The trip is drawing to a close.  I have learned a lot.  I have been able to see some of the impact of TREC's partnership with the local church in Siliguri.  From the children's home to the school to the church planting.  It is amazing what someone whose sole purpose is to proclaim Jesus to those who do not know Him can do.  Not to suggest that it is all Pastor Jiwan's doing, but it is evident that God is using him and his wife Esther.  Their ministry to the Nepali people who live in NE India and Nepal is reaching people and changing lives.  You can read more about the ministry and follow Jiwan's updates at www.trecmud.com. 

I challenge you to come on a short term mission trip of your own.  Jeff would say,"Get your faith dirty".

Another thing I have experienced is the chance to be away from the hustle of my schedule and let God's word do some much needed work on my heart.  It's not chic today, seems especially in the Christian subculture, to admit that you have any issues or hint of failings (funny though, those closest to you are painfully aware of them).  God has definitely been revealing areas of my life that are not yielded to Him.

India Update

I am learning what it means to pastor here.  Jeff and I went with Jiwan this morning to visit some families and a widow.  We prayed for them.  From what I saw these visits could be the some of the only chance for these women to learn more about Jesus and fellowship.  They do not have transportation to get to church.  In fact, they had very little.  It gave me a good sense of Jiwan's ministry here.  In addition to the children's home, he pastors and tries to develop other men to start works in other towns.  It is easily more than a lifetime worth of work. 

Met in another home last night.  We had a Bible study and some singing.  Then we stopped to pray at someone's house.  A lot of Jiwan's (the national pastor) ministry involves visiting people and praying for them.  It is very powerful to pray with people.  As Philip Yancey says, "...in developing countries (Christians) spend less time pondering the effectiveness of prayer and more time actually praying.". That's a lesson I needed.

Thank you all for praying for me and supporting me.

Mike

Leaving Balasan

The people here are so hospitable.  Every home you visit you are served tea and biscuits or whatever they have.  You get their best.  Today we left the church in Balasan and stopped in Sonada where Menosh and Baku live.  Most homes are two rooms.  A kitchen and a bedroom that doubles as a living room.  There are no restrooms in the homes we visited.  We had tea and biscuits and prayed with them for the work in Sonada and Balasan.  Menosh pastors the church in Balasan and is starting a work in Sonada.  So far they have one believer in the new work in Sonada.

Last night Jeff shared on grace, mercy and peace.  He talked about God's grace, mercy and peace for us.  Today we shared a brief conversation and talked about whether we are gracious, merciful and peaceful.

We returned to Siliguri and met in a home Bible Study.  Jeff shared and we sang and prayed.