India Report # 17, Nov. 8, Tuesday at 6:50 a.m. still at Lawngtlei, Mizoram
Last night after the meeting that we promptly closed shortly after 7:30, Biaka got up and talked for another half hour. We later learned he was explaining the steam bath that we offer free to those who sign up for it. Apparently they didn’t have the concept and were wary of it. We still got “home” in good time for a 9 p.m. sleep.
Yesterday, Biaka had a frightening experience. He was working at his computer when he heard his phone ring, at the bottom of their water bucket filled with water. He quickly grabbed it and put it in the sun trying to dry it out. I told him maybe it was a good thing so he could get more sleep rather than be on call all the time. When we went to an SDA home for lunch, they had a hair dryer that served well to finish the drying job. The phone now works.
The wife was not at home for the meal since she had to work, but the husband and baby sitter for their small daughter had prepared the meal. We could eat the cooked rice, potatoes and even some curry with sauce (vegetarian), but stayed away with difficulty from the dessert with milk products and the other curry made with milk. It was hard to turn down the fresh sliced tomatoes and cucumbers but did not trust the water they might have been washed with. The wife returned before we left and we had a good visit and appropriate photos. Both of them work for the Government. Biaka had talked with him again about his alcohol problem and he said he wants to take the steam baths to clean out his system and then try to stay away from the alcohol. He seems like a nice man, but somehow got hooked on alcohol.
We are surprised at how much smoking happens here. Biaka says that those who have money will smoke. It is some kind of social status I think.
Yesterday one village sent us a box of fruit plucked from their area. It included 2 pineapples, several bananas and some papaya. They had attended the meeting and wanted to show appreciation. We will share some of it with the others in our group.
Sabbathanga and his wife lost a son in August of 2010. He was born without separate connections to stomach and lungs. Surgery seemed to correct the problem but he died in 2 months, much to their sorrow. We saw the photos in his album and realized anew how much sorrow they live with and how much hope the resurrection brings.
After the meeting last night we saw a heating element lying near the door of our Circuit House and considered it ours since we had turned in the old one that had burned out and asked for another. So, this morning we had our “daily pour” with nice warm water to help counterbalance the cold breeze in the bathroom.
One thing about the toilet and bath being in the same room is that after a bath the whole toilet area is wet, complicating use of the toilet for a while. In our rush to pack we did not remember to bring a squeegee to mop the floor after bath. If we could find an old windshield wiper it could serve the purpose, but they would be hard to find here.
Now that we are catching up on sleep a bit more we may be able to get some work done ahead on sermons for Tripura as well as here. They will want a Sanctuary Seminar here on the Sabbath morning at the Hall perhaps. We brought the robes again because we know how much it means to the locals to be dressed up in them when modeling for the sermon.
Yesterday, with no known appointments except lunch with a family and then the evening meeting, it was just wonderful to spend time relaxing and listening to good music via IPod—not a care in the world. We pray throughout the day and the Lord is blessing.
The attendance at the meeting last night was down a little. At 5:30 we heard church bells ringing and guessed that the other churches are now having meetings at the same time as ours to prevent their coming to ours. That is one of Satan’s usual tricks—anything to prevent attendance where they will hear the Word “more fully” than their usual fare. I’m thankful that we can relax and leave all those details with the Lord. Our pastors will do everything possible to counter that also. Personal invitations mean a lot.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 9 at 7:11 a.m.
Attendance was up again last night and maybe the highest yet. Some said they did not want the steam bath but just wanted to hear the sermon. So they aren’t “steam bath Christians” but have proper motivation to come. The alcoholic SDA was there and said he would come each night. We shared in the sermon how the Lord helps us overcome when we invite Him and His Righteousness covers all our forgiven past.
A disconcerting bit of news yesterday was that there is to be a meeting of government officials here and we will have to move from our room next Monday. This Circle House is for government employees primarily. So, we don’t know where we will be next. Several of the options are not at all what we would choose. We appreciate the willingness of pastor Sabbath Thanga and his family to take us in, but they have little room and many already using it. Our suitcases would be too much and spending the day trying to do our things with everyone around would hinder concentration. As usual, we know the Lord will provide what is really needed and we will have to adjust as necessary.
One of the inhibiting factors to attendance increase was the sound system. While we could be heard clearly on one side, it was garbled on the other side of the auditorium. I think they phoned Conference Headquarters at Aizawl and asked for someone to bring down a new mixer. At least something happened last night that gave clear sound to both sides. Old time evangelism without any equipment had a lot to recommend it. But you needed a voice that would overpower the extraneous sounds even then. No doubt the Lord made up for what was lacking. I really prefer the sound systems that allow natural use of the voice with its inflections rather than “hollering the message” all the way through. I think communication through natural conversation is much more effective in explaining the intimate details of our message. I know by observation that the people here are drinking in every word and listening attentively.
The need for a larger school here is apparent. It is a way to reach the hearts of parents otherwise reluctant to hear our message. We have seen how the school at Tlangsang in Tripura has opened that whole section to evangelism when it was closed before. So we will be praying about how we can save more and invest it here.
It is another cool morning here but the hot water for pouring will be welcome. Mary Alice just finished her pour and wants me to follow soon so the water will still be warm.
We have had trouble getting on line lately, but were able this morning earlier, so I’ll try again and get this on its way.
With love,
Dad and Mom (Glenn and Mary Alice)
P.S. I tried again and couldn’t get on, so I’ll add a bit more. Yesterday I had another surprise hydrotherapy treatment on my chest and a full body massage. The heating unit this time was a big pan on the stove since they were using the rice cooker to steam vegetables. I think the helpers got hydrotherapy on their hands handling that steaming cloth and carrying it from the kitchen to the bed where my treatment was given. It all has helped, but the cough is still there. I added breathing steam from the pan for a while. Something should work eventually. Getting consistent rest is a challenge. The massage left me a bit sore. He is working out the muscle knots that must be there because I feel sharp pain in certain areas of the leg when he massages. We go ahead anyhow because I want to get those muscles trim again.
Monday we went shopping after the meal to try to buy Mary Alice a sweater. She left hers at home in the final packing and choosing. She does have a jacket but hates to use it for everything and try to keep it good enough for going out. We could not find one. But we did buy more bottled water to keep things going. It takes a lot when you use it for brushing teeth too. It is all very important. One slip into using from the water source here would make a great difference in our program.
I just talked with Biaka again and learned that the best solution to the moving problem is for us to move into their room in this same building and they (Biaka and the Driver) will move in with Sabbath Tanga and his family. That will save expenses and still give us a more or less quiet place to do our computer work and live. The only challenge (if you don’t count dirty surroundings) is the eastern toilet rather than western. But we can get used to almost anything, and have many times. Biaka referred to the dirty room we would be moving into. I assured him that the one we are in right now is worse. Being smaller, there is less to clean.