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