It’s March and our team is serving in the mountain community of Manipur, India. The Hmar people here have an incredible story to tell which we were so fortunate to see for ourselves the second night upon arrival. The movie Beyond the Next Mountain tells of a white Welsh missionary who ventured into the jungles of Northeast India a little over only one hundred years ago. He shared the Gospel with chief Chawnga whose son Rochunga then spent a better part of his life studying the Bible to translate it into the language of his people.
Our contact, John Pudiate, is the chief’s grandson! Along with Bibles for the World and other ministries their hope is to spread the Good News all over the region. Most of the community here are believes, which is so refreshing after a month in a country where talking about Jesus was pretty much forbidden.
While here we have had the opportunity to;
-interact with Seminary students
-“teach” in a school of over 2,500
-do construction and support SC Hospital staff
-participate in the 41st EFCI General Assembly
-attend the TCS College graduation ceremony
-assist with mobile medical camps
-help build and visit local village churches, and
-support a team from Lancaster, Pennsylvania with Bible Quizzing
Our time here has been filled with one blessing after another. In the beginning it was quite the journey. After landing in Hyderabad on the first, we took a 30 hour train ride, spent the night in Calcutta, then hopped on another plane to Imphal, where we jumped in an ambulance, drove another 55 minutes to our final destination for the month. A beautiful spot surrounded on all sides by mountains. This area is considered the “Jewel of India.”
While here, our contacts have literally spoiled us silly! Our lodging consists of 2 or 3 persons to a room, private bath, our very own “princess” canopy beds, plush blankets, towels, hot water bucket showers, toilets that flush, and “laundry” service. We dine in a tent outside the main house constructed of bamboo poles, draped with beautiful brightly colored quilts from the top and lining the sides, there is even a red carpet! Mealtime feels like a banquet feast complete with vegetables and at least one if not two types of meat! There’s even Cocoa Cola for lunch and dinner! I’m telling you, it’s GLORIOUS!!! I keep thinking it’s all a dream and when they realize our actual budget, it will all go away and we’ll be back to rice three meals a day 😉
We are a little over half way through the Race, fatigue and homesickness are starting to set in. Fortunately the Lord knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and He desires to give us far more than we could ever ask or imagine!
Thank you for your prayers!
amie b 🙂
