Our team returned to the
Glad to be home!
Rob and team
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
India team is back (Rob)
Monday, September 28, 2009
Little boy in Agra (Ben)
We have arrived safely in Agra and are waiting on a bus to go to hotel while porter-boys fetch our 29 suitcases. Outside our windows families huddle in the darkness on their haunches. Do they live here in the dust and exhaust fumes. A small boy reaches up to knock on the window and puts his hand out to beg. We are told to look away and that we can not give to such as these. Tough to take. We pray many times each day for people like these who will haunt and fill our minds forever. I know Jesus sees him and knows and loves him. I so hope that little boy can know and love Jesus, too. I find myself so grateful for those with beautiful feet who bring good news to places like Agra.
Peace, love, and Jesus,
Ben and team
Peace, love, and Jesus,
Ben and team
More India pics
Tow new pics of one of the congregations with whom our MCC team worshipped, along w/ photos from earlier in their trip are online at this link.
Bhopal Worship (Sunday: Rob)
When we arrived at the church in
When it came time for communion, the congregation moved forward to the altar in groups and knelt along the chancel rail. The elders moved across the front placing a communion wafer and cup of juice in each pair of hands. Then they instructed them to partake in unison. Finally, the elder prayed over each group. It was striking to hear the Hindu mantras blaring over the loudspeakers from the temple across the street while we celebrated the cross. In the Muslim and Hindu faiths, thousands of people work overtime trying to earn their way into God’s favor, and here were these truly counter-cultural believers simply kneeling at the altar acknowledging that they had no hope other than the grace provided through the cross. It was humbling, and one of the most moving moments that I can recall, to watch wave after wave of Indians approach the altar and kneel to share in the body and blood of Christ. As I held the bread and cup myself, I was overwhelmed with God’s grace for me as well.
Rob and
Subject: India today (Sunday: Ben + Stephanie)
They drowned Durga today. Finally. We have been here during this nine day Hindu festival and we have seen the fevered buildup in its entirety. We witnessed the "making" of Durga by the various villages we passed. Made of mud by human hands we have oft thought to Moses coming down from Sinai and Paul in Athens. In India idols are a real deal.
The making of Durga is a collective effort. After her dried mud shape of a woman with 8 arms she is painted brightly and set in her "box". Sometimes it is a just a concrete bunker others an elaborate shrine. Either way as the festival came to a cllimax, there were strands of lights and banners around each shrine and there was an air or expectancy-much like the buildup of Christmas at home.
Sometime this afternoon amidst our scurry to the train station thousands of Durgas all over India were put into the local body of water for her to return back to mud. All of her shrines now stand empty. And the one true living God is still on His throne! Jamisiki!
We are in Bhopal today, a huge city of about 2 million.
We worshipped this morning as a divided team. Half of us went to Christ Church (aka "the industrial church") where Ben preached. We were once again greeted in the traditional way-leis of yellow mums, .red .roses and orchids. Today was youth Sunday and we we're blessed to see a very good amount of young people and for them to lead the worship. There was an air of sadness as the senior pastor who is 75, lost his son and ministry partner 10 days ago to a heart attack. This leaves a void in ministry to a congregation of about 250. Ben's message today was a real comfort I think, as he encouraged us to remember the gifts we have in the Lord: contentment, joy and peace. Greg brought the greetings on behalf of the US churches.
The other half of our team went to what is called the City Church where Phil and Chris's friend and CICM evangelist, Harris Walter is the pastor. Phil spoke today on "I love the church" to about 300 folks. There were a lot of children and youth at this church as well. Chris brought the greetings from Countryside and Julie brought greetings from Mountain. Tom did the communion meditation.
After church we met at the hotel with five pastors who have been working to establish churches in Bhopal. Pradeep Luther just got out out the hospital after a bout with malaria, but was eager to share the work he's doing. 90 percent of his church are former Hindus who have seen the light of Jesus. His wife Lena was a member of a Brahman family -- the highest caste. Her influence is significant. Others are working among the very poor -- "rat pickers" and street people. One young man, Shailendra Ladge, has been working among street performers and the extremely downtrodden. We are grateful to God for these who being the hands and feet of Jesus. Mountain is excited to be partnering with CICM to plant churches in this area.
We are aboard a fast moving train -- about 6 hours to Agra where we will spend the night. Our mission work on this trip is largely completed -- except for the other opportunities the to be a witness the Lord opens in the final travel days.
As we prepare to head home after some sight seeing and shopping, we are all struggling to process all we have seen, seeking to understand how God is wanting to change us. Know that we are mindful of you, our friends and family, and eager to share with you in person very soon.
Ben and Stephanie for the team
The making of Durga is a collective effort. After her dried mud shape of a woman with 8 arms she is painted brightly and set in her "box". Sometimes it is a just a concrete bunker others an elaborate shrine. Either way as the festival came to a cllimax, there were strands of lights and banners around each shrine and there was an air or expectancy-much like the buildup of Christmas at home.
Sometime this afternoon amidst our scurry to the train station thousands of Durgas all over India were put into the local body of water for her to return back to mud. All of her shrines now stand empty. And the one true living God is still on His throne! Jamisiki!
We are in Bhopal today, a huge city of about 2 million.
We worshipped this morning as a divided team. Half of us went to Christ Church (aka "the industrial church") where Ben preached. We were once again greeted in the traditional way-leis of yellow mums, .red .roses and orchids. Today was youth Sunday and we we're blessed to see a very good amount of young people and for them to lead the worship. There was an air of sadness as the senior pastor who is 75, lost his son and ministry partner 10 days ago to a heart attack. This leaves a void in ministry to a congregation of about 250. Ben's message today was a real comfort I think, as he encouraged us to remember the gifts we have in the Lord: contentment, joy and peace. Greg brought the greetings on behalf of the US churches.
The other half of our team went to what is called the City Church where Phil and Chris's friend and CICM evangelist, Harris Walter is the pastor. Phil spoke today on "I love the church" to about 300 folks. There were a lot of children and youth at this church as well. Chris brought the greetings from Countryside and Julie brought greetings from Mountain. Tom did the communion meditation.
After church we met at the hotel with five pastors who have been working to establish churches in Bhopal. Pradeep Luther just got out out the hospital after a bout with malaria, but was eager to share the work he's doing. 90 percent of his church are former Hindus who have seen the light of Jesus. His wife Lena was a member of a Brahman family -- the highest caste. Her influence is significant. Others are working among the very poor -- "rat pickers" and street people. One young man, Shailendra Ladge, has been working among street performers and the extremely downtrodden. We are grateful to God for these who being the hands and feet of Jesus. Mountain is excited to be partnering with CICM to plant churches in this area.
We are aboard a fast moving train -- about 6 hours to Agra where we will spend the night. Our mission work on this trip is largely completed -- except for the other opportunities the to be a witness the Lord opens in the final travel days.
As we prepare to head home after some sight seeing and shopping, we are all struggling to process all we have seen, seeking to understand how God is wanting to change us. Know that we are mindful of you, our friends and family, and eager to share with you in person very soon.
Ben and Stephanie for the team
Greetings In Christ from Bhopal (Ben - Sunday)
“We have seen first hand the power of genuine fellowship -- relationships that really do matter, sometimes a matter of life and death. We are encouraged by the desire of our Indian Christian brothers and sisters to connect and be the truest friends to one another. We are "friending" the believers on Bhopal who are reaching out to this huge city with the good news of Jesus. Central India Chr Misn will help supply preachers and the churches will begin the studies and outreaches ... And we [Mountain] will partner to help provide some support for church leaders and other resources needed to get hopefully five more churches planted here. When we went to church this morning most of us had never met these brothers and sisters. Yet we embraced like family. We live 10 000 miles apart -- yet our hearts are knit into one fabric through Jesus. Please convey our love to the Mountain family, and bring greetings from Christ Church and Bhopal Christian Church where we are worshiping / preaching today.”
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Made it to Bhopal (India team - Ben)
After rides on an elephant and packing everything up we left our dear friends in damoh at the cicm compound -- leaving parts of our hearts with the children at the childrens home and with the incredible pastors and staff we came to respect and love.
With many staff for support and smooth guidance we were accompanied to the train station. A 5 hour train ride across amazing India took us from Damoh to Bhopal today. Seeing the rural villages and poverty helps fill out the picture of the need and opportunity for the gospel here. About 75 percent of India lives on less than one dollar a day -- and we saw some of these today. Millions of the 1.2 billion in this country live in large cities -- but 80 percent live in one of the 600,000 villages. The train took us thru some of these villages today. [edit] It was a 5 hour ride. Many sites and pics out the window.
In the midst of chaotic crowds at the train station, warm smiling faces of Christians from the churches greeted us. Givan, one of our Indian brothers says, "Do you notice the way Christians have the love of Jesus in them?". We certainly did. Once again we were greeted with flower garland necklaces and hugs.
Taxi ride with Muslim driver thru crazy roads and past dozens of Hindu shrines -- day 8 of 9 day festival about to climax -- and amidst Muslim calls to prayer. We arrived at Jehan Numa Palace -- an Arabic word meaning Heavenly Palace. It is a nice place. We reconnected with Phil and Chris who came earlier to spend time with the church friends they have supported in Bhopal.
We enjoyed a nice dinner buffet -- rice and multiple incarnations of chicken -- and a brief meeting and now off to bed.
We were all worried about Tom who was not feeling well at all but now is seeming to be recovering. A rough night for him and long day today. Now Fiona continues to feel bad and Chris has a bit of a sore throat. Fred is feeling better. Glynn is a bit feverish and weak -- but was able to eat several desserts tonight. Not sure who all else is feeling puny. We are grateful for God's provision of health to our team so far despite some illness
Tomorrow we will go to two separate churches here in Bhopal. I will preach at Christ Church -- an -Industrial church and Phil Smith will preach at Bhopal Chrn Church. Then are scheduled to meet with several ministers and church leaders for lunch and encouragement. Then check out and board a high speed train for 6 hour ride to Agra.
Outside our hotel window we can hear the loud, incessant music blaring from the shrines and temples, worshiping the goddess Durga, a goddess they turn to in hopes of gaining power. Her likeness is seen in shrines -- she is one [edit] with 6 arms, riding a tiger -- the shrines are like booths or sometimes large buildings lit up with spotlights and strings of lights -- all over the city. But tomorrow we will pass through the crowds and thousands of worshipers to join a strong group of devoted disciples who have found the joy and peace and hope of Jesus -- and who are living faithfully for His glory in this place where less than one percent profess His name. We are repeatedly told how our presence encourages them -- and we know that their lives encourage us! We pray you will also find encouragement through the fellowship of believers where you are this Lord's Day. We are living in His presence and pray for the Spirit to be with you as well.
Peace of Christ,
Ben and India team
With many staff for support and smooth guidance we were accompanied to the train station. A 5 hour train ride across amazing India took us from Damoh to Bhopal today. Seeing the rural villages and poverty helps fill out the picture of the need and opportunity for the gospel here. About 75 percent of India lives on less than one dollar a day -- and we saw some of these today. Millions of the 1.2 billion in this country live in large cities -- but 80 percent live in one of the 600,000 villages. The train took us thru some of these villages today. [edit] It was a 5 hour ride. Many sites and pics out the window.
In the midst of chaotic crowds at the train station, warm smiling faces of Christians from the churches greeted us. Givan, one of our Indian brothers says, "Do you notice the way Christians have the love of Jesus in them?". We certainly did. Once again we were greeted with flower garland necklaces and hugs.
Taxi ride with Muslim driver thru crazy roads and past dozens of Hindu shrines -- day 8 of 9 day festival about to climax -- and amidst Muslim calls to prayer. We arrived at Jehan Numa Palace -- an Arabic word meaning Heavenly Palace. It is a nice place. We reconnected with Phil and Chris who came earlier to spend time with the church friends they have supported in Bhopal.
We enjoyed a nice dinner buffet -- rice and multiple incarnations of chicken -- and a brief meeting and now off to bed.
We were all worried about Tom who was not feeling well at all but now is seeming to be recovering. A rough night for him and long day today. Now Fiona continues to feel bad and Chris has a bit of a sore throat. Fred is feeling better. Glynn is a bit feverish and weak -- but was able to eat several desserts tonight. Not sure who all else is feeling puny. We are grateful for God's provision of health to our team so far despite some illness
Tomorrow we will go to two separate churches here in Bhopal. I will preach at Christ Church -- an -Industrial church and Phil Smith will preach at Bhopal Chrn Church. Then are scheduled to meet with several ministers and church leaders for lunch and encouragement. Then check out and board a high speed train for 6 hour ride to Agra.
Outside our hotel window we can hear the loud, incessant music blaring from the shrines and temples, worshiping the goddess Durga, a goddess they turn to in hopes of gaining power. Her likeness is seen in shrines -- she is one [edit] with 6 arms, riding a tiger -- the shrines are like booths or sometimes large buildings lit up with spotlights and strings of lights -- all over the city. But tomorrow we will pass through the crowds and thousands of worshipers to join a strong group of devoted disciples who have found the joy and peace and hope of Jesus -- and who are living faithfully for His glory in this place where less than one percent profess His name. We are repeatedly told how our presence encourages them -- and we know that their lives encourage us! We pray you will also find encouragement through the fellowship of believers where you are this Lord's Day. We are living in His presence and pray for the Spirit to be with you as well.
Peace of Christ,
Ben and India team
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