- Only 1.9% of Indians are Christians. Typically they are found in the more rural areas because the money in the cities is with the Hindus and Muslims
- The government is much more tolerant of Christians in the southern half of India. Northern India is where it’s much more difficult to be a Christian openly.
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Beggars are very common in India and use varying methods:
- Beggars will wear pictures of gods around their neck and when people see them they are expected to pay money to worship that god. Since Hindus have millions of gods, people are expected to pay for this.
- I woke up to really loud music only to find a camel being walked down the street and taken door to door. The camel had a sheet over his back that had a picture of a Hindu god on it. So again people were expected to give money to this man and worship that god as he came by their house.
- Beggars will also loan, at a price, for people to borrow their cow for worship. Not all Hindus worship cows, but some do.
- We saw a driving temple set up in the bed of a pickup truck. It had speakers blaring as it drove through the city. A woman followed behind walking. She was collecting money and passing out receipts for people that paid.
- Holy day for Hindus is Friday
- Hindus also have a call to prayer like Muslims over loud speakers. We’ve learned this the hard way.
- Men hold hands and stand with arms over each other’s shoulders to show affection towards each other frequently to display friendship. That’s been interesting to adjust to. In fact, our rickshaw driver who is a local pastor grabbed my hand and interlocked his fingers with mine the other day while we were walking in the city. (I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel extremely uncomfortable!)
- The spirit world isn’t in question in Southeast Asia. They believe, but are trying to figure out which God’s are for them
- Like America there is a lack of men involved in the church
Words in Telegu:
My name is…….Naparu
What is your name?…… Nepurume
Thank you……Vandanulu
Young boy…..baludu
Young girl….balika
God….Davudu
Jesus….Yesu
