This was my first time back to India since 2002. At that time we had just decided to start partnering with David Nerella and his wife Beulah and his family. Since then the work that he is doing has grown remarkably and we were given the privilege to see the reality of this work first hand. So many times, I blinked back the tears of joy, knowing that we had some small part to play in changing people’s lives, bringing them hope, showing them love and ins ome cases, saving their lives. I want to use this space to share some of those stories with you as well as photos and videos from the Team India 09.
By the time this photo was taken, there had developed such a bond of friendship between the Nerella Family and the team from Inspire India that there were many tears shed over our parting the next evening. We were treated with such lavish hospitality that we were constantly humbled and astounded by it. These are generous hearted people if ever there were such a thing. We felt a great sense of partnership with them and while the financial flow is from us, there are very many more valuable treasures flowing the other way. For those who have experienced the love of these people I know you’re nodding in agreement (or wiggling your head Indian style) for those who haven’t been there I sincerely hope you will go.
The Children
We had the great privilege of visiting many of the 26 villiages where David’s work is going on in small community churches. We found amid the poverty and simplicity and sometimes pain of their existence, so much colour and so much joy and laughter and bright eyes and white teeth.
The Man
David Nerella is the Main Man. Of course he will read this with horror and say, “It’s nothing brother. It’s nothing. No credit to me.” etc. etc. But in reality, without David Nerella and the ongoing and devoted support of his wife Beulah and his sister, Ruth, just to mention a few, there would be no continuing work in these villiages, no hope for those hopeless. David speaks 5 languages fluently and he also understands the intricate complexities of the several cultures that are intersecting in India today. He is a very skillful dimplomat, an inspirational leader, a strong protector of the vulnerable, a generous host and a man of great relational and intellectual power. If David took his skills to the world of politics, he would be worth a fortune per year. After traveling with him for 10 days and watching him in his forte, we all grew a great admiration for him including his choice to take those skills of his into the grass roots India where they are most needed. In a land of 1.2 billion people, David is most definitely 1 in a million. How did we find this guy? In a land of corruption, how is it that we found such an impecably honest and generous soul? What a privilege to partner with David and Beulah Nerella.
