Life Changing Words Ministry
Missionary Journal
February 1, 2005
Sunday the 30th was another ‘adventure.’ We got up at 6 am to be ready to leave right at 8 am to get to Sonepat for the service at 11:00. With the traffic and road conditions, one must allow one hour to go 20 kilometers. Our journey was to be 60 km.
Laxman (pronounced, Lakshman) arrived to be our navigator for Brother Sunil. They have experience as a driving team.
Getting out into the countryside for me is a good thing. I’m a farmer’s daughter at heart and there is something peaceable about leaving the bustle of the city. I was almost believing that the village life as I remembered it, was gone when we suddenly immerged upon a narrow road with dwellings right there. The cows staked before the doorways was all that was between in some places where you had to join them as the only spot to allow the big carrier trucks to pass coming through the opposite way. Yes, the villages are still here when you get passed the modern construction and development of the urban-claimed areas.
The roads were slow going with the unfilled potholes and speed bump barriers constructed wherever people put them, but traffic was light so we arrived a half hour early.
We met and visited the pastor who it turns out is Roshan’s father. [Last time we were in Gurgaon, Roshan was teaching the 1st and 2nd classes in Agnes School while studying Bible. Bill also tutored him in life experiences.]
I shared some of my testimony and some practical application of scripture for maturing in Christ. Then Bill shared the love of God, followed by prayer requests as is the custom here. Everyone in the congregation enjoyed chai and biscuits (cookies) before returning home.
We ate our lunch with Pastor Lohia, whose wife so skillfully cooked the Lord’s provision of briyani, chicken curry, and aloo subjee (a tasty combination of potato, green peas, sweet green pepper, tomato, and onions). The dessert was grated carrot with white raisins and apples. I believe we were all nicely stuffed as we rose from the table.
Before leaving the house, Bill and I were gifted with a shirt and a cotton sari from Calcutta. I asked how she knew I loved to wear the sari and she said that Roshan told her.
Our next stop was another 18 kilometers further up the road to Laxman’s family home in Khanda village. It is a true village. Our little Maruti "roller skate" could just fit between the walls bordering the roadway, resembling more a foot path or cow path than for vehicles. In fact, Sunil had to ask if he could even fit to make the turn into the spot where the door to the house compound was located. Running down the center was the black foul smelling sewage water mixed with freshly piled cow dung deposited as the ‘cowboys’ led their herds home.
One unruly cow was giving her owner a hard time and definitely demonstrated her sin nature in that as we passed by the herd, she came directly to us and rammed the car on Bill’s side and put a dent in the door. Our opposition was letting us know they knew we were coming, as we had asked the Lord to go ahead of us to prepare the way.
Bill gave the message and the invitation. Laxman’s mother and two brothers each said that if the true and living God could deliver them from strong ties with witch doctors and black magic, then they want to join Laxman and his wife as believers and followers of Jesus. [His father believes there are many ways to God.]
We asked each of the three if they believe Jesus could deliver them and they each said, ‘yes.’ So we anointed them with oil and the blood of Jesus declaring that we did not want to see any manifestation of power, except for the power of Jesus in delivering them by His anointing love, which casts out all fear and sets souls free. We are just messengers bringing good news. It is Jesus Christ who does the work by His Spirit. Because of time and language barrier, we would anticipate the good report.
The mother came over to the car and I rolled down the window. She took my hand into hers and said something in Hindi. I noticed that her voice and her face was changed from the first I had met her. I could see that Jesus had touched her. We know that this deliverance and salvation for this family will touch the whole village. We have taken the snap of the family for prayer and rejoicing.
As we started to leave, the car fell into the sewage ditch and Bill pushed it out. Then as we turned onto the main path to leave, a single cow walking along suddenly butted the car in the same place as the first cow. We received our confirmation that the Lord had touched these people. Hallelujah!
It was a tiresome and difficult three hours night-driving home to Sunil’s house, but the Lord faithfully got us safely back for the hot evening meal waiting for us. What a full adventurous day!!!
Bill has had his bath and is sound asleep. It’s my turn now. I realize that I have only four days left at Agnes School to help the teachers. They have been so co-operative and it has been enjoyable. I will look forward to next year and their progress. Sunil tells me that the children are liking my being at the school and they will miss me when I am not there… "There will be an empty place here when you are gone."