This past week my team and I had the opportunity to visit Senvon, a small village dwelling on the top of a mountain in the region of Manipur. To the left we could see the mountains of Burma, and to the right Mizoram, a state of northeast India.
Sadly we were only able to stay there for about a week, but it was packed full of new experiences and adventures and we have truly been blessed to the fullest with the love of this sweet community.
I can confidently say that this has been my most favorite experience and week of ministry on the race so far.
( A bit of history on this area)
Senvon is the first village where the gospel was brought to Manipur in 1910. Two travelers from Wales brought a small pamphlet that had “John 3 :16” written on it, and the chief asked them to stay and explain what it meant. This is how the gospel began to spread in this region. The Mar people were fierce head hunters in the 1850’s-early 1900’s, feared all around this area. But when the gospel came, they turned from head-hunting to heart-hunting, and began to evangelize to neighbouring tribes and communities.
We were able to participate in PMS (partnership mission society) and help teach english to the students there. We had late night dance parties and those few days were full of laughter and community. We also helped with the construction of a new school, moving bricks into piles and carrying iron rods up a long hill. Our hosts made us two bamboo huts and we named it “Hotel Aurora” and this is where we lived for the week. We actually are the first world race team to ever stay in this village, so they needed a place for us to sleep!
Our team had a beautiful week sharing stories and laughs around the campfire, and it honestly felt like home there. I NEVER wanted to leave this village family. It was crazy, because when we arrived the headmaster of PMS told us that this school and village is now entering a new season, a new beggining. They are growing thier ministry and the Lord is helping to provide the tools, funds and people for it. This blew my team away because our team name is “Aurora”, meaning a new beggining.
Throughout the week we developed relationships with the students, teachers, and church community here. They took us hiking through the jungle to a place where they used to celebrate and dance in the early years of thier tribe, and they took us fishing for a day to catch fish in order to sell as a fundraiser.
To Vanessa, Mathew, Monrie, and everyone else who made this week such a special one, I want to give you my thanks. We came to visit your village with the intention of blessing you, and you provided a haven for us and we are leaving feeling so well cared for and blessed. You and PMS will be in our prayers!
Another fact about PMS, they partner with the organization “Bibles For The World”, which we worked with last month. They have a sponsor program for the children here so they can have an education, uniforms and learn about the gospel. If you are interested in this sponsor program you can go to thier website- www.bftw.org!
