The orphans and lepers of India, the people who we have come to serve and be Christ to, have already taught us more about love and generosity than we could have ever imagined. I remember feeling very nervous on our first drive to the leper colony and doubting whether these lepers would really accept us as their friends. But when we entered the colony, my fears quickly subsided. It was pouring, so we waited in our van for a while for the rain to die down before getting out of our van. The children, however, did not want to wait and immediately began reaching inside the van windows to greet us and ask us our names. As soon as we got out of the van, they grabbed our hands and led us through their colony to play with them. Without even knowing us, the children already trusted us as their friends.
On that day, I discovered some of the most generous people I have ever met. Our team was outside playing with the children, and I saw this man holding his adorable 2-year-old son. The baby stared at me with his gigantic brown eyes, and seconds later, he was in my arms. After holding him for a while, the man invited me into his small, one-room house, where I met his sisters, his mother, and his mother-in-law, who were all sitting together. Soon after I sat down, they offered me a plate of rice and meat– before they even knew my name, where I was from, or what I was doing there. As I struggled to eat the rice and meat with my right hand, they laughed and talked amongst themselves about my awkwardness. But rather than just watching me struggle the whole time, the woman who served me the food taught me how to eat with my hands. She made herself a plate of the rice and meat, mashed the food together with her hand to form a small, round clump, and then put the clump into my hand for me to eat it. As this kind woman continued to put clumps of rice and meat in my hand for me to eat, God was teaching me many lessons about what it means to truly love and give to others. Through experiences like this, our team is becoming more humble. We realize that we do not have anything to offer to these lepers but that God can use us to minister to the lepers and that He can also use them to minister to us.
That same week my team visited our orphanage ministry site for the first time, and the children there were just as welcoming and generous to us as the lepers. On our first visit, Kat and I sat in a room with several of the girls at the orphanage, as we watched them make beaded bracelets. After only minutes of sitting with them, they soon were tying bracelets around our wrists, and before I knew it, my left arm was covered from elbow to wrist with colorful bracelets made of foam beads and yarn.
These girls have gone out of their way to serve and give to others on many other occasions since that first week. On our second week at the orphanage, Matt accidentally left his baseball cap at the orphanage while he was helping build a shelf in the girls’ bunk room. I remember him realizing that on our drive home and then saying to me, “I’ll probably never see it again.”
The next time we came to the orphanage, Supna and Puja, two of the orphans, came up to me and asked if I would call for Matt Uncle (out of respect, the orphans call us “Auntie” and “Uncle”). Matt and I were a little perplexed about why these two girls wanted to speak to him, but when we made it over to them, we saw that Supna was hiding something behind her back. Sure enough, it was Matt’s baseball cap. But it wasn’t the same dirty, discolored hat that Matt remembered. The girls had washed it, and it was now bright white and looked brand new. Matt and I were both astounded by the girls’ kindness. The orphans and the lepers have both demonstrated what it means to love and to give unconditionally. We are all excited to see what God will continue to teach us from interacting with these amazing people.
Special!, You all are doing a wonderful project!,And seems you all are blessed from this experience!
Thank you for this precious bit of news. I am moved by your stories and experiences. Please send more pictures and say hello to Annie N. for me please.
Alyson – thanks for the wonderful update. I was very touched by your stories. We love you and are so proud of you. Mom
Thanks so much for the updates. Your stories are very touching. I am so proud of what you are doing. I love you and I will see you soon.
Aunt Tracy
sounds like you all are having great experiences over there. i can’t wait to hear more stories when you get back to the states.
Matt, We are all counting the days you come home to us. We miss you!!!! Mom
Dear Pastor in Christ.
I was much impressed by your wonderful report.
We are praying for your all schedules.May God bless all of you and God will be use you mighty power during your visit in India.
With love and blessings.
Ps.Emmanuel
INTODUCING: I am pastor as well as a social service worker to human from a places called CHITRADA and UPPADA in south India. It’s my great privilege to introduced to you about me and my ministry.I was born in a an Indian Hindu religious family, brought and adopted by a christian family which is pastoral the parents who are brought, taught a good knowlege about Jesus Christ in my childhood and they like me to be a Minister of the Jesus Christ even then by looking at their sufferings in ministriel activities would determined to get a Government Job to survive in my life well.DEDICATION: Once I had a pain in my stomach couldn’t tolerate then I cried to our Lord Jesus.”Jesus! If you Would heal me Whole life of minie would dedicate to Your work.” Began to get relief God heard of my cry. Since onwards dedicated and submitted my Life to serve the with the whole heartedly finished my +2 studies and joined in a Bible college called SOUTHERN ASIA BIBLE COLLEGE (AIAN THEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION) grduated in the year of 1988. B.Th. in a place called BANGALORE.After completion of my Bible studies I had joined in a Bible school that CHURCH OF GOD IN INDIA to teach.MARRIAGE and FAMILY: Married to a godly wife who is also dedicated her life to serve Jesus christ. in a year of 1989. Since onwards my mum would like to get Dowry from my aunty in that case they couldn’t pay the Dowry in regard, I took my wife to a city called KAKINADA where I was ministering in teaching .God has given gifts of two female childern. 1 ratna 2 rupa they are studying in a an english medium school 11th, 12th standerds.Kindly pray for them so then may be a sharp vesseles to the work of our Lord Almighty Jesus Christ. MINISTRY:I have a church called CHITRADA PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD also statered a ministry called “Gospel Outreach social welfarew organisation”. established 25 branch churches,orphanage, school,rehabilitation center.So kindly offer your special prayers so then may extend the Kindgom of God through this minister. thanking you.yours in Him.pastor rajbab. south india. mobile phone;[email protected]
DEAR FRIENDS,
GREETINGS TO YOU IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
OUR AREA WAS WASHED THE CYCONE
It is very sad to infone the heart broken news happend in my villages because of sudden cycone so many people last thir house, catels, clothes crops. liveliy hood ex, agriculture fields and also recive rice bages and also paddy holy famiels left thir homes taking shelter in the undertrees.we are prayer continuously the God may Re belt and relocated there houses and familes because of floods peoples are affected by dengue , cholera, malaria,steets are not clensed no paper step has taken by local authorties it our humble request to pray for this contion tell to our co belivers to pray for this peoples continsly my God provid all the needs of the people.
PLESE PRAY FOR MY ANDHRA PRADESH,
GOD BLESS YOU,
YOURS BROTHER IN JESUS CHRIST,
KARUNA NIDHI
PADMA BUILDIGNS,
H.NO,18-6-6
PONNUR-522124
GUNTUR DT,
ANDHRA PRADESH
S.INDIA
New Jerusalem Church
Good News to you in the wonderful mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ’
Thank you for your best works in Jesus.
Blessings are hidden in our witness, please read! Kindly request you
please pray for our church construction and our Gospel work in INDIA .
Your Brother in His service
Bro. Jesus Padam
http://newjerusalemchurch.blogspot.com
[email protected]
Cell no -9701047991