He Is Risen

Seeing the ministry, miracles, death and resurrection of JC depicted in a film, translated into their language, was a simple but powerful way to express the meaning of Easter to the neighboring hostel girls that have become so dear to me.

We started the film in the early evening on their day off.  Our national partner regularly paused the film to explain things that Indians would not be familiar with or concepts that were hard to understand.  She energetically narrated background stories, giving them a panorama of G0d’s redemptive plan.  They sat in silence, eyes fixed on the screen.

We had a 30 minute break for dinner.  Then we continued the film.  They watched as JC healed people, raised the dead, loved the harlot, and overturned the tables in the temple.  Then he was arrested, beaten, and murdered.  But he did not stay wrapped in the tomb.  He arose!

When the film was over, the hostel girls asked where they could get a copy of it for themselves.  They also wanted to watch The Passion, which our partner told them detailed the sufferings of JC during that week.  The hostel curfew was quickly approaching, and they were nervously watching the clock but determined to stay glued to our sofas as long as possible.  I asked them, “Are you going to watch this film and then forget about it…”

Before I could finish they all solemnly said, “No.”

I continued, “…or are you going to do something?  You have a choice now.  Are you going to follow JC or not?”

No one spoke a word, but not in embarrassment or defiance; they sat deep in thought, almost knowingly counting the costs.

We pryd, and moments later they rushed to their room, minutes before curfew.

Sabrina is one of those hostel girls.  I call them girls, but actually more than a third of them have their own families.  Sabrina is married with two children.  Many of you may have received the email over a month ago asking for pryr for Sabrina.   A few days ago she came over to talk again.  The same burden of her unfaithfulness to her husband was weighting on her heart, robbing her of sleep.  We talked about how true peace and forgiveness comes only from JC.  She said she was following Him, but I knew that she didn’t really know what that meant.  I told her that following Him is like marrying her husband; she had to forsake all other men to be commit to her husband.  We must forsake all other g0ds to be faithful to JC.

 “Just like it is hard for me to forget about this man, it is hard for us to forget our g0ds.  It is what our community taught us.  Before we met you guys, we did not know about JC, His birth, and His death,” she said.

Put yourself in Sabrina’s shoes.  What if you found out that the traditions of your fathers were not true?  What if you heard the truth for the first time at the age of 30, having followed another way for your entire life?  Could you drop a part of the culture that defines you and your country overnight?  Neither can Sabrina.  Pry for them.

PRAISES

I had a safe and adventurous trip to Thailand.

I had many opportunities to share the Good News during Good Friday and Easter.

Sabrina came to visit me again and desires to follow JC.

I have settled plans to go to seminary in Fort Worth, take classes and serve as a M in residence, counseling others interested in the m-field.  It gives me such peace to have a plan already.

REQUESTS

April 12-20 is a 9-day Hindu festival where they fast and worship a specific god.  Ask that they may know the truth and have courage to forsake the lie that they know to follow this new truth.

We’ve started two new trainings and are in the middle of starting a third.  Please ask for students to catch the vision and be obedient to the Word in reaching their city/state/country for JC.

Please ask for the Father to provide a woman with good enough English skills and enough freedom to travel with us (both difficult things to find in women here) to serve as a new translator.

YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN SOUTH ASIA WHEN

People point at you in public and tell their children, “Foreigner!  Foreigner! Look!”

You go to an English movie and there are only five others in the theater.

An auto rickshaw driver gives you a free ride because they don’t have change.

You’re boarding a flight to return to the region and following the announcement, “Children, handicapped, and rows 1-5 will board now,” everyone, minus the three foreigners, rushes at once to board.

You eat “mystery corn”, which is spices, salt, butter, more spices, a little more salt, and a little corn in a cup. Yum!

You hide wedding snacks in your purse when no one is looking so that you don’t have to eat them.

You go to a wedding where the bride and groom don’t know each other.

There is a holiday where children and adults alike douse each other in bright colored powder.

The special at the Good Friday service is an adolescent boy doing a lyrical dance with belly dancing elements.