A Sad Farewell

Our journey to India is quickly coming to an end. It has been an exciting experience seeing God work in so many ways, and in so many places unknown to us before this time.

On Monday we took a day off from dashing headlong into ministry from the moment we set foot on the sub-continent, and went to visit the home where Mother Teresa worked from during her time in India.

She was an amazing woman of tremendous character, and a deep, abiding love for Jesus and the Indian people. The fact that she served here for 68 years in some of the most oppressive poverty found anywhere in the world is a testament to her faith in the love and power of God.

When Mother Teresa made her first vows she said, "The greatest day of my life was that on which I became wholly Christ's." During her ministry in Kolkata, she  opened 168 homes, which included homes for the dying, lepers, and orphans, started a factory to give lepers a way to make a living, and won the Nobel prize.

I only pray that I may be as compassionate, and committed to God in my ministry as she.  

On Tuesday we traveled to a small village south of Kolkata where the paved road turned into a smaller paved road, which turned into a dirt road, which turned into a smaller dirt road, which became a path, that finally turned into a trail. An interesting ride to say the least.

Here, God had opened a door for Brother Paresh to begin a Sunday School class for the children of that village. The 70-100 children presently attending range in age from 5-15 yrs of age. The amazing thing is that he only began this ministry about two months ago, and already God has blessed it greatly. I have said many times before, the children are "The Jewels of India" and these children only provided further evidence of that sentiment.

Even in their dire poverty they found joy in singing and learning Bible stories. Albert immediately connected with a story from his life, continued into the story of the blind man Jesus healed, and on into a simple, but complete presentation of the gospel. We were excited to see so many adults gathered around the perimeter of the area soaking up all that Albert was teaching.

After we finished, many of the adults came to thank us for coming to their village. Please pray that the Word planted in their hearts that day will be used by the Holy Spirit to call them to a saving relationship with Jesus.

Tomorrow we head to the airport. It's always sad when we have to leave this place, and we pray that God would grant us the opportunity to return. Most of the time we feel we were blessed more than the people we intended to bless. But more than anything, we pray that God was able to use us to further His kingdom in this land. And that all we did  and said, brought glory and honor to Him, the One True, Almighty, Creator of the universe.

  



  

A Broken Heart

 
India is a land rich in history and culture, and for many years has been experiencing an incredible economic boom. Yet there is still a tremendous gap between the wealthy and the poor.

As I've traveled across this country, with it's herds of goats and water buffalo, I prayed that God would help me see the reality of these people's lives; and that my heart would be broken for their physical and spiritual condition.

Sadly, I've seen more poverty here than any one person should ever have to see in a lifetime. And I thought I had seen it all, ramshackle, tarp covered shelters sitting alongside canals, where the people cooked, washed, and drank stinking, disease-filled water. But then came Kolkata. It is here that God has finally and totally broken my heart for these people.

I can barely describe the sight that met my eyes as we took a "shortcut" into the city. The broken down old buildings, the flimsy, tottering huts with tarp covered roofs, the filth and garbage that lined the streets, with stray dogs and cattle rummaging through it, and smell unlike anything I have ever experienced in my whole life. But most importantly, the vacant stares of hopelessness and despair in the eyes of the people.

I have never felt so much brokenness over the world in my entire life!  I pray and ask God to break chains and give people freedom from their sicknesses and sin, having faith that God listens and will answer my prayers. Even when I feel weak, like somebody who can't make a difference, I have faith that God will be made strong in my weakness.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.    

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)   

Yet, after seeing what I've seen, I sometimes wonder  if anything real is being achieved in what we are attempting to do?  But then I remind myself that it is God who will carry out His purpose, and that Satan is just trying to lessen my faith. But it will not work!  I will rejoice, give thanks, and continue to have faith in all circumstances.  Even in Kolkata, when I don't feel like anything is being accomplished, I am not going to let my feelings get in the way of the truth. I pray God will use AIM to accomplish His purpose in the midst of all this brokenness.

In 1 Corinthians 15:58 we are reminded that, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."  

Prayer Requests 
Pray for a harvest of salvation in India, that the lost millions will hear the name of Jesus and believe in Him.

Pray for progress, wisdom and supernatural provision for the projects meeting the spiritual, practical and financial needs of the persecuted and impoverished church in India.
Pray for each of the men and women who faithfully serve the Lord on the front lines in India.