India day 2 (received Tuesday, March 22, 2011)
Today marked the beginning of our Gospel ministry in India…it was amazing… amazing in more ways than one. The poverty and suffering in India is mind boggling. Sickness and malnutrition are everywhere, primarily due to a lack of clean drinking water. Over 100 million people in India do not have clean water to drink…something so basic to human life. I watched girls today scoop buckets of green water out of a stagnant pond and carry into their shacks to wash clothes, cook, and even drink. With no electricity, even if they boiled the water over an open flame before drinking (which many do), it is no wonder there is such sickness everywhere I look.
But, amidst all the poverty…there is the amazing Gospel of Jesus Christ going forth in India. Surrounded by hundreds of Hindu temples, and idols on every street corner, there are believers in Christ who hunger and thirst for righteousness. I spent eight glorious hours today teaching a room full of Christians about God’s purpose and plan for each of His children to invest their lives in making disciples. As we walked through the pages of Scripture, they looked like children on Christmas morning receiving the gift of their dreams. There is nothing on earth like watching the Word take root in fertile soil right before your eyes.
Thank You Jesus! That even when people live without clean water…they can drink from the fountain of living water. What a hope You have given Lord in Your Word. Thank You Father, for my brothers and sisters who are faithful to pray for me. May Your Word grow strong in the people of India, and may they bring forth much fruit for Your glory.
Grace & Peace, Tony
India Update (received Sunday, March 20, 2011
I finally arrived in Imphal…what a grueling journey. I begin teaching tomorrow…I am very excited, over 40 pastors have traveled to get training! The poverty here is unlike anything I have seen in all my years of traveling. The time difference is 10 1/2 hours.
Tony