Friends,
Electrical power has been intermittent the past couple of days, with outages overnight. Umbrellas were needed this morning as we walked across the HBI campus towards the New Calvary worship center, wondering about the power situation. Upon arriving we found it dark and smotheringly hot and humid. Thankfully, about 20 minutes later lights, sound boards, and A/C units kicked on as power was restored through a generator. This was a huge answer to prayer for us Americans! The prospect of our team leading worship and preaching in those conditions for five hours was ... well let's just say we were extremely grateful to God!
New Calvary has two English-speaking services on Sundays and a Tamil service in another location on campus. Joe skillfully guided one of the NC worship teams in about 45 mins of Praise & Worship to lead out each service, which were heavily populated with younger worshippers. "My Redeemer Lives" "Blessed Be the Name" "How Great is our God" "Draw Me Close" and several other classics from the West were obviously well-known by this congregation. In some ways it felt like being at New Life. Interestingly, there seemed to be more energy and even more people attending the first (8:30AM) service, which lasted over two hours. This is Missions month at New Calvary (so cool!) and there was an Indian rep from World Vision present who gave a strong challenge to get involved in their vital work of stopping the sex trafficking industry which is thriving in India. Each service also consisted of guest recognition, birthday recognitions (complete with singing HB), several challenges to get involved in Missions, communion, announcements, two videos, prayer times at the altar, and a message. I felt yesterday that the Lord wanted to change up the message I had planned, so I spoke instead on "Listening to the Voice of God" from I Samuel 3. I hope God used it to bless and challenge His precious saints here at NC.
Our good friend Bob Swaggerty was at the second service and it was good to see him again. He seems in many ways to be thriving here in India.
After six days here with no tummy troubles I woke up this morning under attack from the Indian version of Montezuma's revenge (Bob called it "Ghandi's revenge"), so I've been laying low this afternoon, missing out on a visit to the Kuvi Children's home. We brought gifts for the children there so Joe and Steve, along with Pastor Titus, are taking these items that will hopefully bring smiles to the faces of the little ones there.
We board a flight tonight for Mumbai, where we'll have a short overnight stay and then fly out early to Nagpur where each of us will participate in training with pastors and ministry leaders in that region on Monday and Tuesday. Keep us in your prayers, OK?
Hoping New Life has wonderful, God-filled Celebrations this weekend! I know Pastor Claude will be bringing the heat from God's Word and may our worshippers fully enter the presence of King Jesus and be transformed by His power. It was fun to tell the Indian believers here that they have brothers and sisters 9,000 miles away on the other side of the globe who believe the same gospel and worship the same Jesus they do here. I love being part of the ONE worldwide body of Christ!
Blessings!
SB
This is the greatest post ever - well, except for the bodily troubles - yuck, sorry - one of the first battles you fight on the field :) - to see what WE consider a MISSION FIELD reaching out as MISSIONARIES to their part of the world - WOW - EXACTLY what Jesus told us to do! I feel like the roughest part of the trip is the next few days so God Bless, be safe, be impactful, Immodium is your friend,enjoy a less "westernized" India - have an awesome trip to Nagpur to see the work we more directly support! Hugs to all - we miss you!
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