Children's Choir Sunday

The kids in our church led the worship service today. I think I cried three times. It was so great.

* Videos of this on Facebook.

Church Away

Since I come from a long line of "church junkies" I was really looking forward to today (Sunday). I attended the church that is at the same location where my Hindi training is since it was the closest.

It was in English and in Hindi and, interestingly enough, they had both Indian and English (American) pastors. The Indian pastor spoke in Hindi and the English pastor translated for him. Wow, in all my years I've never seen that before. Lot's of English translated to Hindi but never Hindi translated to English (by a non-Indian, at that.)

I cried at the beginning. I was just starved for common worship. It was lovely.

Less than a week to go...

Missing Sundays

I think I've attended church maybe twice in the last month and a half. This is a real blow to a church junky like me. I love church. I hate missing, but it's just been one of those months (and a half).

Our trip to Goa last month had us traveling by train - going and coming - on Sundays. Later in the month we were in Rajasthan and came home on a Sunday. Last Sunday was Dinesh's wedding in the morning - sort of like church but not really. And this week... well, as they say over here, we're "out of station" again.

This time we won't be traveling, we'll be preaching. We've been invited to meetings being held in a village in the south of our state that's about five hours away from us. The meetings start at 8:30AM and go til afternoon. We're looking forward to it, pray for us and for the meetings. The name of the village is "Chicklee." I just like to say it as often as possible.

* This is a side note: I just realized after posting the previous post that O. is currently in Rajasthan performing a wedding ceremony... Ai yi yi

Thoughts On The Spiritual Life Of Goa

The Indian state of Goa was a Portuguese colony for about 400 years. The Roman Catholic influence of those 400 years of colonization is seen everywhere. Large ancient churches, small quaint chapels, "Christian" names on everything from people, to stores, to bars and restaurants*.

However, as far as zeal for Christ goes, the state is pretty much dead. Over the week that we were there we rarely passed a Hindu temple where some program or worship wasn't going on, whereas the numerous churches and chapels were closed and silent and shut up with big padlocks. Sad.

We even talked about what it would take to bring some of the light of Christ to Goa. One of the main drawbacks we were told is that the state has become so commercial and such a tourist center and vacation spot that even renting a small thatched roof huts to hold a church service is too expensive.

Ii suggested that there were loads of church buildings and chapels already built, literally on every corner - Not being used. Talk to whomever is in charge and at least they would be used for the Lord. That idea was shot down with a big - not ever gonna happen. Apparently the Catholics and Protestants do not work together in Goa.

On a brighter note, we had a lovely time on the train trip from Goa to Bombay and there were very nice people in our area of the train. One woman was a Christian (she had her Bible with her) and I observed her during the long train ride. At the end of our trip we had a chance to talk and she was a Goan Roman Catholic living in Bombay and she was obviously filled with the Holy Spirit and zeal for the Lord.

*for example: "St. Anthony's Bar."

New Year's Day Baptisms - 2008

Happy New Year!

Eleven people were baptized this morning. Three girls from our Children's Home.
Two believers from church.
Six Bible Students. (This may be India, but January is still cold - poor guy looks like he's freezing!)
Praise the Lord! Afterwards we had a worship service, partook of the Lord's Supper together and then ate! Cricket, swimming and dancing were also part of the day's activities.

3 For 3

We arrived from Bombay this afternoon having accomplished all we set out to do.

1. We ordered a beautiful wedding dress for Martha. After some searching we found a wonderful woman named Ruth who designs and makes wedding gowns. We told her what she wanted, she drew it up for us on paper right then, and called Martha and I back in the evening for a fitting.

The dress was MADE. Well, it lacked the sleeves and some of the lace and the final hemming, but it was all together and on Martha and she looked lovely. I wish I had thought to bring my camera.

O. will go to Bombay next month to pick up the final dress. The women is also making the veil and headgear and gloves to match - all for under $250. I know. Oh, and this dress is not some knockoff, it is as gorgeous and as first class as any I've ever seen in the US.

2. We got a new keyboard for our church. That's not really as exciting as the dress but our keyboardist thinks it's thrilling.

3. We got Chris, the man who came from the US and is here with us for a few days. No lost luggage! Yippee.

I just love it when everything works out as you hope. (or me - I don't even dare to hope - so I'm even happier in the long run.)