Life Changing Words Ministry

Missionary Journal

January 22, 2006

Kilang was at Reformation Bible School doing his three-session program. Bill was at the Nagamese-speaking church and I had both of the English services. This time I shared on praying the scriptures. I wore my long hair wig and teased about what happens when you eat Arnon’s spicy chutney. They all laughed and Arnon appreciated the humor. They had never heard about using the word of God in praying and they would start to do so in their devotional prayer times.

Arnon passed his law exam and is seeking the Lord if this is really where he is supposed to work. I encouraged him that everywhere that there is darkness, light needs to go. We are the carriers of that light. Arnon also informed us that if we applied in New Delhi from the Nagaland Home Ministry, it would be likely that we would be able to receive a longer staying period under the permit. Kilang said that when he went to New Delhi in February for the annual Naga People’s Revival, he would inquire what is needed and how long the permit can be for us.

Arenla was in the village with her family for the Christmas holiday when we arrived. We have missed her too much. It was apparent that Aienla did also, that she put out her arms for her and made excited noise when she saw Arenla. She had only been gone one month, but it was clear that her health had suffered being undernourished and in the cold temperature with inadequate covering. She did not have a full bag of clothing. Her siblings had nothing and she had shared her things with them, even giving her sandals to cover her sister’s bare feet. She is as tall as Amenla now and will be twelve in March. She told her parents that she was going back to take care of her family in Dimapur, so her father brought her. She is good help for Amenla and Kilang is providing for her to get an education with Daniel’s class. She is learning to cook too. [Thank you, Lord, for sending her to be part of this family. She is such a blessing!]

I shared with the youth again. I asked them to share their experiences and thoughts on what they had learned this time. It was encouraging for me to hear that what they had received, they were starting to practice. It really stirred the hope in my heart. I shared a brief testimony after them by candlelight.

When the power came back on we carried the food the kids made back to the Longkumer’s house. The ladies expressed their appreciation for what they were learning for themselves. They told me that next time they would like to have some American cooking classes. Suzan likes to make desserts. She also wants me to email the Soda bread recipe to her when I get back to the States.

Since I had the packing finished, I would cook supper on our last day. I fixed my mom’s BBQ chicken made in the pressure cooker with Hot & Sweet tomato sauce and added my own touches. Over rice it was a big hit. They like mayonnaise sauce over the coleslaw salad. Kilang brought a tasty pound cake containing fresh dried fruits. This of fruit cake is not like our traditional fruit cakes. I personally think it is better. [Perhaps my taste buds have changed a bit.]

Senup, our chaperone for the train ride to West Bengal came late in the evening for supper. The lady I had briefly met when we went to pray for the ministry rooms, sent a bag full of starfruit for our journey.

Longkumers and Suzan made a surprise visit to say goodbye and bring us apples to eat on the train. They stayed until we headed for the station at 11:00 pm. We boarded as quick as we could into the crowded bogie. We did not even get to hug Amenla and Kilang goodbye because the train started moving before they were off the train. They jumped once they made their way through the narrow, crowded hallway.

We travel as conservatively as possible, especially when we are with the natives here. They cannot afford the price of the 2nd class a/c that has only two-tier sleepers that are larger than the kind we are in on the way to New Alipurdaur, West Bengal. We were in the lighted open bogie that the hawkers are allowed to come and go on. As a result, the atmosphere is not conducive for peaceful sleep. We don’t get pillows or blankets at this price, and I was glad I had put on my long underwear.

We used the time to get to know this young, new believer. Senup, full of zeal, needs wisdom and more life experience in his faith walk. He said the Lord gives him dreams and visions. It is good that he submits himself to the leadership of his pastor and to Kilang, who recognizes his need for training.

One our way, a man attached himself to our compartment and would come and go. Later, he asked if I spoke Hindi. I said, “I understand some, but do not yet speak well.” Soon I noticed that he had left and did not return. As we were standing in the doorway of the bogie to get off at our station to meet Charls, another man, dressed like a businessman, boldly came up to me and said he was surprised that I spoke his language. The Holy Spirit gave me discernment in this and cautiousness toward him. I immediately connected the two men as having association for not an honorable purpose. I was courteous to him in our brief conversation. He went back to his bogie.

Charls and Svenu were there to help us pull our luggage off the train in the few minutes that the train was in the station. Each of the men grabbed a suitcase and led us in the direction of the taxi. As Senup and I were walking along the platform, the bold man hollered from the doorway of his bogie, “Madam, madam, good visit, goodbye.” I then began to explain to Senup why one must have wisdom not to talk too much in a public place, because others who are only interested in dishonest gain may be in attendance. He had never thought about that he said. He wanted to know how I knew this. I told him that the Holy Spirit’s job is to lead and guide us. He tells us things we must know for our good and benefit. He did not know this, so I encouraged him to ask Jesus to fill him with His Spirit and power. Many times it is in the life experiences that gain the greatest understanding of God and His love for His people.

Sweety and the kids were glad to welcome us ‘home’ and our room was waiting for us. We slept soundly until eight in the morning. Senup left a half hour later for his return train to Dimapur.

After breakfast Sweety and I went to the village to get subji (vegetables). While our clothes were washed, under the cloudy skies, they would not be dry that day. So, Sweety took me to a friend, Rita’s house. Her house is actually right in line with the building we are in. If the window of our bedroom was low, we would be able to look out and into the entry of their house compound. [Which is why we could hear her sister, Jijita, yelling at Pinkoo so clearly]

Rita will open a beauty shop next week in the market place. Her sister shaped my eyebrows while we visited. I brought them a lot of laughter with the wig. She said that there was some change to me since the last time we met. She told me that she was thinking how she would cut my hair. But, I told her no need to cut, because it was already short, as I pulled it off. She cracked up laughing. She even tried it on her grandma and I took a photo.

Rita’s husband is in the army stationed in Uttar Pradesh. He only gets to see them once a month for short visits. They have a daughter, Priya, who is eight and goes by the nickname, Pinkoo. She goes to the same school as Shalome, Charls ten year old daughter.

Charls told me to keep Rita in our prayers. She is a practicing Hindu, who came to Siliguri last year during the Prayer conference (which we had gone with him to pray over that place before we left last year). She received a healing and has not given the Lord the glory for it. [This is not uncommon for Hindus to practice when they are needy for healing.] As believers in Jesus, we want to see people’s lives changed permanently and for the better.