What an awesome place India is with such extremes in wealth and contrasts within its culture. It is something you truly must experience with your own eyes to understand what has been written. I guess that even we know that we could keep coming for many years and still not fully grasp everything and embrace the changes we see, such as the deeper division in wealth in places like Bangalore with it?s sudden explosion of IT to the poor rural people who can barely make it.
The influence of the (dark spiritual) oppression has never been so clearly felt as was experienced in this trip, or maybe we are just more aware of what surrounds us and the battles we face daily. Just about everywhere you go idol worship from temples to idols in fields or on the roadside, to images in the homes and hotels and even in the cars we ride in, are prevalent. There is something really exciting though about being able to work with an enthusiastic team of IVCM pastors and enter a village, or a rural home and share the ?good news?. It is even more wonderful to experience lives come forward and accept the gospel knowing that darkness has been reduced even if only just a small amount. Around 100 people made a decision to accept Jesus on this trip and we give thanks for that!
Visually it is a very graphic place and the imprints are clearly impressed upon our minds and hearts. It is so humbling to have old ones ask with trembling hands to pray for them, and perhaps even sobbing their hearts out before you. As you embrace them with Christ?s love and show compassion it also calls for a deep measure of faith as you pray. It still amazes us that even the very young are bold enough to come forward and ask for prayer! Daily fresh images of their homes and land with animals & cooking pots that pass you by, relates to the area in which these people are associated, and affirms the very need for rural village ministry.
There is such a contrast to the warm generous welcome that you receive wherever you go, (especially in small villages and with people who work the fields and thrash rice on the roadside); to the stark frustrations with what seems almost a lack of ability to plan ahead or take precautionary measures even in the simplest of things, let alone keep any real sense of time. There are endless excuses for why things are 'different on the day' that as a 'Westerner' is really annoying, but at the same time you cannot but help love them. There is much the Western church can learn from the heart of these people especially when it comes to prayer, but similarly there are things that we can share and teach them that will benefit and enhance 'the church' of India.
It is a challenge that thankfully is supported by your generous giving and prayers that God blesses and uses for His purposes and so it is a privilege to serve. In addition we want to thank those who have written sent words of encouragement, this has been so uplifting and helped us through difficult times. A special appreciation must go to Dave Hider for faithfully uploading my daily thoughts and pictures and providing such creative titles, also to Juergen who has distributed email updates and forwarded your responses.
Please continue to pray for this ministry and all who serve to reach out with care and love. Feb 2011.
P.S from Dave, It was a privelage to serve you guys in the stunning work you are doing....x
