This video was created by team member Michelle Wright. Thanks Michelle for doing such a great job.
INDIA2011
INDIA2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
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....
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...
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...
Aghoria Baba 10/3
Aghoria Baba 10/3
While at the Cantonment Care Center Anne and the others were teaching English, R and I were walking the property discussing his future plans. On thing he really wants to do for the children is to have a grassy area for them to play. He feels very strongly about the children having a safe place to be a kid and play. The center is a gated property. In through the gate came a man. Immediately R tells me to rejoin the rest of the group and calls for his fellow male workers. The men grab sticks or poles and join R and block the progress of this very strange man. R is trying to get the man to leave but he refuses. He is quite frighting to look at... Wild hair and beard, Ashe covering his face very dirty wraps, but his eyes are the worst of all, rimmed in black coal and demonic. The evil emanating from him was palpable. He became aggressive with the men and hit one of them.
This man is known as an Aghoria Baba, they are considered a type of priest. He apparently want to sell us his blessing. R told us that the followers of this particular belief system in India are known for hypnotizing people and stealing from them. They are also known for their practice of cannibalism and having sexual relations with the dead. They are also often intoxicated on some
Truly a scary individual and obviously possessed. There was no light in him at all. ( Matthew 6:23)
We, in America take spiritual war fare very lightly. Let us assure you it is a very real and present threat to us all. We need to be strong in the Lord and learnt pray against & to use God's armor to protect ourselves. Eph 6:10-18
Until later....
While at the Cantonment Care Center Anne and the others were teaching English, R and I were walking the property discussing his future plans. On thing he really wants to do for the children is to have a grassy area for them to play. He feels very strongly about the children having a safe place to be a kid and play. The center is a gated property. In through the gate came a man. Immediately R tells me to rejoin the rest of the group and calls for his fellow male workers. The men grab sticks or poles and join R and block the progress of this very strange man. R is trying to get the man to leave but he refuses. He is quite frighting to look at... Wild hair and beard, Ashe covering his face very dirty wraps, but his eyes are the worst of all, rimmed in black coal and demonic. The evil emanating from him was palpable. He became aggressive with the men and hit one of them.
This man is known as an Aghoria Baba, they are considered a type of priest. He apparently want to sell us his blessing. R told us that the followers of this particular belief system in India are known for hypnotizing people and stealing from them. They are also known for their practice of cannibalism and having sexual relations with the dead. They are also often intoxicated on some
Truly a scary individual and obviously possessed. There was no light in him at all. ( Matthew 6:23)
We, in America take spiritual war fare very lightly. Let us assure you it is a very real and present threat to us all. We need to be strong in the Lord and learnt pray against & to use God's armor to protect ourselves. Eph 6:10-18
Until later....
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Contonement Care center 10/3
We are now working with R & L the remaineder of our time here. We spent a great deal of time playing with this new group of children. This group has a mix of girls and boys and all the children have parents (either 1 or both) even though they live at or aroung this rail center.
We were able to speak with R about his ministry at length. There are 8 of about 30 children that they are sponsoring for school. The children that are in school and receiving education are the 1st generation in their families to be educated. They are in a private school, simply because the public schools are worthless. It cost 10 - 45$ to send the child to school. The parents have to contribute 30%, this keeps them invested in their childs education.
R also works with the parents on parenting skills and educates them on how to keep their children safe from the pretators. Because there is a high percentage of girls, trafficing is a real danger.
The parents work and so do the children after school and often before. Some of their fathers are rickshaw drivers. The moms and kids will sell socks, handkercheifs and used and refilled water bottles on the trains that come in. It is illegal and if caught theycould face serious abuse or charges from the police. A typical days pay may include collecting 36 bottles for the recycleing program they have here. 36 bottles = 1 kilo, if turned in at the recycling station they will get 25rupees, if refilled and resold they can get 10rs per bottle. So the temptation to refill and glue the cap on to make it appear new is great. They can also scavange the garbage piles for cardboard & aluminum to sell to the recyclers. They also scavange the garbage for food.
What a work God has called these people to.. Pray for them.
Until Later....
We were able to speak with R about his ministry at length. There are 8 of about 30 children that they are sponsoring for school. The children that are in school and receiving education are the 1st generation in their families to be educated. They are in a private school, simply because the public schools are worthless. It cost 10 - 45$ to send the child to school. The parents have to contribute 30%, this keeps them invested in their childs education.
R also works with the parents on parenting skills and educates them on how to keep their children safe from the pretators. Because there is a high percentage of girls, trafficing is a real danger.
The parents work and so do the children after school and often before. Some of their fathers are rickshaw drivers. The moms and kids will sell socks, handkercheifs and used and refilled water bottles on the trains that come in. It is illegal and if caught theycould face serious abuse or charges from the police. A typical days pay may include collecting 36 bottles for the recycleing program they have here. 36 bottles = 1 kilo, if turned in at the recycling station they will get 25rupees, if refilled and resold they can get 10rs per bottle. So the temptation to refill and glue the cap on to make it appear new is great. They can also scavange the garbage piles for cardboard & aluminum to sell to the recyclers. They also scavange the garbage for food.
What a work God has called these people to.. Pray for them.
Until Later....
Worship 10/2
We have the privellege of worshiping with 2 groups today. One group is internationals and the other is a local pastor and his church.
Robert & Dianne went to be with A and Robert spoke. This group is a small house church with about 50 - 60 attenders. A is from India and has suffered much for the cause of Christ. He has been taken from his home and beaten and left on the road. He has been harrased for many years, yet he is determined to continue with the work he has been called to no matter the cost! Makes me ask my self what I would do, if faced with such opposition. Dianne said she was blessed to be worshiping with other believers even though she could not understand a word that was said, it was all said to the same mighty God. She was also humbled and blessed to be asked to pray for the women of the group.
Dale, Julia, Alex and I went to the international worship with R & L. It was precious to be with the workers that God has called to this city. As we were speaking with one of the ladies, she told me what a blessing and encouragement it is when they have visitors from their home country.
We are treated as the honored guests when in actuallity it is us who are honored to be among them!
Robert & Dianne went to be with A and Robert spoke. This group is a small house church with about 50 - 60 attenders. A is from India and has suffered much for the cause of Christ. He has been taken from his home and beaten and left on the road. He has been harrased for many years, yet he is determined to continue with the work he has been called to no matter the cost! Makes me ask my self what I would do, if faced with such opposition. Dianne said she was blessed to be worshiping with other believers even though she could not understand a word that was said, it was all said to the same mighty God. She was also humbled and blessed to be asked to pray for the women of the group.
Dale, Julia, Alex and I went to the international worship with R & L. It was precious to be with the workers that God has called to this city. As we were speaking with one of the ladies, she told me what a blessing and encouragement it is when they have visitors from their home country.
We are treated as the honored guests when in actuallity it is us who are honored to be among them!
Last Day at MS center 10/1
Had a great last morning with the boys at the MS center. We played hard... all the kids love the frisbees but especially the very young boys. All the boys wanted to know if we were coming back the next day. Michelle had made a very close connection with Bowan. She taught him "I love you" in english during the week. When he asked her if she was coming back tomorrow, it broke her heart to tell him no.. he looked at her with his sweet childs face and told her "I love you" in english.
We taught on the Holy Spirit and the Trinity. No small feat to teach about Him, we wanted to be very careful that it would not sound like any other of their 360 million gods. God is good all the time and He poured out his Holy Spirit on not just todays teaching but the entire week. All praise, honor and glory are His. We are thankful to have been His vessels this past week.
Tomorrow is Sunday and we will divide up and go to 2 different services. We are excited to worship with these people.
Until later...
We taught on the Holy Spirit and the Trinity. No small feat to teach about Him, we wanted to be very careful that it would not sound like any other of their 360 million gods. God is good all the time and He poured out his Holy Spirit on not just todays teaching but the entire week. All praise, honor and glory are His. We are thankful to have been His vessels this past week.
Tomorrow is Sunday and we will divide up and go to 2 different services. We are excited to worship with these people.
Until later...
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