Sunday, January 28, 2007


Today is the 15th day since I left home; I have 11 more days to go before I return. I have preached every day for ten days (twice on Sabbath) and I have five more sermons to give before I’m done. This Saturday night I won’t be preaching but showing the complete Jesus DVD and saying farewell. I think I hit the wall yesterday. My energy is down and I spent a good deal of time napping and resting.

The pace is hectic and all of us are wearing down. I’m going to need several days recuperating when I get home just to get my bearings straight. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world, but it is lonely without my wife.

Yesterday there were baptisms all around the area for various villages. At one site, they baptized 153 people (several villages together). I struggle sometimes wishing I could have a site where more people are baptized, but God gave me this assignment for a reason. I love my village and the people there seem to love me (I’m not sure why?). The children throng about me wanting me to touch them. When I arrive they follow the cab and shout hello to me. When I leave at night, they all yell goodbye and wave and try to stick their hands in the cab to shake my hand (or give me five, which I taught them and now all they want to do is slap my hand).

When the adults come to the meeting and I either bow (don’t touch a woman!) or shake the men’s hands, their eyes light up like a child’s at Christmas. The church workers and the villagers want to know when I will come back; they don’t want me to leave. For the first time in many of their lives, they have been given worth by the presence of a white man from a far away country.

Although the caste system is officially illegal now in India, it is practiced widely. The Hindu religion and the people of India have a clear prejudice that isn’t hid. The highest caste in India (Brahman) has the lightest skin of the people. Therefore, I’m seen as the highest caste, yet I’m visiting their simple homes, playing with their children, touching them and giving them respect and honor because they are a child of God.

There are scenes here that remind me of stories in the Bible. When Jesus heals the man born blind from birth, all the people around know him; why? Because the man sits at the same place day after day begging. I see this scene replayed time after time. A sick or damaged person sits at the same location day after day begging. Everyone around knows this persona and either helps out occasionally or walks past without acknowledging them. I’m astounded at what seems apathy to me, but this is life to them.

The streets are dirty, people throw their refuse out on the curb. At night the cattle and goats roam the streets picking through the trash to eat. The beggars do also. There isn’t much animal dung on the streets because it is picked up to dry for fuel. Humans are seen urinating anywhere and everywhere without the slightest hint of embarrassment. The traffic is horrific whether it is foot traffic, bicycles, scooters, cars or busses. There is such an enormous congestion of people that it is hard to find a quiet place of solace. Even in the countryside, it is rare to see a field that doesn’t have people in it.

The TV shows are a hoot! There is a great love of the music video but its nothing like in the US. All the videos are choreographed and looking like a 1940’s Roger’s and Hammerstein musical. The leading ladies are always light skinned and look nothing like the general population; the leading men always have an Elvis haircut with sideburns and a big bushy moustache. The content is always of a sexually suggestive manner but not overt; no nudity, only suggestive movements.

One can hardly begin to understand a culture after only 2 weeks, but I’m getting pieces of the puzzle that is taking shape. The world I walk in and see is the world of the extremely poor; that makes up almost half the population. There is a world I see only on TV and that is the world of the wealthy and there are many of them in India too.

I want to clear up a couple I of items that I’ve mentioned before. First is the sponsorship of children to a boarding school. The qualifications for the children to be sponsored are: they must be 6 or 7 years old, they must come from a baptized member’s family, the sponsorship is $300.00 USD per year for 10 years. It’s a long commitment, but it is the only way we can ensure that the children will get a good education and are well fed before they go back to their village. This money doesn’t have to come from a single person or family, but can be combined from several people. This sponsorship can be done after I return; I will bring the paperwork with me.

A second program is being offered that is a little less money but just as significant. You can buy a cow! For $375.00 USD, you can buy a cow for a widow so she can make a living. She will use the milk and sell the extra, she will collect the dung and dry it for sale as fuel, and eventually she will build a herd as her cow has calves. This is a one time expense and is offered to SDA widows in the villages who have no support. Right now there are 17 widows waiting on this program. I will bring the necessary paperwork for this project when I come also.

Life is becoming a routine now and maybe the shock of some things is lessening. I don’t have any wild or radical stories to tell today, just that God is faithful and He is working. I pray He is working in my church back home like He is here.

Right now, one of my major concerns it that the local church officials find property where we will build the church. I’m not getting straight answers; they assure me we will have something but I can’t pin them down. There is something prevalent in this culture that is difficult to comprehend or accept from a western world view. The people here don’t really give you a yes or no answer. When you ask a question, they bob their head in a cross between a yes and a no which leaves you wondering; which is it?!?

Sorry I don’t have more content today. I hope that things are going well with you. Keep us in your prayers and remember our village of Varichiyoor. The picture on this blog is me praying for the people after the preaching service.

Pastor Kevin

1 comment:

Lisa said...

I can tell by your blog, especially today, that you are so tired. I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through, but I do know that your are doing great things for Christ and He is happy. Helping raise God's army can't be easy and one can see why it has taken a toll on your body physically and emotionally. Stay strong in Christ and know that there are lots of people that continue to pray for you and God's people in India.

Now for the WOFF update. I'll make this brief: The worship team has kicked it up a notch and they are sounding great. The primary sabbath school even did a song with them last sabbath. Pathfinders/Beavers have met and we already have dates and times to kick off our new program! The budget seminar is on it's way within the next few weeks thanks to Glen. We are even looking into Camp Mohaven for the late summer/fall. We're moving right along. You'd be proud if you could see how people have pulled together to make all these things happen. You have taught us well:)Lots of exciting stuff for you to come home to...that is after you rest for a few days!!!

God Bless,
Lisa