Wrapping Up

Our time here in India is quickly coming to a close which is certainly bitter sweet. Yesterday was such a fantastic day that I wish I could send for you all and we could just stay here. We spent a better part of the day with one of IBCM’s newest full time staff members - Pastor Ebenezer. What an amazing story Eby has. He once was a successful professor teaching computer science at a college nearby. However, the when Lord called him into ministry and he did not hesitate to sacrifice his job and security. If only I could describe to you the joy in his eyes I think you could feel his story with me. We laughed and laughed together… and as with many of the staff here in India we quickly felt, “of one heart.”
Eby took us to visit a gypsy village just outside Trichy and what an experience that was. What a contrast in atmosphere. The village was made up of dozens of little 12’ x 18’ (as we reflected we tried to guess their size and they were probably much smaller) that were built many years ago by the Indian government. In order to qualify to live in one you needed a family of at least 7. Eby told us that many contained up to 11 people in them. I’ve got tons of video to show you of both hopelessness of their situation (many are trapped in superstition and oppressive false religion) and tremendous hopefulness. The follow up program there was more of a spontaneous dance party… and had I not felt obligated to do my job of collecting resources to tell this story I would have certainly joined in (Mennonite or not the Spirit in this place was undeniable and very difficult to resist!)
We wrapped up the day by spending time with Pastor Prassad (one of our most key senior staff) and his family. Again it’s like we’ve travelled 10,000 miles only to find ourselves at home. We shared many laughs and heart felt moments. The children of the follow up program that he leads had also waited a couple hours for our arrival (as is typical for India we were very late… we just go when and where we’re told.) We listened to songs, memory verses and testimonies of how God is transforming lives and answering prayers. Pastor Prassad’s daughter shared about the work the youth she and the other youth of the church were doing in a neighboring village. She share how the Lord was watching over them as they were confronted by Hindu fundamentalists with large stones in hand (one of which was the father of one of the children in the program). Their intention was to beat them but immediately this little boy ran to his father and asked him to stop. He shared with him what these youth were doing in his life and the father put down his rock and came to listen. Needless to say the father shortly after was transformed and is now a member of that church! If only I could tell you each story… they are really countless.
Today we have just one more program to visit. I hope to capture some video at one of the local Hindu temples and then we’ll load up and take a night train to Chennai. From there we’ll fly on to Bangkok where we have a 23 ½ hour layover before making the trip home. I don’t think I’ll have opportunity to update you again till I get home on Friday. May God bless you all till then.