Here in India we are staying with a pastor and his family in a little town called Ongole. There isn’t much to Ongole. It’s dirty. There are tons of people. Cows walk in the middle of the road. It’s never quiet because of the constant horns honking as cars and tuk-tuk drivers pass. Everywhere you look there is a Hindu temple or huge statues of false gods.
But the people here are broken. They are searching. I know they want more, but they are blinded.
Just like I was blinded when I first got here. I was ready to give up. I didn’t care anymore.
This month has been the hardest month on the Race. I am just exhausted. Like many of the people here in Ongole are exhausted. Exhausted with life.
And then I was told what our ministry was this month, door to door evangelism and preaching in villages. Not my favorite thing in the world.
Every morning we go from house to house to encourage and pray for believers. Some are new while others have known Jesus for years. The first couple of houses I am fine, but when it comes to the fifth and sixth I kind of check out. I feel like a robot praying robotic prayers.
I would give anything to feel that genuine love for people again.
I’ve been constantly asking the Lord for His strength and Holy Spirit for His words, but so many times we get to a village and Pastor Sam says, “ok, now it is time for you to share.” And in my head I’m thinking, “I have nothing to share. I’m so tired. What do I tell these people who haven’t been able to live in their homes made of straw because of the flooding?”
A few days ago, God showed me I was wasting too much time focusing on what I cannot do instead of declaring what He can do and what He wants to do.
I only have to say YES to whatever the Father is doing.
God used a crippled man on the beach in Chennai to revitalize my spirit.
Our team had taken a two-day trip to Chennai to visit the disciple Thomas’ tomb.
After that, we walked through many shops all set up along the beach. Constantly people begging you to take a look in their store. And then amongst all the people, I see a man in the middle of the path using one arm to scoot his entire body across the sand with a little cup in his hand to beg for money. Finally, my heart broke.
My first thought is to pray for God to heal him, but quickly after that enters doubt, “what if God doesn’t heal him? We will all look stupid.”
I am tired of fear holding me back from what the Father wants to do. I couldn’t help but think about how earlier that day I read how Peter healed a man who had been paralyzed for eight years. He obviously didn’t doubt what His Father would do.
What am I here for if I cannot show this man the love of Jesus?
My teammate Ada was thinking the same thing, so we grabbed the pastor, put some money in the man’s cup and began talking to him. He wanted to get out of the heavy flow of traffic so we waited for him to get to a place where we could talk.
We learned about his family, and we told him about the Race and that we wanted to share the TRUTH with him. He sat back and listened with a smile on his face. He told us that he believed in Jesus along with Allah and all the Hindu gods. He believes all the gods are one. He wasn’t ready to commit to believing Jesus was the only God, but he told us that he believes God sent us as angels to encourage him that day. He also said he believed Jesus would heal him.
So we prayed.
No he didn’t get up and walk that day, but he said his body felt stronger. He said he felt something in his heart.
I know Holy Spirit touched him.
And I told God I don’t want to be a coward anymore. No longer a slave to fear. I don’t want to just walk by someone in need because I don’t think I have anything to offer. God always has something to offer. And that day Father God touched that man and me. He encouraged both of us to keep moving forward.
So please say a prayer for this man. I believe He will be healed one day. I believe he will receive salvation one day and many others will come to know Jesus because of his story.
So here I am with two weeks left in India, and I want to go for it with all I’ve got! Please pray for increased faith and strength for me and my team!
And pray for Pastor Sam’s ministry. God has given him a huge vision and he and his wife are patiently waiting for the Lord to open up doors. Check out their website: www.goodnewsjailministries.org.
