India 2010

Posted March 4, 2010

Dearest Friends,

ACA INDIA

If you have been delighted and blessed by the wonders that you have been reading about in our emails, you can praise God for the work of Asian Christian Academy, you can read more about this wonderful place by visiting their website, www.acaindia.org.

Dr Joy George is the President of this ministry. He and his wife Leela love the Lord Jesus with a passion that challenges everyone they meet. They have a school with 1,200 students that covers kindergarten to tenth grade. They have an orphanage here, the House of Joy. Also, there is a Bible School and seminary where we have been teaching.

I have been working with these precious friends since before my husband Mike went home to be with Jesus. I have had many opportunities to observe their faithfulness. This year they opened doors for us to share with over 15,000 children, teenagers and adults.

Please contact them and ask them to share at your church. They come to the United States at least once a year. I thank the Lord that they are my friends and partners in reaching the children of India, Burma, and many other places for Jesus Christ!

HOME

By the time you read these words, we will be driving to the airport. It is Thursday evening here and we are about to spend around 18 hours on 2 airplanes. We arrive in Atlanta around 4:30 pm on Friday March 5th. Please cover our travel with prayer.

In Jesus,
 
Linda for Sam Silvana Anna Hanson Stephen

Posted March 3, 2010

Dearest Friends,

HINDU SCHOOL

While in India, we did a puppet show at a Hindu school, one devoted to teaching Hinduism. We were the first Christians ever allowed in this school. The door opened because of a secret believer whose husband is still a devout Hindu. I spoke very briefly with her and she encouraged her by promising to pray for her. Will you please pray for her?

We told the children how they could trust in Jesus. They heard the entire Gospel and loved it. God is amazing! Only the Father could open such an impossible door. Praise God!

TWO SHOWS

Each day we face an ocean of children who stare at us with dark brown eyes, hungry for hope. They are beautiful and in desperate need of a Savior. You cannot imagine how dark it is like to grow up surrounded by idols. Today, we heard so many children calling on Jesus to save them.

A Catholic nun was very excited at one show today. She placed a beautiful shawl around my shoulders to thank me and all of us for the program. This is a traditional way to show honor.

All of the schools are full of Hindu children, regardless of the kind of school. Please hold these children before the throne.

RAVI

Many of you have been praying for our driver Ravi, a Hindu young man who was very kind to us. This morning, Anna prayed specifically for an opportunity to see him. When we returned to the campus, he was there.

All of us were so happy! Even better, he was going to drive a friend of ours a long way to a distant town. Please pray that he will be hungry to hear truth from our friend. We ache to know that Ravi trusts in Jesus.

PHYLLIS TREASURE

Phyllis has a very appropriate last name as she is indeed a treasure! Phyllis came from New Zealand to India when she was 22, with a lifetime commitment to share Christ with these dear people. She is now 76 and still serving in Kerala State. As I listened to her sharing about problems she has faced through the decades, I was struck by her sweet spirit and unfailing confidence in the Lord Jesus.

For Phyllis, it was never about the people she worked with, where she slept, or what she ate. It was all about serving her Lord faithfully. Presently, there are almost 200 children in the orphanage she leads. Can you imagine how many lives she has touched with the Father’s love across more than 5 decades?

We are planning a trip to Kerala next year to plant a new ministry as a result of our time at Rehoboth with Phyllis. Please begin to pray for this new team. Thank the Father for a life of faithful service.

FUNNY THINGS

1. We were sharing at a Catholic school today and the principal, a nun, introduced me as Sister Linda. I had to explain that I was not a nun.
2. The other day, someone introduced Sam, Silvana and Anna as the European faction of the Agape Puppets. We are still smiling.
3. Here, we are Auntie Linda and Uncle Sam, Auntie Anna and Auntie Silvana.
4. Indian food is very tasty but very spicy. At a restaurant one day, I ate onions to cool down my mouth.
5. A 13-year-old boy wanted to show off his English to me today. He said, "Hi, Beautiful!" A little girl at the same school told me something I loved. As we were leaving she shouted, "You are a nice grandmother!"

HOME

Tomorrow, Thursday night, we begin our journey home. We will arrive in Atlanta GA (or Paris, France) on Friday afternoon, March 5. Please pray us “safe home” as they say in Ireland.

We have much to do before we leave. Please pray for the remaining 3 puppet shows and 2 classes that we have in the next 24 hours.

We have such joy! Praise God!

In Jesus,

Linda for Sam Silvana Anna Stephen Hanson

Posted March 2, 2010

Dearest Friends,

BJP SCHOOL

Perhaps some of you remember reading in a previous email about a radical Hindu party that opposes conversion to Christianity. They are the authors of the anti-conversion laws. If a Christian could be convicted of such a crime, a prison sentence could be the judgment.

Think about all these facts and see how amazing it is that we did a puppet show at a BJP school. Hundreds of children heard us speak about the one true God and His only Son, Jesus Christ. No, we could not pray with these children, but we explained to them how they could pray and put their trust in Jesus.

Sam, Silvana, Anna and I stand in awe of our great Father. He can do anything. All are amazed that such an incredible door opened. Please thank the Lord and pray for these children. Most were hearing the Truth for the first time. That is true for most of the places we have been. Pray!

In Jesus,
Linda for Sam, Silvana, Anna, Hanson, Stephen

Posted March 1, 2010

Dearest Friends,

Photos are online at:

www.smugmug.com/gallery/11336660_NDf2W#796102653_uzHuL

TWO VILLAGES

In the area of Namakkal, we visited two villages where over 100 years ago, Baptist missionaries planted churches. Today, the buildings remain, but precious few believers. The Christians in these villages are very few now and mostly old. Our friend Hanson, his father and others are working to nurture this fading light and share with new Christians.

In one village, we were received warmly. In the past, they had thrown rocks at Christians, but no more. In the second village, you could feel the darkness. Many of the adults were clearly not glad that we came. However, in both places, the children were very happy to see us. They were hungry to hear about the living God who gives hope. So many prayed with us! Praise God! These young believers are the hope of these very small, struggling churches. Please ask the Father to provide good Sunday school teachers for them

We always try to do our shows outside because this makes it easier for non-Christians to come. At the first village, people climbed a wall, stood in the trees, and watched from a nearby house. Dozens stood in the street at the second place. Believers emptied their houses of chairs and one lady brought her bed so that people could sit. I am always so delighted and amazed to see how God draws people to hear about Himself.

TEN RUPEES

As the little church passed the offering plate, I watched people give sacrificially. Many of these people cannot find work every day. When they can get a job it is usually doing manual labor on a farm or at a brick factory. A man is paid 80 to 90 rupees a day and a woman 50 to 70 rupees a day for 8 hours of work. It takes 44 rupees to make a dollar, so you can see how little they make. It takes 80 rupees a day just to eat, but you would never be satisfied with their diet.

They live in homes with dirt floors,with only 2 rooms. A plastic yard chair is a luxury to many. It is brutally hot, but most would not have a fan. The water must be drawn from a well. The food is cooked over a fire.

Yet, when the offering plate was passed, they gave 10 or 20 rupees. They have so little, but they are eager to give. I have so much. You have so much. Are we eager to give? What will I sacrifice, what will you sacrifice so that these and other needy children around the world can hear about Jesus Christ?

VIJAYALAKMI

Vijayalakmi is a lovely lady I met in a village. She loves Jesus. After the program, she rushed to see me. Her smile was beautiful! She asked for nothing. She was just very excited about what she had seen. She kept saying, "I am so happy! I am so happy!" May the Father give all of us such sweet joy for His stories.

DARKNESS

In the West, we all talk about spiritual darkness and I know such darkness exists everywhere. However, it is darker here. I watched from the road as people went to a temple where a 2-storey tall idol stood. It was an eight-handed goddess, hideous in appearance.

We heard from a friend about Varanasa where the head waters of the Ganges River are located. Our friend said he saw naked monks covered in white powder. Partially cremated bodies were clogging the waters. Hindus see it as a holy place. They want their bodies placed there as they believe that they will go straight to heaven.

My soul weeps for India and this terrible darkness. The enemy’s lies are strong here, but God is stronger. Pray for His light to cover this land!

Please pray for my son Matt and his wife Jill. A Hindu temple group meets in the house next door to them. When a Hindu prays, whether he understands it or not, he calls on demons. It is unacceptable to have this happening so close to my little grandchildren. Please ask God to remove this evil from their neighborhood. Please pray for all the Hindus who attend that place to be delivered from darkness into God's wonderful light.

PRAYER REQUESTS

We are down to our last 4 days and want to finish well. Please pray for strength and open doors. Ask the Lord to bless our 4 remaining classes with the students here at the Bible College and Seminary.

In Jesus,

Linda for Silvana, Sam, Anna, Hanson, Stephen

Posted February 27, 2010

Dearest Friends,

RAVI

Ravi was our driver on our trip to and from Tirupattur. In truth, he drove us to every show. Ravi is a Hindu who has a glow-in-the-dark, flashing-light elephant god sitting on the dash of the car. It was so funny to me that we were a Christian puppet team with a glow-in-the-dark elephant god.

During our time in Tirupattur, Ravi heard 12 different evangelistic presentations and I had several conversations with him. Other times, he listened to me share with individuals or small groups and I watched his eyes fill with tears as he heard my husband Mike’s story. He was a very kind young man who was quick to help us. As a driver, he is not required to help with loading and unloading equipment, but he was always quick to help. I also noticed that he began to watch out for me as the children would often rush towards us at the end of a program, so anxious to touch us, so eager to thank us.

During my last conversation with Ravi, I told him that the one true God who made heaven and earth chose him to be our driver so that he could hear about His Son Jesus Christ. Many times, we could see how God divinely put him with us so that he could find hope. Please pray for this young man. It is our heart's desire that before we leave Hosur he would contact us to tell us that he has come to faith.

LIVINGSTON

Livingston is an amazing man of God who we have worked with for several years here in India. He loves Jesus with all his heart and has opened the door for us to share with tens of thousands of children. Many times he has translated the Bible story and whenever possible he has welcomed us into his home for a meal. His wife is an excellent cook.

Livingston is a man of great courage. Constantly he faces situations that most pastors in the West do not have to deal with even once in their entire ministry. These kinds of situations are daily occurrences for Livingston. He was well named for pioneer explorer David Livingston because truly he explores new areas for the Gospel. Let me tell you a story.

Livingston went to see a little girl in a village. When he arrived and saw the child, he could see that she was much closer to death than to life. She stared vacantly into space and there appeared to be no life in her eyes. She was totally unresponsive. Everyone was asking him to pray for the child's healing. At first he was afraid and he thought , "If I pray for this little girl and she dies, they will blame me and they will blame God". Silently he called on the Father and God gave him peace so that he could pray. In front of a roomful of Hindus he called on the one true God, and asked for healing. Almost immediately the little girl sat up, spoke to her mother and was obviously healed! The family was so amazed at the power of the one true God that they all became Christians. For three years they have faithfully served in his church.

When he was telling us this story, we all felt that we were hearing a story from the Gospel. Truly Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Please pray for Livingston as he lives and serves in a very difficult place where it is possible to live your entire life and never meet a Christian.

THE LETTER

When we first arrived in Tirupattur, our dear friend Livingston gave me a letter. His words of encouragement brought tears of joy and brokenness to my eyes. With praise for God, he wrote about all the years of ministry together. Being reminded of God's blessings is a gift! Such words give you strength!

He concluded his letter by saying, "always my prayers will be for you and your holy work". It is a holy work to tell children about Jesus Christ, but in truth, as you partner with us in prayer, it is our holy work. I thank you for praying. Please continue to pray for the children of India. Millions of children are living and dying without ever hearing about God's sweet plan for their lives. Who will tell them?

THE LAST THREE PUPPET SHOWS

Our last three shows in Tirupattur were as amazing as all the rest. On our last day, we shared at a Catholic school with over 1,000 children, teachers and nuns. The second show was in a Hindu public school at a village. Our last program required much prayer as it was an extremely large public school with over 1,200 students whose principal was very resistant to the Gospel.

In each place, we saw the children smile and laugh. All of them heard the wonderful story of Jesus and how He took our place on the cross. In only one place were we allowed to actually pray with the children. They responded with enthusiastic prayers. At the other two, we were blessed to explain the Gospel fully and explain how the children could pray.

The last Hindu public school was especially fun. The teachers seemed surprised at how well their thousand teenagers listened. Honestly, I was also surprised. The principal told us that we could say "god" as much as we wanted, but we had to not use the name of Jesus. Finally, he agreed on three times. It is interesting that a Hindu principal understands the power of the cross.

This restriction was not a problem. We called Him the Great Teacher and established very clearly that He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God always makes a way.

We arrived home for only two hours before boarding a night bus for Kerala, another State further South. Our hearts are full and our bodies are tired. We have joy!

FUNNY THINGS… DIFFERENT THINGS

1. Three live sheep riding on a motorbike passed us on the road. Yes, they had a driver.
2. A Catholic nun looked at Mike's ring that I always wear on a gold chain around my neck. She asked me if I was married to Jesus.
3. Another lady saw the castle that I always wear with Mike's ring. I wear it in remembrance of how he made me feel like a princess, even when I was old. She thought it looked like the Taj Mahal, a symbol of love here.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

We praise God for our time in Kerala and are planning a new work there next year. I will report to you on our time in Kerala in a later email, but we are leaving again at 6am in the morning. We are leaving for Namakkal, a four-hour drive for us. Please pray for our time there.

We spent today recovering from the last four days, doing a puppet show, and training ACA students in children's ministry. We are very happy!

Please hold us in your prayers!

In Jesus,

Linda for Silvana Sam Anna Livingston

Posted February 24, 2010

Dearest Friends,

These are amazing days that we are experiencing in Tirupattur. I don't want you to miss a single bit of all the incredible things that God is doing in this place. Your prayers have enabled us to stand in the darkest place. This city and the surrounding country side are full of idols.

Everywhere we go, people stare at us as we are also the only foreigners in a large city. There are over a 100 schools here and a 100 more in the surrounding countryside. We are constantly reminded that our God has placed us here to be a sweet witness for Him. Since we are always watched, we have more opportunities. People are curious.

As I read Psalm 96 tonight, I was especially drawn to verses 4 and 5. "For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens." Truly, we are seeing the false gods of this place shamed by the power of the one true God.

You will absolutely love what you are about to read. Right across 3 days, we shared in 10 schools and 2 villages. Over 9,000 children, teenagers and adults heard how they could put their trust in Jesus in a Hindu stronghold. God blessed your prayers. Through your faithfulness, God opened doors and called children to faith.

570 BOYS

Our adventure began at a Catholic school where we shared with an all-boy audience. They sat spellbound, listening to every part of the program. I could hear soft whispers as some boys prayed, calling on Jesus. Afterwards, many boys thanked us for coming. Most were from Hindu families.

THREE BELIEVERS

At a village school, three of the staff loved Jesus. The children were very poor and had never seen a puppet or anything we had with us. They were very sweet children. We had to tell them that nothing we had would hurt them because everything and everyone was strange to them. Since this was a Hindu public school, we were not allowed to pray with the children, but we could explain to them how they could ask Jesus to be their Savior. Don't you love what God does!

SIVASAKTHI, RAJENDREN, PONNARARSAM, AND VENKATESAM

These are the names of some of the 1,200 boys and girls that we shared with in an afternoon show at a Hindu public school. All of the teachers came and listened as well. Again, we could not pray with them, but we could explain the Gospel message completely to the children. So many children crowded around us to get an autograph or just shake our hands, many kept saying "Thank you, thank you!". I saw in their eyes that they listened with their hearts.

THE VILLAGE

A street show in a village moved all of us to tears. Everyone came. We set up in front of a Hindu temple with a statue of a false god beside us. Isn't it fantastic that God opened this door!

Though we were clearly in a Hindu village, everyone was hungry to hear about Jesus Christ. When we finished, no-one wanted to leave. For a very long time they remained, asking us to pray for them. People came with all kinds of needs. You see spiritual problems in developing nations that are less talked about in the West. A lady came to me who was demon-possessed and wanted to be delivered. She had a Hindu temple blessing mark on her forehead and I explained to her that God could remove the demons from her. However, I explained if she did not put her trust in Jesus, she had no protection.

These people are very poor. Three families sacrificially pooled their resources to offer us hospitality. They served us some boiled sweet potatoes, cookies, coffee and soft drinks. They did not eat. We sat in the only chairs on a dirt floor. How can you express enough gratitude to such dear people! Please pray for them.

SO MANY CHILDREN

At a Catholic school, I walked to the back of the crowd while Sam was juggling on the stage. There were so many children that he looked like a little speck. When we finished, the nuns were ecstatic. They said that all of us had such joy! We had many conversations with the nuns and teachers after the program, sharing with them how God had changed our hearts through faith in Jesus. Around 2,000 children and teachers listened to the Gospel. The children were mostly from Hindu families and desperately poor.

Everyone was so happy. They invited us to their convent. They treated us to homemade vegetable soup, sandwiches, special Indian sweets, tiny wreath-shaped cookies and fruit. Again, we had many more opportunities to share.

As we were leaving, two nuns called me Mother Linda and asked me to bless them. I explained that I could not bless anyone, but I offered to stop right then and pray for them. Please pray for these ladies and all the children in the school to understand God's Word and love Jesus Christ deeply. They begged us to come again.

UNDER THE TREES

God gave us a breeze and trees for the children to sit under. Hundreds of boys prayed with enthusiasm. We shared with Hindu and Muslim children. We all feel rich as we hold in our hearts treasures no-one can take from us!

AN EXTRA SCHOOL

A Catholic Priest saw the program at another school and so another door opened. He gave us the joy of telling 900 children and teachers about Jesus Christ. When we finished, it seemed that he also had been blessed by the program. He thanked us "for travelling all over the world telling children the Good News". Many children prayed with us at this program and our joys knows no bounds.

BOYS HIGH SCHOOL

Each program demands that we lean on Jesus and trust in His grace. However, sometimes, as when we were at this school and so exhausted, we tasted a sweeter grace. I knew that I had no more physical strength and had already made arrangements for Sam to take the village show in the evening. I knew that the Lord really wanted me to tell this last story to the boys and I knew that all my strength would have to come from Him.

The Father blessed us! We heard boys, aged 12 to 17, calling on Jesus with enthusiasm! Praise God! Afterwards, they rushed forward to thank us. We heard so many sweet comments: "Beautiful!", "I loved the program", "Great!", "Beautiful songs!". One boy said to me, "You are a very interesting character". I think the team liked this comment best.

WITHOUT ME

Anna, Silvana and Sam are amazing! The extreme heat and unexpected wisdom on my part dictated that I rest and not go to the village. The place they went is a BJP village. This is the radical Hindu party that so strongly opposes Christians. Still, surrounded by a complex of Hindu temples, they set up the stage and shared the Gospel. I know that Sam told a fantastic story! Everyone paid attention. Please pray for God to reveal Himself to them.

NOTE:

Wednesday, we shared at three more schools that finished our time at this place. These are part of the ten schools mentioned earlier. We will send you the report as soon as we can. Keep praying!

In Jesus,

Linda for Silvana Sam Anna Livingston

Posted February 23, 2010

Dearest Friends,

Urgent prayer. We are in a place where it is possible to live you entire life and never meet a Christian. There are so few Christians in this place and so many people who worship false gods. Everywhere we look there are temples and idols. There are patterns drawn on the ground out in front of our hotel drawn in the dirt to welcome the false gods into their houses. We saw the same patterns in the schools today. The patterns literally mean "to welcome the demons" and they are calling the demons into the places. This is a really dark place and we are seeing the one true God be the brightest light.

We are seeing Him doing things that stagger our imagination, that just make us weep for joy. I can not believe all we are seeing. Already today we have shared with several thousand children, and tonight we finish at a village and we set up right in front of a Hindu temple with a big Hindu god to the right of us, yet all the people in the village came: the mothers, the fathers, the teenagers, the children everybody came and we had total freedom to share Christ, to invite them to pray with us. This can not happen except that so many people are already praying for us. But tomorrow we have 5 shows. The heat is unbelievable. The spiritual attach is fierce. The next day we have 3. We need people on their knees and we need you to rejoice because our God is the great God and we are seeing him prove that again and again and again. I will send more details when we have actual internet access, but it will be several days. So please tell people this. Ask them to rejoice with us at all God is doing. People here are hungry for the gospel.

In Jesus,
Linda for the team

Posted February 21, 2010

Dearest Friends,

An Amazing Conversation

Yesterday, I was in Bangalore and talked with a shopkeeper. He remembered me from 2 years before and we started to talk. He immediately asked me to pray for him. He told me to pray for good health. I told him that he had a greater need, but he could not imagine what was more important than good health.

I asked him what would happen to him if he died tonight. He said that his good Karma would follow him and decide for him. I told him that he was not good and he protested that he was always kind to people.

Understanding that he equated goodness with good deeds, I told him that I worked in with aids children in Africa. He said with enthusiasm, "You are good." He was shocked when I told him that I was not good and explained how God sees us I told him that none of us are righteous. He told me that he had never heard such a thing.

I explained to my friend about Jesus dying on the cross in our place and how he changes our hearts. He was as amazed at this truth as he was at the discovery of sin.

His name is Shakil. He was kind to us and I want so much for him to see his sin and trust Jesus to cleanse him. Please pray for him and his friend in the sore who also asked for prayer. We exchanged email addresses. He asked me to send him more information on Jesus Christ. Pray!

Psalm 70

This morning, we worshiped in a village church. The church pews are mats thrown on the floor. The women, girls, and babies sit on one side. The men and young boys sit on the other side. You leave your shoes at the door.

The Pastor read Psalm 70. "Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord make haste to help me! Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor. I am poor and needy. God you are my help and deliverer." These words carry great weight when you are sitting on the floor with very poor people who face real persecution for their faith.

We were very blessed to have fellowship with these brothers and sisters. We were delighted by the children's smiles. My heart was touched by 2 older ladies who asked me to stop and pray for them as we were leaving. They were so small and too skinny. Life was obviously very hard for them, but they had found real hope when they put their trust in Jesus. Hold them in your prayers. The Father knows their names.

Funny Things...Different Things

1. As we exited customs, we saw a large sign that said, "Beware of touts."
2. Yesterday, we read the following road sign. "Follow the traffic rules and avoid blood pools."
3. In a mall, there was a stand where you could buy corn on a cob.
4. Many Hindus are vegetarian so you can enjoy a spinach burger, but I also saw mutton hot dogs.

Prayer Needs

Tonight, we have a program for all the children on campus. Tomorrow, we travel to another town that is not friendly to the Gospel. We have been working in this place for years. Please ask the Father to open doors for us and give the children receptive hearts for the next 3 days.

In Jesus,

Linda for Sam Silvana Anna Hanson Stephen

Posted February 20, 2010

Dearest Friends,

THREE SHOWS

Yesterday was been a delightful day! We did 3 programs at three different schools for very poor children. The Father gave us the joy of sharing with almost 800 children and teachers. At 2 of the shows people from the community filled the windows and doorways wanting to listen. Most of the children were from Hindu homes, but we were at schools with Christians principals so we had total freedom. So many children called on Jesus, asking God to forgive them and Jesus to be their Savior.

I wish that you could see what we see. They sit on the floor or in the dirt. They look at me with hungry eyes. I see their longing. I watch their eyes light up with hope. I see the Father touch them. Your prayers are making a difference in these children's lives.

I AM REMEMBERING

As we traveled to the shows today, I saw so many things that I had seen before, but it seemed I was seeing them with fresh eyes. The rock outcroppings in this area are amazing. Many families crowd the roads with their scooters. A family of four will all ride on one bike. There is a sea of colors spread before our eyes as ladies in saris walk past. Many have red temple marks on their foreheads. Some have garlands of jasmine tied in their hair.

All of the trucks have paintings on them, bright flowers or evil looking faces that are supposed to scare evil spirits. Everywhere there are temples adorned with false gods. They are ugly, painted creatures that seem more the stuff of nightmares. Many have multiple arms and legs. Some are half beast and half human. The streets are dirty. It is very hot. Beggars sit outside the temples waiting for anything. Most people live in little tiny shacks. Many have metal roofs. It must feel like an oven in there.

Though I have seen all these things before, I want to describe this place to you so that you can know how these children live. Please pray for the children in this place to be delivered from darkness into light.

URGENT PRAYER

Yesterday, we saw a big sign in Hosur advertising there was a march on today. It is organized to protest against Christians. A radical political Hindu group will begin the group in a nearby village and move towards town. Hosur is the nearest town to the seminary and Bible College where we are staying. Please ask the Father to protect our friends in this place as everyone knows they love Jesus.

This is a difficult place for believers. It is not uncommon for them to endure harassment. Last year, many Christians saw their homes and churches burned. Please ask the Lord to defeat the plans of the evil one and protect these dear people, their families, and their homes.

In Jesus, Linda, for Sam, Silvana, Stephen, Hanson and Anna

Posted February 18, 2010

Dearest Friends,

GREAT INDIA

We are in India and everything has arrived safely. We had no problems with customs even though 2 of our bags were marked with a white X. This mark is placed on bags that they want you to open because a scan showed something of interest. Charges always result, but they passed both suitcases. Praise God!

Years ago, on my first visit to India, a beggar greeted us at the airport and said, "Welcome to great India". I have found his words prophetic as each visit to this country reveals something that is great about this place. It is a great place to share with children because they have so many children. It is a great place to discover color as you see the parade of beautiful saris the ladies wear. It is a great place to partner with national believers who are strong in their faith.

It is also a place of great poverty. The mother or father of a very poor child has been known to cut off their arm or leg to make them a better beggar so that they could provide for the family. It is a place of great spiritual darkness as millions of people worship idols. It is a place in desperate need of the great news that the one true God loves us and has a plan for us.

We count it a great privilege to serve in this place. Please hold us in your prayers. Ask the Father to open doors for us as it is still difficult to share here. Yesterday, our friends took an ambulance to a village and they were sent away because they are Christians. The place needed medical help, but would not accept it from Christians. Please ask the Lord to make a way for us to reach the children.

Tomorrow, Friday, we have 3 shows and begin training. Pour prayer on these opportunities.

THE LONG FLIGHT

Please note that I wrote the following section as we were flying here.

I have decided that 2 long flights only 2 hours apart require enormous prayer. Together, we have been in the air 15 hours and there is still 3 more hours. I was actually excited when we were told that only 3 hours remained as I was expecting a much larger number. As always, perspective is the key to walking with a sweet spirit.

Everyone is restless. Many are medicating their discomfort, standing in the aisles and drinking beer. There seems to be a real restlessness among most of the passengers.

I am listening to sermons from Mark Driscol and John Piper on my IPod. Sam and Silvana are listening to sermons from my pastor Travis Hutchinson. All of that good Bible teaching flooding my heart and mind explains my peace, Sam and Sil's peace. I will still rejoice when we land.

TRADITION!

Sitting for so long has also given me the opportunity to think more about our last trip. In the Middle East, we came across old Christian traditions that you simply do not find Summerville, Georgia where I live. One day, we were at an orthodox church where parents were having their children's wrists tattooed with a cross. They falsely believed that this would protect them from evil spirits. However, it did offer a degree of protection for their daughters being kidnapped for Muslim brides. This is what we were told.

I witnessed little 4 years old girls screaming as the tattoo was applied. There was no pain medication and the wrist is a very sensitive part of the arm. I often saw superstition blended with scripture. I was shown a place where bone fragments of a prominent early church member were stored. People liked to pray at this place as they saw it as a place of power. Thousands and thousands of people worship every Sunday in these churches, carved from caves. As I talked with our guide and saw that she did not understand how a person comes to faith, my heart broke. She did not know that Jesus' work on the cross and His resurrection is a finished work. Her faith taught her that being good would do for her what Jesus could do for her. She had accepted traditions as truth and did not seem to know that real faith never comes from tradition but comes from scripture, from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Teaching tradition above scripture in any denomination is an ancient lie. Please pray for our friend and thousands of others in the Middle East and the world who walk in darkness believing that they have found light. Ask the Father to make the true believers the brightest lights for Jesus.

In Jesus, Linda, for Sam, Silvana, Hanson and Anna

Posted February 16, 2010

Dearest Friends,

INDIA

Today, Tuesday, Sam, Silvana, and I leave for India. We will meet our dear friend, French puppet Director, Anna, in Frankfurt and head for Bangalore. We will not be staying there as we plan to work with a very special group of people at Asian Christian Academy. Their President, Dr. Joy George is one of the dearest people, a man who walks humbly with his Lord.

This ministry impacts the world for Jesus as they train many people from many different countries, some from very difficult places for the Gospel. We are carrying with us 9 suitcases of equipment and would ask you to pray for its safe arrival. We have some things for the existing team there, but many more things that we want to place with individuals to help them with their work with the children.

It is a great honor to serve in India with people who love Jesus with their whole heart. Please ask the Lord to open doors for our programs. We have some openings that we want to see the Lord fill. On our last trip to India, we shared with 18,500 children in two weeks, so you can see how big the opportunities are in this place.

We see great hunger in the children as they ache for hope. It is very difficult to stand in a place where idol worship is common and expected. However, it is very sweet to see a child discover the one true God and His Son, Jesus.

Please pray especially for our very dear friend, Hanson , as he is scheduling our time. He and his wife have a lovely little baby girl. Please pray for her to come to faith as a very young child. I love Hanson like a son and am so excited to have time with he and his family.

AMERICA

During our short time in America, I have had the opportunity to speak at 2 churches about the work with the children and do some training with members of our summer team.

I am very grateful to my home church for allowing me to share about our sweet time in the Middle East, but I am especially grateful for their constant love and support. Their fellowship is a good place to come home to and refresh.

Covenant Presbyterian in Melbourne Florida gave me a wonderful opportunity to share twice last Sunday. I was very encouraged by people's interest in the children that we love, that we seek to tell about Jesus Christ. I was especially happy at the many amazing opportunities that the Lord gave me in the airport to offer His comfort and His encouragement to people that I met.

I also had the joy of hosting a luncheon at my home for Sam and Silvana so that others could meet these dear and amazing friends. If you would like to get in touch with Sam and hear more about his ministry in Ireland and the world, just reply to this email.

Please feel free to contact me about speaking at your church , small group, or any gathering of friends. Just reply to this email. I will be in the states during March and April. Thank you all for your prayers!

THE MIDDLE EAST

Our time in the Middle East has changed me forever as now when I think about that place, I see the faces of our friends. Please continue to pray for the children and the believers there as their lives are difficult. It is strange , but I do not believe that they would describe their service that way. They simply love Jesus and serve their Lord. Their humility and passion has taught me so much. They do not seem to see the obstacles, just the solutions. Please pray especially for Gladys and Nancy as they threw open the doors for ministry for us with their hard work. Thank the Father that He has such lovely warriors in the Middle East.

Pray for our new team and for all the children who heard about Jesus to fall deeply in love with Him.

SOUTH AFRICA

This is your opportunity! Due to some unexpected changes in our May team that is heading to Cape Town, South Africa, we have 3 openings for team members. We will leave May 1st and return around the 18th. Please reply quickly to this email if you are interested.

In Jesus, Linda for Sam, Sil, Anna, and Hanson