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.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Next Update From India
It was sure good to get a good night’s sleep last night! The past couple days we’ve certainly been on the go. We spent Friday and Saturday seeing the ministry in Chennai and it’s hard to imagine that we really only started in this city a couple years ago. The momentum is tremendous.
Our time began on Friday with a youth event. And as is typical, the house packed out. I think they were expecting about 100 young people but 277 showed up by the time the program got into full swing. What a blessing to hear their testimonies and share with them in a time of worship.
On Saturday we began the day by attending a pastors meeting. Dad took the opportunity to get behind the mic and shared a neat illustration that really connected with the pastors. He asked them to imagine that they were a vehicle. What vehicle would they be? A motorcycle, rickshaw, car… He shared how he had a license to drive a motorcycle. It is a good, convenient and easy vehicle to navigate the busy Indian streets. However, it will only carry a few passengers (2 in Canada and 5 or so in India). Because the pastors chose a Mercedes Benz to be the vehicle that Dad would represent he spent some time imagining with them that he would go for a drive. A car like this would be prefect capacity for his family. When he asked the family where would we drive to we replied heaven. As he shared he noted what he imagined Jesus would say if he arrived at heaven’s gate with his car load. He imagined Jesus taking his license and saying, “I see you have a license to drive a bus, why did you come with only a car.” At this the pastors became very excited and said that then they would like to drive a train instead. What vision!
We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting follow-up programs and met some of the most precious children. While we have visited countless follow-up programs already it really doesn’t get old. Even though at times we’ve been very hot and very tired our hearts are always filled with joy when we see what is happening among the children of India (I had to pick up some more video tape because I can’t resist filming every moment!)
Bright and early on Sunday morning we jumped into the vehicle to head to the Thanjure area to speak at a church there as well as visit the village of Budalur (the birthplace of the ministry.) However, word got out about our travels and I think we visited nearly every conceivable church along the way! It was really good for a laugh… but by the end of the day we were VERY tired but still VERY blessed.
It was really great to introduce my Dad to some of my best friends: Pastor Paul Perinbaum, Pastor Antony Muthu and their families. It felt like home to be in their small church in Budalur again. I really love these people. Words can’t describe the enthusiasm of the children there either. What a great evening!
After we were thoroughly blessed we drove on to Trichy to spend the night there. The newly weds (Antony and Emery) joined us on the ride. They sure are a cute couple… perhaps it was the sub-zero temperature we kept the vehicle at or else they were just very happy to cuddle… I had fun teasing Emery a little about where they’d sleep and what we’d feed them when they came to Canada (her family has insisted that we stay in very nice hotels while we are here and so far they have been paying for everything… very awkward… but we have our ways of getting even!)
So that brings us till this morning. On the agenda is a Trichy pastor’s fellowship meeting as well as some follow-up programs. I’m also hoping to get done some of the critical things I came for and document some of the incredible stories of the people impacted by this ministry.
Hope to share again soon!
Our time began on Friday with a youth event. And as is typical, the house packed out. I think they were expecting about 100 young people but 277 showed up by the time the program got into full swing. What a blessing to hear their testimonies and share with them in a time of worship.
On Saturday we began the day by attending a pastors meeting. Dad took the opportunity to get behind the mic and shared a neat illustration that really connected with the pastors. He asked them to imagine that they were a vehicle. What vehicle would they be? A motorcycle, rickshaw, car… He shared how he had a license to drive a motorcycle. It is a good, convenient and easy vehicle to navigate the busy Indian streets. However, it will only carry a few passengers (2 in Canada and 5 or so in India). Because the pastors chose a Mercedes Benz to be the vehicle that Dad would represent he spent some time imagining with them that he would go for a drive. A car like this would be prefect capacity for his family. When he asked the family where would we drive to we replied heaven. As he shared he noted what he imagined Jesus would say if he arrived at heaven’s gate with his car load. He imagined Jesus taking his license and saying, “I see you have a license to drive a bus, why did you come with only a car.” At this the pastors became very excited and said that then they would like to drive a train instead. What vision!
We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting follow-up programs and met some of the most precious children. While we have visited countless follow-up programs already it really doesn’t get old. Even though at times we’ve been very hot and very tired our hearts are always filled with joy when we see what is happening among the children of India (I had to pick up some more video tape because I can’t resist filming every moment!)
Bright and early on Sunday morning we jumped into the vehicle to head to the Thanjure area to speak at a church there as well as visit the village of Budalur (the birthplace of the ministry.) However, word got out about our travels and I think we visited nearly every conceivable church along the way! It was really good for a laugh… but by the end of the day we were VERY tired but still VERY blessed.
It was really great to introduce my Dad to some of my best friends: Pastor Paul Perinbaum, Pastor Antony Muthu and their families. It felt like home to be in their small church in Budalur again. I really love these people. Words can’t describe the enthusiasm of the children there either. What a great evening!
After we were thoroughly blessed we drove on to Trichy to spend the night there. The newly weds (Antony and Emery) joined us on the ride. They sure are a cute couple… perhaps it was the sub-zero temperature we kept the vehicle at or else they were just very happy to cuddle… I had fun teasing Emery a little about where they’d sleep and what we’d feed them when they came to Canada (her family has insisted that we stay in very nice hotels while we are here and so far they have been paying for everything… very awkward… but we have our ways of getting even!)
So that brings us till this morning. On the agenda is a Trichy pastor’s fellowship meeting as well as some follow-up programs. I’m also hoping to get done some of the critical things I came for and document some of the incredible stories of the people impacted by this ministry.
Hope to share again soon!
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