Reflections from Bob

Monday

We started the day with praise and worship with the Bible college students, our mission team and the local staff. Caroline, who is 16 yrs old (her second visit to India) started by singing “Come to the Altar” by Elevation Worship. This 16 yr old stepped out of her comfort zone, sang beautifully and courageously and blessed us all. Tanya stepped up and provided a really meaningful devotional about the importance of spending time alone with God on a daily basis so we can hear from Him. She creatively helped us see the importance of being patient with those around us that don’t understand why we are dancing and so joyful and reminded us that they can’t necessarily hear who we are listening to. It was powerful and hit home for many of us. Acts 28:27

Meeting our Bible College students

We spent almost two hours listening to the Bible college students talk about what brought them to our bible college, what they are learning, and how they intend to serve God. It was a deeply meaning time and really helped us grown the relationship.

Inspiring individuals

Two people stuck out to me in particular. Yesu Kumar, 22 years old, gave his life to Christ when he was in 10th grade. He began helping out his pastor in the church in a militant Hindu community. He explained that a group of his friends and church members were handing out bible literature in their community. They were surrounded by over 20 militants and beaten severely, stomped on and some hospitalized. After that event, the leader of the ‘gang’ that beat him became paralyzed completely on this left side. This paralyzed gang leader came to the church, asked for forgiveness and asked for prayer. They prayed for this man and he was completely healed. Yesu Kumar experienced all of this and wants to become a pastor and go back and minister to these people who ‘need to know the love of Christ.’

Another young man Christopher, 28 yrs old from Coimbatore, was a member of the RSS gang and wanted to become a ranking member in the BJP party. He persecuted Christians regularly until he heard a clear calling from God from Ezekiel 38. He became a Christian and wants to go back and minister to these same gang members that he so competently led in the wrong direction.
Each of their stories were inspiring and made me really grateful for the educated staff and solid education we are providing for these young warriors.

A humbling & uplifting experience

I was blown away by what I saw with our ministry to the special needs children today. They had a Christmas pageant last month and brought the parents in along with local government officials and people who work in the special needs field and explained the program. The children performed doing dancing and skits. They reproduced portions of the Christmas pageant for us today and it was precious. In India, the parents hide their special needs children in their homes because they think it shows that they have done something evil and have been cursed by their gods if they have a special needs child. We have a driver that drives over 80 miles each day to pick up children from all over to bring them in for a day of school.

I was humbled to the core by the woman instructors. Some of the most qualified special needs teachers I have seen anywhere. I could never do what they do – such patience and undersatnding and volumes of paperwork that needs to be filled out for each child. Donations have provided exercise equipment including an elliptical, ab machines, torso twisting machines, universal weights and more. One woman is a physiologist and helps the kids with Cerebral palsy stretch to improve range of motion and build muscle and improve posture. They are such faithful loving servants. They are serving the mentally retarded, children with autism, children with Down’s syndrome, children with Cerebral palsy and ADHD. It’s the tip of the spear for this kind of care and it just made me proud to be able to say I am helping to support this ministry.

Visiting Rev David

We visited Rev David’s church in the evening. He shared their need for land, a church, and his vision for ministry in their area. He does street ministry to alcoholics and drug addicts and they feed the poorest of the poor. We gave a short message to the children about the importance of the company they keep (Prov 13:20) and challenged the Pastor and congregation with Matt 6:33 – to seek first His kingdom. Beautiful ministry.

The entire congregation came forward and we prayed for each one individually.

I was humbled to see a man come up to me that I recognized from my visit last year. He told me that after I prayed for him last year, God completely healed his back issue. I could tell by his expression that this was a very big deal to him. What an amazing, loving, powerful, gracious God we serve.

What’s in store for tomorrow?

We are having a women’s enrichment conference tomorrow – Tuesday. We paid to have all the pastors wives come to us because we want to hear from them what their real needs are. So please pray for an atmosphere of trust and vulnerability and transparency. Women are very reluctant to speak up in this culture. I’m turning this event over to the women on the trip to try and get to the truth.

Ok – big day tomorrow and need to get some rest.
Blessings,
Bob