Friday, May 24, 2013

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 18th, was our 22nd 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 3rd 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 3rd 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