Trapped In Poverty

Many of you will read this blog and think to yourself, "well, there's poverty in this country too," and that's true, but I'm sure you have also heard the phrase, "It's all relative." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty level in this country is 15.1%. The U.S. Government has set the poverty level for 2012 at $23,050 for a family of four ($68.60 per day). That's $17.50 per person, per day.

Now for some perspective. In India, the government has set the poverty level at 35 Rupees per person, per day (.61 cents) in the villages, and 66 Rupees per person, per day ($1.16) in the cities. So, anyone earning less than that is considered to be under the poverty level, and the rate of poverty in India is at least 65%. How's that for perspective?

Kolkata (Calcutta), with it's population of 4.5 million, is recognized as one of the most poverty stricken cities on earth. It's difficult to come by exact figures, but estimates of the number of poor who are homeless and living on the streets is about two million. In some areas the homeless outnumber those living in homes--although "home" many times means nothing more than a shack or tent made of anything from cardboard and tin, to a tarp strung between four poles with some palm branches for walls. Also, there are an estimated 100,000 child laborers in Kolkata alone.

The constant din of cars and trucks blowing their horns, as well as the noise from the continual construction, makes the foul odor of all the stuff on the side of the streets and in any body of standing water, all the more overwhelming to the thousands who are trapped, living on the streets of Kolkata.

Living in the middle of all this in inescapable circumstances are many thousands of people who belong to a group known as "untouchables."  The caste system mandates a hereditary social class which restricts education, employment opportunities, profession, property ownership, and every other aspect of life to these born "untouchable."

Living in such extreme poverty can, understandably, lead to a sense of hopelessness and despair. Next year, we plan to begin leading short-term volunteer teams to Kolkata, and I would like to challenge those of you with a servant's heart to make plans to help the suffering children of this city. Your time and talents are greatly needed to help the children, to sing songs with them, to show them someone cares, and most importantly, to love them to Jesus.

If you cannot go yourself, I challenge you to support AIM with your prayers and giving. Perhaps the Lord is laying on your heart these precious souls as they are trapped in the hopelessness and despair of Kolkata.


If you feel God is leading you to give financially to this ministry, click here to Donate Now.


                                                                      --------------------


If you are going to be in Oklahoma on August 4th, 2012, be sure to plan to attend this
years "Jewels of India" Fundraising Banquet to be held at The Pines, 110 E. Lakeview Rd.
in Stillwater. Registration begins at 6:30 pm and the banquet starts at 7 pm.

Come enjoy a  meal and hear what God is doing through Asia International Mission to help the
children of India. We will have a presentation of the latest trip to Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Kolkata.

Hope to see you there!


                                                                      --------------------


Prayer Requests 
Pray for a great revival to spread across India and around the world. 
Pray for financial support to conduct medical camps in villages for poor.
As we attend our next board meeting, pray that God would lead us in how we partner with new ministries.

Pray for increase in the annual giving and commitments for this upcoming year.

Pray for the Unreached Balija, Hindu of India

Population: 1,454,000
World Popl: 1,454,000
Main Language: Telugu
Main Religion: Hinduism
Bible: Complete
Status: Least-Reached
Christ-Followers: Few, less than 2%

                               Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry. 

All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated

  

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.