November 14th

Today we decided to attempt to go to the location of the type III training and spend some more time with some of the NF workers. Getting there was an experience. We have been to the location of the training once and have driven past it two other times. With this much exposure to the location, we decided we could get there on our own. So we left home and started walking. After awhile we caught a taxi cab (the exciting part about this was that a bicyclist almost crashed into me while I was crossing the street to get into the cab). Once in the cab, the real adventure began. The cab driver did not know how to get to the training center so we had to give him directions. The only problem was, our directions were a bit sketchy. We were pretty sure we knew how to get there, but not certain. So we tentatively gave the driver directions, hoping we were going the correct direction. And God was good. Soon, we began to recognize things and knew we were on the right track. Before we knew it, we were there. Praise the Lord.
And then the real excitement began. We went into the training facilities and found the workers eating lunch. This was what we were hoping for. This gave us a chance to sit and chat with some of them. At first, we just made the rounds, saying hi to as many as possible. Then we sat down and started chatting with two of the men. First we sat and talked with Pramod, one of the men who I mentioned earlier that had ridden 18 hours standing on the train all the way from Mahar.ashtra to get to the training. He is such a joyful man. It just brings a smile to my face to spend time with him. He is always praising Jesus no matter what the circumstances are.
After talking with him for a bit, we went and sat with Ramesh (another of the Mahar.ashtra gentlemen), Abhiram, and Bitobas (who spoke excellent English and translated for us). We had the opportunity to ask each of them about their ministries. Ramesh is serving in an area near Mumbai (Bombay). He has been working with the tribal people in the surrounding areas for the last 7 years. He has seen many come to Chr.ist and take bap.tism through the ministry there. The area was once Hindu dominated and a place of violence and destruction, but the ministry has been so successful that the area is now called “God’s Land.” Such a transformation has taken place through God’s power. Ramesh praises God for the opportunity to serve Him in this way. Ramesh asked us to pray that the ministry would continue to grow and that God would continue to protect him in his work.
Abhiram and Bitobas have both served NF for 8 years. They work in Orissa, an area that is extremely dangerous for missionaries. It is the area where an Australian missionary was burned to death while sleeping with his two sons in his jeep in 1999. Hindu extremism is rampant in the area. Please pray for the safety of these two men and their coworkers as they face severe persecution and the chance of death on a daily basis. Praise the Lord that they continue to serve Him in the face of such danger.
Bitobas’s grandfather was the first in the family to become a Chri.stian. It happened when a foreign missionary came to their village. The first time the missionary came, his grandfather, who was a devout Hindu, shunned the missionary and forced him to leave the area. Later in his life though, he asked the missionary to come back to the village and tell the story of Jesus again. It was at this point that the family was saved. Bitobas was in college at this time.
After college, he went on to theological school, where he took bap.tism. He also learned English while at this school due to the many foreign teachers who taught him.
Bitobas also interpreted for us as we spoke to Madan, a 25 year old NF worker. He is working in youth ministries in the state of Punjab. His wife also works with him in the ministry. He has encountered severe persecution. On one occasion, his picture was actually posted in the newspaper as a Chris.tian worker who was causing problems and should be avoided or even dealt with. He has suffered severe beatings which he believes have stunted his growth physically. Please pray for him and his wife as they work under these severe conditions. Please also pray for his wife, who is unable to bear children due to a medical condition. Please pray that she would be healed of this. In the Indian culture it is an extremely shameful situation to be unable to have kids. Madan also asks for prayer for his family members who are not Chri.stians and that he would continue to grow spiritually so that he can continue to withstand the pressures of his life.
Madan also encouraged us immensely. He expressed to us what a blessing and encouragement it was for him to have us sit and talk with him and pray with him and ask questions about his ministry. He said that he could see the love of God in us and was so happy to spend time with us. This was such a great blessing to us. Encouraging the workers is one of our main goals and it was great to have affirmation that we are having some success in that area. God is truly gracious to allow us this opportunity.
All of the men that we talked to today are very excited about the training that they are taking part in. They feel as though they are learning much and are being well prepared to go back to face the struggles that they will have in their ministries. Please keep all of the NF workers in your prayers as they struggle constantly with persecution, pressures, and failures as well as financial hardship due to their willingness to give up their jobs and follow the Lord’s leading.