Our last day

We just finished our last full day in Varanasi. The last 2 days were spent entirely with Rahul's Care Center and both days were rich. Today's teaching was especially meaningful for us and the children. Today, all three of us taught a lesson on the treasure we have in Christ with Laurie reading the text and Robert delivering the message. John and Rahul then called each child to the front by name one at a time to assure him/her that Jesus died on the cross, shed His blood because He loves him/her so much, and that He will return for his believers someday. You have never seen kids so focused, a couple almost to tears.

They get it!! They are the light of this dark place.

Tonight we went to the Ganga to see the fire blessing of the Ganga with thousands in attendance. This is done every night. This was John and Laurie's first time to see this, and their reaction was the same as everyone - dark and no hope.

We witnessed this tooth extraction at the dentist "office" right out on the street. We are making appointments next time we are here. This guy was working 4 patients at once - no waiting room. By the way, no education required; one just decides to be a dentist.

We were treated to a wonderful home cooked meal tonight, compliments of Rahul and Lorette.

Attendance has been tremendous at every session, ranging from 42 to 52.

This is the most I can recall and is especially encouraging since 6 others are attending private school, sponsored by the Care Center.

How about this for good news. Bawa is a young man who came to Christ at Rahul's Care Center a few years ago. Bawa is now in Bible College and and plans to return as a witness to the children - imagine how this can be used for the Kingdom.

Yesterday, the Turning Point Laundromat had a serious electrical fire.

It was a blessing that it happened while someone was there. Had it happened during the night when no one was there, it could have been catastrophic - we were blessed by the timing.

Blessings,

Robert, Laurie, John

He is sovereign in South Asia

Friday evening and Yesterday, we spent time  at Philip & Gabriella's Pink House

(tuition center for children of peddle rickshaw drivers) and at the Mughalsarai

rail care center. 

We taught the same lesson at both places, "Resisting Temptation".  In both

cases, The Lord was clearly present and certainly taught us far more than we

were able to share with them, especially that He is sovereign.

The young men at the Pink House whom in previous years we had perceived as so

sharp and so close to accepting The Lord have returned to the street. And the

young men we had great concerns and doubts about have risen and are inquiring

deeply. God is sovereign, we don't have a clue.

At Mughalsarai, most of the older boys from the past had hopped a train to Mumbai for the wedding season there to ply their "trade" there. Only a couple older boys from the past were there, one being Ajay. There is an unhealthy

environment among the boys now. A young man named Buppy (age 23 and married) comes and refutes the Bible teaching. With Akshay as my translator, it was the

first time I had ever encountered such false teaching and blasphemy while teaching - it was right from 1 Timothy. The older boys have aligned with Buppy and together they dominate the younger boys. They have expelled him in the past and each time he so dominates the others that when he leaves, they all leave - he takes them with him and doesn't allow them to return, lest they pay the price at the rail station. There are only a couple boys who will stand up to his

heretical teaching, one being Amar Jeet, whom we have known for many years from a small boy. But those who stand up to Buppy were in Mumbai. So, God showed us something yesterday. Buppy is clearly intelligent.  He could be powerful for The Lord.  Pray that his heart will be pierced like Paul. 

And while the boys at Mughalsarai are struggling with Buppy, The Lord has blessed this care center with a new ministry to young girls from the neighborhood, all Muslim. It this thriving and their lesson and inquiry yesterday was rich. Philip's team of nationals has actually met with the families and The Lord has touched their hearts to allow this ministry to their children (sounds like Treehouse).

Another great story. Roshan, who dramatically came to know The Lord a few years ago is growing his faith enormously and is now in discipleship and Bible training. He is on fire. He plans to return to Mughalsarai as part of Philip’s

staff and a witness to the rail kids. How powerful will that be!!  We just neverknow what God is doing. He is sovereign.

A few short notes:

 - the Muslim presence in and around this city has increased materially over the last 2 years. It is our understanding that this is an intentional strategy since this city is a Hindu holy place.

- Ravindra is getting married March 11. Wish we could be here. His is marrying a Hindu to fulfill his promise to his mother on her death bed, but believes the Lord has shown him that she will become a believer in marriage. Pray for that.

Off to church this morning and back to Rahul's Contonement Center tomorrow.

~Robert, for the team

Hello from India!

We are excited to be here. All luggage arrived too.

Yesterday, we taught at Rahul's Care Center. 40 children were there, mostly

younger and mostly new. We were encouraged by the new faces but disappointed in

the absence of old faces.

The lesson was based on Luke 8:22-25 where Jesus calms the storm, and included

participation from the kids for sound affects - boat rocking, storm, and even

Jesus sleeping - which the kids loved. And the lesson was followed by games

teaching the same principal.

Today, we go back to Rahul's Care Center where the lesson will be on "running

the race" with Christ - the Journey of Faith.

It was great to see Abdul, his brother, and Muscan return from school on their

new bikes. These children are being sent to a private school by the Care Center

on bikes provided by GOW. You would be impressed with the impact this is having

on their leaves already and the appreciation and diligence they are showing.

After school, they changes from their school clothes, eat a meal at the Care

Center and then do all their homework with a tutor at the school by 5:30 PM.

Abdul is especially proving to be a star student. What a change this can have in

their lives.

Rani, Jumni, and Sumni are still sewing - becoming very good. It is

disappointing to tell you that Rani and Jumni are both now married, to

non-believers and not in good situations. Jumni is 6 months pregnant. Sumni is

in a bad relationship outside if marriage. Their is hope as the continue to come

to the Care Center to see and hear the word.

There are so many weddings going on right now that we got kicked out if our

hotel (Surya) and moved to another place for 2 nights. We might just stay here

to avoid moving again.

Visited Turning Point last night and business is booming. It is doing its part

to fund the work, credit to The Lord. Really a nice operation.

Rahul is going 100 mph. 

Off to Moghul Surai tomorrow with Phillip and the Pink House Tuition Center.

We basically collapsed last night.

Robert, for the team

The 2015 Team - Four Days 'Til Departure

John, Laurie & Robert are grateful for your prayers.

Continuing our partnership with our workers and nationals whose ministries reach out to the ‘Rail Kids’. Areas of serving include: Bible teaching, ESL instruction, discipleship, crafts, prayer walks, visits to slum areas and rail stations where the Rail Kids live, support/training to sewing unit girls, laundromat support, and possible projects at Care Centers.

(Blog posts will be added once the team is on the field.)

Feb. 2015 - Judy E. with a few of the 'Rail Kids'.

Lynn with Philip & Gabriela and Care Center Staff

Rahul and Lorette

INDIA 2011 - Our Video

This video was created by team member Michelle Wright.  Thanks Michelle for doing such a great job.
INDIA2011

Boat Ride 10/6

Boat Ride 10/6

R arranged for us to take a sun rise boat ride on the Ganga. We had a Hindi guide that was quite fluent in English. It was good to hear from a Hindu about the different areas along the river known as the ghats. Ghats are steps leading down to the rivers edge, the Ganga or Mother Ganga as they call it.  There are several ghats that have holy significance to them.  The most holy is the burning ghat. If you die in this city and are cremated & you ashes are pushed into this river you are released from the cycle of reincarnation and go straight to heaven.  But your family has to also purchase the holy flame to start the fire because if you use a regular match it doesn't count  Many people in their old age will come to this city and wait to die so that they can be released from being reborn. There are 5 types of people who do not get cremated, instead their bodies are weight and sank in the river.  A child is considered holy, to young to have sin, a pregnant woman because of the child, a holy man, a leper and a snake bitten person.  The last 2 they do not cremate because it may release the poison in to the air.   They really have no hope in this belief system because if you haven't been good enough and pleased  the gods you could be reborn as anything.  they also believe if you bathe in the river it washes away your sin. The very sad part is they must do this dIly as it not permanent forgiveness of sins  

How blessed we are to have a true and living God that cares enough for us that He would provide a way for our sins to be forgiven once and for all through Jesus Christ.

Until later....

Cantonement Center 10/4

Cantonment Center 10/4

Today at the center was a free day. During the morning we played for a long time with the kids. They love just playing and being free to be a kid, not having to work the trains or scavenge for items they can sell to the recyclers.

They thought it so funny to see us adults jumping rope..or atleast trying to! R and his coworkers are great with the children. They have taught the children several songs in Hindi that we teach our kids in Sunday School. It is so cool to hear these song in another language. R is following a teaching curriculum for bible and discipleship.

We had the opprotunity to go in small groups to see the station & where the kids live. In the after noon Robert, Anne and I were guided to the station by 2 of the oldest girls at the center.  The younger of the two took my hand and held on to it the whole time we walked. The first stop we made was at a group of people sitting on the sidewalk. The older Jumni, our guide kept pointing and we finally worked out that it was Suraja's home. Next she took us to a tree with a woman and baby sitting under the tree. We we understood that this was her mother and where she lived.  We saw nothing that even looked like the crude shelters we have become familiar with, there were a few drainage pipes to the left...  The girls then took us through another section of the area around the station. We saw where many of the other children live and met a few "mam's". It was very similar to the RN slum area. The kids were happy we came to visit.

Until later...