We just arrived in India…I know one minute we are in Nepal and the next we are…not!
This is one of the realities of this line of work, or ministry, you get used to being on the move all the time; to being ripped off at markets or for cab rides; to being tired all the time; and persecution in its various forms. There are things that you get used to because you have to.
There are some things that you do not get used to and you nor I ever should; poverty, children living on the streets, prostitutes, gangs, gold idols to false gods, and comfort in its various forms.
We are seeing God work in the strangest ways and places. One night we(the men because it is too dangerous) went out into the redlight district and stayed there until 2 AM just talking with prostitutes. We were yelled at by police, pimps, and laughed at by the very prostitutes we were there to help. Oh and one more thing, there were men, women, and transgender prostitutes working the streets that night (which they do every night) of various ages, shapes, colors, and sizes…no one is immune.
A few nights before we split up into groups with the women in our squad and went into the dance clubs. The girls were to initiate conversations with the dancers, the guys were there as sentries. We were there as customers purchasing drinks and requesting the attention of the dancers…yet we were not the typical customers. God used our girls to make connections with the dancers, and I myself made friends and was able to share God’s love with a male dancer!
Now what’s the point of all this? What have I and what am I learning?
The point is God is LOVE!!.I mean real love not fluffy worldy love. If God can and does rescue prostitutes and dancers off the streets and out of dance clubs and away from the pimps who enslave them, then what the heck are we doing sitting around on our butts making excuses for NOT sharing the gospel!! I am learning that God is love Himself and how much He really does care for us, and the amazing thing is-how trivial my problems are, and yet GOD STILL CARES!!!
A few days later we trekked to somewhere(I do not remember the name of the place). We are looking for a man of peace, who we found or rather the Lord showed us. The idea is that you go anywhere the Holy Spirit leads you, talk to anyone who the Holy Spirit calls you to talk to and you…spend the night with this stranger. Sometimes they are Christians (God has children everywhere) sometimes they are not but have the anointing of peace upon them(Cornelius in Acts 10). On the way to our man of peace we stopped at a small restaurant to eat and rest for a few minutes. While we were there we met a man who was very drunk(Hindu festivals often drive people to drink themselves silly), it was the middle of the day and this man was completely wasted. He was wandering around in the middle of the road and almost got hit by a truck. So we pulled him aside, sat him down, and just began talking to him. We gave him some food and water and prayed with our eyes open(think about Gideon and the special forces unit that God chose for him, the men who kept watch were chosen), and just simply loved this man.
My heart broke for him, there is always something that drives men to drink and drink and drink. I have no idea what was going on in this mans life but my heart broke for him. There are so many hurt, lost, and aimless men in this world. It is a global problem, not just an American problem. Jesus is needed everywhere and in everyone!!
Men, step up! Trust, believe, pray, GO!! Stop fooling around with playing christian and be a Christ follower!! Jesus has no time for games or wishy washy, half-cocked commitment-either your in or your out!! IF you need to wrestle with Him, then wrestle; if your ready to Go then Go; if you’re not ready to Go…still GO-trust Him to make you ready!!
