Sunday

Today was Sunday here and we broke up into five teams to visit and teach at five churches in our area. As with almost everything here, things started out immediately behind schedule. The official designation of the time zone in India is IST. We swear it stands for "India Stretchable Time." Anyway, after a 23 kilometer ride on bonecrushing roads, we finally arrived at our destination almost 90 minutes later than planned. It didn't matter. The humble house church, which usually numbers about 15-20, swelled to about 40 and they were waiting anxiously for us.

We assembled in a room that was about 15 x 15 feet. The congregants were spread out on the floor and the Americans, our native pastor, and our translator were all seated in plastic stacking chairs, the ubiquitous furniture of rural India. The pastor led us in an opening prayer and then a couple of acapella hymns, sung with great enthusiasm and rythmic clapping. Alicia then led off with a reading from Psalms and Marilyn followed up with her testimony using the evangicube. I finished off with a brief message focused on Isaiah 1:18-20. By the time we had finished our time together there were perhaps 60 people surrounding the little house. Word that Americans had arrived in this little village had evidently spread.

We were escorted back to our vehicles and I was disappointed that we didn't have more time, expecially when a sweet village elder asked us to stay for tea. My experience with the rural Indian people is that, no matter how poor they may be, they are incredibly hospitable and will share anything they have, no matter how little it is.

This afternoon and evening we spent about four hours in training with our nationals. Charles Golla, pictured here with Matt, is an amazing teacher of both the word and in how to share it. He has a contagious enthusiasm and a smile that makes you immediately take him into your confidence. The training was indepth and I think we all feel well prepared for our time in the field starting tomorrow.

Training was followed by dinner with our national volunteers. This is one of my favorite things, not just because of the food, but because of the fellowship with these people. Most of them have amazing testimonies and all of them have sacrificed to be on this mission with us. By the way, if you are ever at a table with rural Indians, do yourself a favor: skip using silverware and eat with your hands as they do. It's a liberating experience.

Tomorrow we hit the field and we're all excited to do the work we came here for.

 

 

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