Monday, November 22, 2010
Dear Family and Friends:
The trip up and down the mountains from Aizawl to Tlangsang SDA School in Tripura is not easily forgotten nor described. Zosiama drove us down yesterday in spite of the additional rains Saturday night. The non-road is 260 Km and took us more than 11 hours to bump and bounce over. He had phoned ahead to learn that the rains had not been at the school in any large amount and the students and faculty were eagerly anticipating our coming. They would have been greatly disappointed if we had not come.
We had considered cancelling this part of our India trip because of reported landslides on the road. Zosiama drove over the longer route that was supposed to be a better road. The one we had traversed before on previous trips and got stuck twice in the mud even with 4-wheel-drive, was not passable this time. When we saw the condition of the road we came over yesterday, we wondered what the other must have looked like. Fortunately the landslides had been cleared enough for us to get to Tlangsang. It is humorous that a portion of the road we were on is part of the “Trans-India Highway”. Zosiama has been a mechanic and had lifted his Tata (car made in India) undercarriage by 4 inches in addition to using larger tires for more space. Otherwise we could not have cleared the rocks and dirt chunks. His is only front wheel drive, but it was prayed through the seemingly impassable.
One stop was to check out a Tourist Lodge about midway where we may spend a night on the way back to Aizawl. We are to attend a baptism in a nearby (Chhuan) village now open to SDA evangelism (strictly Hindu previously) because 20 students from there attend our Tlangsang Academy. What a delight to meet at the Lodge a girl named Nancy who is on the staff. She was a student at the Tlangsang School the year before last and Zosiama did not know she was now working at the Inn. Her parents are members of the Mawbawk church in Aizawl, the first church to be organized out of our evangelistic series on our first visit to India in 1998. It is so rewarding to see the fruitage standing faithful and now a second generation.
Along the way Zosiama used his cell phone to let the school know just how far we had come. We arrived at last by 7:30 p.m. and were greeted by the headmaster and the hostel (dormitory) students singing and waving welcome signs. They had waited patiently all day for us. The ceremonies included a solo over a borrowed P.A. system by one of the students named Sangeii, with a lovely voice. Her song in English was “Four Days Late” and described the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus who came too late to heal him, but was on God’s time anyhow. They applied it to our arrival as late but on time. They had feared we would not really come all that way to see them. Sangeii put her all into that song as the video will show.
The Lodge near here where we stayed last time was not available and so they opened the Headmaster’s apartment on campus for us to use. He was married just a week ago and wished we had been here for the wedding ceremony. He is the nephew of Biaka, our “Mizo son”. Out of their little the people at Tlangsang are generous and do all they can to make us comfortable. Thus far we have not been bothered with many mosquitoes.
This morning Glenn was awake at 3 and going over things to do here today. The voice of the campus rooster (organic alarm clock) kicked in at 5:30 promptly which may have stimulated the bell ringer to summon the students to arise and come to morning assembly for worship at 6. Glenn was dressed and took video footage of them singing “He is Able”. They added another verse we had not heard before: “He’s Willing.” We want also to be willing to be used of God in His own time and way. When we see what they have done with what we were able to send from Hill Evangelism and personal giving, we are convinced it was indeed a good investment in the future.
Most of the students here are Hindu and mostly from the Bru tribe. In the past the Brus have been enemies of the Mizos but they live peaceably together here at the school and that is a good start for the bigger picture. Most of them are refugees from previous problems between the two groups. Zosiama says the Bru people have been typically undependable and unfaithful to their spouses, but there is hope of changing that through their children who learn so much at our school.
We confirmed with Zosiama that the Baptists who had been so antagonistic to SDA in the past (they have dominated the Christian presence here for 100 years along with the Presbyterians) were the ones who gave the land for SDA to build this school and are supporting it in many ways including sending their own children here. Tlangsang Academy is opening the door to evangelizing this whole area of the Jampui Hills. It is a breakthrough into Hindu villages where the Baptists and other Protestants have not been able to enter over the years.
Last night one student gave us 4 Mandarins grown on her parents’ land. We had them for breakfast this morning and they are superior to the ones we bought at market in Aizawl. They all want to give something and we love that attitude vs. the give me attitude so prevalent in our world.
This morning we decided to give all but $100 of our emergency fund money we brought in case we ran into some big problem during our six weeks here in India. We had considered saving it in case of another trip, but know the Lord IS ABLE AND WILLING to provide what is needed when it is needed. So we don’t want to hold anything back that is sorely needed here right now.
At their 10 a.m. assembly we were both asked to talk. Glenn responded to their welcome song by describing the royal welcome Jesus is planning for each of His children and got started on telling how sin came into our world and what it has done to hurt people. Then about how God made provision for us in spite of our sin and shows us how to shed those sins. Tonight we plan to show the English Jesus Video. At the assembly we learned that 65 do not have a Bible but would like one—including the Hindus. So we plan to buy one for each at $5 (Rs.220). That will make a lasting impact on their lives. Mary Alice shared some health tips from the NEW START acronym and they seemed to relate well. We had them sing some more and then talked with the youngest in a separate meeting to be sure they understood by telling simple stories. Then we had each pass by and tell their name and shake our hands. We told them once more that “Jesus loves you and you are precious to Him.” We hope the little seeds planted will bear fruit in God’s own time.
Before lunch we hiked with Zosiama and the “water man” down the umpteen steps (and a multitude of slippery places without steps) to the dam they built of cement to trap the slow flow of water. Then they pump it up for school use. Prior to our giving money for them to build the dam and buy a pump run by Diesel, they had to carry by hand all the water needed above. Now we know how very much they needed that new supply of water. Our legs taught us more than all the E-mails from Zosiama explaining the need.
There is a lot planned for today and we will fill you in when and if we find the time to write yet again. Remember, this is our diary and you are just peeking over our shoulders to see what may interest you.
With love, in His love,
Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Glenn and Mary Alice