VBS Part 2

VBS was four days of pure joy, bringing Jesus and happiness to the children from the neighborhood around Mizpah Christian Fellowship.  We’d like to share more images and experiences (Yes there are a lot of photos, but a lot happened!):

Sharon Kinzie and Dr. Sujatha lead "Father Abraham"

The Mizpah Children’s Ministry Team had their own familiar fun songs from the ongoing Nile Project.  Their dedicated people tutor and feed 75 children for five days a week and have 
developed a tremendous 

Fun Songs led by the Mizpah Team

rapport with them.  The children and their friends--Hindu, Muslim and Christian--flocked to the church.  We had about 100 total who heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  A Muslim mother and her co-workers in the garment factory next door stood out on their balcony during lunch break and listened....

Through stories, songs, crafts and games—all keyed to colors—we presented the Gospel in a memorable way, giving children the tools to witness to their peers by the fourth day.

God want to give us Crowns of Gold

Day One was Gold Day—teaching about the One True God, the King of Heaven, and how He wants us to be His children.

Albert Helping to Fit the Crowns

Day Two was Black Day—explaining about how our sin separated us from God.  But He loves us even when we are bad, and He had a plan…

Stomping Out Sin in our Lives

 

Scratching Off Sin to Reveal the Beauty Jesus has given us...

Day Three was Red and White Day—God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to bring us back to God through His shed blood.  We are made pure from sin if we ask Him into our hearts, and can live with God in heaven.

Free Gifts Symbolizing the Free Gift of Christ's Salvation

 

Cindy May passing out Light Sticks--Jesus is the Light of the World

Day Four was Green Day—Growing in Christ by obeying God, praying to Him, reading His Word, and going to church.  Albert's compelling presentation of the story of Jonah taught 

Alice Stringing Gospel Beads with Uma and Sweeti

the principles of obedience to God and Christian love for your enemies.  The craft was stringing bead bracelets and necklaces--in the color sequence. They knew it perfectly by now!  So, each child can answer questions about their beads and present the story of Jesus to their friends.

Pastor Babu and Dr Sujatha

The children of India are always a blessing to us, and so were the people of Mizpah Christian Fellowship.  Pastor Babu, Dr. Suji and their Team have become dear friends.  God willing, we will be back with them next year.  God's heart yearns for His children.  We are here to help them know Him.

More random images to enjoy:

Cooweesta always connects with the children!

Mattie and Len Walker Serving Lunch--We all shared rice and curry--even eating with our hands!!  (Most of us...)

Mattie with a Child--Len was taking photos...

Karen May sharing Christ's Love

And as a Grand Finale, the women of the Mizpah Team did an Interpretive Dance for us, complete with a huge silky Indian flag.  The haunting melody moved me to tears....

"Pray for India!  Pray for India!  Pray for Indiaaaah!'

The Women of Mizpah Interpretive Dance:  "Pray for India!"

Just a taste of what God is doing across His world!  Pray about how YOU can be an integral part of it!  Dare to do it...    

(Then we visited a Leper Colony to see where some of our VBS children lived...check out our next blog.)

---Alice Sharrock

 

Let the Children Come…

Children, children, children.   India is overflowing with them, from the mountains to the sea, from little villages along the rice paddies, to the slums of the inner cities.  Here in Bangalore, Mizpah Christian Assembly and our VBS Team joined forces, and together we had four days of wonder and blessing.  Over 90 children attended, some from the Leper Colony…which we visited late Wednesday.

India’s greatest wealth—its future, and the jewels in its crown—are its children.  The social scientists say there are far too many of them for the nation and for the planet.  But we feel each soul is a gift from God:  Each little face, each pair of glowing eyes that sees hope and promise in every new day, each smile that brings joy to our hearts. 

And it was a joy!  We and the dedicated people of Mizpah worked side by side, with them in the lead.  Their focus is children.  Their expertise is children.  Their mission field is the children from the poor families surrounding the church.  Let’s share a few images and experiences from the past four days:

 

Jonah thought he could run away from God....

Albert May was the storyteller...in a culture only a few generations away from purely oral learning.  Dr. Sujartha, Pastor Babu Prasad's wife, was an equally animated translator.  The church speaks Tamil; the children speak the local language, Kannada--India is incredibly multilingual.

We will complete this blog, our visit to the Leper Colony, and the dedication of the Medical Clinic after we arrive in Kolkata.  It's almost midnight and we have to get up at 4AM for our flight...this trip is taxing my energy level.  Please keep praying for us and the Team.  The Monsoon has arrived--rain and thunder and more rain.  God is doing great things!  More soon... 

--Alice Sharrock 

 

Back to Work

We arrived safely in Bangalore despite “operating issues” which held up our flight for an hour.  Pastor Babu Prasad, our AIM partner, and his wife, Dr. Sujartha, welcomed us into their comfortable guest room.  Bangalore is so much cleaner and cooler than our previous locations—we can easily get spoiled!

But—no time for that.  Saturday, May 18^th, was our 22^nd Wedding Anniversary but somehow we both forgot until Sunday….  (Couldn’t possibly be age—we blamed it on the long and ministry-intensive trip.)  We are being stretched in so many ways, and blessed deeply at the same time.  God is working in India.  Even though many places theoretically are “reached”, millions of people have never been presented with the Truth of the Gospel;  “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”  So we got down to work again…

God's Book of Promises: Dr. Sujartha and Russ

On Sunday, Russ spoke at Faith Prayer Baptist Church, a small Tamil-language congregation associated with Pastor Babu’s Mizpah Ministries.  Pastor Dass and his son, co-Pastor Emmanuel Prabhu, greeted us with joy.  The resounding hymns moved me to tears as I thought about all the nations praising the One True God across the globe. 

By now, Russ’ testimony has been translated into Telugu, Oriya, and now Tamil…this time by Dr. Suji.  As I looked into the faces of the men, women and children, I marveled at the creativity and diversity of our Creator.  So different, yet we are so much the same...

Bible Study and Prayer

Monday, we checked out the rooms for our Mission Team and negotiated prices.  On Tuesday Russ spoke at Mizpah Assembly prayer meeting.  Throughout the world, you can always recognize the core group of a ministry—they come to the prayer meetings.  Prayer is the foundation of our lives and God’s work.  It keeps our faith alive and vibrant, and we were blessed by the faithful believers gathered that evening.

Wednesday saw Alice and Pastor Babu back at the second-story church.  It is in an impoverished neighborhood where its ministry is essential.  Their “Nile Project” feeds and tutors poor children five days a week.  Sister Susheela, a retired teacher, is a wonderful supervisor who endorsed it from the beginning. 

Incense Makers Working Late at Night

Although a wedding reception was in full swing, about 30 of the children squeezed into the church office and were interviewed by Alice.  Whispers and giggles belied the stories that came to light:  Fathers dead from heart attacks and accidents, and many others who are absent alcoholics, have left so many local children destitute.  Their mothers struggle at jobs—like making incense sticks far into the night—to gain 75 or 100 rupees a day ($1.50 to $2.)   Rent in Bangalore for even a tiny room costs 1500 rupees a month, which leaves maybe 1000 rupees ($20) a month for food, clothing, cooking fuel, etc.  Others are housemaids, relying on leftovers to bring home to feed the family.  Sometimes there are no leftovers…so there are no meals. 

This is the niche that Mizpah Ministries has filled to open doors for the Gospel, and this is where AIM has gone into partnership.  We have plans in the works for expanding the Nile Project to meet the needs of more children—watch for more information in the days ahead.

Let’s meet some of the children: 

 

Sonia (left) and Friends

Sonia is a little older than most, about 14.  She was completely deaf and mute when her Hindu family brought her to church for prayer in 2005.  They began coming regularly.  When they heard the Gospel, their eyes were opened.  They said “Even if Sonia is not healed, we know that Jesus Christ is the Living Lord.”

When the Nile Project began in 2007, Sonia came every day.  A few months later, she laughed and pointed to her ear—and made her first sounds of surprise.  She could hear!  She can understand people now, speaks a little--and is full of fun and laughter.  A joyful Sonia and joyful church!

Karthik

While most children told us how they loved the Bible stories, songs, and help with schoolwork, Karthik is a typical growing boy—and very honest.  He is 9 yrs old and entering the 3^rd Standard at school.  His mother works at a bottling factory where she spends long days applying labels by hand.  His father was a carpenter who died 2 years ago after falling off a terrace (balcony)—there are no workmen’s comp benefits.   Karthik has been coming to the Nile Project for 3 years.  Alice asked: What do you like about the Nile Project?   He replied: “The food!” and his hands flew up to cover his grinning face….

Deepa

Deepa is a shy 8 year old in the 3^rd Standard.  Her mother works making incense sticks at home since her husband died of a heart attack.  Deepa has one elder sister and one younger brother, all four trying to live on her mother’s meager wages.  What do you like about the Nile Project?  “Happy!”  She likes the Bible stories and songs.  And yes, she likes the food also.

The stories could go on and on.  Each back street and alleyway has its tales to tell of death and hardship and tears.  Yet, I saw that Mizpah Christian Assembly is bringing these children to an island of refuge in the Nile River of poverty that surrounds them—just as Pharaoh’s daughter rescued little Moses from his lonely basket among the reeds.  We are honored that the Lord has called us to help.

Susheela and Some of Her "Nile Project Children"

 But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Luke 18:16

--Alice Sharrock

Moving On

Our time in Hyderabad is drawing to a close.  We finalized our work here with an Alumni Conference for pastors who had previously graduated from the Bible College.  Russ spoke

Russ speaking at Alumni Conference, Kiran Translating

on Christian Leadership, and then gave his compelling testimony during the second session.  I spoke briefly on the important relationship between a pastor and his wife and children—often neglected in the urgency of ministry.

Several of the men had traveled over 300km and 24 hours to be with us.  Very few Indians own a car and few village pastors even own a bicycle.  Local travel is often on foot. More distant journeys are usually on a rickety bus, or on the train (which is an adventure in itself…)

Before we leave early Friday for Bangalore, we would like to introduce two of these men who sacrificially carry the Gospel to their people.  (You have already met Victor from Panampally village in our last blog.)  

John Prasad

John Prasad is a quiet young man who has come a long way in his 24 years.  He grew up in a Hindu family where his parents fought constantly; as a teen, he contemplated suicide because of the constant stress and emotional pain.  But, instead, God led him to a Sunday School where he received the hope of Jesus Christ.  He began to teach Sunday school and his church gave him preaching opportunities. His pastor told him about Ravi’s Bible College—Shalom Veda Patasala—and he attended in 2009-10. 

He got married to Amelia just over a year ago; God blessed him with both a church and a temporary job with Manna Ministries.  He works four days a week, and ministers three days in his church of 25 members in Allavaram village.  Since Prasad has a job, he is supporting other needy people with his tithing as an example to his congregation. 

As with many Christians in India, as soon as Prasad became a believer, his family expelled him from their home and lives.  Some time ago, a Hindu uncle attempted to bring about peace, but failed; the family remains estranged which is very difficult in a land where extended family relationships are the supporting fabric of life.

Typical Family Motorbike

 

John Prasad’s prayers are: To be able to minister full time; to plant a new church; and to have a motorbike so he can take the church youth out to evangelize.  (If you have any questions about this, check out the internet photo at right.  We see this all the time…everyone perfectly balanced, perfectly normal for India, weaving through rush hour traffic…so a few youth will be no problem.)

A second interesting alumnus of Ravi’s college is his “bad boy”, Udhay Kumar.  He is 25 but looks 18 and deceptively innocent.  Ravi says he often ran away from the campus, sometimes with Ravi’s car…  Kumar had asthma since the age of 2 and suffered for 8 years.  A Healing Crusade came to his town, he was delivered from the affliction—and his whole family became Christians.  At age 17, Kumar joined the Crusade group, but later felt he needed more training.  That’s when he came to Shalom Veda Patasala. 

Udhay Kumar

During his stay in 2009-10, he and the College were targeted by a radical fundamentalist Hindu group called RSS.  (Their saffron flags currently fly in many local neighborhoods, so the hostility is not over.)  They attacked the campus, broke all the lights and threatened them if they didn’t discontinue operations.  When Kumar and his peers went out to evangelize, the group attempted to assault them, but they made it back to the safety of the walled compound.

Udhay Kumar ministers in K.P. Gudam, about 250km from Hyderabad and about 110km north of Guntur.  His church is fairly large for a village—55 members. 

He has also begun a fledgling house church in Ramalabanda village with 15 coming for prayer.  But, opposition continues to haunt and discourage him.  A mob came to beat him, and one man threatened to kill him if he held another service there, so he has refrained for

A Muslim Employee Listens Intently at the Window

the past three weeks.  Sometimes he is so discouraged he wants to quit, but he says “God is always faithful” and he hasn’t given up.  Please pray for this brave, but uneasy young man.  His life is truly on the line for the Gospel—something Americans have seldom experienced.

We have seen Ravi Sundar interact with these young men—a combination of fatherly concern, laughter, respect and yet stern discipline.  They tell tales of how he implemented “food cuts”—banning them from meals if they were caught walking around during personal prayer time, or cutting chapel.  If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then the way to his conscience can sometimes take the same route…

We are impressed by the training these men have had from Ravi, and the fruit his training is producing across Andhra Pradesh.  AIM is committed to helping national pastors and missionaries reach their own people.  Please pray for us as we seek God’s will in coming alongside these godly men.

 

Russ and Ravi

--Alice Sharrock

 

Hyderabad--Where It All Began

Back in 2003, I leaned toward the plane window at midnight.  We were approaching our destination:  Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.  Fresh from the tiny village of Nenana, Alaska, we were excited to be going to a truly foreign country, and a crowded city of 3.7 million souls.

I was surprised.  City lights—which usually greet a visitor like a vast field of diamonds—looked more sparse than those of Fairbanks, which had only 80,000 people.  The airport was not much larger either, and barely functional.  It smelled of mildew.  The air outside was thick with the smoke of cooking fires.

Hyderabad Today

Much has changed in ten years.  Rajiv Gandhi Airport recently built in the suburb of Shamshabad is definitely world-class. Exclusive hotels and shopping are available.  Hyderabad city has whole districts of high-tech corporations and is the call-center hub of—possibly—the world.  Chances are that your tech support 800-number connects you here! 

And its 6 million inhabitants are fast becoming westernized.  McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut have sprouted up.  TV commercials show spacious modern apartments, private schools for children, the latest fashions and jeans, cutting edge appliances, air conditioning and western bathrooms.  You might think you were watching TV in the USA, except for the ads for “fairness creams” as well as L’Oreal hair color…

Tent Slum Family, Hyderabad

Yet, for many people, nothing has changed in the ten years we have been coming to India.  The population has far outstripped the infrastructure, and there are still miserable city slums.  And as soon as you leave Hyderabad, the villages—where 75% of India still lives—are in a world thousands of years old.  True, many huts have Dish TV, but no toilet.  Many carry a cell phone, but water still comes in a pot on a woman’s shoulder.  Cooking is still done over cakes of dry cattle dung.  Plowing and hauling are still done, in a large part, by bullock teams.

HIV+ Mother & Child

The number of lost souls continues to mushroom.  India will outstrip the population of China by 2015 in one-third the space.  That’s in just two years!  Five of every 100 children never reach their first birthday.  Half of the world’s lepers and HIV/AIDS victims are here.  It seems that mob mentality has taken over in the rush for advancement:  Grab the future for ME, and step on the ones below.  The caste system encourages this mindset—yet we know it is prevalent across the human spectrum, including the US.  Sometimes the sheer enormity of poverty and population—hidden behind the façade of progress—overwhelms the mind.

Many Indian groups are openly denouncing inequities and seeking to rectify them.   Even the government, especially around election time, makes noble resolutions.  But, the problems are huge and each step forward is so small.  As Karen May quoted from Mother Teresa:  We feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean…  What is the answer?

No Running Water, but a TV Dish

AIM does get involved in some social work:  A well here, a Children’s Home there.  But the true answer is to change humanity at the heart level.  Only Jesus Christ can do that.  When the hearts and souls are changed, then the love of God and love for our neighbor take precedence, and cultures are transformed.  We have clearly seen that change does not work from top-down; it can only be effective from the roots upward, like a living organism.

The Future of India

We are in India to effect real change through Christ.  Where do we begin?  We have a two-prong strategy:  One, change the lives of children—the next generation—and raise up leaders who truly care for their people, not merely for money and power.  If those trapped in endless poverty are provided with enough food and medical care to reach adulthood, taught Christ’s love, educated and sent out, they can change their world.

Second, enable local men, whom God has called, to spread the Gospel to their own people.  They are far better equipped in language, cultural understanding, customs and protocol—and worldview—than we will ever be.  They develop the strategies, they carry them out.  AIM comes alongside and helps them to accomplish God’s goal of reaching the unreached for His glory.

So today, after time along the coast and in the mountains, we are back inland, in the capital city of Hyderabad.  We met Ravi Sundar through Indian friends in Stillwater and Tulsa.  He was not on our original schedule, but we are enjoying time with him, his family, and his church—the seventh plant he has nurtured into maturity.  Shalom Full Gospel Church is already supporting outlying village churches and planting a new house church in a high-caste Hindu neighborhood.  We were privileged to minister with him in all three places.

Russ and Ravi at VBS

Russ spoke at the ongoing VBS at Shalom.  Some of the children from the slum across the road regularly attend Sunday School and VBS.  Fourteen young people came to the Lord after Russ’ Gospel presentation capped by Ravi’s further invitation.  The next day Russ spoke about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego with the help of Alice’s sketches done the previous night.  We helped give out certificates and Bibles while children asked Russ about his ‘robot legs’.

Russ gave his testimony at two Youth Group meetings and at both Hyderabad churches--later at an outdoor Gospel meeting in Panampally village.  We were invited the next day to participate in dedicating their new stucco church building.  It was HOT.  A crowd gathered at the door, listening to prayers, sermons and a ribbon-cutting from several pastors.  100 degrees F, 100% humidity, and hundreds of people pressing against each other…we almost suffocated.  An hour later, Alice had to spend time in the van with the AC going to revive.  But, as always, God’s grace is sufficient and we made it!

Victor, the Survivor

Besides his church ministries, Ravi is in demand as a Conference speaker.  And, he has a Bible College for poor village men.  Here they are educated for three intensive semesters—usually free—and sent out with the Gospel to plant churches and pastor the people.  One such young man is Assistant Pastor at Panampally.  Victor Paul is paralyzed on his left side from polio, but walks as best he can to work for the Lord.  He was so discouraged with his disability he once attempted suicide by fire.  80% of his body was burned and remains deeply scarred.  But, God has a purpose for each of us, and he survived. 

Today, Victor is cheerful and helpful, but a little sad that no one will accept him as a full pastor—even though he has gone through Ravi’s training.  Please pray for God’s guidance and provision for this eager young man.  We were invited to his home,

Sharing a Cool Bottle of Sprite and Fellowship

where his parents and sister provided us a midnight dinner after the Gospel Meeting.  The home is a tiny round mud hut with an extended thatch roof; the family sleeps on cots under the ‘porch’.  An outhouse stands in the right corner of the hardened clay yard, and a water well not far away on the left.  We had been warned about eating village food but could not refuse their gracious hospitality.  Both of us are still alive and well.  God is good…

We have been going to India for ten years, and on this journey for ten weeks.  Only months ago we thought our ministry was over—‘Impossible’ the doctors said.  But our God is the God of the impossible.  We praise Him for continuing to use us in spite of the challenges.  After all, what is adventure without risk?

Some of this was covered in our email update…but it bears repeating in more detail.  God desires to be known and worshipped by all the humans He has created.  It is our duty to make Him known among the nations!

--Alice Sharrock

Tribals--Part 2

Soura Tribeswomen at Market

We reluctantly packed to leave Orissa on Saturday morning.  But before we left, we made one more stop—the Saturday Market in Paralakhemundi, where tribals come to buy supplies and trade livestock.

People stared at me and I tried not to stare back, but it was an amazing experience and I wanted to make the most of my half hour.  Some of the Soura women were buying fabric and supplies.  They were very shy about photographs, but a few finally relented.  Women were selling turmeric roots, dried fish from the coast, and bundles of twigs which are the local toothbrushes.  I bought two pottery vessels from a lady of the Kunbhar people group (technically a caste since they are Hindu); some baskets from three Medni tribals;  and wandered into the cattle fair. 

85% of the men there were tribals.  Cattle were being bought and sold for milk cows, oxen teams and beef.  (Apparently local tribes eat cattle, unlike Hindus.)  I saw a man standing, storklike, with one foot on the opposite knee, like the Masai of Africa—while sucking on a 

Waiting for a Buyer

cool ice popsicle. Some cattle were decorated with headpieces; others had prospective buyers feeling their ribs, then handing over cash.  Business swirled around me and cattle trotted by.  I truly felt in a different world.

Indian society is extremely complex to an outsider.  Four main castes with thousands of subdivisions make up the mainstream kaleidoscope.  Priests (Brahmin) and rulers/military (Khashtriya) are the top two levels.   

Fishermen, for instance, belong to a caste of their own, as do laundrywomen. They are usually born, live and die in their family trade or social position. Marriage between castes is abhorrent to most Indians, although we occasionally see “Caste No Bar” in the “Matrimonial Classifieds” of major newspapers.

At the bottom are the Untouchables or Dalit (Crushed Ones).  They are considered

Tribal Cattle Market--Paralakhemundi, Orissa

subhuman and traditionally do the nasty jobs, such as sweeping streets at night, or gathering up human waste.  Crime such as rape or murder against a Dalit is seldom prosecuted. The government ostensibly favors the legally recognized “Scheduled and Backward Castes” with quota entries into government jobs and schools; however, this benefit is seldom enforced.

Then there are the tribals, or Adavasi.  Although there is much academic debate about all I have learned, the tribes are regarded as descended from the aboriginal peoples of India.  Their genetics vary from Negrito to Austral-Asian to Dravidian.

The following criteria are often used to determine tribal status of a people group:

Stone Walls and Dirt Roads--Soura Country

1-Geographical isolation – they live in remote and inhospitable areas such as mountains and forests.

Plowing with a Wooden Plow--Before Dawn

2-Backwardness – their livelihood is based on primitive agriculture or a hunter/gatherer tradition, with a low-value closed economy and rudimentary technology that results in poverty. They have low levels of literacy and health.

3-Distinctive culture, language and religion -- often animism or spiritism.  Anthropologists feel the worship of trees, rocks and snakes derived from the early tribes and were added to folk Hinduism.

4-Shyness of contact – they have a marginal degree of contact with other cultures and people.

Strangely, tribals are not deemed unclean by Hindus, while the Dalit are.  In fact, many flatlanders regard tribals as guardians of wild places, forests and streams; “Dongria Khond”, the tribe we were trying to contact, means

Russ and Soura Tribesman--Puttasingh

“hill dwelling protectors.” 

Most of the tribals considered land as belonging to everyone (like Native Americans) and were fairly egalitarian.  This was disrupted by the Muslim Mogul conquerors in the 1500’s and further upset by the British in the 1700’s when much of India was portioned out to landlords.  Tribals and lower castes became virtual serfs, which continue to this day.  Tribal lands were opened to settlement in the 1970’s; by the time the tribals realized they had to file claims, the window of opportunity was gone.  Many wild peoples have been dispossessed but have little political power. 

Lombadi Gypsy Lady

Today, many tribals are still unreached.  Some, like the Lambadi gypsies we met in Tenali, are nomadic and difficult to pinpoint.  Others, like the Dongria Khond, are hostile and remote making it complicated to reach them with the Gospel.  Plus the government limits access to many groups, especially by missionaries.  We might gain admittance with a medical team…

India has over one thousand languages; Orissa alone has 150.  One village often cannot understand the next village.  There are over 2600 people groups in India; three-quarters of these are listed as Unreached (less than 2% evangelical Christian) and over 300 are still totally Unengaged.  

These are some of the many challenges facing the missionaries God has raised up under Bihit Parichha’s leadership.  Yet they are willing to risk, to learn, and to go—usually without any means of livelihood.  Please pray for these men who are committed to the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are considering offering sponsorships; if you or your church would love to send an indigenous missionary into the mountains, please contact us at aimission@hotmail.com   India has more unreached people groups than any other country.  Let’s change these statistics!

--Alice Sharrock

 

Two Soura Girls Asked for Prayer Before Their Exams