A Life in Mission

Soon we arrived in Hapur. We first met Mr. Cornelius Kisku who is the treasurer for the Uttar Pradesh Section of the North Indian Union. Soon they showed us to the guest room. It was a nice room, but it wasn’t like the one that we stayed in at Delhi. I felt more comfortable that it was closer to Indian standards. It had a tile looking floor with two beds, and a typical Indian bathroom, with a shower in one corner. It was on the headquarters campus, so it was in the walls around the perimeter. Pastor Sing was the President of the Section, and he asked us to come to his house for dinner, as well as Mr. Kisku, and after worship we would go over the plans they they had made for our stay.

After Israel was finished sharing worship thought, we got right into the plans for our week that we would be in Uttar Pradesh. Sing and Kisku went over their plans, and after making a few modifications we had it finalized. We would be visiting one village Tuesday, then the next three days we would stay in a more remote part of the state and visit three different church groups there. Then we would return to Hapur on Friday, and spend Sabbath there, then making another overnight trip on Sunday and Monday to two more remote areas. Each of these places we would hold a worship service, and then give out the Bibles.

The next morning left for the first place. We made our way across these backcountry roads that provided a shortcut to the highway. In some places the roads were surfaced with laid bricks, in other places they were simply gravel, or even dirt. We wheeled our way on roads through the back country fields, and through small neighborhoods, with houses right out next to the road making it feel like an alleyway. Sometimes we slowed to a stop to cross a deep bump. I enjoyed taking pictures of all the sights, many of which I had not yet seen. We were driving with both Pastor Sing and Mr. Kisku this day, and soon I started up a conversation with them. I asked some questions about North India, as I didn’t know very much yet. I asked about this look that I noticed as soon as I got off of the train station. What did it mean? Mr. Kisku explained that it didn’t underly suspiciousness, or distrust, it just showed this curiosity. These people in North India are a very curious people, and when they see a foreigner they want to know why they were here? what things did they have? what is this person like? This was a good explanation, but the look that I saw in their eyes when they didn’t see me was something I thought could give me a little glimpse into their lives. I would watch more to see if I could learn more about this… We soon stopped by the side of the road close to a stand where a man made fresh juice to sell. Everyone except the driver got out of the van, and I realized that with the door open it made a good opportunity to get video of traffic and people and things. I got my video camera out and enjoyed getting the traffic, going by, and an occasional ox cart. When Mr. Kisku came back to the van I was taking pictures of the sights, and then I noticed a boy looking in the window! He was looking at my camera like he’d never seen one before. When I looked at him he got this smile on his face, and then tried to say something to me. I couldn’t understand what he said, and soon he left. Mr. Kisku said that this is what he meant by the curiosity of these people. Soon the man that was at the stand brought me a glass with lime juice in it. I drank down the sweet juice with enjoyment.

Soon we made it to the church where a few people had gathered in anticipation of our visit. This was close to Sanjay Sing’s area. He is the one who Jon interviewed in India two years before, who had 1300 church members, where less than half of his members had Bibles, and he had only 5 songbooks that he would take with him where ever he went to worship! His is only an example of the limited resources that most of the Bible workers face. Many of the Bible workers face the same challenges in their work… Within minutes there were many people coming from all directions, as they heard that we had come. It was the middle of the day, and it was during the week, so there were fewer people than would have come for a regular Sabbath service. We went inside and began having song service as people gathered. I took pictures and video of the church, and the people as Israel gave the worship message. Soon it was over, and they brought the Bibles in to disperse. We took pictures of each of the recipients receiving their Bible. They were so thankful to have their own Bible and songbook. After giving them each a Bible and songbook, I got several interviews with the Bible workers that were there, and then we left to return to Hapur.

The next day we left to visit another area which happened to be where Sanjay Sing lived with his parents. We met on the front porch of their home, and once again had a worship service, and passed out the Bibles. The way these people received the Bibles and how happy they were to have their own Bibles and songbooks was amazing. I knew that I would really enjoy these next few days as we took this trip.

I sat on the couch, eating my breakfast of chapatis and fried potato. I had been able to download the almost finished version of “I want this city” by Jon with Pastor Doug Venn. Now I had a chance to watch it. I was amazed how everything came together to create a strong story line, and an incredible picture of a Mission that had so little resources, and are yet doing everything they can with what they have.

It was Sabbath morning, and we had just arrived on the train the day before. As soon as I finished breakfast, I headed over to the auditorium for the church service there at the Union headquarters. It was the International Women’s Day of Prayer, and so the service was given mostly by the women. It was a very good service.

“Do you want to watch Jon’s video now?” I asked Israel. We were back at the room now, enjoying the Sabbath afternoon. He agreed, and soon we had watched the whole half hour episode. “Those needs in Thailand are sure incredible.” I stated. “But here in North India it’s the same story.” I continued. I went to find my Sabbath School lesson, and read the figures for the North India Union. “It says there’s 204,000 Adventists. But there’s 668,000,000 people!” I got out a calculator and did some quick figuring. “That means that there’s one Adventist in every 3,220 people! That’s quite a figure!” I was struck with the realization of this, seeing that this was in fact a huge mission field! I hoped that my stay here would be able to help in some way to show this staggering need to the people in the Western world.

“It looks like I have pink eye!” I told Israel as I came out of the bathroom. I had pink eye for about a week or so a few months before when I was in Tennessee. But now as I saw the pink in the corner of my eye, and the puss, it looked like I had it again. The truth was that neither Israel or I had been feeling that good during the last few days. Israel had gotten some kind of headcold, and some trouble in his stomach, and I seemed to be getting the same cold and congestion as well. It was probably some strange Indian strain of a common cold. I knew that if I had pink eye when I went to fly home in just over a week, that they would probably not let me fly… I prayed that it would pass quickly. I had done some research before on alternative remedies for pink eye, and one I found was colloidal silver. I had just happened to pack some in my suitcase before I left thinking that it just might come in handy. Now I began using the dropper to put drops of it in my eye. As I had been feeling worse that evening, I decided to take the MMS that I had brought with me as well to get rid of this bug. I guessed that if I took it at morning and evening that I would probably soon be feeling better.

The next day I saw Natalie on Skype, and Israel and I were able to voice chat with her for some time. We talked about plans regarding Jesus for Asia in India, and Jon even left off his editing briefly and joined in by the end. It was good to talk to them again, although it was strange to talk to them from the India side. God worked out the expenses of staying at the Union, and we didn’t have to pay anything! The next day was Monday, and Israel went to the Bible Society to get the song books. We needed 1000 of them to disperse with the Bibles. By afternoon he was back, and we left for the Section headquarters in Hapur. I enjoyed the ride, riding in the back seat of the JFA van. It was a bumpy ride as the roads had many rough spots. I saw more of Delhi as we drove. I saw wealth, and deep poverty. At one point we passed a hill, and I noticed that there were trucks driving on it. I asked Israel about it and he said it was a garbage pile. It was huge, it could be seen for miles.

I lay on my bunker, wishing the train would arrive… It was Friday morning. We had been on the train for over 30 hours already. As the train car rocked from side to side, I thought back to earlier in the week. We had left Udumalpet after seeing the last evening school Sunday night. The only tickets that Israel had been able to get were from other people who had canceled, and they were in separate places in the bus instead of being end to end like on our way to the country town. After waiting for some time, the bus finally arrived. We boarded, and I found my place. I wasn’t to keen on sleeping next to a stranger while my camera bag and backpack with my computer sat at my feet! Israel waited with me at my place until the other person arrived, and asked him if he could trade with him… he agreed, and soon Israel was on the bed next to me. It was a fitful night, full of bumps and stops. Finally we arrived in Chennai the next morning. The next few days brought welcome rest in the house that Israel lives with his mother. I missed Udumalpet, and the people there, but I was looking forward to our trip to North India. On Wednesday night we would leave by train to Delhi, the capital of India. We would be passing out 1000 Hindi Bibles, and 1000 songbooks. I remembered the man at the train station who hearing that there were Bibles in the boxes we were taking asked if we could give him one. He said that he wanted to read it. Soon many others were crowding around wanting one for them also. I thought of the hunger and thirst after truth that so many people experience here in India. In North America if you hunger and thirst for truth, it many places to be found. In fact it’s likely you don’t have to go any farther than that Bible on your bookshelf. But here in India most people don’t have Bible. And they are afraid to go find someplace where they can get one, because that place is holy. And so we as Christians have to reach them personally.

I got up to get my things packed and ready for when the train arrived. Then I got down off my bunk and sat in the seat across the isle where Israel was sitting. The people that had occupied the seats had already left to be ready when the train stopped. From the window I could see that we were getting into the city, and so it couldn’t be too long till we reached the station. I didn’t much care for the restrooms… they were the typical Indian style squat toilets, made with metal instead of the regular ceramic type. You can imagine what happens with the movement of the train when you’re trying to relieve yourself! It was common to see the water from the flusher on the floor, and you never knew whether there was urine mixed with it or not. It wasn’t until after the first time I used it that I realized the toilet directly deposited it’s contents down through the floor and onto the tracks! This was why they ask that you avoid using the toilet when at a station! Needless to say I tried not to go there any more than I had to!

Finally I started to see more tracks next to ours, as well as some other trains, and I knew that we were getting close to the station. Before long the train came to a halt next to a concrete pad used for unloading. We got our bags and disembarked. No sooner had we gotten out the door, than we met the man that had come to meet us. He took us over to the luggage car where we waited for our boxes to be unloaded. There were many things being unloaded, there were boxes, and there were packages of all shapes and sizes covered by burlap. The men unloading had metal tools with sharp ends that they used to grab the packages and move them, that way they didn’t have to bend and grab them with both hands. I noticed right away that these people in North India seemed to be cold compared to South India. They had a look in their eye that I couldn’t quite interpret. A look of distrust, of suspicion, of pain in their lives… I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant. I was curious if it was the same everywhere in North India. I looked at the face of the man that met us. It had a smile, and radiated with God’s love. I knew I could trust him. Maybe I would be able to discover the meaning and the reason for this atmosphere during my stay here…

We saw our boxes being unloaded, they were heavy and so the men couldn’t just throw them like they did the other boxes. We were glad to see them carry them carefully and stack them on the cement. Then one of the men said that we had to get permission from the station manager to take the boxes out of the station manager, so the man that met us went with him to get permission. We were so glad that he was here to meet us, because otherwise it would be very hard. Finally they returned with permission to take the boxes from the station. They loaded the boxes onto a cart. Israel asked me to stay with them, as he would be coming behind. He had polio when he was very young and he told me that it was only because of his mother’s prayers that he lived. The only lingering visible effect is his limp. So off we went across the tracks, after the guard checked our paper, and off we went again down a little corridor, and then at the corner there was a man in a suit that wanted to see our paper. Then off we continued across the loading yard, and through the gate, and out onto the road. Then we came to the main road where the man that met us was waiting with the van. Then once Israel caught up with us we were off to the headquarters of the North India Union. The traffic was much the same as South India. Soon we arrived at the Union Office. They put us in their guest room, which was actually very nice compared to typical Indian standards. I was afraid of the price… as often these places are quite expensive. I needn’t have worried because God had that all under control. We would spend Sabbath, and Sunday, and then leave Monday for Upal.

Just a short note to let you know that I was able to port all my India pictures that I posted on facebook to my website. So here is the link: www.godsmissionmedia.org/wp/photos/india

Will get a new update up soon hopefully,

~ Daniel

Israel found me and we headed off on the motorcycle toward the place where I would be staying. He told me that we were headed that night by bus to a place called Udamalpet. So he said I could rest during the day, when we got to his house. I enjoyed riding the bike, weaving through the cars. When there was a traffic stop we just kind of went through the spaces in between cars until there was a car in front of us. This is quite different than in the US because all the traffic does this also, not just the motorcycles. So you have autos, buses, trucks, and cars all taking whatever space they can to get as close to the intersection as possible! It’s actually more organized than in Cameroon, as they have stoplights and they stop for them! So there’s some semblance of order! I then realized that this was a video opportunity! I got my video camera out and got some nice shots! With no glass in between me and the vehicles on the road I was able to get good video shots. I even got creative, shooting the traffic behind us.

Soon we got to the house where Israel’s mother lives, and I took my suitcase inside. He showed me my room, and introduced me to his mother and nephew. His mom didn’t speak any English, but his nephew did. Israel then told me that he had some things he had to do in town but that he would be back in the afternoon. I got some rest, until it was time for lunch. They brought me a huge plate, and filled it with rice and other Indian food. It was very good. I packed and got my things ready to leave that night on the bus, as I would only take my camera bag and backpack.

It was 7:15pm and we were heading to the bus station in an auto. This is what they call these three wheeled motorized vehicles. We soon arrived at the bus station and found our bus. This was a sleeper bus. It had beds instead of seats. Our places were on the top level. I got up into the space, and found it was so small I couldn’t even sit up strait! It was about 6 feet long, and about 1 1/2 to 2 feet wide and about 2 to 2 /12 feet high! There were two bars on the isle side to keep you from rolling off the bed when the bus made corners! I got settled in and got my stuff to you. We soon were on our way, and I watched from my window as the Indian roads and traffic go by on the road below. I slept fitfully, seeming to wake with each stop. At last morning came and at about 6:45 we reached our destination. We disembarked and headed for the hotel where we would rest for several hours before the worship service with the JFA Bible workers at 10am. Israel got us each a single room, it seems to be an Indian custom. I found the room to be nicer than I expected, but still conformed to the Indian standards! It was a good price, and I had nothing to complain about.

At 9:30 we went down to a small local restaurant and ate a good Indian breakfast. A couple of the JFA workers met us there with their motorbikes and gave us a ride to the JFA office. We slipped off our shoes and went inside and sat in the two seats saved for us at the front. About 10 Bible workers from the areas nearby had come. They each had their specific area to work. No sooner had we taken our seats than Israel turned to me and asked me to have the devotion! I hadn’t even brought my Bible! I couldn’t understand Tamil anyway, and so I figured I would just get video and pictures. He was willing to let me take the next day instead, which I gave me some time to prepare. Instead a couple of the workers shared some devotional thoughts. After the worship was over, they planned out a schedule for me to visit several of the different villages and get video shots of them going from house to house giving Bible studies and praying with people. It was a busy morning, and in the afternoon we were able to rest a little before leaving at 4pm for another village. After getting more video there, we headed for one of the evening schools. The evening schools give a chance to many children and young people who for one reason or another wouldn’t otherwise have a chance of getting an education otherwise. They come for two hours in the evening and learn some basics about reading, and writing, etc. and then after the class then we give them a meal. The schools give us a chance to witness to these people in a state where open evangelism is not safe. I had a wonderful time getting pictures and video. The light was low, and that made it a little challenging, but my 50mm 1.8 prime lens got some good shots nonetheless.

The next day at worship I was ready. I shared something that I had shared at GMI for worship. It was based on the story of the spring of bitter water that the people came and asked Elisha help. Elisha poured in salt to cure the waters. In the same way Jesus sends us as salt to the people in the world. Then we examined what is meant by the savor of the salt, mentioned in Matthew 5:13, finding that it represents God’s unselfish love. In the same way God want’s us to keep our savor, and not become as salt without savor.

After another day on the same schedule, it was Friday. I had finally decided what subject my message on sabbath should be. Israel asked me to have the message for the divine service on sabbath! I told him I wasn’t a good preacher, but I didn’t refuse. I would be glad later after I saw how spiritually hungry and thirsty the people were. I prayed that God would help me to give the message that He wanted me to give. Finally I decided to tell the story of Elijah leading up to the climax on Mt Carmel. I would draw from the story how God is calling each of us today, asking who we will serve. I prepared as I could, but still felt unprepared. I prayed that God would speak through me. He gave me peace about it…. Friday was a day off so to speak from our busy schedule, we just had worship in the morning, and then nothing planned until vespers in the evening. It was nice to get some rest, and I was also able to go to the internet cafe to get email, and catch up with people. In the evening we went to Brother Suresh’s church, where once again they had asked me to share. I shared with them the story of the Infidel Lawyer, and how if you break just the 4th commandment you have broken all the other 9. After they served us food, then we were on our way back to the hotel. After a good night’s sleep, I did some last minute preparing before we had breakfast and headed off to the church. We arrived just in time for Sabbath School. When it was finished the Divine Service started, and soon the preliminaries were over. It was time for me to give the message. With Brother Israel translating for me I told the story of Elijah, starting in 1Kings 17, and going on to chapter 18. I told how God showed which god was the true God. Then I drew the application from it, how God is asking the same question today that Elijah asked the Israelites on Mt Carmel. He is asking whom will you serve? I told how we can have idols in our lives today. Anything that comes ahead of God is an idol. I asked how many wanted to make God first in their life… The Holy Spirit was there, and a good number of people raised their hands. After the service was over, people came up and asked for me to pray for them. So I prayed for them one by one. Some had ailments, some wanted healing, and some simply wanted God’s blessing on their lives. For close to a half hour, I prayed with one after another, lifting up their requests to God. I’m guessing that this happens often when foreigners come and preach in India. When I finished they were already serving the lunch of rice and vegetable sauce on banana leaves.

From the Front Lines of India,

~ Daniel