multiply to meet the needs we see daily.
17. Pray for relationships  that they grow in love and faith in Christ and that I serve as a good friend looking to see what I can give and not get.
18. Pray that I enjoy each day, giving thanks to the Lord for the opportunity to teach and preach, and may those who listen have open hearts to be touched and changed by something we share.
19. Pray for health and strength and stamina for myself and all the team members so our service for the glory of God will not be stopped.
20. Pray that I truly approach my tasks overseas with humility and a willingness to hear God’s voice; leaning not on my own understanding.

We trust you hear us, Oh Lord, and that we are acting according to Your will and we give You all the glory and honor for successes. Thank You in advance for victory over the enemy in every area because we have said, “…Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We love you Lord. Thank you!

See my new card and new ministry name.  I love the logo created by Pro-Advantage
Thank you Paul!