Report #3

We last left off as we were headed to Mumbai (Bombay) to research ministry with exploited minors. We have completed three days of investigations and learned much.

It is not easy. The pimps aggressively protect their investments and the children and women have been used until they are not ready to trust anyone new. There are legal issues, language obstacles, and spiritual strongholds.

The eternal destiny of some precious souls is at stake and I am not ready to give up. God has given us the privilege of meeting amazing Christians who struggle daily to free these imprisoned victims. We spent time learning their ministry and praying with them.

This morning we attended a wonderful English worship service and the guest speaker was a man from the U.K. who has started Christian Schools in difficult places like India. He inspired us to move Christian education up on our agenda. God is lining up the resources we will need.

Case Story:

Yesterday Richard and I visited a home for children rescued from the streets. These girls, age 6 and below, were voluntarily given over to the home by their prostitute mothers. They now have a safe environment where they can learn about Jesus instead of living trapped in the sex trade cycle.

During our visit, a new four-year-old girl was brought in from the streets and welcomed into the home. Little Sania’s mother was heart-wrenched at giving her up, but she knew this was the only hope for her daughter.

For her part, Sania was a love sponge as she hugged one of her new sisters, then another, then jumped on the lap of a house mother. A gourmet cake was placed in front of her and a Hindi welcome song offered by the entire household. What a beautiful moment. When you consider the long-term implications of this day in the life of Sania, you realize how privileged we were to share it with her.

There are many unknowns in our plan of starting a home for exploited minors. However, one thing is for sure: there are still a great many suffering children for whom no one is doing anything. That is all the incentive we need to press on in asking the Lord to use us to help.

Next stop, Zimbabwe, Africa. God willing, I will update you from there.

Thanks for the prayers.

JDC (An unworthy servant)

India Report #2 (Click Here for Photos)

After preaching on Sunday in the village of Rajupalem, I was privileged to teach about 75 evangelists on Monday. They were gathered for monthly training at ALMA in Nellore. I had worked the day before on a lesson plan about ministering in the power of the Spirit. An hour before the meeting, Rufus asked that I speak on Christmas. He wanted a practical sermon the evangelists could repeat in their 280 village churches this December.

Flexibility comes much easier to the Indian than the American. Rufus was right though and the new lesson was much better than the old one. We had a good time getting the evangelists to act out a modern-day version of the Mary and Joseph story that took place in an Indian village. It is awesome to think I was really preaching to thousands of believers spread over the hundreds of churches the evangelists will reach.

Next I flew with Richard Harris to the green state of Kerala. The Kerala motto is “God’s own country,” and it fits. A four-hour drive through jungle-draped hills took us to the Mankulam Punjayat (a punjayat is a collection of villages). I had forgotten how much the road winds and how primeval the mountains are. Think of Jurassic Park or Bali High in the movie Hawaii and you will have the idea.

After reuniting with some of our local contacts, we investigated possible land sites for the orphanage. Next we walked through a bamboo forest to view a massive waterfall. Wearing sandals, our feet collected dozens of leeches. As we pealed them from our skin, the rush was on because we could see more of the bloodsuckers walking end-over-end towards us. Eeek! We laughed and hurried on.

Other than the leeches, this would be an excellent place for abused children to heal and know the love of Jesus. I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store.

After three days in the mountains, Richard and I are now headed to Mumbai (Bombay) to see about how to collect children from the brothels and streets. God seems to be placing all the right contacts around us. However, it is a constant challenge to avoid others who’s interests are selfish.

Travelers tip: In Nellore I washed my clothes in a bucket then hung them under fans for three days. Because of the constant rains, the clothes never dried. I packed them wet and by the time we flew to Kerala, everything was sour. I gave them to the hotel to wash again, and again they were returned wet. After toting the soggy laundry to Cochin, I decided drastic measures were in order before the cycle repeated. The hotel gave us an iron that I planned to use to dry the clothes but it would not get hot enough. Before packing the clothes for another flight to Mumbai, I popped them into the microwave; two minutes for shirts, one for underwear. It worked great and I am happy to report my clothes are clean and dry.

Normally my undies are fairly clean, but if ever you visit the Lotus Hotel in Cochin, you might want to avoid heating your food in the microwave in room 303.

Peace.

India Report #1

I am happy to report that phase one of my trip in southeastern India is paying off. Although, it did not start out well.

I am here to research for a new novel. With my prior novel, the storyline fell into place as the research progressed. With this book, called Mother India, I was getting more and more confused. No central story seemed to materialize; only disjointed testimonies from the villagers I recorded onto hours of tape.

Finally on the fourth day after much prayer, the Lord lifted the haze. I now have my creative direction and general plotline based on factual events. I am excited to begin writing towards the end of this year.

As I go about the interviewing process I cannot ignore opportunities for ministry along the way. Thus, I have had been demonstrating gospel magic at schools, encouraging small groups, and writing ministry promotional scripts.

We passed by the city dump with mountains of garbage, 50 feet deep. I spotted people picking through the rotting, smelly, fly-infested mounds. We walked out to them and noticed their huts built on top of the garbage.

A family of five was sorting through freshly dumped bags from the hospital. One man was eating leftover rice from a trash bag. I watched as another man with leprous fingers plowed through blood-filled IV tubes, soaked gauze pads, and needles to salvage hypodermic plungers. They were recycling plastic. A good day’s work will bring them 15 Rupees or 30 cents US each. Tough way to make a living.

As I spoke to them through my interpreter named Job, it came out that they were all born-again Christians. When they learned that I was also, they stopped all work and their eyes sparkled as I reminded them that in paradise they would have huge rewards for remaining faithful during their suffering on earth.

“You have brought us the word of God today,” the father told me.

With beaming smiles they thanked us profusely for talking to them.

I take so many of my own blessings for granted. They were just grateful that a comparatively rich Christian would stop to talk to them. Wow.

The monsoons are in full swing and everything is soaked, or under water. Many of the village roads disappear into the swirling runoff. Our rooms have been leaking until we could almost hold baptisms inside. The upside is the temperature is very comfortable.

Thanks for your prayers. They are having a strong effect. God is speaking, lives are touched, and food is staying where it is supposed to.

More soon…

Don--

India Report #1

I am happy to report that phase one of my trip in southeastern India is paying off. Although, it did not start out well.

I am here to research for a new novel. With my prior novel, the storyline fell into place as the research progressed. With this book, called Mother India, I was getting more and more confused. No central story seemed to materialize; only disjointed testimonies from the villagers I recorded onto hours of tape.

Finally on the fourth day after much prayer, the Lord lifted the haze. I now have my creative direction and general plotline based on factual events. I am excited to begin writing towards the end of this year.

As I go about the interviewing process I cannot ignore opportunities for ministry along the way. Thus, I have had been demonstrating gospel magic at schools, encouraging small groups, and writing ministry promotional scripts.

We passed by the city dump with mountains of garbage, 50 feet deep. I spotted people picking through the rotting, smelly, fly-infested mounds. We walked out to them and noticed their huts built on top of the garbage.

A family of five was sorting through freshly dumped bags from the hospital. One man was eating leftover rice from a trash bag. I watched as another man with leprous fingers plowed through blood-filled IV tubes, soaked gauze pads, and needles to salvage hypodermic plungers. They were recycling plastic. A good day’s work will bring them 15 Rupees or 30 cents US each. Tough way to make a living.

As I spoke to them through my interpreter named Job, it came out that they were all born-again Christians. When they learned that I was also, they stopped all work and their eyes sparkled as I reminded them that in paradise they would have huge rewards for remaining faithful during their suffering on earth.

“You have brought us the word of God today,” the father told me.

With beaming smiles they thanked us profusely for talking to them.

I take so many of my own blessings for granted. They were just grateful that a comparatively rich Christian would stop to talk to them. Wow.

The monsoons are in full swing and everything is soaked, or under water. Many of the village roads disappear into the swirling runoff. Our rooms have been leaking until we could almost hold baptisms inside. The upside is the temperature is very comfortable.

Thanks for your prayers. They are having a strong effect. God is speaking, lives are touched, and food is staying where it is supposed to.

More soon…

Don--

September Update

Zimbabwe: We continue to pray for direction and timing on when to go to back to Zimbabwe. We have agreed to return and work with Dave and Cynthia Fortescue of RNAM. We are awaiting God’s timing. For now Dani is undergoing medical treatments for Lyme disease and we must wait until at least the end of those treatments. We do not know how long the cure will take.

In the meantime, our lives are NOT on hold. God is blessing us daily as we learn what it means to live in grace and holiness. We can serve and learn as much here in Sequim Washington as in any foreign field, so we are content to go wherever and whenever the Lord so directs.

Secret Place: For security reasons I cannot mention the area where we sometimes serve, but you know the place. The pastors’ group continues to meet. Last week, leaders from 14 churches gathered and had a blessed time together. One brother gave a sermon about working for the Kingdom and not just their congregation. They prayed and worshiped. They are planning united undertakings such as helping the needy, praying over strategic areas of the city, combined worship, and various kinds of training.

God is on the move in this city.

We are praying about returning in 2010 for a special assignment that cannot be discussed here, but contact us directly if you want more info.

India: We continue to seek the Lord’s progress of a home in the southern mountains for trafficked children. We have set up a formal trust under the government of India. Its name is Alpha and Omega.

Right now Richard Harris is there investigating land for building. Richard is a godly young man from Chennai. He had some difficulty locating the place I saw when I was in Kerala earlier this year. I had little information for him to go on other than the name of the nearest village, a photo of a bridge over a river, and some subtitle confirmation that God was directing us to this particular place.

Richard eventually found the bridge based on the photo. We had heard there was a Christian pastor living near the bridge and so I suggested that Richard contact the pastor.

The pastor’s name is Kutappan and he is a real man of God serving the tribals of the area who are poor and without a written language. Richard sat in Kutappan’s house and as he explained our vision of a school and hostel the pastor began to cry. Next he called his wife and excitedly told her what Richard had said.

“For twenty years I have be praying for a school, hostel, and hospital for these tribal children. Two weeks ago God told me that a man would soon come to tell me how this hope would be fulfilled.” Pastor Kutappan wept for some time in joy. His wife and Richard also cried from joy of what God was doing.

When asked how the project would be funded, Richard was cautious and answered, “We are doing everything on prayer; step by step. We don’t have a single Rupee now but if God wants to, he can give us one crore.” (1 crore = 10 Million Rupees = $200,000 US).

At the mention of one crore, pastor Kutappan cried again. “Just a few days ago, I was praying about this and said to the Lord, ‘You are able to do all things. If you need to you can provide one crore just like that.”

Richard will be in Kerala for more than a week so he can attend pastor Kutappan’s church on Sunday and gather more information. He has already discovered that there is tribal land available by the bridge, if we can convince the chiefs of the legitimacy of this undertaking on their behalf. Unfortunately, another man recently came and set up a school and it turned out to be a scam. So the locals are understandably soured on the idea of another attempt. We will have a difficult time gaining the confidence of these remote people.

Please pray for Richard. There is a man following him around with evil intent. The man is a local pastor’s son and Richard believes this son and his father want to poison the project and shut it down before it is even birthed. Please pray against this wicked attempt.

I prayed with Richard over the phone and he is very encouraged by all the Lord is doing to reveal the right people and places to him.

GOD ROCKS!