The 20th Northern New England Conference (NNEC) mission trip was undoubtedly the busiest to date! Fourteen team members, led by Harry Sabnani, NNEC missions director, dedicated themselves from January 14 to February 3 to various ministries across seven rural villages in the Ongole area of Andhra Pradesh state in India.
Nightly evangelistic meetings drew crowds of 250-400 people in a central village, featuring action songs, PowerPoint health talks, children’s stories, and sermons by team members. Simultaneously, Dawn Tritch and her group engaged 180 enthusiastic children in a vibrant VBS at the adjacent church, complete with skits, crafts, songs, and Bible stories.
Meanwhile, Todd Tritch, M.D., and four local nursing students conducted medical screening clinics at each village church site. At the same time, Steve Yap and his team provided free reading glasses and distributed Steps to Christ books in Telegu. Jeannette Behrmann, supported by her husband, Pastor Carl Behrmann, and six former graduates, empowered 61 village women with sewing skills, granting them the opportunity to earn a decent living from home. Each woman received full room and board, attended 10 daylong classes, received necessary supplies, and was gifted a new sewing machine, all made possible by $300 donations from sponsors in the United States. Notably, eight of these women were baptized following the daily worship sessions.
NNEC oversees sponsorship for nearly 100 students across four schools in Andhra Pradesh, where many of these children were visited and presented with Beanie Babies and Matchbox cars collected throughout the year in Maine. An essential aspect of the ministry is providing rent-free homes for local pastors in India, and the team was proud to dedicate five such homes, donated in memory of loved ones, including Dr. Galen Johnson, Karen Blanchard, Pastor John Oddie, Karen Landa, and Nyuk Min Yap.
Beyond its intended purpose of blessing the people of India, each year’s mission trip proves to be a transformative experience for team members. For those interested in joining next year’s trip, sponsoring a student or sewing lady, or donating Beanie Babies or cars, please contact Harry Sabnani at pastorsabnani@gmail.com. For daily updates and photos from the trip, visit the blog site: judysabnani7.wordpress.com.
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Judy Sabnani, assistant to the missions director, Northern New England Conference
