Thinking about the Experience

Hello,

I am trying to take time yet to reflect on the 2013 Mission Helper Trip to India before the American life style rushes back to fill my hours.

I am sorting through pictures, thousands of them.  And through mental images also:  long, crowded, bumpy rides, 11 teaching and preaching sessions, names of pastors and others, nameless faces of those requesting prayers,  glimpses of ordinary and extraordinary life in India, conversations in churches, trains, hotels, restaurants and on the streets.  This will be a longer process.

Some things are clearly standing out as more impressive and important. 

I am impressed by the desire for and dependence of the Indian believers on prayer.   I am humbled and encouraged to be more like them.

I am struck that God brought a group of twelve Americans together and made 3 very effective teams to carry out teaching in the BELC and CLCI churches. The members put their minds and  their bodies to the task set before us no matter what conditions we encountered. We were certainly not flawless in our effort but overwhelmingly blessed in results. We had to make and buy more gifts because more of the non-members attended than expected. Whether in presentations or walking down the street, the group members were good representatives of American Christians.

The work of Pastor Jyothi and the CLCI members was exceptional in many ways. We got to know many of them as individuals at presentations and in between presentations. They made our trip more effective and comfortable in many ways. At the last church there was a physical push of children as we tried to give out gifts dividing older and younger children. A couple of women stepped up and made order out of the confusion. 

Also the eagerness of the Indian people, both Christians and non-Christians, to see, to hear and to talk with us was amazing. I hope we have inspired them to learn more about Jesus their Savior.

God be wi’ ye, David