Cyclone Phailin

After a full day of teaching, we began the drive back to Chelligada through some strong bouts of rain. We stepped into the house to find the family and neighbors huddled around a small television. Cautionary news was reporting that an impending cyclone (what we term "hurricane") was making its way to the coast! The TV screen showed a massive spiral nearly the size of India itself rapidly approaching the coast...directed right toward this area! Government-mandated evacuations were already taking place in the most populated coastline cities, with warnings also going out to the rural village areas. 

To be honest, we all were so tired from teaching that we somewhat naively figured our hosts would let us know if we were in danger. If they started to get nervous or consider evacuating, we would know we need to follow their lead. We fell into bed, without even bothering to eat dinner, too exhausted to be concerned.

We awoke in the morning to extremely heavy, even torrential rains. Our team prayed together and felt the Lord's leading to cancel the rest of our planned training and move further inland. We watched as Pankaj hopped on a motorcycle to Kesara to inform the pastors who travelled far to also go home (if their homes were inland) or to seek adequate shelter.

Pankaj had very difficult travel but made it through the storm. Arriving at the church, he found that the roof had blown off the church and there was already damage to the walls. He found a pastors and asked them to spread the word that the remainder of the seminar was cancelled. Though they graciously understood, the people were a bit disappointed as they had already begun to relocate the conference setting, having cleared a large room in a local pastor's house.