India Update

Hello and God's Peace from India!

The last three days have been very busy.  Each day we drove 1.5 hours over terrible roads to get to where the Pastors seminars were held.   After a day of teaching and preaching, we would drive back home and rest for a couple hours and eat.   

Then in the evening about 8 or 8:30 we would do the drive all over again.   15 hours total in a tiny car with 9 people.   However, these tight conditions do lead us to get to know each other!  These conditions are good "character builders." 

The ride can also be lovely in the daytime, with many sites to see.

  

The Pastors appeared to be very interested and informed from God's Word.  Pastor Dennis Hilman is a wonderful teacher.  There were also inter active sessions.  It is so good and precious to see pastors humbling themselves in repentance and receiving absoulution.  They humble their hearts often in prayer and in testimony of what God has done in their lives!   One MUST be here to feel the power.     There are also sermons during these Pastors trainings as well.  

It was so wonderful that last night, there was 2000 people at the late night service.   The sermon was about the woman and Jesus at the well.  This time together was a true blessing for all.  Afterwards, almost all 2000 people came for a personal blessing and prayer.   It surely was a good thing that we had the whole group of 7 of us traveling Christians to work together in this process.  If it was just Dennis and I, we may still be there.  It is so humbling for us to lay hands on so many people all all ages.  These people came in such sincerity.  I will stop discribing this now, since only by being a part of this would allow one to fully comprehend the moments.

After this service was over, right around midnight, we set out for home.   It was not long down the road that our Pastor/bodyguards car broke down.  We tried to fix it but to no avail.  After about an hour delay, we set out for home.  Our driver dropped us off and went back to get the pastors.   We pray they made it safely.   This is a good lesson for us for the two cars.   Where we broke down was in the middle of rice fields, a half hour on mostly dirt and pot hole filled roads from a more main road.     These rice fields contain many cobra's which can very easily come to the road in the middle of the night.

We are so thankful God has been with us through His Holy Spirit, keeping us safe and feeling the Power of His Love for us and all of the Indian people.  

Your continued prayers are appreciated. 

In His Service    John R.   Greetings from our entire group and hosts.

From the Field

Greetings from India! Please note that these pictures are not in order.  There has been too little time and too many obsticles to do the proper updates.   We wanted to give you a little feel for the journey, so here is the first very quick picture post. Please check back for more later.

 Upon Arrival of into the country and at every church, the custom is to give these garlinds.  Here is the USA and Canada group with one set of our Hosts.

Here are Shandra, Terri, and Carmelle at one of the 5 free medical camps held on the trip so far.  All medical supplies were donated by the travelers.  A local doctor worked with our traveling nurses.The people on this trip all pitched in to purchase several bicyles and drums.   A pastor must have a bicycle to reach his sometimes multiple churches and the members.   Many pair of sandals and much time is saved when a pastor can peda.   The drums are also gifts so that the congregation (many of whom cannot read) can be lead in song. This picture was taken after church.  This very poor women lost here husband who was a pastor to cancer.  Prayers and help was given to her.  Before her husband died, the smell of the cancer stricken body was so powerful, no one could stand to be in the same room as him.  This is so sad. This happened quickly.  Last year we supplied her husband with a bicycle, but now he gets around in heaven with much more ease!

This is a picture of one of the many brick factories we have seen.  Notice the bricks to be dried are actually the furnace too.   While walking through, we attracted about 50 people that wanted to walk with us.   Many times on this particular walk through the village we needed to stop and pray for people in need.These 2 handicapped girls led us in song on a roof top outreach service!  We have very much learned that a fancy church is not needed to reach out or to worship the Lord.This is the smallest of the 4 pastors traing programs that we have held so far.  The teaching is done by Pastor Dennis, who has 20 year experience in this type of work.  John R. then delivers a sermon on the lesson that was just taught. We stopped at Pastor Davids home to pray with him and his wife and surviving daughter.  The 2 beautiful girls in the picutre tragically died by drowning in under horrible circumstances only a few hundred yards from their home at a construction site.  This is Pricilla and Aquilla.  Notice the bible names used so often here.  We took this picture just after we were in an area that did not feel safe.  This man told us that he just was called to that same area that day, to press for the release of a Christian that was bound for being a Christian.  We are thanful our hosts are so knowledgeable that they keep us moving to try to stay ahead of the enemies.                                                   From left.  No last names for now.  Shandra, Carmelle, Emily, Terri.  This is their first time in Sari's.  This was after a church service in a packed church.

People lining up for one of the free medical camps.   About 500 people have been treated so far, with most likely at least 500 still to come.

The girls in the orphanage.  Thank you Ironwood women for helping with new bed clothes for these boys and girls.

This picture happened to download last.  Maybe this is meant because the first shall be last and the last first, right?  Well the reason we come on these trips is to preach Jesus Christ.  Here is a picture of one of the many massive outdoor late night services we are priviledged to be part of.   They come from miles away after a long day at work, very eager to hear!  The sermons are over about 11:30 PM, and then we must pray and bless each one that asks, which is almost everyone.  

God is at work in this beautiful country.   Each day we are so encouraged by what we see.  Signs of life are all around us.  Oppurtunities of praying, preaching, visting, encouragin are all around us.   Pray that God would give us strength to go on as it is all very exhausting at the same time that it is exhilirating.   

To God be the Glory, great things He hath done! 

India

Hello and God's Peace from this wonderous country!

I am sorry about the lack of updates!  We have been so extremely busy and have had no internet.  Now we have moved into the city so we have some limited access here and there.

In the few minutes I have right now, I will just list some of the highlights and schedules, and I will put more info and pictures as soon as time permits.

We arrived here in India last Thursday and immediately met up with Pastor Dennis Hilman and the Pastors training sessions with Pastor K and his pastors was underway.   About 60 Pastors gathered for teaching and hearing sermons for 3 days.   God really blessed our time together with them.    You will see more details on this wonderful time later.

Also while with Pastor K, we visited numerous small churches and had sermons at each.   In between these times, the ladies traveling with us from the USA and Canada performed 5 medical camps.   These camps were all made possible by personal donations from the travelers, and were not funded by the Foreign Mission.   We have along 2 nurses, Terri Hilman and Carmelle Hanson, and 2 other wonderful helpers, Shandra Hilman and Emily Wuori. 

There have also been three other smaller pastors training sessions in other areas, including with Pastor M.P. who some of you may remember.

Please continue to pray for us as we move on to other areas.   We have already had one service of 1000 people and there are many more of those planned.   A pastors training for 170 pastors starts in this city tomorrow.

Please pray for all involved on this trip, and mostly pray that the Lord would be here very powerfully through His Spirit!   There are so many people here that have already been moved and touched by the Spirit.  It is wonderful to see such interest, devotion, and awakening in this amazing place.   Words cannot describe how it feels to be part of this work in His Vineyard.  It is such a priviledge and Joy!   

O dear Christian, please find time to pray for this mission, for us, and for the Indian people!

More later if the Lord allows time, power and internet!   

Greetings from our whole group!   God's Peace!  John R.

THE GOOD PART

This was received from Pastor Dennis Hilman today from the mission field in India. 

Dear Family and Friends - wherever you may be!

Yes, here I am in exciting India once more. I have many responsibilites this time but just a couple hours after my arrival here - following an almost sleepless 26 hour trip from Finland - came one of the more challenging. I was asked to address 100 pastors who had gathered to study and learn from God's Word and have fellowship with one another.

I looked out over all of these intense faces, trying to focus, noting their serious and avid anticipation and greeting them with the Telegu greeting of "Wandanalu!". We then turned to the 20th chapter of Matthew - the text, a parable by Jesus, which concludes with "the last shall be first and the first shall be last". God opened His word as he has promised. As I spoke I could not but help notice a little boy who had found a vantage point on the steps that mounted the wall behind the group of pastors. He sat there intently through the whole message. It was only when I got out my camera during the last hymn that he got a little shy. As I saw this nameless little boy - who disappeared immediately afterwards - I thought of the millions of other little Indian boys and girls who might never have - or take - the opportunity he had just had. It reminded me so much of Mary who sat at Jesus feet as her sister Martha busied herself in the kitchen. This boy, like Mary, had chosen the good part. For me he will undoubtedly ever remain nameless, but I know in heaven he has a very real name.

In the weeks ahead there will be numerous other times to bring God's Word with daily visits to different congregations. After each service all of the people usually come forward and ask me to pray for them individually. That is very powerful. I am currently visiting Dr. Kumar and his family and am enjoying the hospitality of their home. I have also visited his hospital to pray for the sick and the orphanage to tell the stories of Jesus and hear the heavenly songs of the children. Tomorrow I will go to the village of (edited for safety in online version) where Pastor K operates a church center and an exemplary orphanage and stay with him and his family. Soon John Ruotsala and the rest of the team will arrive. Then of course there will be the two big pastors training seminars later this month, right up until we leave on March 5. Through it all I'm sure I will be buoyed by the memory of that one little boy who sat alone on the steps, at the feet of Jesus, and took in the good part. As promised - the last shall be first!

In God's love and peace,

Dennis

India

Today Pastor Dennis Hilman was dispatched to India by your Foreign Mission.

Please keep the trip in prayer.  Dennis will be in India for two weeks until he is joined by group of 6 from the US and Canada.  That group arrives in India on February 18th, Lord willing. 

 The preaching of God's word is as always the top priority of these mission trips.    There will also be pastors training seminars.   Mini Medical clinics will be held during the the time between Feb 18th and March 5th as well. 

Please be in continued prayer for these missionaries, and that Jesus Christ be lifted up in India.