Sunday, March 22

Sun morning, 22 March, got late start mostly waiting for Raju to come. Even at home sat around waiting and talking. But I asked Raju about his growing up years and testimony….
His father died when R was 4 mo old. Mother moved to Uttar Pradesh. Tears every day. Leftover effects of ancient practice of throwing widow on pyre. R had only 1 goal: earn enough $ to make mother’s tears go away. BA degree in Political Science. Job earning $. Meanwhile mother returned to Cnty. She raised nominal Cn; married Hindu. When born again began testifying to R. But he resisted. Eventually riding train, sleeping on uppermost berth. Previous to boarding train, talk w/ family; young daughter disappeared; mother cry; R thought that normal; then father cry; R surprised never seen before. Later in night on train, had vision reliving family’s experience. Suddenly father’s face changed to God’s face and he asked who would cry for a list of names R knew. This led to his conversion, training at Bible college in Allahabad and proceeding to Rajasthan.

My dear friend and brother Raju Thomas.

Raju's lovely wife Sini and their infant son Joshua were not in Jodhpur. Joshua had become ill and they could not treat him in Jodhpur. So Sini took him to Raju's mother's home in Uttar Pradesh for treatment. She called Friday night and I got to talk with her briefly. She said that Joshua was already getting better. So that is good news. But that means I will "have to" go back at least once more to see both Sini and Joshua.

Worship Sunday morning was held in the same room where I conducted classes on my previous visit. We sang a mix of songs--some generic Indian songs and some clearly in the Rajasthani style. The latter stirred more lively participation, clapping and Rajasthani style dancing.




The children from the Mercy Home performed a song with actions. But no one thought to explain to us what the song was about. Still it was fun watching them.



The Mercy Home is the reason they are able to keep operating in Rajasthan. Raju explained that the mission rents the house from a Hindu man, which is not unusual. But he added that he rents it on the basis of a Mercy Home for children. He said that if the landlord learned that they were holding Christian meetings there of any kind, he would force them to leave. Restrictions in Rajasthan are very severe. Plus, even if the officials did not act, social pressure on the Hindu landlord would force his hand until he evicted them. Once that happened, they would not be able to find any place in Jodhpur to rent. They really need someone(s) to step up and enable them to obtain their own property. Then they would be relatively free to conduct Christian activities. And their work would grow significantly.


I mentioned the Rajasthani singing and dancing. You no doubt already assume that their dancing is different from American dancing. I didn't realize I had this video clip until I was reviewing upon returning home. When I was in Jodhpur before, the students and missionaries got familiar with my camera. If I set it down anywhere, they would pick it up and start shooting anything they felt like--especially me. So the same thing happened on Sunday morning. I'm glad they did it, because this video is a great example of their Rajasthani singing and dancing. And yes, it is always accompanied by the drum.

Mike was a great roommate and work partner for the trip. He was always ready to give his testimony or an exhortation from Scripture.

I struggled in delivering the message this morning. From the human level, this was partly because Raju had given me a time limit. We needed to finish the service by 11:30, so that we could still eat and Mike and I could catch our afternoon flight to Bihar.

But he told me afterward that he was especially touched by the message. So that is an encouraging word. I resolved with God many years ago that I only wanted to hear his "well done." But I'm human enough (yes, totally so) that especially when I struggle with a message, it really helps to hear from another that God spoke to them through my words.

Perhaps in the video you might have seen a man sitting on the floor not far from the door. I will tell more about him later.

Thank you again for reading and for your prayers while I was gone.

ttfn