Looking at this group shot of our Evangelism Team gets me misty-eyed. You become so close to folks you serve alongside in this way. The girls and I kind of stand out, don't we? That's why whatever we do, we feel like the Pied Piper...with crowds of children and adults following after us. Our friends take really good care of us, and we are happy that our presence can be used to help evangelistic efforts.
I seem to have the knack of making Indian people laugh. In this photo, do you see how somber they look? Well...as soon as I showed them the picture in my camera, they were laughing and following me around...and we were gesturing back and forth...having great fun!
My girls, Crystal and Rachel, are doing such a great job. Whatever we do, they roll up their sleeves and get right to work. Their light is shining brightly for the Lord. I have asked them to write their perspective of this leg of our trip.
VILLAGE EVANGELISM EFFORTS
by Crystal & Rachel Dudley
After having a day of fun and rest on Thursday, we spent Friday and Saturday passing out Gospel tracts in a few villages, where most people live in thatched huts.
As we walked from hut to hut, numerous people asked for prayer. (It seemed strange to see an electrical outlet in a simple hut. It was explained that a government official allowed each hut in this extremely poor area to have electricity...one outlet per hut.)
I (Crystal) was asked to pray for and anoint a lady whose son had been taken by ambulance to a hospital. She did not know what city he was taken to or how he was doing, and she was frantic.
Praying for people is not unusual, but this was my first time to anoint someone with oil, as is the way of Christians in India. It is my prayer that someday this lady would have a personal relationship with the God who created her. At the next village we were soon approached by an angry man who told us to leave. He even hit a two year old boy who was with us us. (See the boy in the group photo at top of post.)
Saturday morning felt just like Christmas when we finally received five more pieces of luggage. God's timing is always perfect, and we were able to take puppets and balloons with us for village evangelism. There was some concern that this village might show resistance to tracts being handed out, but God provided a way. Upon arrival we began twisting balloon animals.
Soon a large group had gathered around us. Never before have we seen such excitement over balloons. We (Rachel and Crystal) had to twist the balloons above our heads as people would try to rip them out of our hands. Pastor Suresh said at one time we had over 500 children surrounding us.
The Gospel was placed in the hands of countless people that day. Through the balloons we were able to witness to children, youth, and adults. When the balloons ran out, we walked back to the church. There we had a puppet show.
Since we don’t speak Telegu, the kids from the Children’s Home had to perform. It was their first time to ever work with puppets, but they did fabulously.
The children here go to school eight hours a day, six days a week, with few holidays. Although this past week was one of their holidays, several children stayed at the Children’s Home just so they could do village evangelism.
Many times at home we get busy and neglect sharing the Gospel with those around us. Yet these young people gave up their break to be fishers of men. We are both challenged and humbled by their dedication to Christ.
