Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Twenty-First Century Contrasts


Marketed by The Directorate of Tourism 
as "Incredible India" this is truly a vibrant and varied land. 

Second in population only to China with 1.3 billion people, India has one of the fastest growing global economies.

As education and technology increasingly connect India with the rest of the world, a growing middle class and techno-savvy generation is moving much of India forward with development, modernization and increased per capita income.  

It remains a land of stark contrasts:

Many people have cell phone  - service is both inexpensive and unreliable.

Women and children continue to haul water home from public spigots.

Newly affordable family owned cars clog narrow streets designed for rickshaws and carts. 

Clothes are washed in the river and laid out to dry on any elevated surface. 

Bright modern malls have risen in the middle of long-standing slum areas. 

India has captured our heart.  Each life is precious to the heart of God.  Our prayer is that the light of His love will continue to reach into every corner of this nation with His eternal hope.

Jai Mashi - Praise the Lord.  Pat

 







Friday, March 17, 2017

One Weekend in Nagrakata

Seventy nine kilometers east of our home base of Siliguri, West Bengal India is the town of Nagrakata.

An eye glass clinic was scheduled.  People were invited to come and tokens given out.
Throughout the day they came from varied socio-economic standing and religious beliefs.

Seventy-five people in all, mostly Hindus, Buddhist  and new Christian believers. Fifty-nine people were given glasses.  The church we work with in Nagrakata was recently started and is growing in attendance as local people hear about Jesus, and return to either accept Him, or to learn more.  They meet in the street level shop of a traditional 'shop-house' where grain was once distributed.

Fifteen of these new believers are being discipled to take water baptism.   This very public declaration of their faith is often the trigger for severe persecution from family and community.

The eye clinic was a strong outreach and sign of goodwill between the Christians and the community.

The weekend included a joy-filled Sunday church service where Gary taught four truths from the story of Jesus multiplying a little boy's lunch to feed five thousand. (John 6:1-32)

1. God knows what to do - and you don't.
2. Jesus will use anyone.
3. Whatever you have - thank God for it.
4. You can't out-give God

Monday was the Hindu Festival of colors called Holi.   We held a Holy Spirit meeting where many of the people received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

This is our last week - how quickly the time has gone.  We finish our time in India with a Friday evening Bible Study and Sunday morning service, before flying out to Bangkok for two days before coming home.

Gary and I are continually grateful for your love, prayers and support.

Jai Mashi - Praise the Lord!   Pat



Friday, March 10, 2017

Eating Good in India

Mission trips may be challenging in many ways. On this trip a lack of good food is not one of them.

Indian food is as varied as the cultures that comprise the nation.

In the Northern Indian state of West Bengal, the main cultures are Hindi, Nepali, Bengali and Tibetan Each has their own flavors and specialties.

All are delicious, plentiful, and hard to resist as we continue our journey.


Blessings, Pat and Gary


Foothills of the Himalayas



Definitions:  Momos      Pakora     Tandoori    Dahl Makhani    Garlic Naan






Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Seeing and Believing

Eye vision clinics provide a unique opportunity to serve the needs of people on both a physical level and a spiritual level.

Our first eye vision clinic in India was held in the city of Siliguri, West Bengal.  Sixty people came to have their eyes checked.  Eye glasses were given to the 46 people who needed them.  A few had serious cataracts and sadly could not be helped with eye glasses.

Each person was prayed for, and many requested prayer for a list of serious illnesses.  All asked in faith believing. 

One of the most touching stories of the day was a young Bengali woman who had invited her mother and grandmother to the eye clinic. While they are Hindu worshippers, she was very happy that they agreed to come to a Christian church to have their eyes checked.  In the Bengali culture women are not considered worthy or valuable enough to spend money on, so they often go without education and basic medical care.   

It was a joy to welcome these women, along with several of their neighbors, and see them receive eye glasses for the first time in their lives.

We are expecting to hear many answers to prayer, and are excited for the next eye vision clinic.

The journey continues.  Pat and Gary