Life Changing Words Ministry

Missionary Journal

October 19, 2005

Today is Wednesday already. Sunday Pastor Fern was taken to Bhandup church by Mrs. Pastor Salome since she had missed the church celebration on Friday. Padmini and I went to IPH. It would be my first time to speak to our “home” church. It was so good to share with them again. Pastor Paul had gone to Pune to administer communion to the extension church, as well as, to arrange for our going to visit on the 29th.

I was surprised to see Pastor’s childhood friend up front leading when Padmini and I arrived. I chose a seat in the back so I could watch. I asked Mrs. Pastor Florie why he was there and she said that he was only to give a five minute reading of the Psalms. That was not what was going on and I determined to talk to him after the service. Earlier in the week Pastor Paul had a dream involving Sam and when I asked the Lord about it, He said to pray against a spirit of jealousy. So I was very cautious and asked Lily to be my translator.

As usual after the service, individual prayers were prayed and Padmini left me there to visit with those I knew. I motioned for Meena to come to me, but others came before for prayer and Meena left to go home. Uma, who lives as the resident prayer warrior in the church, asked me to pray for her throat before leaving with her son.

When everyone left, I asked Sam to sit with me while I began to ask him about the service. He assured me that he was not interested in being part of the structure of the church, only a prayer support for pastor, where he invites him to his house for time of prayer. I informed Sam that the place that pastor needs to pray is in Immanuel Prayer House, as a role model for his flock. The best place to support Pastor Paul was for him to come to this place for prayer.

Sam said that his home is 11 km from here, like a retreat place and that it would be good for pastor to get away. However, I told him that the idea is good for once or twice a year, but his responsibility is to this house and flock; the Lord will guide him when to go on a retreat. He must keep focused on the Lord, not only in prayer, but in obedience. Sam received our conversation graciously and he stayed visiting with both Pastor Fern and I until well after six pm.

We had a good evening time with Mrs. Pastors Florie and Salome making plans for the three day ladies seminar. Florie made a vegetable soup for us and took us back to Padmini’s home by 10 pm. We thought that Padmini had gone for her daughter’s birthday, but she had gone home instead. We were disappointed for her.

Monday morning Pastor Paul came to get me to go to Operation Mobilization bookstore in Mumbai. Before we left, I had Pastor help me to get my refund on an overcharge on my phone call home on Saturday. After an hour and half of watching the owner of the ISD making many phone calls to find out the call rate, I was able to show him on the calculator what the cost should have been. It turned out that the equipment that he received only four days earlier was causing the 10 times overcharge. He apologized profusely as he returned Rs 382 ($8.91). I assured him that I did not see it as his fault, only the machine. I said I would be back. It made him very happy.

It was after 12:30 pm when Pastor and I finally headed off to the train station. We got on in Mulund and went to the end of the line at Thane so we could get a seat. We spent the time talking about the changes since last time we were together. It was good to hear the report.

Good news of growth always covers the hot [upper 90’s] temperatures that cause you to drip with sweat. The open windows on the train only provide for dust to collect on your sweaty body. I carry a washcloth now to collect my dripping face. And when we walked into the air conditioned room of the OM bookstore, I immediately dripped continuously as if someone had poured a bucket of water over my head. I looked at Pastor as the sweat ran in continuous paths down my hair and cheeks. He handed me a stool to sit down until it stopped. In about five minutes I was ready to start looking at books.

Coming to OM is rewarding and sometimes disappointing. Books are available for believers who are interested in growing in the Lord, yet the prices are still too high for the little guys who want to be able to use these tools. The prices range from full US prices to 80% of the full US prices. I asked about this because many of the books are published in India and the prices should be quite less, but they are monopolizing the interest at the higher prices. The books I ended up purchasing for the discipleship and growth training averaged $4 for each book. I thought I managed pretty good with $100. Pastor is excited to begin the training of his people.

It was late afternoon when we were finished with our book shopping. The traffic on the train was already hanging off the doors, so we decided to take a taxi home instead. It was a more comfortable ride, but just as dusty. Most taxis are not air conditioned.

We stopped at the cyber café to see if I could reach home. I was holding my breath for the answering machine when a familiar voice that I had been missing answered in a sleepy hello. I felt so much more cheered to talk to Bill. I was glad to hear that Dan was off most of his meds and on a tiny amount. Good report to prayer. I was disappointed to hear some conflict within the family on Bill’s side, but only the Lord can heal and bring restoration to hearts. Crystal did well in the gallbladder removal and is doing much better. Praise the Lord for His goodness. I can hardly wait to see my sweetie. It has been awhile since we have been so far away from each other. [When you are together 24/7 for nine-ten months, you kinda miss the other one when they aren’t there.]

We dropped some of the books off at the church and headed back to Padmini’s where we found out that the Lord had answered Pastor’s concern about the scheduled Teen Challenge tour on their campus. Pastor Fern received the call from Dr. Devraj’s office that the tour is cancelled, but they have requested us to come for staff prayer on Friday morning to the Hum Church from 10 am to 1 pm.

The schedule for the Ladies seminar has been set for three days. With the tour cancelled we spent the day studying and reading the books I brought with me. The first evening is on Growing in Christ, which I will be leading. The second evening is on Discipleship that Pastor Fern will lead and finally on Marriage that I will do. I have my first assignment finished, but now I have yet to complete the second.

My cough is still with me. Pastor brought some ayuretic cough syrup for us. I can feel my strength slowly return, but the heat of the day, sets me down for a nap. When I sleep (whether toss & turn or not) it is for 8-10 hours before I wake up. [My turn for jet lag catch-up.]

Only by grace do I go on each day physically, yet my heart is joyful and satisfied.