Number 103:  April 14, 2007

When the fellowship was over, many came forward for healing. There was great deliverance as devil spirits were cast out, pains relieved, mental pressures were let go of. All the time, the true God was getting the glory, as God’s people believed His promises.

Matthew 9:8:

But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Some of the mothers brought children for help. They were concerned because their children did not want to go to school. No matter the culture, some things remain the same! After assuring the mothers that it was normal behavior, we tried to impress upon the student the need for learning to read and write so they too could one day teach God’s Word boldly and confidently, maybe even in the United States.

When the fellowship was concluded, we broke bread together. The younger Indian and American people then played a game of what we used to call “grab the bacon” back in Indiana. People on two sides are given the same number. When your number is called, you need to grab a towel that was waded up and placed in the middle of the courtyard and get back to your side before the other side touches you. It was enjoyable listening to the intensity level of the competition. No one, Indian or American, wanted to lose so the dialogue was loud. Many neighbors were standing on their rooftops watching intently.     

The young people spent the night at the house, while the older adults went to a nearby hotel. At 7:00 the next morning we were awakened by knocks on the door and greeted with Chai tea with water-buffalo milk in it. Shortly after that, the hotel porters brought a 5 gallon bucket of hot water for the morning shower. You mix the hot water with the cold water out of a tap in the toilet area then pour it over you.

Barb had brought the French press and the coffee. Thus, after warming up with the Chai, we Americans gathered for our real wake-up beverage, Starbucks coffee in whatever glass you could acquire. We ate egg omelets or something that resembled a flat potato pancake, toast, and drank lime soda in the hotel’s restaurant. Then it was time to get on the bus, pick up the travelers at Gulab Singh’s, and head into the Himalaya’s. We said good-bye to the village of Jogiana and headed to the village of Khandhi.

The day would bring our first experience of mountain driving. Many times we found ourselves very near the edge of the road looking into emptiness stretching far below. The mountains were filled with terrace farming, which would run up entire mountain sides. They would grow wheat, lentils, rice, and other crops in this ages-old farming tradition. Cows would meander up or down the roads with us. We passed the male side of a marriage procession celebrating as they walked down the mountain to the ceremony to the sounds of loud music blaring from speakers on a decorated horse drawn cart.