Sunday

Last year we had quite a bit of Sunday free. We went to service in the morning and then had a study in the evening after dinner. The rest of the day was spent recuperating from the long days of travel, exploring the area around the hotel, or just relaxing a bit in preparation for the weeks ministry.

None of that lazing about this year!

Immediately after breakfast our team broke into four groups and headed out to the field to join local churches in their worship service. I requested to go to Uttam's church. Uttam is a pastor that New Hope has sponsored for a year so that he can coordinate all of the workers in this area that are doing follow-up work with the people we led to Christ last year and, hopefully, the people that well be led to Christ this year. Uttam is a very likable man and, even though he has very little English, you can tell that he has the respect of his team and that they love him like a brother.

Uttam (center) is a good man and the leader of the follow up team.

The church is located in the middle of a gathering of loosely spaced houses. We walked about a quarter of a mile from Uttam's house to the church and the route was a mix of dirt road, pathways behind houses, and earth dykes set up in between rice or tea fields. The church itself is a humble but beautiful place and it soon filled up with about 90 men, women, and children. They suffered through my message with ease and each and every one of them came to me after service to say a blessing of "peace" and shake my hand. They were lovely people and it is a great reminder to me that regardless of the fact that I'm a tall, white guy from half a world away, we worship the same God and the same God loves each of us.

After tea at the former pastors house we headed back into town. I've really got to figure out how to post video to this blog as I have footage of all twelve (YES 12!) of us packed into a vehicle about the size of a Ford Escape. Good thing most Indians are small in stature!

We sped back to town, wolfed down some food, and then headed to a four hour session with our translators and follow-up team. We covered many things including how to present the HIV/AIDS and malaria information and how to lead I Am Second studies. Seeing Charles lead this training reminded me of why I have such high regard for Charles. He is contagiously enthusiastic in his love for God and the unsaved. He seems to be able to juggle a million projects successfully and I have never so much as seen him frown, let alone be upset or angry. Truly a man of peace.

A good dinner, and a few words to you, and I'm ready to hit the hay. It's taken another 24 hours for the lack of sleep to catch up with me, but I think it's here in full force tonight. Tomorrow we'll take to the field to start the work we've come here to do.

 

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