Death and New Life on the Sub-continent

India is such a gorgeous place but what a country of contrasts?! As I travelled around I would feast my eyes on her delights, only to find myself moments later scrunching them closed to avoid seeing gross sights over which I was helpless to make a difference– like starving puppies, cruelly overloaded donkeys, or betel-nut spewing locals. (I loathe spitting with a passion). As for India, I have been unable to resist the people I have met there and have come to love many of them. My last trip was at the end of 2009.

Dharwad was my first stop, to teach on the Prophets at a small Bible College. The directors also run a Children’s Home and Guest House and are constantly reaching out into the community with mercy ministries plus discipleship training. The students were very responsive to learning about the OT Prophets, and constructing a cardboard model of Solomon’s Temple was a highlight.

I stayed in the Guest House, where large monkeys raided the fruit trees every few days for almonds and coconuts, galloping loudly over the roof above my head to gain access! I shared facilities with a fine, young American fellow, Jason, who had been teaching on Wisdom Literature at the B/C. He kindly accompanied me on the local bus to shop in the street market for veggies as he had learned enough Kannada to barter a little. Mostly we ate with the students or at the Children’s Home, but occasionally I cooked and we shared these meals together over quite a few laughs. Jason has since moved on to Nepal. His fiancée Esther is working in a Children’s Home in Ukraine. Impressively, they have both committed a year to God’s work before their marriage. We are not from the same denominational background and are years apart in age, yet that made no difference to our fellowship.

Jaysingpur is not very far north from Dharwad, though across the border in another state. My friends kindly drove me there, but we encountered traffic jam en route. As we passed the hindrance, I glanced over and saw what was probably a fatal accident involving a motor-cyclist between two trucks. I was unable to talk for a long while, so distressing was the sight, making one dreadfully aware of the fragility of life.

I reconnected with Raj and Rosemary and met their new baby Neil. Rosie

assisted me by translating at the meetings organised through New Life Fellowship under one local Pastor for whom I have ministered on previous trips. I love visiting village churches and at one in particular, with the strange name of Kupwad, their warmth and ingenuous response to me was endearing. They all crowded outside to wave me off. It felt like family saying ‘goodbye’. That same day we visited another Children’s Home in nearby Miraj. There are many, many needy children in India.

Kolhapur proved to be a serendipity experience. With no ministry plans and only a

few networking connections to make, basically I thought I would have three days for a little R & R. Didn’t happen, hey! Even before I lobbed on the steps of the hotel, I had bookings to preach at two church services and one ladies meeting. Pastor Nelson and his accountant Kajil were so easy to work with, the bonus being the amount of laughing we did together as we rapidly became like old friends. I can’t wait to get together with Kajil again. As an additional benefit, she is a great cook and has promised me recipes! I had one lovely day sightseeing at the Rajah’s New Palace with Kajil, supervised by Ps Nelson.

After teaching about Women in the Ministry of Jesus to the ladies, Ps Nelson

asked if I would return in 2010 because he felt this message of acceptance at a was so important it should feature in a Women’s Conference. In India, he explained, it is not a simple case of women being considered to be inferior by men, but that women are convinced of their own lowliness as part of a cultural mindset. I would certainly love to return, but think it is more likely to be in 2011.

Another Pastor, Yohan, took me out to a village house church to preach. When we arrived, the small group sitting on the floor proceeded to sing their usual praise and worship, but since there had been a power cut, did so in almost pitch dark, the tiniest oil lamp in a niche seeming to only deepen the shadows. I thought forlornly of my beautifully typed notes! As Yohan introduced me, hey presto! the lights came on and as I said “Amen” at the end of my message, hey presto! they went off!! I was duly impressed by providence!

Later, Ps Yohan and I sat cross-legged on the floor to eat chicken curry and

chapatti with our fingers, the oil lamp on an upturned vessel amongst the plates

so we could at least see where our mouths were! I discovered that dupattas

(the long, matching scarf worn by women) make a nifty drip tray and serviette.

My greatest problem was scrabbling to my feet afterwards!

Shoe Shopping with Kajal