India team update (Ben)

Greetings from India,

Today was a hinge day. We closed out the Delhi portion of our trip and spent the day in travel to Damoh. Delhi is in the middle of the country, eastern side, and Damoh is further East. We have been in urban settings, amidst heavy traffic in the middle of 25 million people in greater Delhi area. Now we will be based for the next 5 nights out of the Central India Christian Mission headquarters.

Instead of the 13 hour train ride, we flew. At the Delhi airport we congratulated our expert bus driver and prayed for him. He and the buddy who went everywhere with us are rather like heroes to us. Everyone was pretty amazed at the places he could get that bus. Our bus driver was constantly accompanied by some other fellow who sat in the passenger “shot gun” seat in the “cock pit” area – separated by glass. His job was to stick his head out the window and help navigate and tell the driver how many inches he had for clearance, and when people were coming and going in places the driver couldn’t see. Like the man with one leg who crab walked through the cars begging when we were stopped at an intersection – stopping directly in front of the bus. I thought for sure we would flatten him but the look out dude shooed him out of the way in time. On the window are the pictures of two different Hindu gods – one of them Durga, a particular favorite of the locals – with her six arms, and some other lady goddess with an elephant head. Not very attractive for goddesses really, but apparently pretty good at making a huge bus navigate traffic fairly well. The whole driving experience defies description. It’s a game of inches – constantly. Narrow, bumpy roads with constant passing and swerving and no real attention to any lanes, incessant honking. One huge difference between the US and India. Here honking your horn means, “I’m here – I’m passing you now, give a little, there’s room for one more in this tiny road.” In America, of course, laying on the horn means something more like, “GET OUT OF MY WAY, YOU IDIOT!”

I’ve been reading recently that the town officials in Bel Air have recently found it necessary to outlaw public urination. Apparently the bar crowd had no place “to go” late at night down town. If that law was in effect in India, and I could collect a nice fine for every public pee-er I have seen, I would have a steady and decent income. I believe Emily and I were the only ones to witness a female taking care of business by the side of the road.

Anyway – we prayed with our drivers and went into the Delhi airport to wait through a few delays and finally boarded a smallish plane (seating was 2 and 2 – turbo prop). A couple hour flight to Jabalpur. Ate some hot beans and corn, sandwich with some potato like stuff in it, and chocolate pudding of some sort.

We were welcomed once again with very nice leis at the airport by Ajai and a team of CICM staffers. We boarded a small bus and two or three other vehicles for the drive to Damoh – but not before stopping for a very nice Indian lunch at a restaurant on the way. The doorman out front had a big turban thingy on his head and looked like he should have had a huge sword. I will explain the food some other time, but every meal is finished off with anise and sugar crystals that remind me of rock candy. Mixing a few of each together in your hand makes for a very nice after dinner mint.

Tom and I rode with Ajai and his friend and co-worker of 25 years, Frank. Two things struck me so vividly. One is the striking difference in the land in this rural area compared to the city. Goats and dogs and lots of women carrying huge bundles on their heads and a lot of poor people by the road – and swarms of people going – where? Home after work in the fields I guess. The fields and country side are verdant and lush, but only for a while longer as we are at the end of monsoon season (normally they like to get about 40 some inches of rain and this year only received 24 so it will be a dry summer). Lots of cows in the road. It is true about the whole “holy cow” thing. They go where they want to go. The only way to get beef is to buy it on the black market from some Muslim who slaughters cows. The Hindus are trying to pass a law in this state that would make killing a cow a crime punishable with life in prison. Right now it’s only three years. Holy cow. The cows are believed to be chosen transportation vehicle of the gods (not very efficient!). They are also the giver of life with the milk they provide and the plows they pull. They also may be Aunt Bertha reincarnated, so you better be careful to treat them well. Despite all this, our driver Frank had to bump one with the car a time or two to get the herd out of the way so we could get through. Jabalpur is about 1.5 Million people. I had never HEARD of it. There are countless cities like Jabalpur in India – of a million or more. There are 1.2 BILLION people here. Less than 1% are believers in Jesus Christ. Every town we passed through had many shrines, statues, and images of gods and little worship areas by the side of the road. At one point we were stopped by some folks in the road who were trying to take money from every passing motorist for a big Hindu celebration in honor of some god or other – Ajai explained we would not be making any donations – and after some rather stern Hindi exchanges – they finally moved their blockade and let us pass.

The other thing that impressed me though is the way God is moving in India. Ajai is tremendous at telling stories of God’s greatness and the rather striking ways that the name of Jesus is being made known in Hindu culture. There are many open doors. God is certainly using Ajai. We will try to recount these another time. There are such tremendous opportunities. There is a seismic shift taking place in Hindu culture as the next generation is resistant to accept the caste system as it plays out in culture, and as the lower castes are figuring out that they should band together and stop settling for being treated like animals, since they compose 80% of the population. The good news of Jesus is powerfully liberating for someone of the lower caste – and there are exciting tales of thousands becoming followers of Christ – shepherds by the thousands, who are being told they are in Christ, like Brahman – the highest priestly class – because in Christ all are priests and children of God, and he has broken down the dividing wall of hostility. Shepherds are blessed recipients of the good news of great joy and were also among the first tellers of the news and sharers of Jesus’ importance – and this message is taking root among the shepherds – the lowest, dirtiest caste of India – and thousands have become Christians – having never heard of Jesus before. Ajai has been important in this ministry. There are other groups tired of the traditional Hindu system and its dependency on the caste system – and it is creating spiritual opportunities and openness. The Muslims will step into this void and openness if no one else will. Many have never heard of the name of Jesus. The greatest need we have seen thus far is the need for preachers - -tellers of the good news – how will they hear if no one tells them and if no one is sent? We appreciate the ones here doing this good work. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news.

We finally arrived at the mission compound in Damoh. The welcome by the children of the orphanage was heart warming and overwhelming. The children, many of whom were literally pulled out of terrible situations – are bright, smiley, intelligent and each one greeted us again with colorful leis and happy greetings, with British/Indian like questions, “What is your name?” “So nice to meet you.” “Thank you for coming!” I’ve got some video of this fun time.

Some of us are staying in the new building which I think is where the children are, too. Others of us are a bit of a distance away – maybe like a block away, I’m not sure – at a guest house. I don’t even know who is where. I am spoiled with a very nice place.

We had a nice dinner prepared by Indu – fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and veggies and a pile of desserts like banana bread and brownies – trying her darndest to give us some American food.

We’ve enjoyed getting to know Josh, a super impressive and bright young 23 year old who married Lashi, Lall’s daughter, and who lives here now and works with the mission. He went to Ozark and St. Louis Christian College – met Lashi when he was doing an internship with Good News Productions. A great guy. We hope to encourage him while we are here. They have a 3 month old – Ajai and Indus’s first grandchild.

They have another daughter who has been in Grand Rapids and is married to a guy who will be leading a mission group and moving to Cambodia soon. Their last child I will tell you about some other time – a four year old they adopted – named Sarika – rescued and now loved. She is beautiful and bright.

After dinner we figured out who will be teaching what at the seminar. Ajai says there will be up to 400 preachers visiting us from all over India for our two day seminar. The tapes from them will be sent to 2000 more. Our medical team will assist the team of nurses and docs here and at a nearby location.

We had team time and Jason led us in thinking about Isaiah 49 and how important it is to know the purpose God has for our life, and the importance of first time obedience when he calls us.

Tomorrow we will get better acquainted with the mission and its fruit. Looking forward to a game of soccer with some kids. I am ready for some exercise.

We miss Jim Nold and wish he could be with us.

We are being served so nicely – we hope to serve back so that the net effect of our being here deeply encourages those who are serving the Lord so faithfully here.

Plenty more to report, but all for now. I am on for devotions in the morning. Doctors and nurses will be there – some of whom are not Believers – so will try to come up with something from Doctor Luke for us all to consider. God will have to make that clear in the next little while.

Ben and Team