India Report #8 Monday, Oct 24, 2011 (still at Peda Kodapgal) 9:20 A.M.
Dear family and friends:
Electricity is off but we had it through the night and that provided air movement for comfort and protection from mosquitoes. The computer battery is full so we should have enough to write this, get the sermon ready for tonight and the health talks with the Jesus Video Part 6. The rear-projection screen has been a great blessing with the clear picture even with lights nearby. We may try to show the Jesus video in total on Sabbath afternoon if it is bright enough. We wait until 8:15 to start it each night now so more from the villages and participate, but some still miss significant parts.
The whole group will be here at the meeting site on Sabbath morning for a sermon and the communion service after Sabbath School. By then many will be baptized and this will be their first communion and SS lesson. We have quarterlies in Telegu to give them on Galatians just as we are studying in USA now. We will feed them with rice and curry. Then they will stay by until the evening closing meeting rather than go back to the villages and back again. So screening the Jesus video will enable those who missed parts to see it and to review it for those who did see. It will also fill in some of the long afternoon hours. There will be further instruction also and giving of Bibles to the newly baptized. We do not plan a large baptism at the end but frequent ones in the villages as the people are ready.
Jeff was out on the front porch mopping with Lysol trying to keep the dust down a bit. A little Indian boy came by and touched the Lysol, then put his finger to his nose and made a face showing his disapproval of the smell. It would take a lot to tell him why we do such things.
The kids have tamed down a bit. Most are very friendly and polite, but some are still very persistent to get our attention and hold it, no matter what we have to do. It is a known factor that whenever you wash and dry your hands, there will be little Indian hands reaching out to touch them with vigorous handshakes to replace all that you have just washed off, plus interest. Today Jeff cut up his clothesline (they have one here) and made jump ropes for the Indian kids to use, following his example. He is teaching them and will leave the ropes at the end. After Jeff has had enough he tries to cut it off and send them home so we can concentrate once again on meeting prep. But to get them to go home on cue is like tossing a piece of red meat to a dog and then telling him to go home until tomorrow for the next piece. Eventually they did go when he shut all the window shutters.
Shyla’s cooking is even better now it seems, or perhaps my appetite has just adjusted more to appreciate it more. I’m still taking it careful to not give Satan any special opportunity to keep us from the meeting and preaching appointments.
It is hard to believe that we have already had six topics and this week will close out all that we can do this time here. The pastors will continue the follow-up instructions and baptizing more as they are ready. It was so gratifying to hear from the pastors that the churches raised up last time are strong and growing even without the needed church buildings to meet in. It is also good to see that the members are donating their labor when we give money for a new church. So, my work for the future may focus on trying to save what we can to help them get going on the new churches. We can’t wait for Maranatha to do it. They have too much backlog already. It is an opportunity for investment in the Kingdom with immediate results. The last church we visited on Sabbath where they had a big baptism, had a building built by Quiet Hour sixteen years ago. It was also very well preserved. There must have been 140 people crowded in it seated on the floor. They sang with such enthusiasm and the children participated heartily with the adults.
We often wonder why the Lord has privileged us to be able to witness all this even in our sunset years and participate. Today’s incoming email had a Bible quote from Carlos Pardeiro where God assures we will bring forth fruit even in old age.
Your incoming emails are valued. Even when power is off we can read them via battery in the computer. We will answer as many as we can when you have specific questions or advice. We had some good counsel from veteran workers in Gentry about how to reduce the time of adjusting to Jet lag. Our problem was that we were so much on the go with immediate expectations that we didn’t have the time to spend walking in the sunshine. And a walk in India is an exercise in dodging many things all over the road. So looking around at the beautiful scenery of the fields is restricted.
Tonight we follow up the Sabbath message of last night with how the change came about. We try to keep all these things in perspective and accent all that God is doing to bring us blessings. We really NEED Sabbath. It is a love gift from God.
I’ll try for a nap while Mary Alice is using the computer to go over her health talk for tonight. There is a real need here for the information about AIDS that she shares.
We’ll fill you in on any special things that come along today. Paulson went by bus to Sangareddy because Maranatha representative will be there to tell about the One Day School. Paulson says they need one at Sangareddy but the design is not really compatible with India needs. Indians go up with additional stories rather than out in sprawling USA fashion. Land is scarce in some places. So we will see what happens. He may get back in time for the preaching but nothing more of the evening meeting.
With love,
Mom and Dad (Glenn and Mary Alice)