Final days

Just 9 day left and I'll be heading back to Africa. Oddly, I'm feeling torn by this. I have so enjoyed my time here in India and God has really given me a heart for these people. At the same time I'm excited to see the rest of my dts class and hear about their experiences in the other countries and in just a couple weeks, get back to the great northwest and see you all :)

This week has been incredible (as usual). Sunday was a very busy, but awesome day. We spoke at a church in the morning and then traveled to a far out village and had a youth conference with over 100 children in the afternoon. They put up a big tent and built a stage out of old wooden planks just for us and it so touched my heart. The children were so eager to see our program and even after the tent was full many gathered around outside in the direct hot, hot sunlight to stand and hear our message. Afterward they preformed some songs and dances for us. It was so sweet! Unfortunately, when my team was piling into our car to leave I was the last to get in, and the pastor of the village had come over to say goodbye. (There are usually about 14 people crammed into one SUV and it is customary for the last person to get in to shut the door before trying to squeeze in to sit somewhere). SO, being the last one and not knowing the pastor was right behind me I grabbed the handle and slammed the car door with incredible force, smashing it right into this poor pastor. IT WAS SO EMBARRASSING and I felt so awful! Luckily we were all able to laugh about it though. Later that night we spoke at a huge college near by our base. After we spoke the principle of the college had arranged for us to have a really nice dinner in a private dinning hall on the campus. A chef prepared an extravagant 3 course meal for us. It was such a blessing :)

We did an open air in a far out village Monday night that attracted a crowd of almost 200. But it was a bit of a tough crowd. A few people mocked and laughed at us and didn't receive the message well, but the Lord never left us. Its funny that just a few days before I read in Matthew 5:11,12 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." So we gave our all and by the end of the night several people ended up asking our team to pray with them. On the way back to the base that night our team talked about the evening and all shared how we felt, and not one of us felt discouraged. God gave us all a gladness and a feeling of joy and accomplishment about the evening. He is so good.

As I told you previously the base that I'm staying on is running a school of Evangelism. Each week they have a new speaker (sort of like my dts did) and this week it is the pastor we stayed with in Coimbatore that our team became so fond of. Today my team is taking the day off so I was able to sit in on their class. He was teaching on faith in finances and the different principles in the Bible. It was a really powerful message in reminding us the importance of generosity and always being faithful in tithing and how God honors that. It made me think even more about how grateful I am to all of you who have sown into me so generously. May the Lord multiply that generosity back to you.

Last night we ministered (and played with) 40 boys and girls in an orphanage. It was so much fun! Although none of them spoke English, they lovedddd the song/dance "head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes..." They wanted to do it over, and over and over haha. Its amazing how much joy these children- that have absolutely nothing- have in their hearts. It can only be the Lord.

I have a special prayer request this week for some dear friends of mine in YWAM. They are converted Muslims who have had to live their lives on the run under an alias. They have recently been found out and are receiving all sorts of death threats. Because of this, they have to leave where they are currently staying and go into hiding. They have endured so many struggles in their life and the Lord is surely with them, but please pray for their protection and that the Lord would provide safe hiding for them and comfort during this difficult time. I'm not sure if or when I'll be able to see them again on this earth. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

I'm looking forward to next Saturday when we will be leaving for Mumbai, for a 2 day debrief time before finishing our outreach and returning to South Africa. I'll try and update you before I leave.

Blessings!!