India Report #6: October 19, 2011 from Peda Kodapgal
Today we had a very interesting trip via Jeep. There were eight of us in it and the roads were really bad. We all bounced around and got passive and active exercise just by being in it. The visits were most worthwhile even beyond seeing the harvest in progress and the people drying their corn on the pavement. This time we saw more mechanical shelling machines than previously.
The most rewarding was the visit to two villages with SDA churches. The one was built by Quiet Hour 26 years ago and was in excellent repair except for the metal roof. Paulson has some money to help them renew it. Since that church in B. Khanapur village has not been dedicated, they want it re-roofed and dedicated by us while here. The other village is Murkanjal. We visited it last year and were shown a building site they would donate for a church. This is the village where some non SDA pastor took up about $1000 to build them a church and then took off with it. So building a church for them was priority to keep our promises. They are doing excellent work. The site is on low ground and they have built it up. The workmen are doing good work according to Jeff who has experience with building. They will have a solid church to accommodate the 15 families or about 60 plus people. They are eager to hear the message again this year and come by truck. The trip is one hour each way and they are the first truck to arrive by 8 p.m. The church will cost more than the $5000 we sent but the villagers will give again to complete it. We like it when they have personal sacrifice in it and thus more ownership. It will mean more to them over the years.
We are overwhelmed by the obvious gratitude of the people for what we have done and are doing. Two of them knelt and grasped our feet in their hands, like Mary Magdalene did with Jesus. In a world where gratitude is often overlooked, this was special.
Last night we had our cell phone recharged and so can phone when necessary and the Internet is not working. We will try the other Internet possibilities when we can. A special gift before we left was labeled just for things like that rather than for the other projects. We understand the value of communication.
We were unable to get the needed cord for sound from the computer to the P.A. system so will try in tonight’s showing of the Jesus Video to work through my little speakers for the microphones to pick up. Not best but doable to get by tonight. Did we say something about adaptability?
Other interesting sights at the villages today were the schools at work for elementary children. They meet on the porch of a building and have a slate blackboard for the teacher to use. Many of the students have smaller slates, like in the early days of school in USA. Students are eager to learn and make the most of what little they have. I took video of the most interesting things to share with you all when home. Some of the children will memorize the teacher’s textbook.
Both Jeff and Glenn bought dhoties which are just a piece of cloth that can be wrapped around the waist to the feet when resting or in visits to the bathroom where you don’t know what to do with full western dress when the floors is wet all around you. It can be helpful at home also for leisure (if you can find any) and for travel times away from home. They are not expensive and are very practical.
Even though the electricity comes and goes we seem to get enough to recharge the necessary equipment over the span of a day and night. With all the inconveniences we are happy to be here serving the Lord by ministering to a people who need ministry so much and who are very grateful for what we bring to them. In these emails I document the inconveniences so you may know just what it is like, but all these are overshadowed by the many blessings. Now that we are not moving from place to place with such short intervals between, we are able to settle in and focus on the major reason we are here—to share the Word of the Lord.
THURSDAY, OCT. 20 AT 9:26 A.M.
The meeting last night went well. The speakers and microphones pickup from them did bring clear sound to the audience. It is always a challenge to get the computer to talk to the Video projector just right to give you on each screen what needs to be there. Especially since we have several different programs to change on the computer each night. (Jesus Video, Health Talks and Sermon Visuals). So, constant prayer is a necessity that keeps us reminded of Who is in charge.
Since I preached on the Origin of Evil, the lights went out just as the sermon was starting. Satan does that routine each time I preach that subject. They cut on the generator and we got lights and sound back, but you always have to restart the video projector. We are fortunate that the newer ones like ours will pick up where it left off and save all the routine of getting the connection right again. You see, when the cord to the video projector is connected, the mouse on the computer will not work and it is needed to bring up the program to be launched at that time. And it sometimes makes a difference which one is turned on first, computer or projector. There are many variables. Maybe that kind of necessary analysis and thinking will fend off Alztimers disease better than working crossword puzzles. At least we still seem to have all our marbles even if we sometimes forget where we put them.
This morning during our worship time with Jeff, there was a racket outside. A man was beating on a tambourine to attract attention. I took video of him but did not offer money. If we did, it would become a daily ritual. We had the usual group of kids on their way to school stop to look in through the bars to see what the Americans were doing. We talk to them but can’t spend the whole day doing it.
Jeff is doing much of the housework of sweeping and taking out garbage while I am working the computer getting ready for the evening meeting. We have refrained from calling him “Babu”, the usual word for servant or house-boy.
Paulson is to be here in 20 minutes to take us via Jeep again to see a baptism quite a distance from here. It means so much to the people to have us observing them starting their new life in Jesus. No doubt there are other unknown adventures awaiting us today. We’ll try to tell you of the most interesting ones.
You don’t have to be here to have uncertainties and adventures. Our youngest son, David, is going through the uncertainties of having a new roof put on their house by an understaffed group. They take off the shingles and then wait to put on the new ones. The problem is that heavy rain is predicted. It would be nice to have the roof intact during the rain. Sleepless nights aren’t only in India.
Good news! We got an additional Internet contact device that is working here. So we can keep up to date more easily and respond to your emails also. Thank you for keeping us in touch with the home base.
In His love,
Dad and Mom (Glenn and Mary Alice)