India/Nepal Report #6: Started Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m. from Lunglei, Mizoram
Dear Family and Friends:
Do you remember our concerns about the cars taking us to speak at the School? Well, today they were confirmed. The driver was on his way to pick us up at the Lodge but his car broke down (“was spoiled”) on the way and had to be taken to the shop for repairs. They sent a taxi to take us and we arrived just a little late, at the end of the song service before my talk.
They did not take photos today, but lined up the smallest students to shake our hands on their way off to class. Very few of them look you in the eyes, but some of the braver ones do. Apparently, to shake hands with an American is a prize to be remembered and told about later.
On the way back to our Lodge for lunch we had the driver stop to buy us more water. We got two cases at RS 170 each (rather than the RS 225 when we first arrived). It pays to have someone who knows the best place to buy something. We are trying diligently to drink more water (we now have 24 liters more) and it is helping with the voice quality. Fortunately, there is a toilet at the hall just off the stage so I can drink more in the afternoon before meeting without problems.
This coming Sabbath I will preach in the main church here. There will be another baptism this week. There is also to be a baptism on Monday for some of the Buddhist students. The members are excited about this surge in membership.
Pastor Liana told us that if we had not come with the “Crusade” (We don’t like to use that word because of Muslim memories associated with it) there would not have been all the Bible studies given in preparation. In anticipation of our being here the laymen for the first time went out and studied with neighbors and friends. Now they are eager to continue with it. That puts it in perspective for us. We thought that if they will do all that work on their own, we don’t really need to come, but our coming is the catalyst for the personal work. It is a united effort at outreach and is being rewarded in many ways. The pastor is also pleased to be getting new material that he can henceforth use in his own sermons.
Biaka may not be able to come to Saiha to translate for me. A phone call this morning brought the news that his fever is gone, but he still has a very rough voice. He is planning to send the driver, Mahoo, accompanied by David Sailo who did some translating for us last year. They will pick us up at Lunglei on Wednesday of next week (Oct. 24) and take us to Saiha to get settled before the opening night there on Thursday. Biaka did not mention coming with them. He has a wedding on Oct. 24 in Aizawl (if he has enough voice to do it.) We live just one day at a time and trust the Lord to provide what is needed to make the work go forward. He always does that for us.
The large rear projection screen we gave the Mizo Conference last year is really helping in our meetings this year. I’m glad we didn’t take it home and have to pay the extra baggage fees on the airlines to bring it back again.
Biaka’s wife, Nettie, sent more whole wheat bread from an Aizawl bakery for us to use here. They are really trying to look after us. I guess I’ll stop for now and try to catch a nap before our hot lunch here at 1:30 today. We don’t know why the time change (from 1 p.m. usual) but will enjoy the food whenever it comes.
THURSDAY at 5:50 a.m. Mary Alice is having her warm bath by pouring so I’ll add a bit more here before my turn. I like to go last so I can squeegee the floor when through and give it a better chance of drying by evaporation. Since we also walk on that floor in our shoes, it cleans the street dirt off the floor also.
Satan was still trying to do his thing last night in interfering with the meeting. There was a misunderstanding on who was to pick us up and drive us there. We waited patiently until past 6:30 rather than 5:30 and then went to the room to get our cell phone and try to call Pastor Liana to see what is happening. His cell phone was off and we could not reach him. I tried at the desk to order a taxi but the man at the desk did not understand the English. So, we just waited and trusted the Lord to take care of it. He did. Pastor panicked when we were not there at that late hour and phoned us to say a car was on the way. As it turned out, the car that came was a better car than usual and we had a nicer ride. Also the driver was much better in taking the curves and missing the chuckholes.
The TV cameras videoed my walking up the aisle at the hall, late, but the elder in charge explained to the audience why the delay and we were self composed rather than irritated. Then everyone wanted to help set up the video projector and computer even though they didn’t know just what to do. So we were not getting current to my surge protector box that feeds both the computer and projector. The Lord helped me to see that even though the plug was into the wall connection, it was not put in just right. With a switch in direction of plug in, the current came and the meeting went on as planned.
Fortunately, Mary Alice’s health talk that night was shorter than usual and so my longer sermon on “What Happens When We Die?” started almost at the usual time. They do not adjust for delays by cutting out some preliminaries nor the closing special music and all the verses of the closing congregational hymn. The hall was full again in spite of the previous two heavy subjects. No one left early either. It is clear that the Holy Spirit is working with many people and they are appreciating what they hear from the Bible on topics of interest to them.
Following our talks at the School today we were photographed with both sets of students. Tomorrow only my talk with the upper grade students will be given. They have cancelled the meeting with the smaller kids because many of their parents will be going to attend the Daniel’s Band Convocation and have them out of school.
We are so impressed with what the children are all getting from singing the songs in English in their regular worship services. They are storing those little minds with positive things affirming faith in Jesus for all He has done for us. This grounding bodes well for the future.
Pastor Liana was here today to practice for tonight’s sermon and got a phone call from his wife telling that fifteen people are on their way to Daniel’s Band and want to stay at their house tonight. So that is a lot of adjusting! I invited him to bring his family here tomorrow as we go over the next sermon and then have a meal with us in the dining hall. They will probably be exhausted after all the company and will need a rest from cooking.
Today was a great drying day and Mary Alice pushed some more laundry through. It almost dried in this one day. We have to take advantage of each opportunity when it comes. Some of it did dry.
With the misunderstanding last night and our late arrival to meeting, I expect they may come for us very early tonight and I had better stop this and be ready.
With love,
Glenn and Mary Alice (Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma)
PS Sure enough, they did come at 5:40 but we were ready and got to the meeting early and set up the equipment before the crowd came. And the hall was full again tonight. They sang the closing song “When We All Get To Heaven” about four times. They left in high spirits.
No doubt we will have less tomorrow night because so many will go on to Daniel’s Band. That is alright. We will preach to whomever the Lord sends our way. Some mentioned tonight that they had seen someone in the market who said they saw them on TV. So that outreach is going far and near.