I'm sitting in O'hare airport in Chicago, waiting for my last leg of the journey. Thanks for staying with me, oh you brave few! I only regret that I could not keep up with daily updates due to lack of anything resembling modern electronic communications. What a mix of the ancient and the modern is India. You have guys hauling a mountain of rice stalks with an ox cart hooked up to huge water buffaloes and the latest Chevrolets and Tatas blowing their horns, all at the some time and place!
I met a guy named Ravi in a cafe in Frankfort who was from India (now living in Vancouver, Canada.) He overheard me telling my waiter (an Indonesian named Choo) that I had been in India. He was very interested in my impressions. Turns out the guys is a fairly serious Hindu. Ravi was explaining to me about: 1) Why the color orange is sacred, 2) Why the swastika is a sacred symbol, and 3) Why homeopathic medicines work (something about how the active ingredients are so diluted that they work at the molecular level of the "sacred essence." Right.
I think he could tell I wasn't buying but he was willing to let me pray for him and bless him in Jesus' Name. Ravi is a CPA working for a multi-national accounting firm. That's India . . . a mixture of the ancient and the modern.
I preached about 17 times in about 10 days to about 300+ pastors in about 9 locations. I spoke in churches with a thatched roof and very simply poor people. I spoke in cities where there were middle class people as well. I prayed for hundreds of people and humbled by their response. I was honored wherever I went some like kind of dignitary. When all is said and done, I believe the one changed the most by the whole experience is me.
I didn't know what to expect as I prepared to come to India. I had very little by way of expectations other than to see God move. I saw His hand at work every day of the trip. I don't know what the future holds in terms of future ministry in India. All I know is there is a wide open door and the need is so great. Here am I, Lord, send me.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Last full day here
Tomorrow afternoon I begin the long journey back home. Just about the time you get used to the heat, the time differential and the food, you head back home to readjust. Pastor Jyothi Ratna, the Indian pastor we have been working with for years, is an amazing man. He may the kindest, most long-suffering and hardest worker I have ever met. I could hardly believe what this man has been able to accomplish -- built a large church -- built a Bible Training School -- done various works of mercy throughout the region -- and he gives all the credit to God and to Community of Believers church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
This man is a true spiritual father and is a leader amoung leaders. He pastors a good sized church, runs a bible school and heads up the regional pastor fellowship just to name a few. I've never met anyone quite like him before . . . we will not soon see his equal. Although I must say that India seems to produce leaders like this. I've met several since I've been here and feel unworthy to share the platform with such men and they inevitably honor me in the most amazing way. It's not really me that they are honoring, it is the love and support they have received from American Christians. You have not idea how thankful they are.
They other thing I observe about these folks is their amazing disposition. Thousands of people, cars, three-wheel taxis, tractor-trailors, motorbikes, bicycles, water buffaloes, cattle, goats and hand carts clog every road, every intersection, every street in India. And they never lose it -- never get upset -- never even seem to break a sweat. I'm dying a thousand deaths every minute and they never miss a beat. Wow. These are amazing people! And best of all, very hungry for God! And very thankfull for any little thing you care to teach them! Wow!
This man is a true spiritual father and is a leader amoung leaders. He pastors a good sized church, runs a bible school and heads up the regional pastor fellowship just to name a few. I've never met anyone quite like him before . . . we will not soon see his equal. Although I must say that India seems to produce leaders like this. I've met several since I've been here and feel unworthy to share the platform with such men and they inevitably honor me in the most amazing way. It's not really me that they are honoring, it is the love and support they have received from American Christians. You have not idea how thankful they are.
They other thing I observe about these folks is their amazing disposition. Thousands of people, cars, three-wheel taxis, tractor-trailors, motorbikes, bicycles, water buffaloes, cattle, goats and hand carts clog every road, every intersection, every street in India. And they never lose it -- never get upset -- never even seem to break a sweat. I'm dying a thousand deaths every minute and they never miss a beat. Wow. These are amazing people! And best of all, very hungry for God! And very thankfull for any little thing you care to teach them! Wow!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Rounding second
Well, last night, Monday, I had a war with the mosquitos all night. I won. That is, I emerged from the room alive . . . most of them did not. I didn't get much sleep, however! I am writing this from a remote village (Mechiliputnam) on a borrowed computer. I WWAAYYY underestimated how hard it was going to be to find any kind of internet access here in India when I agreed to do this blog thing.
The Meetings are going unbelievably well. This morning about 100 people packed into a room that would comfortably fit, maybe, 30 in a remote village with thatch roof. These people are amazing in their love for Jesus and capacity to endure. They are backward and limited in their education, but they are smarter than whips! They are bright, brilliant, beautiful people. God must really like Indians. He makes so many of them. I can see why.
The Lord gave me a word for these folks and I've been sharing it in most of the leadership settings. It has been very well received. COB folks will recognize it -- I've been teaching on the blessing of unity. I did a three part series just before I left. I've been preaching most of all three parts in one setting here -- lasts about an hour and a half -- and they hang with me the whole time. Amazing.
Well, got to go, Pastor Jyothi is wanting to drag me off to preach at another meeting.
The Meetings are going unbelievably well. This morning about 100 people packed into a room that would comfortably fit, maybe, 30 in a remote village with thatch roof. These people are amazing in their love for Jesus and capacity to endure. They are backward and limited in their education, but they are smarter than whips! They are bright, brilliant, beautiful people. God must really like Indians. He makes so many of them. I can see why.
The Lord gave me a word for these folks and I've been sharing it in most of the leadership settings. It has been very well received. COB folks will recognize it -- I've been teaching on the blessing of unity. I did a three part series just before I left. I've been preaching most of all three parts in one setting here -- lasts about an hour and a half -- and they hang with me the whole time. Amazing.
Well, got to go, Pastor Jyothi is wanting to drag me off to preach at another meeting.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Amazing People
What amazing people! I've never seen people quite like this. They are living in some of the worst conditions I've ever seen, yet are some of the happiest people I've ever seen. They are truly a handsome and attractive people who experience some of the most wretched living conditions imaginable.
The believers here are quite bold in their witness and hungry for God. They love the Lord and they love His Word and spending time in worship. So far, there are not instuments (except a small drum!) but they sing at the top of their lungs (the leader's voice is amplified to the point of pain) and they seem to switch leaders at each song.
I have quite a strong connection with the pastors here who have come from this region and to the north. They really seem to enjoy the way I teach the word and are very hungry for any little thing you can teach them. they are pleading with me to return and spend more time with them.
I am finally managing, slowly, to catch up on my sleep. The food is excellent. The accommodations are somewhat difficult, but endurable. The most difficult is that they tend to sleep on the floor with only a thin reed mat. Impossible. They have offered the soft foreign pastor a bed with a mattress about an inch thick -- very luxurious for them, very hard for the soft foreign pastor.
Lord, give me the grace and power to accomplish all that you have sent me here to do!
The believers here are quite bold in their witness and hungry for God. They love the Lord and they love His Word and spending time in worship. So far, there are not instuments (except a small drum!) but they sing at the top of their lungs (the leader's voice is amplified to the point of pain) and they seem to switch leaders at each song.
I have quite a strong connection with the pastors here who have come from this region and to the north. They really seem to enjoy the way I teach the word and are very hungry for any little thing you can teach them. they are pleading with me to return and spend more time with them.
I am finally managing, slowly, to catch up on my sleep. The food is excellent. The accommodations are somewhat difficult, but endurable. The most difficult is that they tend to sleep on the floor with only a thin reed mat. Impossible. They have offered the soft foreign pastor a bed with a mattress about an inch thick -- very luxurious for them, very hard for the soft foreign pastor.
Lord, give me the grace and power to accomplish all that you have sent me here to do!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Next Day
Got in at 1:00 in the morning last night! Slept about 2 hours total. Left early this morning (anything seems early after last night!) rode in the front seat of a small car through Chennai, second largest city in India and then on into the countryside of India! Wow! More amazing than I can tell.
I have no idea how Robin (driver) managed to drive so fast and have so many near-miss catastrophes and be so calm. It was like being in the front seat of the roller coaster at Cedar Point!
We arrived at the Orphanage about 11:00 -- meeting was already going. They were all there (about 200 people) waiting for us. We got out of the car and literally ran up to the platform and (after introductions) I began preaching. Spoke for about an hour. Preached also at 4:30.
There were many pastors there from the Orissa region of India (where the persecution has been fairly intense.) I've never spoken to a more receptive group in my life. There was great grace! Taught about leadership principles from 1 Tim 4.
I'm so exhausted I feel spongy. Yet I am also quite stoked! Hope I sleep tonight.
I have no idea how Robin (driver) managed to drive so fast and have so many near-miss catastrophes and be so calm. It was like being in the front seat of the roller coaster at Cedar Point!
We arrived at the Orphanage about 11:00 -- meeting was already going. They were all there (about 200 people) waiting for us. We got out of the car and literally ran up to the platform and (after introductions) I began preaching. Spoke for about an hour. Preached also at 4:30.
There were many pastors there from the Orissa region of India (where the persecution has been fairly intense.) I've never spoken to a more receptive group in my life. There was great grace! Taught about leadership principles from 1 Tim 4.
I'm so exhausted I feel spongy. Yet I am also quite stoked! Hope I sleep tonight.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
It's been wild!
I am finally prepared to leave with passport and visa in hand! Wow! I've never seen anything quite like this -- hope I never do again! Through it all God is faithful and I am ready to depart.
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