Berean Way

India 18 - home again!

Nothing about India is easy.  As I arrived to the airport, I discovered the final leg of my trip was scheduled for a flight that was canceled. After some work by some people back home, I was able to get home 7 hours past my scheduled arrived by flying an additional flight.

Erin, Ranger, Bella and Andie were all waiting for me and every time I reunite with my family, I am so thankful God has brought me home safely.

So thank you for your prayers while we were gone. This was a most rewarding trip because we were able to accomplish the long range planning we have been working towards.

I also remember, that while I am able to come back to the USA, my Indian friends remain in a very unstable and uneasy position.  Persecution is going on as much as ever and people are willing suffer for Christ rather than renounce their commitment to serve the living Savior.

We will continue to go as long as God permits us to keep Teaching, Equipping and Duplicating.

In Christ - Jeff

there will be much more coming soon . . .

India 17 - Nagpur Conference

I woke up at 6:00 am when my fan stopped (normal power cut outage). They turned off the cities power again until noon or so. Pastor JM came to pick us up.

After a quick roadside breakfast (Jaikumar and Sam) we stopped by the very center of India.
 

It’s true! The pillar behind us is the very center of India.

We headed to a Nazarene church where I taught both sessions: John 13 (servant leadership) & Titus 3 (good works). After a good Indian lunch, I started to think about our food back home . . . and my bed . . . and most importantly, Erin and the kids!

After, Sam and I had a debriefing for several hours and he finished up the finances.  Off we went to the airport. Nagpur to Dehli then Dehlu to Frankfurt then Frankfurt to Denver, Denver to Portland.

Please pray for Sam and Jaikumar as they have a long 18 hour driving back home to their families.  Then Sam flies another 3 hours south.  We were a long way from Tamil Nadu!

Thanks for praying and being a big part of our team.  There are so many stories that I did not include, but hope to have time to share with you some day.

God Bless - Jeff

India 16 - drive to Nagpur

This morning we woke up at 6:30 am. Another hot night on a short bed.  Actually, it was really not that bad, but I am starting to get emotionally drained as we near the end of the trip.

After we debriefed with the local coordinator, we were on the road by 8:30 am for our long ride west towards Nagpur.  This city is where the center for the Hindu religion is located. There has been some anti-church activity lately so they have been carefully monitoring the situation.

Much of the road is under construction. This is the main freeway, but it is only a narrow two-lane road for much of the time. We came across many accidents off to the side of the road reminding me of how short life really can be.  We also appreciated your prayers for safe travels.
 
Six hours later we arrived.  We met with Pastors KC and JM. We thought we had a free afternoon to do some sightseeing, but they arranged a meeting at a small church tonight.

We are staying at the YMCA. Sam and Jaikumar were excited to get me to a place with air conditioning. The power in the city was shut off until 5:00 pm (this is normal) but tonight it was off until 7:00 pm.

Last week at church, Pastor KC encouraged them to share their faith with their friends. So I taught out of 1 Thess 2 giving them an example from the Apostle Paul. I told them they were the true missionaries and needed to be bold with their friends in living for Christ.

Then we prayed for many people. After we were done, Amrit (above) came up to me with a huge smile on his face. He is a real estate sales executive but his whole life he has wanted to be a missionary. He said that tonight, he learned he really is a LOCAL missionary! He was so excited to see how God placed him in this position. It all made since to him! He was a great young man and I believe God will do great things through him.

As I am writing to you, there are explosions of firecrackers going off all over outside. In two days, Diwali (the festival of lights) begins - it is a major Indian celebration and holiday.
At least I have air conditioning tonight . . . or so I thought. It never worked. Oh well, the fan will do just fine.

India 15 - Raipur Conference

Today we held the conference in Raipur for about 25 barefoot pastors from all around the surrounding villages. We spent the 2.5 hours reviewing the parable of the Good Samaritan and the two men who went to the temple to pray.  It lead to some real interesting conversations as these men began to learn how to read the Bible with some basic tools.

Then we went to the local zoo for an hour before it got dark.

You never know what you will find in India . . .

I met this boy climbing in a tree . . . he reminded me of my son.

A local village . . .

Tomorrow we get up early and make the 6 hour drive to Nagpur for the final two days of this trip. Then I am off for the long flight home.  Thanks for praying!

India 14 - drive to Raipur

We left Jagdalpur around 8 am and drove north to Raipur. We expected it to take us 5 hours but is was over 6 hours long. Sam and I have spent a number of hours fine tuning the vision and the direction for the foreseeable future so I can't wait to share it all with you God is really doing a special work over here.

I am seeing a new part of India to me so I am enjoying the scenery and fellowship in the car.

Heating tar for asphalt work . . .

Truck accident from earlier in the morning.  Driver broke both his wrists and his leg. This is a common scene on the Indian roadways . . .

We ate breakfast at a roadside restaurant. One of us did not handle the food very well (it was one of my Indian friends) so I thank God for keeping me healthy so far.

We arrived safely and met the local coordinator. I am sleeping on a metal frame bed with wire springs (like the old army movies) holding up the 1 inch foam mat.  Should be an interesting night!

Tomorrow, we hold training sessions for more barefoot pastors from different areas around northern Chhattisgarh. Then we will stay one more night at the church and the venture off to Nagpur (located in the very center of India.)

Thanks for your prayers. In Christ - Jeff

India 13 - Jagdalpur

I found an internet connection so more photos and details for you to pray over!

Today was a relatively simple day. This morning we held a pastors conference for about 35 men. Many of them were tribal pastors who were totally uneducated.  Our topic was spiritual warfare and we used the idea of viewing our struggles with either our physical eyes or our spiritual eyes.

When the young shepherd David fought against Goliath, he used his spiritual eyes. Goliath, the Philistines and the Israelite army used their physical eyes. After a short tea break, Sam asked if I would jump from Eph 6 (putting on our spiritual armor) to 1 Cor 1 – the foolishness of God. This passage talks about how God uses the foolish things to confound the wisdom of man.

They were very grateful and appreciate.  After lunch, we then walked to the other side of this campus where we were to teach the Bible students again.  Today there were 25 because the second year students returned from their other classes from the day before.

Charles Jaikumar preached for the first hour. When it was time for Sam to take the second hour, Jaikumar was just getting going.  So Sam let him finish up out time with them.

We went into the small town of Jagdalpur but there was very little to see.  The roads remind me of the bad sections of NE Uganda and we have a mid-sized Toyota. Well, it was bound to happen and we got our first flat tire.  I was on the lookout for snakes, but to no avail.

Our original plan was to travel to Raipur this afternoon, but Sam felt uneasy about it.  Then Pastor invited us to teach this afternoon and to stay another night, so we did. 

Sam

Sam & Jaikumar

dancing women from Jagdalpur

storytelling of their daily lives

Tomorrow, we leave around 8 am and drive north to Raipur.

Sam and I spent a lot of time fine tuning the vision and the direction for the foreseeable future.

Tomorrow, we hold training sessions for more barefoot pastors from different areas.

India 12 - Jagdalpur & Gondi Tribal People

Today, we taught 17 men at the local bible school who are very eager to learn the Word of God.  Many of them are the only Christians in their family.

Afterward, we drove to meet some people from the Gondi tribe (the largest tribe in India).  It was dark by the time we arrived and we were met by some 200 people who were dancing and singing in the streets, waiting for us to come.  Even the pastor was amazed at their welcome and excitement.

We made the long processional down the dirty road to the church which took 30 minutes in the dark.  They were dancing forwards and backwards, holding hands and jumping side by side.



Once inside the church, they were singing, jumping and praising God for another hour.

They made homemade flower necklaces for the visitors from their gardens.  I ended up with at least 25 around my neck.
I was given 30 minutes to give a gospel presentation.  I used the analogy of giving and receiving a gift (like they had done to me) and the pastor said that around 40 people in the church were there for the first time. We will know later how many people decided to follow Christ for the first time
 
It was one of the most memorable moments of this trip for me.  And it is the first time I have seen Indians worship God that outwardly and enthusiastically.  It reminded me of the Ugandan culture.  Actually, much of the tribal culture does.

India 11

Thanks for those of you who have been praying! 

Stefan made it home today safe and sound.  His family is very excited to have him home in one piece:) 

Jeff traveled to Jadgalpur, Chhattisgarh yesterday.  He is safe, healthy and says he feels great- thanks for your prayers!   The people he is with are so wonderful and they are having a real impact meeting with Pastors out in the villages.

Continue to pray!

India 10 - travel day to Jagdalpur

It is Sunday and we just decided to take a day off. I had an invitation to teach at church, but Sam and I desperately need a day of Sabboth or rest.  So that is what we are going to do.  Pastor Santosh came by and said goodbye. So now the team is Sam, Jaikumar and myself.

We are going to the small zoo tehy have in town.  Then at noon, we drive northwest to Chattisgarrh state. We will make a quick stop in Similiguda near Koraput and pick up Pastor Ajaan who will be with us for a few days to help translate.  Jaikumar is very familiar with this area and these people.  He is heavily involved in ministry in Orissa.

We will end up in Jagdalpur, Chattisgarrh through Tuesday.

Then we will drive to Raipur for two days.

Then we drive to Nagpur on Thursday

On Saturday evening I fly to Delhi, then to Frankfurt then to Portland.

I will be staying in homes, and the YMCA. I understand the culture and landscape will be completely different and new.  I also think my days of internet acess may be coming to an end so there might not be any more photos for awhile.

HOWEVER, we will do our best to update you every day so please keep checking in on a daily basis.

I need your prayers more than ever.  Praise God and thanks for being a vital part of this team.

In Christ - Jeff

India 9 - Vizag

SO I forgot to mention that after all the tribal people visits last night, we headed to the train station for our 10 pm all-night train (just think of the money we saved not having to get a hotel!) It was almost an hour late and we were all exhausted. Finally it arrived at 7 am. 

We crawled into the shaking train and then tried to sleep. We all went in and out until we stopped in Vizag. Jaikumar (childhood friend of Sam's) was there to take us to the hotel.

We checked into the hotel and we were off to our next meeting. Shortly after leaving, I realized I forgot my camera, so I do not have any more photos of the day.  We drove 60 km to Vizjjayanagram where we spoke with 35 pastors. We met at a place called Christ's Church which was on top of another building. It was hot. 95 or something like that. The roof was low and made of asbestos. I didn't know if my Canadian partner was going to make it!

Halfway through the power went off and our single fan was off. I spoke on servant leadership in John 13 from a servant perspective. Stef started preaching on the second coming of the Lord.  He used a variety of passages from Matthew 24 and other places. If it wasn't so hot he might have gone on all day. We also shared our vision of long=term pastor development and they were really excited.

We got into the car and headed back to the hotel.  Stef grabbed his things and we made a 30 minute visit to the Bay of Bengal on our way to the airport. We barely made it in time, but Stef caught his plane and we said goodbye.  It was surreal when he left.  It happened so quickly and now it is just me. We went out to Chinese food and I ordered for everyone. They only eat Indian food for every meal so it was an experience for Sam, Pr. Santosh and Jaikumar.

Then off to bed.  I was able to get an internet connection and SYKPE with my wife and kids.  That was just what I needed - I miss them so much. So it is off to bed and the 2nd half of our adventure through India happens tomorrow.

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!!!!!!!