Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Trip to MUMBAI – July 7-23, 2009

Down Town Mumbai

Arriving– Once we all got there the Missionary picked us up and then we had an hour drive by taxi through the city to his house. Great fun, and yet crazy at the same time. Diving there isn’t like driving here. They have rules, but they don't obey them.

Every morning– The Days started around 6 in the morning to around 12 in the morning. We had long tiring
days, but they were fulfilling and great.

Temple Visits– The first week we would all head out and start off our day walking the streets and looking at
different things. We would see temple after temple on the streets and with Indian’s worshiping them. Watching this was very convicting because of how they truly believed in those Idols and gods. They are not just one god but thousands upon millions of gods. God truly did touch us that day and all we could think of was what Paul went through when walking the streets of Athens, and seeing all the idolatry and how there has to be a change.
Language classes- Every morning we had a devotional with the missionary, and then right after ward we would have Hindi classes with one of the Indian’s that the missionaries was reaching out to. It was of course challenging and we did learn some, but not enough in our time there.

Visiting families– We would visit a different family practically every day. Either we went somewhere or someone was meeting us that day for a visit. Most of the time we would visit our brothers and sisters to encourage them through scripture and through prayer. When visiting non– Christians the missionary would be leading in that area with some teaching that is very discrete, and he would pray also. These were great encouraging times for the saints.

Men's Studies– Reveline– is a brother that is the only Christian in his house. He is 26 yrs. old and trying to
change, and grow closer to God. Rance and I studied with him, and I went back again to study and pray with him. He has great potential to be rooted in Christ Jesus. Please pray for him. Dhawal- another brother
around 23 yrs. old. This was the man who was with us most of the time, learning from us and studying with us. We too learned from him also. He has been a Christian for a while but it was just recent that he came back to the faith. Work, and school squeezed time with God out of the picture. But now that he is back on track and knows what is important he tried his best to hang with Rance and I. For the encouragement. Pray for
Dhawal, that he would rise up and be a leader in the Lord’s Church.

Girls studies– They had three main studies in Mumbai. The first one was led my Alissa because there needed to be a translator and there wasn’t the time for the both of them to speak. This was to four Christian women in the same family. Another one that the both of them led was with a woman named Sagrika. She was not yet married (big deal in India) and was being told by some of her neighbors that she was cursed by evil spirits. The last study that they had in Mumbai was Beth teaching the ladies day. There were about 5 Christian women there.

Worshiping on Sunday– We met at a hospital. There were about 7-9 people there and they were mostly all young adults praising God. It was great praising God with them, and I believe we were and encouragement to them as well. We also worshiped at a house church that had about 15 members. Carls Baptism– Carl was baptized in the biggest bath. It was the Ocean. He is a new brother in Christ and he is very active in wanting to know more and more about God. Through reading and growing in his prayer life. Pray for Him!

Weather– Monsoon season is crazy and sad. The reason why is because I think I saw the sun once or twice when I was in Mumbai. It was still light out but there was clouds every where and it rained a lot. Not only that it was pretty hot when traveling and being out-side. Rance and I Lost in

Mumbai– Our taxi driver didn’t follow the other one as closely and so he didn’t follow the right one. So we went back to where we were and just waited. Called around to get a hold of the Missionary, and then we waited. We felt like a little water drop in a bucket, so we prayed… Then we felt like the biggest people in the city, and we were not worried because we knew God was with us.

Growth– The both of us were changed some how and some way from this experience. Especially our prayer life changed and grew tremendously. Not only that, but brothers and sisters were challenged to stay faithful and God was honored and glorified.


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