Happy late Christmas! Thank you so much for your prayer and encouragement while I have been on Mission. My team and I have been in India since Thanksgiving and have been working with the local Christians to spread the gospel to the indigenous peoples of India. We are currently working in a small village and have been preaching and teaching every night to different villages in the area. The term village in this country has a different meaning than what we would think in Western cultures. One of the villages in this area has over two hundred thousand people in it. India has over 1/7th of the world’s population inside of one country. So there is a huge opportunity in these places to tell people who have never heard the name of Jesus how much He loves them, and what He has done for them.
People in India believe that everything around them is controlled by the spiritual (they are not wrong). You will see paintings of gods on a person’s car to keep them out of car accidents. They put a foul looking face on their home to ward off evil spirits from their family. There is an understanding and fear of the spiritual in this country. The biggest issues we have had sharing the gospel with the locals is that they will accept Jesus but just add him to the other millions of gods and spirits that they already look to. Yesterday I had the opportunity to talk to two sisters who were doing this exact thing. I was able to share with them John 14:6 which says “..I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The purpose was to tell them that all the other gods that they serve do not bring them salvation. The only one that brings communion with God the Father is Jesus. How wonderful and beautiful is it that Jesus died so that we can be guilt free before God! There is only one way, and all the other spirits in existence cannot bring the salvation we so desperately need.
For the past few months I have been to different parts of Africa and India. I have seen so many people in pain, both physically and spiritually. I have sometimes asked God why, why would He allow them to both suffer physically and be totally lost without knowing who Jesus is or maybe not even knowing His name. Who am I that I have been so blessed by God? There are children dying without medical care all over the world, and never hearing the name of Jesus or knowing His love. Seeing this pain is a reminder of why I am on the field in the first place. We have such a great commission to spread the Word of God, to care for the widow and the orphan, and to love our neighbor. All things work together for good, and I have faith that God will complete His work. Pray for me and my team that we continue to have compassion and constantly produce fruits of the spirit to the people around us. We have experienced the overwhelming joy of having Jesus as our savior, to have an assurance that we are saved from our sin. So many around us do not. So continue praying that we have the strength to continue on this race.
The holiday season has been a hard time. I have missed my family and being close to my loved ones back home. I cannot wait to see all of you when I get back to the States! I have had trouble financially lately with paying debt while I am on the field. If you would prayerfully consider supporting me outside of my world race account that would be greatly appreciated. Contact me via email or facebook if you are willing. Thank you so much for the support you have already given, and for your constant prayers.
