Life Changing Words Ministry

Missionary Journal

December 13, 2004

I have tried to email by the laptop without any success. My reports are still hidden within this box until, perhaps, Delhi. Although the last time I visited the cyber café, I was able to access the website with some delayed success. As always, there are emails I should have done, but failed to do while there. I realize that I am very dependent upon lists to be sure to accomplish what I need to do.

Kilang has been gone this week to Assam for a revival meeting. This has given us an opportunity to get to know his brother, Chuba, short for 'Rice King,' although I do not know the Ao words for it. Chuba was one of my students in 1996 at Grace Center. Back then he was a young man full of anger. He also was a member of our 'Living Messages' Team that went to Mulund after Paul Joseph graduated in '97. It was in Mulund that he began to change as the Spirit of God began to work in his heart under my husband's loving admonition and guidance to all five young men. We are enjoying getting to know this young man of God, who completed his further studies in Bangalore.

Once again Amenla and I are occupying our stools before the evening fire in the kitchen reminiscing the first times we had together and how much the Lord determined our lives to be together. We laugh a lot over the antics of our husbands when they are together. Kilang and Amenla act so much like our own children and we love them 'too much.' Daniel and Along are braver to come by us, but they are not confident in their English to say much. Yet they come to us for hugs and kisses.

We are again in Nagaland at an election time. This time it is for the local government positions. It is on a lesser scale than the one last time with the central government of India. Nevertheless, it is a sad state of affairs. The politicians 'buy' local votes with money that is supposed to be for meeting the needs of the public, like road improvements.obviously, which don't exist. The politicians also hire hooligans to beat up people so they will be coerced to change their votes. Because of this many people are even killed during the election campaigning process. The political system is totally corrupt throughout India and there is no one to help the people with justice.

The sad part of this all is that it appears that even though there are people who proudly claim to be from a 'Christian state,' it is clear that it is in voice only and no actions are part of this declaration. For the most part, political corruption is bigger than hope in God. Lord, change our hearts and glorify Your name, in spite of our wickedness and complacency.

There is such a spirit of hatred in this state toward the Indian residents that no evangelism is extended to them by any of the churches. It is clear that the enemies of God have a stronghold in this place and manifest through violence. No wonder that there are no blessings for the church. They have believed the Father of Lies. Forgive us, Lord, and send laborers into this harvest field.

One could become discouraged by the lack of commitment to the things of God. The youth are very few who come faithfully to the bible studies. Our prayer is that the Lord would use them in mighty ways to impact the lives of others. We have found some nuggets of the overcomer's life and the fruits of maturing into the fullness of Jesus, as we have encouraged them in the Word by taking them to the verses and reading them aloud. How else can we teach them to take these gems, bring them together, and tie them around their necks for all to see and enjoy?

Bill felt the rolling earth tremor yesterday afternoon while he was resting on the bed. None of the rest of us felt it because of being occupied in various projects. The newspaper has printed that the seismologists and 'prophets' are expecting a significant size quake (6.2) on the 12th or 13th . We are not afraid, but we are asking the Lord to protect those whose hearts are sincere to Him and to use this, if it is His will, as an opportunity to bring salvation to the hearts of many.

I talked to Pastor Paul in Mulund. He reported that the seven people in Pune got baptized and Prashant is being trained to lead the home church. On the next Sunday, 40 new people came for church. They met on the terrace (roof) to fit everyone. How exciting! Thank you, Lord, for your increase.

Then he went on to say that last Sunday, Immanuel church was completely packed with people. We agreed that when your focus is on the Lord's plan, then He can bring the increase. I feel that they will be busy enough pastoring the increase. Thank you, Jesus, for Your faithfulness to our obedience; help the leaders to fulfill Your plan for the church growing. We showed the young people how to speak the word into their situations and circumstances and followed the next night with how to possess the land the Lord is giving to us in the spiritual and practical to bring souls into the Father's family. And finally, we discussed the reality of hell to not only motivate us to do the work of God, but also to ask for an increased compassion for lost souls because we do not want anyone to go to the place of eternal torment. They all expressed their gratitude for such teachings and asked if we would plan to come again next time and teach a ten-day bible study series indicating the steps of growing as a true believer. They want as much practical application of the scripture as they can get. Here no one teaches them the practical life, they get a lot of theory or doctrine, but they want to know how to apply the word and live the life of God.

On the last night of the bible studies, we had a campfire in the yard of the church and sat singing Christmas carols, drinking coffee, and eating crispy snacks. After we went to the Longkumers for supper and returned to Kilang's home around ten. For some reason they had all already gone to bed!!!

We have been invited to be a part of the Longkumer's 10 year ministry anniversary. So Bill, Kilang, Amenla, and I went shopping to find the appropriate gift for presentation. Bill found an Ao ceremonial knife with the holder on a belt for Dr. Longkumer. Amenla and I searched for some teakwood flower vases and bought the flowers to put in them. We purchased two and enough flowers. This way, Mrs. Longkumer may use both in the church, or may use one in the church and one in her home. Shopping in Dimapur is not like shopping at home for sure. Once you go to all the shops that sell the same or similar item, and you decide on what you like, then you negotiate for the item. So it is definitely not like Fred Meyer. But we did manage to find a top and sweater for the new mikala that was given to me as a gift. It is likely that I will leave it here until the next visit. We don't want to carry things back and forth. Before we came home, we went to the nursing home to pray for one of the youth, his name is Thiendong [Ding-dong, for short], who is extremely sick. It is clear that there is some demonic attack associated with this boy's sickness. We prayed for him before they moved him to a bigger hospital where they have the equipment to monitor him. We are expecting a good report.

Tomorrow and Wednesday Kilang has a two session revival meeting in this same colony where we are staying. It is the first of its kind. Wednesday night is a musical night at Teens Up Faith Church. I have been invited to give a short testimony. Then at the Foundation Day celebration on Thursday evening (16th), I will be giving an exhortation on their ministry.

The days are going quickly as always. Our last Sunday service will be in the adjoining state of Assam. I will get to wear a sari for that service as there are mostly Indians there. We will be moving to see Charls and Sweety early morning on the 23rd December. The train ride is only 13 hours. Chuba will go with us because we have never been to this part and a friend of Chuba's told him the area is very risky. He will go with to determine our safety and if necessary, we will leave for Delhi early [i.e. about Jan 5th, instead of February 1st]

I have been told that if I rub the oil of the orange the mosquitoes will not bite me. So my new scent of fragrance here is very fruity. Bill hasn't complained and the mosquitoes just keep looking for a place to light on me. At least this way, I have had a little more luck in squashing them between my hands. Right now, the count is 6 for the humans and 8 for the 'muchers'.

We have been blessed by tokens of love given to us by the people here. My husband has received 3 or 4 men's shawls, a woven wool jacket, replicas of Ao native implements which show their high regard for his age and coming here to share Jesus. I have received a ladies Chang tribal shawl, two smaller Ao shoulder shawls, a suit (mikala with matching shawl), a mikala for which I purchased a blouse and sandals to go with it, a summer straw hat, and a Konyak book bag (yonku). Since we will be returning, I will leave the mikala, sepati, etc here to wear next time.

We are having one more time to minister in Nagaland on Sunday with the Teen's Up Faith Church. Bill will give the sermon and at 4 pm, I will give my life walk with the Lord. It is so much easier to give an English version because there is more time to use. Our original program scheduled had to be cancelled because the officer who is to sign our extension to the permit has not been in his office in the capital city of Kohima, two and ˝ hours away. It would have been in the state of Assam, next to Nagaland. We would need to have the signed extension for us to cross back and forth at the border. We already have our train tickets to leave on the morning of the 23rd for Charls' house. Kilang will have to explain to the authorities, if we do not have it by then. It is discouraging that we will not be able to stay longer this time, but people are encouraged that there will be a time for the permit to go away. We will have to rest in that and wait for the Lord's timing. He is making it clear that there is to be some recovery help for new believers and it will be as He unfolds more of His plan and provisions for it.