It’s true what they say about India. It engages, no assaults, all of your senses. Once you process the sight of the multitudes of people, there are still the sounds, smells, heat, and taste of everything to take in as well. The very first thing I noticed once I stepped out of the Hyderabad airport into the hot, muggy air was the noise. You’re suddenly immersed in a terrible cacophony of traffic noise. It’s nothing like you’ve ever heard. I’m convinced that Indian cars, buses, scooters and motorcycles don’t run on gasoline, but are in fact propelled forward by honking of the car’s horn! I haven’t been able to reason it any other way. If the driver isn’t honking, seems to me that the car can’t move.
With nearly 1.3 billion people India is one of the largest, neediest and most unreached countries in the entire world. Half of the world’s orphans live in India. There are over 30 million child laborers or children sold into slavery. HIV/AIDS, malaria, polio, leprosy and water borne diseases are widespread. India is also one of the most spiritually oppressed places in the world. 4 of the world’s largest religions were born in India, including Hinduism and Buddhism.
This month in India, our whole squad is working with an organization called India Christian Ministries (ICM). ICM is an incredible organization with a vast network of ministries across the southern part of India. All 6 teams are spread out this month working at various ICM ministry locations. Some teams are working with orphans and special needs kids. Some are working at a worship school. Some are teaching English to kids after school. Our team is one of two teams working with church planters, local pastors, and serving through village evangelism.
We’re staying in Nizamabad, but each day we drive 30 minutes to 2 hours to a new village into the bush of India. When we arrive in a village, we usually spend 2 hours walking house to house and praying for blessings, financial provision, healings, restored relationships, and good health. After this, we preach and worship at a service held for us by the Christian villagers. More than half of the villagers that attend the services are Hindus and other non-believers. Word travels fast that 7 Americans are in town. After service, we spend another hour in prayer for individuals as they line up to be prayed for.
Our ministry has been a time of tremendous growth for each of our team members. When the month is over, we will have prayed for over one thousand people and each preached 10 times.
India is unlike any place I’ve ever been to or imagined before. It is a place full of much darkness, but in the midst of that, intense joy. The few believers we have encountered have an infectious passion for the Lord that makes you wonder what we’re missing in the US.
Thank you for all your prayers!
Matt
