Life Changing Words Ministry

Missionary Journal

October 31, 2004

I see a great potential for this little congregation of Immanuel Prayer House to be used by God is an awesome way. Yet like anywhere in this world, when God is working His plan out in the lives of people, satan is crouching at the door. The pastor’s wife is suffering from some leg pain and she has been to the doctor, has taken all the medications and still there is pain. Even after prayer it is still there. So we have concluded that since the pastor has wanted to be a man of responsibility and accountability, the enemy is working. We will continue to seek the root source to this attack.

The changes for this church are not going to be overnight. Patience and forgiveness must be the graces that are introduced and walked in until the fruits of the Spirit can be worked in the lives of these people. They want what God wants for them but really don’t know how this will come about. That is what we are trying to do, train them in the way they should go... as little children of faith believing in their loving Heavenly Father.

Here there is fasting prayer. It is a regular exercise. It is actually a common practice among the Hindu people. So many have learned it as a way of life. Oh, that our Christian culture would learn the practical spiritual benefits. The Holy Spirit offers so much more than we could ever imagine. We would like to see the tribal believers experience true kingdom living.

Tuesday became the first time English class was held in a tribal village, Warli Pada. [I finally spelled it correctly.] The faces of the children made the moment unforgettable. They were so willing and eager to speak when mimicking English. Lily and I had so much fun and the time went by so quickly.

From the information that I have gathered in securing a teacher, the transportation for her is US$15 and the going salary for an elementary school level teacher is US$40 per month. Perhaps the Lord would raise up some people with hearts to help with the Warli Pada tribal school and with the Ghatkopar slum mission school in supporting these teachers.

Last night we met a pastor from Canada. He was born in Madras south India, went to college in Kentucky and has residency in Canada. He has a kindred spirit to us. He too understands a life of faith and comes when the Lord fills his hand. He is in India for one month and is going to about 4 or 5 places. His daughter came with him. She just returned from doing some "mission" work in the US (NC specifically). He gave some clothes for the tribal children.

At the Wednesday evening service, a testimony of our Monday evening fasting prayer was heard. There was a man who had been considering suicide has been estranged from his wife and two sons for ten years, ever since his business went under through some unscrupulous partners. During his fasting time, the Lord gave him a word from Romans 6. He went to see his sister who works in an office at the airport. He wept before her telling her that he longs to get together with his family again, but is not sure if his wife will take him back. He has not remarried in all these years.

His sister informed him to stop crying because his wife came to see her last week crying because she wants to get back with her husband and is afraid he won’t want her. So she told him to go to his home and restore relationship with his family. What a wonderful demonstration of the ability of God to answer the prayers of His people.

It is interesting to take a few moments to watch outside the window where we are staying with Padmini didi on the second floor. From here you can see the field where the slum children play cricket or practice playing drums and sticks. In the background are highrises. The newspaper says that 157 of these type of buildings are illegal and are even built on land that belongs to the tribal people. Here people live according "to what is right in his own eyes."

Sometimes it is necessary to stand back and allow the Lord to work a continued measure of compassion in my heart. I want it to be at the level He desires. When you are working with people, you don’t want your words to speak, only His words which bring life to people who are needing and wanting hope. Here it is truly not my will, but Thy will be done so that the Father can have a BIG family!!!

The sky is overcast but for rain. It is a smog. I am watching a little girl place a baby into what looks like a hammock strung between two trees and is swinging it back and forth. The parents are gone to work. How sad the conditions that people have to live like this from the world’s viewpoint. O Lord, give us these souls!!!

Bill and Pastor Paul are leaving for Delhi in about 40 minutes. Bill has just finished packing his suitcase and has taken it out by the doorway. This will be my first time being by myself here. I am not afraid or worried, only aware that this is the first time that Bill will not be here to discuss issues like we usually do. India is good for us in our relationship together. They will be gone 11 days. The ministry will continue as planned here and the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to the simple in faith. Thank you, Lord, for this great privilege of watching Your tenderness and gentleness. Do not withhold your precious power on behalf of your people. Have mercy on us.

It is already Saturday night and even it is almost over. Bill and Pastor Paul arrived in Delhi safely, but I haven’t gotten to talk to Bill directly.

Padmini’s daughter, Swarna, took me with her to find some things for her baby. I am having a couple outfits made by her tailor. You can buy the fabric for a dress outfit — something the ladies wear to their jobs — for about $11 and have it stitched according to your favorite style for about $4. So you can have a nice cotton outfit for about $15. Then again, if you want silk... $40 and up, according to your budget. It really is fun to shop even though you must go here and there to get the best bargains. The western style shopping malls are just as boring as in the states because all the prices are set and they are too high for the non-upper class to afford.

I was fetched at 10:45 this morning. We were to have an English class, but today too many people came by the church. So we visited, worked out problems, and did everything but have out class. By then it was time to eat lunch. Today was sambar (a vegetable soup like dish which you pour over your rice), rice, an egg omlette, and fried potato sticks washed down with water. Looking at the clock indicated that it was time to set up the chairs for the ladies prayer meeting. Six ladies came for prayer and a word of encouragement from Proverbs 31:10-31. One of the ladies announced that next year their family would be larger. Excitement burst.

Informed that I could rest for 15 minutes before having chai and leaving to go teach the children’s English class in the tribal village was a real hoot. It took me half that time to go to the "squatty-potty"! The other half was in giving scripture verses to a visiting pastor’s wife from Chennai. Lord, I know there is rest in You...

The children were exceptionally excited today. We have at least 30 children and four adults in class to learn English. Class started at 6pm. We accomplished getting the pencils distributed and demonstrating how to hold them. We made it through the ‘a’ phonogram. I had help, but the two hours went so fast and the children were too eager. We were busy every minute. At least we were successful in getting through lesson one!!! It was funny to watch the adults going around practicing and showing off the first phonogram that has 3 sounds. I love this job, it is too fun.

The sad part is that I cannot show you a picture. There was no one to take photos of what we were doing. WE NEED A PHOTOGRAPHER TO COME WITH US!!! There are so many precious shots that could speak so many words with one look... it is going to be tough to put together a power point presentation with no pictures... Lord, send help to us.

Finishing up our first class, we sent the children home after a prayer led by one of the students. Behind the mud hut we were in, was the prayer meeting. So I didn’t have to go too far in the dark. After some prayers, the Holy Spirit used me again to give the gospel story of the Father’s great love and His desire for a BIG family. These believers can’t read and write, yet they are so desiring to be used by God to witness for Him. How refreshing!!!

This trip is definitely a demonstration of the Lord is my strength. Since the men are in Delhi, the preaching for both the morning and evening services have fallen to me. Not my will, but Thy will be done, My Master. Fill my mouth with Your words. The people love to hear "God words". They even tell the auto rickshaw drivers ‘God words’ when they come and go. Where are more witnesses like these? Look what we can learn from one another in the Body. These women go to the members house and ask why they didn’t come to church. The member gets the sermon and told that it is required for them to be at church because they are missed too much and are needed to help in prayers. I really draw energy from these bold gals. They really do bring people into the kingdom and if they backslide, they don’t go unnoticed, nor do they miss out on their ‘holy lecture’, because they are loved too much. Can you tell why I love it here?

Even if only two people show up for English service on Sunday evening by faith we still have church. We worship, pray for God to send more souls, and then have a sermon or bible study, prayer and benediction. We are expecting God to do BIG things.

November is here already (just a few hours away). HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Arlene Staffeldt (Mom), Bill Hawkins, Pastor Paul Joseph, Kylie Sage Dunn, Alexander Christopher Dunn.