A hazing morning on a comfortable day

Greetings in the name of Jesus our Lord.  I am writing to you from Mumbai, India.  We arrived safely a couple of days ago.  It has been quite an adventure thus far.  The first day here we explored a little on our own.  We were exhausted so we didn’t do too much.  But we knew we wanted to explore some more.  Then yesterday we set out to see Mumbai.  Right away this man approached us.  He told us he was starting a new job at a call center and he wanted to practice his english.  So he walked with us for awhile.  Rahul was his name, and he became our friend.  He was so delighted to just hang out with us and show us around.  He was truly a blessing from God.  We wanted to see the Gateway to India.  So he took us there.  He brought us on buses taking us all over Mumbai.  We also saw the ocean, the Hanging Gardens, a museum of Ghandi, a Muslim temple and a Hindu temple.  He took us everywhere.  It was a blessing to have him show us around.  We would not have known anything or where to go, and he led us.  It was an amazing day. 

I really struggled though when we went to the temples.  The first we went to was like nothing I had ever seen before.  The temple was out a ways in the ocean and there was this long pathway that led you there.  People crowded the walkway trying to get to the Temple.  Some people had stands where they were selling goods; some things they were selling were gold, miniature idols.  I wanted to turn the tables over.  It made me so angry but also really sad.  Also along the pathway were crippled people and beggars.  It was so hard to see them and feel like I could do nothing for them.  We were reminded of the passage in Acts 3:1-10~

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer- at 3 in the afternoon.  Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put everyday to beg from those going to the temple courts.  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Peter looked straight at him, as did John.  Then Peter said, “ Look at us!”  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.  Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Taking him him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk.  Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  Then all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.   

Please be praying that we would be filled with the faith to know that this can still happen today.  Also, that we would be filled with a Boldness for God to do whatever he asks of us, to see every opportunity that He places before us and that we would seize each moment.  It is very overwhelming, seeing the poverty and lack of hope.  I want to show them Jesus and the Love of God.  Pray that find hope in Jesus.  

Thus far, the trip has been amazing.  Once again, God is faithful in providing for all of our needs, even something so selfish feeling as bringing us Rahul to show us around Mumbai.  Maybe now we can begin to fully trust Him, being confident in His promises for us.  We are so excited to see where God is going to lead us.  

Today we went exploring again.  We went into neighborhoods this time.  It was interesting seeing where they live; what they call home.  The children flocked to us to have us take their pictures.  They were so adorable.  I just wanted to play with them all.  It was so fun to laugh with them.  One of the other highlights of today was going to the store next to our hotel and getting ice cream.  It is unbelievably hot, and ice cream was the most perfect thing.

Thank you all for praying for us.  We are thinking of our family and friends back home.  We love you all.  

“I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident in this, that he who began a good work you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending or confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.  God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.  And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God.”   Phil 1:3-11