India Report #32, Thursday, Dec 1 at 8:50 P.M. from Aizawl, Mizoram, back in the Conference Guest Room.
Dear family and friends:
No chance to write (much less send) yesterday. The “road” down to Tlangsang and our Mission School for the Bru, was more of the same. By the time we got to the school we had 6 flats. I’m not a music expert, but I think I have heard that six flats would be hard to play on the piano as a composition. It is also hard to tolerate on the long ride down.
Our welcome to Tlangsang was muted because the older students were taking exams. But they made us feel very welcome. We met the students in assembly and talked with them, telling stories etc. We noted their progress in learning English and Bible and how well they did in their studies. It showed up when a few students had to be sent away for less than good behavior. Other schools took them in and they went up 2 grades because of their proficiency. There is a lot of jealousy of the Tlangsang school because it caters to the downtrodden Bru and also because they do so well in comparison to all the other schools. Satan is always at work when anything good is happening for the Lord. We noted and photographed the progress in building work at the school. They are behind schedule as previously described. We will be eager to learn if the Mizo Conference is willing to take over and run the school so Zosiama can do more of the Revival work he loves among the churches. A committee should decide that in about two weeks.
After a night of sleep and a brief farewell message this morning, we left Tlangsang at 7:30 a.m and headed over another non descript road to save about 50 Km over the longer road which is not good either. At times it appeared we could not get through. Yes, there were another 2 flats. We average two a day when traveling. (Total of 8 flats. We could appreciate some “music” in sharps) Also we got stuck in the deep mud in one place and prayed for help. An ambulance came behind us with 4 strong men in it along with two women on their way to a meeting. No sick people. But the men were able to assist our “sick” car by pushing it back enough that Zosiama could maneuver it around and through lesser depth mud to get beyond. We waved them around us but they would not go because they wanted to follow us in case we needed more help. We knew they were Bru angels. We managed to get through the rest of it, unbelievably and got back to Aizawl at about 6 p.m to join and talk to the second wave of students leaving in the morning for those Bru villages we just visited, to continue the good work begun.
The two spares were repaired in Mamit village in Mizoram where a good workman operates. We think all the tire repair places in Tripura know Zosiama by name because of his frequent visits to them. I told Zosiama (tongue in cheek) that the next trip on those roads he should pull a trailer behind with 20 spare tires in it, already on rims. The kids were taught a cute song “Winner man” referring to Jesus and them in Jesus. Then the songs sings “Loser Man” referring to Satan and his program. So I sang to Zosiama a revision of that. “Tires are a Loser Man, Loser Man”. We mentioned earlier that we know it is only the hand of the Lord that holds his car together. Today we felt that hand might be relaxing a bit because parts of the car kept coming off, like a mini fender etc. Just as we came into Aizawl the lower beam headlights gave out. Zosiama replaced a melted fuse but only the high beams worked. So he had to dim as we approached oncoming traffic and that left us a bit in the dark on the ravine drop off side of the road. It could be disconcerting.
When talking to the young people at 6 tonight I told them that we had experienced three chapters from Great Controversy on our trip. One was the “shaking time” describing our ride in the car around those wild curves and bumps. The other was “the time of trouble” when we were in the deep mud and could not get out. The best one was “God’s People Delivered” when we were rescued by the ambulance crew. Even without pictures and video we would not forget this trip.
At the Tlangsang Training Academy we rejoiced to see the cement roof on the classrooms and the one on the Worship Center well along. They were working on it as we arrived. In spite of all the setbacks with sickness and death of the workmen, it is happening and will be a great blessing. The classrooms are being used now even though the finish work on windows and doors is yet to be done. Those who gave specifically for those projects can rest assured that their gift made a big difference.
As we left New Eden Village on the way to Tlangsang we saw a little girl who wanted to get in the car and come with us. The student missionary told us that she had been attacked by Malaria and it affected her mind. It is just another reminder of the problems the people live with in their humble homes of bamboo and other piecemeal materials. Fortunately, the people seem to have clothes, probably distributed by some groups coming in and seeing the need. There were some children of both sexes “barefoot up to their eyebrows”, but modesty prevails.
Some other sad news reached us while in the villages. Two young men around 30, both sons of SDA members, had hung themselves at the same time. Neither left a note of explanation and there is no hint of what led them to do that. One was from Aizawl and the other from a village about 75 Km east of here. Poor Zosiama blamed himself because he had not found time to conduct a revival there as requested. He feels if he had shared the Word that it might have made a difference. We tried, of course, to persuade him that he is in no wise to blame and to turn it all over to the Lord. Only in the Resurrection will we find out the true cause of things we cannot understand now
We hear from Biaka that I am to preach the Vespers meeting in the largest church here on Friday night. Then preach the worship hour sermon Sabbath morning in another church. Our service for this trip will conclude with the Sanctuary Seminar in the Conference Church on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. So they want the full seminar even though we have done it before when here last year.
Monday we are to fly to Calcutta, overnight at our SDA School guest room, and then fly to Delhi on Tuesday. From there we expect to take the American Airlines flight to Chicago for more than 15 hours before transferring to the final flight to XNA and home. We are grateful for kind friends like Don and Irene Gilbert who plan to meet us and take us home. We don’t know right now what the weather is in Gentry, but will be glad to be there whatever it is. I said we “expect” to fly then because we have heard that American Airlines has taken bankruptcy and don’t know the implications of that on our intended flight. The Lord is still in charge and that is where our trust is.
This is probably the last email we will try to send out on this trip, unless when we check the mail today at the Mizo Conference Office we get messages that need a reply right away. It has been a great trip with bountiful blessings beyond our expectations, along with challenges beyond our “gestimations.”
With our love,
Dad and Mom (Glenn and Mary Alice)
P.S. Since this is my intended last email before home, I’ll try to share why we think the doors are open now in a way they may not be later in these Bru villages. There is no electricity now and very few have TV. But if they get TV it could change how they want to spend their time. It will be harder to get them to attend evangelistic meetings. (As in USA) We hope to fill their minds with good things from God’s Word before Satan has this additional pull for their attention. If the doors close while now they are open, we think it would be much harder to get in and reach them again.