February 10th, 2007 India and Slovakia and USA Ministry
Dearest Friends,
Tomorrow we leave for India! Our hearts are so full of joy for what we saw the Lord
do in Slovakia and we pray that we will see the same blessing in India.
We left one set of equipment with our friends in Kosice. They have been doing puppets for several years and will take this set of equipment and plant a new
ministry in another Eastern European nation. Pray for their work!
With all joy, we recommend to you the work of The Father's Heart in Kosice where our team works from. Please contact Bevan Stein, bevan_d_stein@msn.com,
if you are interested in helping with one of their summer camps. They do a wonderful job of sharing Christ with children, especially those who are at risk.
Our second set of equipment was given to a very dear lady named Katka Bencova. She has been working for a long time with children in Slovakia, mostly in
the other part of the country. She has a real heart for children! Below are parts of 2 thank you notes that she sent me since we came home. Rightfully,
they belong to all of you who prayed and gave!
THANKS
I want to tell you again that I am really happy and overwhelmed for the gift which I could receive through you for this mission among children. You are big
blessing for us!
PUPPET TRAINING
This gift already brought a big blessing. After our tour I could train 7 young gypsy people to work with puppets. They are believers who want to serve the
Lord and this is one way how they can develop their skills. We had a training with puppets. They had a big joy, they tried different sentences and we had
lot of fun during training. Than we prepared a performance which we played for children from the private school. Some from young people are very creative
and the performance was really good, alive and children were drawn into the story.
I am looking forward for other opportunities to expand this mission and share Gospel also with puppets.
Then, I received this second note, detailing her ministry plan. I was so blessed and challenged by this lady to love Jesus more! Please read her dear
words.
Some from puppets now have a special place. I took them to the flat where I live. I have them in living room and every time I look at them I send blessings
towards you and thank God for special tools you left here for work with children.
I remember how nice it was to hear children scream and whoop from cheerfulness when they saw different animal's puppets jumping on the scene or on the
air.
Puppets which I have in living room I placed here for a purpose. When I look at them I am thinking how to use them. I am creating a plan for TRAINING
youth to work with puppets.
I want to do four main things on these trainings:
At first - to study Bible with them and to build these young people to know God more and love him.
Second – to understand that they can be his instrument to serve others.
Third – unroll and develop their creativity in writing stories for puppets
Fourth - learn practical work with puppets.
I know that this plan is for a long term but it is worthy to try it.
PRAISE and PRAYER REQUESTS!!!!!
Praise God for 2 opportunities to share here at home since we came back from Slovakia. I am thankful for my home church, Highlands PCA, where I gave a
report on the trip. Also, we made new friends when we traveled to The Church in the Cove in Sevierville, TN last Wednesday night. These people really
encouraged all of us with the interest that they had in the work with the children. Please pray about us coming to your church and sharing.
Please pray for The Father's heart , Katka, and our team as we go to India. We have had a very difficult time securing visas, locating 3 lost passports
(Document services lost 2 of them), and packing. Please pray that we will have no problem at customs. This is critical! We need to have all of our bags
arrive with us and we need to pass through customs without opening anything. Please PRAY!!!!
Please continue to pray for my Mother. After I came home, I went to Atlanta and brought her home with me. We had 4 great days together. She was very
touched by all of you who sent me emails telling me that you were praying for her after her stroke that she had while I was in Slovakia. I gave her a copy
and she wanted me to thank all of you.
A few days after I took her home, she had a very bad fall and spent 5 days in the hospital. Sam, our Assistant Director, flew in from Ireland on Thursday,
preparing to leave for India. We went to the hospital and took her home. She is very tired and sore, but still confident that the Father has a plan.
Please continue to pray for her! It is hard leaving her to go to India, but I am at peace and so is she that I must go.
I beg you to be faithful in your prayers!
In Jesus,
Linda for the India Team
February 11th, 2007 India
Dearest Friends,
We are in India with all of our luggage, thank you for praying. We had no problems at
customs. This was a miracle, as we were about as suspicious looking as they come. We had 16 bags, boxes and tubs, we walked through the "nothing to
declare" line, with no major difficulties.
The timing of our arrival in India showed is Gods providence, Gods real concern for each one of us. Hours after we arrived a state wide strike was planned.
Two states were fighting over water rights. By morning, we would have not been able to reach the campus as the roads would have been unsafe. As we drove
home we passed tires burning in the road, it was expected that cars would be stoned.
Our first show today was a miracle, more than 500 children came and many out there trust in Jesus. They got down on theIr knees and prayed out loud asking
Jesus to be their Savior.
In 3 trips to India, we have only seen this once before. This is a great beginning. Continue praying.
In Jesus,
Linda for
Jeremy Snow
Anna Mc Illwaine
Sam Shaw
Hanson Manova
February 13th, 2007 India
Dearest Friends,
FIRE
A large group of orphans enjoyed the puppet show. These children came from many
difficult places and have all found a good home at the Asian Christian Academy. All of them have stories of pain and neglect, but one little girl's story
truly broke our hearts.
Her father decided that he no longer wanted his wife and daughter anymore so he put petrol on them and the room and lit it. Somehow, the mother managed to
throw her little girl free of the flames, but she burned to death. Her daughter remembers.
The little girl still carries scars on her back from the fire, but her biggest scars are on her heart. Please ask the Lord to call her to himself. Please
ask God to take away the terrible pain of what her father did. Pray for the day that her strongest memory will be the sacrificial love of her mother.
For his crimes, the father briefly went to prison. However, the police later ruled it a suicide. This is not uncommon, as a man can marry again and
receive another dowry. Many such murders are listed as suicides in the papers.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
We were warmly welcomed at a Catholic school, but told when we arrived not to use the
name of Jesus at the beginning of the program. 1600 + children and teachers, many were Hindu, sat on the ground and really listened to the story. I told
them all about Jesus, His miracles, death and resurrection, but we honored their request. We did not mention the name of Jesus at the beginning of the show,
but His name and words were everywhere in the middle and end.
I have never seen teachers go and get chairs at the end of the program, put them on the stage, and honor us as they did. Again, God is pouring His Spirit
on our time here.
Pray that we will be asked to return to the school and do a program for the remaining 2000 + children and teenagers.
When we finished the program, we went to the principal's office for tea and cookies. A large blue Buddha stood watch from a nearby table. This time gave
us the opportunity to share more about Jesus Christ with the principal, teachers and a nun. They were all so happy with the program, rushing to thank me
when we finished. More, they presented all of us with flowers.gion, that they would soften towards the Gospel, without which they, and the
people they have responsibility for, are lost for eternity.
PRAYER
Job 12: 22 states that "He brings deep darkness to light". This is such a dark place, false gods are everywhere. Please pray for the Father to use us, to
shine His light into this terrible darkness.
In Jesus,
Linda for
Hanson Monova
Jeremy Snow
Anna Mc Ilwaine
Sam Shaw
February 14th, 2007 India
Dearest Friends,
SANTOSH AND HINDUSRI
Santosh is a little boy who put his trust in Jesus. His parents were strong Hindus
and took him to visit many Hindu temples. They did many rituals to remove this curse from him. He has stood strong in his faith, unyielding in his belief
in Jesus, even though his life now is very difficult. What would you do?
Hindusri is a beautiful teenage girl. She loves Jesus Christ, but when she shared this truth with her father, he threatened to cut her up into pieces. He
ripped her bible from her hands and tore it up. He is a Hindu priest. What would you do?
The faith of the children that we meet amazes me. In the worst of places, under the most difficult circumstances, they stand firm in their faith and grow
in their love for Jesus. In our comfortable places, how are we growing? May God give all of us great faith!
GOD'S PROMISE
We hold to God's promise in Romans 15:21. "Those who have never been told of Him will
see and those who have never heard will believe." There are so many people here who have never heard about Jesus.
It is a very dark place. The law of India forbids parents to know the sex of their unborn child, particularly in the North, they would probably choose
abortion if they knew it was a girl. Little boys receive more food and a better education.
Though the law forbids a girl to marry until she is 18, this is not the practice in villages. They marry as young as 13 and by the time they are 20, they
have had numerous miscarriages and many children. Often, they are married to a man who is much, much older than them.
When Christian families have little girls and care for them with kindness, people ask many questions. It is a great witness.
We heard about an Indian missionary family in the North who had 4 little girls. No-one could understand why they kept them. Their love for their daughters
amazed everyone in the village.
WHAT HAVE WE SEEN GOD DO?
1) It is a wonderful thing to see orphans calling on God to be their Father
and Jesus to be their Savior.
2) It is a precious gift to be invited back to a village where our first visit caused so much trouble 2 years ago that we had to leave very quickly.
Our 2nd visit, last year was very good and this year was the best yet.
Village leaders came to the show and I was presented with 2 very long rose and jasmine garlands. I smelled fantastic!
Best of all, they have begged us to return next year. This is a big change from our first visit! Though we cannot pray with the children, we were able to
tell them how to pray. God will finish.
The teacher there remembered our visit last year and asked about Josh and Teresa, my son and his wife, who came with us. She also remembered me sharing my
testimony with her. She said that she and her husband had often talked about our conversation. She said she was amazed by the way I spoke about my husband,
the love I still have for him. A good marriage is a strong testimony as India suffers from many bad ones. Please beg the Father to call her and her husband
to Jesus Christ. The last thing that she said to me was to ask me to talk to Jesus for her. Pray for her to understand that she can talk to the Lord
herself.
At another village show, we did the program outside. One hundred children laughed, enjoyed the puppets, received free balloons, and will always remember
with kindness the Christians who visited them. They have a weekly Sunday School and everyone expects all of the children to come now. That is how
interested they were in the story of Jesus.
HAPPY VALENTIN'S DAY
Early this morning, Valentine's Day, we met with some of the men who work on the campus.
All were seekers, Hindus who are new to this place and do not know Jesus…yet! Curiosity can be a very good thing.
We decided to speak on how all things are possible with God. Anna played her flute and I shared how she had seen God do amazing things in France. Jeremy
used a balloon trick to illustrate how with God the impossible is possible. Sam spoke about how God had given him a friend who would normally have never
been his friend because of traditional hatred. God does the impossible!!
I had been asked to share part of my own testimony, stories about the children that we have met and because it was Valentine's Day, something about Mike.
I spoke of his life and death, the sweet love we shared, and the goodness of my heavenly Father. My valentine to Mike was to share Jesus' love today with
these men, and many, many children.
I encourage all of you who know the widows to remember them on days like today. No matter how much time passes, I will miss Mike, the love we shared and
the romance of being married to a godly man.
I ask you to find a widow today and bless her with some act of kindness. Her longing does not diminish and she would be so encouraged that someone
remembered her. Be a blessing!
THIRUPATTUR
Tomorrow morning we leave for Thirupattur where we will do four shows, and then will do
another four shows Friday before returning to the school. We will be working in Hindu schools whose self-proclaimed purpose is to spread the Hindu beliefs
to their students. It is a miracle that God has opened this door for us, since we visited these schools last year. They know whose love we proclaim, yet
still invited us back. Pray that God will open the administrators' eyes to His truth, or will continue to pull the wool over their eyes so that the children
can hear.
God has blessed this place and the years of ministry that have laid the foundation for us to reach children in places many thought impossible. Please
continue to pray that the Lord will use the students and the local pastors to reach doors that have been opened, by God's grace, through silly little
puppets. Please pray for protection for our brothers and sisters who work and serve at the Asian Christian Academy.
In Jesus,
Linda
For Sam
Anna
Jeremy
Hanson (our faithful translator and friend)
February 16th, 2007 India
Dearest Friends,
UNBELIEVABLE BLESSING!
For the last 2 days, we have been traveling. God has poured His Spirit on these 2 days.
All of the Hindu schools that we visited last year, begged us to come again and all of the new schools we visited, told us that they will be waiting for us
next year. The local pastor that we are working with is thrilled!
The pastor is a very wise man. At each school, he always presents a gift to the school, usually a clock. One principal commented that he was amazed that
they received a wonderful show and a gift. He will always think of the Christians with kindness.
At another school, we took sandals for a group of orphan boys. The school required the wearing of shoes, but they had no money to buy them. Each pair
costs about 45 rupees or $1, but there was no-one to buy them. The Hindu principal stood in front of the entire village school and proclaimed that no-one
else had offered to help meet this need, but their Christian visitors (Pastor Livingston and his friends) had been the ones to help. God used this very
small kindness to soften his heart.
Every single principal was a Hindu, and every single one of them stood at the end of the show and profusely thanked us, throwing open the door for us to
return. One principal promised to invite more people next year, including the local villagers.
We presented Jesus Christ, His story without compromise, and God did more than we could have asked or imagined! Do not miss the wonder of what we have
seen God do! As a rule, Hindus object to anything that is Christian, but we received a great welcome.
In the North, radical Hindus in one area passed anti-conversion laws requiring you to notify the government one month before you prayed to receive Christ
or go to prison. Since no-one can notify the government that they would be praying to receive Christ in the not-too-distant future, their prison sentence
becomes automatic. Stories of Christians being attacked are not uncommon. Last year Joshua, my son, and I prayed with a mother whose son had just been
burned alive in a nearby village church. We should not have received this very warm welcome. Praise God!
A LOVE STORY
At one Hindu school, all of the teenage girls paid special attention to the entire
program. During the story, I felt their eyes tell me of their hunger and pain. This culture places no value on girls; they have no worth.
I asked them to stay after the program. I knew that they wanted to talk to me. I said, "Girls, I want to tell you a love story." They started to giggle
and smile. I wanted so much to give them a vision for marriage to a Christian man. I wanted them to understand how precious they are to the Father.
I told them about Mike and I and the life we shared. They listened so intently. All of them laughed when I told them how even when I was old, Mike made
me feel beautiful. Many of the teenage guys had stayed to listen and really smiled when I said how handsome I thought Mike was when he was old.
I told about his death, his new life in heaven, and my certainty that I will see him again. When we finished, all of those girls crowded around me and
thanked me. Many of the boys did the same.
We must give this generation a vision for love that lasts a lifetime, love rooted in a deep love for Jesus Christ! Please pray for these girls to discover
their worth through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
WINDOWS, DOORS, AND WALLS
When we did shows inside, every window was full of people. They crowded into the
doorways and several children even crawled under the table that was holding our speaker. They used every inch of space; they were so desperate to see and
hear.
Outside, the walls were lined with people and all of the neighbors' homes were crowded with people. Most who listened were hearing the Gospel for the
first time, or the second time if we had visited that school last year.
Imagine standing in front of thousands and thousands of children, teenagers, and adults each day and telling them about the one true God. When your culture
offers you more than a million gods, the announcement of the "one true God" is big news. Their smiles and laughter fill our ears as we fall asleep. Our
joy is your joy because you a praying!
TRAVELING ADVENTURES
I want to tell you all how faithful and wonderful Sam Shaw, Anna McIlwaine, Hanson
Manova, and Jeremy Snow are. They have put their eyes on Jesus and put the need of the children to hear Jesus above their own comfort. In the last 2 days,
we have done 8 puppet shows, requiring set up and the take down of all equipment in near 100 degree heat. Most of the shows were done outside, sometimes
putting us in full sun so the children could have the little shade that was available. There is no air conditioning anywhere, so inside is not that much
better, especially when you pack 360 children into a space that could comfortably seat one third of that number. Then add all of the teachers and visitors.
We rented a van for this part of the trip. While the driver went for coffee, Anna and I spent 15 minutes killing the bugs in the van. We killed 27
skinny, good sized brown roaches, but many eluded our best efforts. It was okay as were distracted by the fact that the driver had apparently parked on
top of a sewer drain.
We were all so hot and dirty and happy! My hands are always black after I draw, but in most places, there was no sink to wash them. Children would go to
a well and bring water. There was never soap or a towel. I was twice overwhelmed as ladies offered the saris they were wearing to dry my hands.
After hours of dust and wind blowing in their faces, the team would always climb down, smile and do the show. Everywhere there is smoke from cooking fires.
Our horn sounds constantly, but it has the company of everyone else's horn. The noise will give you a headache that nothing stops.
Most of us have had some kind of problem with our stomachs and the great adventure is finding a bathroom. Bring your own toilet paper, even at the hotel
where we stayed.
The hotel shower works, but only if you are 9 feet tall as it hits the ceiling. So, use a bucket.
Not one single time has anyone of these dear friends done anything but smile and laugh over all of these difficulties. Praise God for their company across
these 2 wonderful days of traveling and seeing the Father bless us! Praise God for their sacrifice in coming to India, but I must tell you the truth. All
of us believe that no-one is having more fun than us!
A BABY
I am thrilled to announce that tonight Josh and Teresa called from America to tell me
to expect the arrival of a sweet little grandchild in the fall. Please begin to pray for Mom and baby to be strong and healthy. Ask the Lord to call this
little one to Himself very young!
In Jesus,
Linda
For
Anna
Sam
Hanson
Jeremy
February 18th, 2007 India
Dearest Friends,
"Give thanks to the God of gods, to the Lord of lords, for His steadfast love endures
forever; to Him who alone does great wonders." Psalm 136:2-4.
WE ARE IN A TIME OF WONDERS!!
Each day we tell the children of the one true God and Hindu children and adults listen.
More, they ask us to come again. Only God can do these things. Only the true Creator can do such wonders!
DIFFERENCES
Asian Christian Academy has a very cross-cultural campus. The Burmese students are
always looking for snakes. They love to eat them. The wild dogs have been such a problem that they have encouraged the students to kill them. There is a
100 rupee bounty on their heads.
The variety of English spoken here is also a source of entertainment. Between us, we have British, Irish, and American English. The campus has students
from many different countries and all parts of India. For most, English is their second or third language. Oftentimes, the Irish English must be
translated to American English and vice-versa.
I thought a motorcycle was designed to carry 1 or 2 people, but we've learned that it is actually a small family car. We have seen as many as 5 people
riding on a small motorscooter, and an unbelievable number of large bags, sticks, buckets, and just about anything being carried on a single motorcycle.
Here, everyone calls us auntie and uncle. The children are very polite and so happy to see us.
CHURCH
The following is a description of the worship service that we attended this morning in
a small village church. I wrote these words as we were sitting there in the service.
"Everyone arrives on foot; some come many kilometers to worship. They walk along dusty roads, past fires burning, and lots of garbage to be here in church
worshiping the one true God. There is an occasional dead animal to step over and lots of bugs. No one complains.
More than personal comfort, they are interested in coming to worship God. Mats are rolled out on a tile floor, and men and women sit on opposite sides of
the hall, Indian-style. This is a very simple building and I cannot help but think of our fancy churches at home. There are so many things we "require,"
but these people are willing to even face persecution in order to come to church."
WORSHIP
"The music is lively. Everyone claps as they sing, but not together. There is no
accompaniment except for 3 big silver drums. We sing 'Worship the Lord, worship Him in spirit and truth.' The pastor shares something we cannot understand
and then everyone sings with more enthusiasm.
Then someone adds in a tambourine and an instrument made out of a gourd. It resembles a Mexican maraca and has beads wrapped around it that add an extra
sound. We finish the second song and everyone shouts, "Hallelujah!!"
Again, the pastor speaks. This time we see that he is reading the Word of God to them. Now, the singing is the best as the Word fills people with joy."
PRAYER
"We open with prayer. The ladies cover their heads with their long scarves or a piece
of their sari. Two seminary students help Pastor with the service.
All the students have ministry assignments so that they finish with years of practical experience. This is on top of their responsibilities in the fields,
growing and harvesting the food for the campus and caring for the livestock. These young people are very busy! Evenings always find them gathering together
for worship and prayer.
The prayer time is very precious. Everyone talks to God begging for His help. Many women are weeping. All (men, women, boys, and girls) are on their
knees before the one true God."
TESTIMONIES
"At the end of the service, a father stands with his small son and shares. He begs
for prayer for his son, that he will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Father.
Then, an older woman, graying hair, dressed in a navy blue sari trimmed in gold coloured thread stands to speak. She speaks a long time and shares many
needs. They all pour out their hearts.
A very tired, young man, looking much older than his years, speaks. He is followed by other ladies, all wearing their best saris. All are bright coloured,
but many cost only a few hundred rupees (about $10). Still, to them, it is very expensive."
PRAYER REQUESTS
This afternoon, we had a wonderful opportunity to go to a village and do a show. There
is a small church that meets in a believer's home, but this was the first time they had done a village-wide outreach. More than 150 people heard how they
could put their trust in Jesus Christ, most of them Hindus. Everything had gone very well until the crowd got a little excited. The end result was that I
was knocked to the ground, and would appreciate your prayers as my right leg and elbow are very painful. Please pray that this will not be a problem as we
have four more days of precious opportunities to tell Hindu children who Jesus Christ is and how they can know him.
In Jesus,
Linda
For
Sam
Anna
Jeremy
Steven
Hanson
February 22nd, 2007 India
Dearest Friends,
450 MILLION
India has 450 million children, with 56,000 children born each day. 99% grow up with
little or no knowledge of Jesus Christ. Some are Muslims, a few Buddhists, most are Hindu, and all are without hope. What have you done to help reach
India's children with the Light? What will you do?
MISS SURA CARUNIA
Miss Sura Carunia visited us today while we were in the deeper south doing puppet
shows. When she was just 5 days old, she was brought to the Dohnavar fellowship, an orphanage ministry founded by pioneer Irish missionary Amy Carmichael.
Her mother had died and she never said what happened to her father. Amy raised her and she shared many wonderful memories. She told how in a city where
many children were left as a gift for idols, Amy rescued them.
She said, "Miss Amy Carmichael always said that you must climb mountain. You must be willing to suffer for Jesus." Amy wrote many songs, but she would
always give all of her children the mountain song. It was important to her that they understand what was expected of them as believers.
She came to visit us with her sister and grandchildren. Her son is the headmaster of the Christian school where we did 2 shows. To my great delight, she
brought me a book of 193 songs that Amy had written that was Miss Sura's personal copy. More, she and her sister sang 3 songs for us!
Our dear friend and partner in ministry, Hanson Manova, had arranged this surprise for us.
WHAT WE WILL REMEMBER
1) The day that we rested and played tourist in Bangalore, we saw so many
beggars. I still see their eyes. On my first trip to India, I decided that though I had been advised not to give to them, that at least I could really
"see" them. I begged the Father to call each one to Himself. They were so broken, so hurt, and worst of all, I had no way to offer them the Gospel.
2) Many children have shaved heads. I assumed that it was the same reason as what we see in Eastern European orphanages. I thought it was because they
had lice, however, for most of these children, it is because they shaved their heads as an offering at a temple.
3) One young man climbed the side of a house to watch us.
4) A little boy wanted me to know that he had trusted in Jesus. He had a few English words, so he simply repeated a line from the story I told
where Zaccheus described his new heart. Zaccheus said, "I am happy." This is what the little boy told me as he smiled the biggest smile.
5) We watched people digging in the trash so many times, desperate to find food or something they could use. All kinds of pain and suffering are so very
real here.
6) Child labor is a reality here. Anna watched as a little boy sat in a dark corner sewing at a tailor shop. He was about 10 years old.
7) Thousands and thousands of children have sat spellbound listening to Bible stories and Christian testimonies.
8) When Anna plays her flute, even the most restless children become quiet. Most have never seen one before now.
9) The amazing people at Asian Christian Academy will always bring smiles to our faces and cause us to praise God!
10) Our driver Stephen has the kindest heart! He would drive for us, help with the program, set up and load equipment, do puppets and never stop
smiling. Wednesday, we left the school at 5am, drove 5 hours, did 3 shows, saw many children trust Jesus, and enjoyed some of
the worst traffic and road conditions I have seen. We arrived home at 2am after Stephen had changed 2 flat tires, been
stopped at a police checkpoint, and he was still smiling.
JOY
Tuesday was exhausting, but blessed. We did 6 different programs, shared with thousands
of children, most of whom were Hindu. We did programs for every age group, from nursery through high school. Because we were in Christian schools, this
day gave us a rare freedom. We could invite the children to pray with us and so many did. Anna, Sam, and I all told stories. We are all very tired and
it is such a blessing to hear so many, many children calling on Jesus to be their Saviour.
AMERICA, IRELAND, FRANCE, AND BELGIUM
We train and equip teams around the world. Years ago, we went to Ireland and trained
and equipped a team with John Moxen and Samuel Shaw. Then, they traveled to France where Sam trained Anna McIlwaine. Anna traveled to Dunkirk and trained
a second French team. Last fall I went to France and finished their training, and gave them much more equipment. Today, Katell wrote to me and said that
they are going to Belgium to do puppet shows. Please pray for their time there. Ask God to send many people to their programs. Ask the Father to call
many people to Himself.
Think about this truth! Because you pray and give, we have ministry children, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren. Rejoice!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for us as we have 3 shows today, a 12 minute school assembly, a seminary
class to teach, many last minute meetings, and packing. After we finish today's ministry, we will leave for the airport at 10pm and fly at 3am.
This is our last day in India and we want to use it wisely. Please pray that we will see God do great things! Please pray that we return home safely.
In Jesus,
Linda
For
Sam
Anna
Jeremy
Hanson
February 25th, 2007 India
Dearest Friends,
A LEPER, A DEMON POSSESSED WOMAN, AND A VILLAGE
I want to share with you a wonderful story that our friend Manova shared with us. This
week, we did a show in a village street, one of 8 villages that all come to a single church. Many walk very far to attend, the little church has 70
believers.
All of the members came from Hindu families, and none grew up in Christian homes. All of their stories began with one man's story. The man was from a high
Hindu caste, but he was a leper, and he lived in the village. One day an evangelist visited and the leper put his trust in Jesus Christ.
In India, you are born into a certain social, political, and economic class which they refer to a as a caste. Many years ago, the system was dissolved by
the government, but the truth is that it still exists. This man's position was something that everyone in the village would have understood.
None of the leper's family would help him, but once he became a Christian, he was introduced to other people who loved Jesus. They cared for him, took him
to a hospital, and in time, to the surprise of even the doctors, he was totally healed. All agreed that God had divinely healed him. This made a tremendous
impact on the watching villagers.
A second miracle happened in their midst. There was a crazy woman in the village, possessed by demons, driven like the man described in the New Testament.
She put her trust in Jesus and was freed. Everyone saw the change and knew only the one true God healed her.
God used these two miracles to call many in the village to Himself. They formed a church, first meeting in a house. They are today a strong church. And the
former leper…today he is a very old man who spent his life boldly telling people about Jesus Christ in a culture that severely discourages these
conversations. Manova said, "He could not keep quiet about what Jesus did for him. He carried tracts with him always and would pass them out on buses."
I thought that I was hearing a story straight from the New Testament. I want to be like this leper. I don't want to keep quiet about Jesus! Please pray for
strength, protection, and growth for this dear little church.
HOME, FAMILY, AND ASIAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Each one of these trips makes me long for the time that there are no more good byes.
It is hard to describe the bond, the love, the way when you serve together that you become family in the truest sense of the word.
Our dear friends at The Asian Christian Academy, Joy and Leila George, and the wonderful young men and young women who study there are family. With full
hearts, we recommend to you this ministry and ask that you consider them for support. If you are interested in impacting Asia for Jesus Christ, then send
an email to joygrg@vsn.com. Ask Dr. Joy George how you may help. Presently, they really need help constructing classrooms, but there are many ways to help.
Please pray for these dear friends!
OLD CHURCH HISTORY
One day, we shared with almost a thousand children, teenagers, and adults, at an old
British built church. Missionaries finished the church in the early 1900's. In 1965, they were forced out of the country, and there were hardly any national
pastors. The church that we worked with survived 15 years without a pastor, relying only on believers in the church for leadership. Finally, their pastor
finished school and began shepherding this flock in the early 1980's. He is still there.
This dear pastor and his family live so simply. Their entire house has only four small rooms and a very minimal bathroom. He has chosen to live like this
because all of the people that he serves live in these same kind of homes. He did not want them to feel disconnected from their pastor because he had
comforts that they did not have. He is a very wise man, but I must tell you the truth, this house is so simple that no American that I have ever met would
be happy living in it. He had a radiant countenance!
He was so thrilled that we had come and done the program for his children, but we learned so much more from him than we were able to give. This dear man is
our translator's father (Manova's father) and a great man of God. Please pray for him and for his church. All of the rest of the schools and churches in
the area that the British missionaries planted have not survived. However, this church grows strong and has planted other churches. These are very special
people.
NO NAMES
You may have been wondering as you have been reading these emails why we never mention
the names of towns or villages or the full names of the people that we are writing about. The answer is very simple. It would not be wise and in some
instances, it would be dangerous to give you this information. Others might read it that would cause our friends difficulty.
For example, in one village church where we worked, they began meeting in a believer's house. The local authorities in the village did not like this and
threatened the family and forced them to stop the church from using their home. This same group of believers have had to move three times within the last
year. They are in danger of having to move a fifth time. Please think about our brothers and sisters in India when you go to church every Sunday and never
have to worry about where you are going to meet next Sunday.
In some places, we had to do the program inside a building that was too small to hold the crowd because it was not safe to do the show outside in the
village. Everyone that we met expects to be persecuted for their faith, and many have already been persecuted. It is not something that they discuss as a
future possibility like Christians in America, but it is a present reality.
MORE STORIES
Some of the best stories are yet to come, but you will have to wait a day or two and
watch for the next email.
In Christ,
Linda for the team,
Sam Shaw, Assistant Director
Anna McIlwaine, French Director
Jeremy Snow
Hanson Manova
March 15th, 2007 India and Taiwan
Dearest Friends,
Thursday at 10 AM, 6 of us will leave for Taiwan. That is today! Please pray! Ask God
to do more than we can imagine as we share with mostly Buddhists children!
Our hearts are still so full from our time in India. We received this wonderful thank you note from the young man who received a set of puppet equipment.
Here is a part of his thank you note. His name is Alexander. Very soon, he will graduate from ACA and marry. Together, he and his wife will seek to reach
children with the only hope, Jesus Christ.
Thank you for all the help and prayer.
I am praying for you.
And you're Agape Puppets Ministry.
In my heart I plan to do ministry after my graduation.
But only if it is the will of God.
Today I will start my Children's ministry
There is a small village called 'Eluvapally'. I will not carry all the stuff, but with Balloons and Thunder drum, etc...
Pray for me.
With great love and gratitude in Christ Jesus,
Alexander
We were able to give a number of student's balloons and pumps. These small gifts were received with such enthusiasm and gratitude. Your gifts made these
gifts possible. Below is a thank you note from just one of these dear young men. All of them are literally willing to risk their very lives so that Hindu
children might hear about Jesus. All they ask of us is our prayers and some equipment. Please help us help them! Write me if you are called by God to
help with their needs. Be blessed as you read this note from our friend Moses.
The time I spend with you and your team, it was encouraging to me. I believe that God is using you Mightly. Praise the Lord. Thanks for the balloons and
pump which you gave to me. God blessed the ministry which we are doing presently. 14 churches are established and 14 Sunday schools. Continue to pray for
the ministry, nearly 800 children are there. I will go in the summer. I will do ministry among them. Please pray for me. I think in future if God's willing,
you have to come and see our ministry. I was really challenged by your last day and encouraged.
Convey my regards to the team. I will be praying for you and for your team.
Bye for now
Your son in Christ
Moses
Pray for India! Pray for Taiwan! Beg the Father to deliver them from darkness into light!!!
