Sunday School Update

Thank you to those of you who prayed for the New Life Associate Sunday school class this past week! The Holy Spirit DID move, and there were many children who took significant steps to follow Jesus.



On Sunday, instead of the video presentation that I was planning, I ended up giving a verbal review to the class, walking them through the Bible Lessons I have taught them so far, showing them how Jesus is the Son of God and emphasizing why and how we need to accept Jesus's gift in order to both go to Heaven and to have a relationship with God in this world. Our Sunday School Superintendent translated a fair portion of the message as well, adding in and complimenting the lesson. I remember a point in the message that seemed to connect especially with the children. I looked at Sweetie, one of our junior girls – and spoke out the love that motivated Jesus' death for her. At another point I told the children how greatly I desire to see each one of them in Heaven… how I want to call my Canadian friends over to meet my Indian children when I am walking down a street of gold … how I want to spend forever with them and Jesus. At that point the Sunday School Superintendent asked me, "But how can the children get to Heaven?" "Excellent question!" I responded, and we continued on, tag-teaming the presentation of the gospel that burns so brightly in our hearts for our kids.



When we had finished speaking, we led the children in prayer – the Sunday School Superintendent requesting that each child to ask Jesus for forgiveness from their sins. She led the class in a prayer of repentance, line by line, and then gave the students time to pray out of their hearts to Jesus, out loud, and all at once. I was extremely touched to hear the voice of the second and eldest Sunday School teacher joining in to the chorus of children, giving them courage to speak to the Saviour - "Jesus, forgive our sins. Make us new. Forgive our sins." I ended the prayer time by praying for the group, that each child would some day soon make the meaningful commitment to receive God's gift. We finished with the song 'Thank you, Jesus' which regularly concludes any meeting with the children. About 6 children and a few of their younger siblings stayed back to discuss salvation (in Telugu) with the older Sunday School teacher. Please pray for these children, that their commitment to Christ might have been genuine and deep, and that they may all grow into all knowledge and Truth through their newfound Savior. I could see in the eyes of a few of my older boys that they had understood the gospel and had experienced some sort of freeing change.





I found myself answering the spiritual questions of a couple girls who did not feel that they were ready to receive Jesus. Bhavani asked me if becoming a Christian means that one can no longer watch TV. Anusha felt that she should make herself a better person before coming to Jesus. Both the girls could not reconcile in their mind how Christians can really be Christians, because everyone makes continual failures and sin. I was so astounded and pleased to see these dear ones so obviously grappling with the Truth and happily worked through the Answers with them. Please pray as the Lord leads for Anusha and for Bhavani.



Please pray also for the Sunday School Superintendent's oldest son Nelson Samuel, a fairly removed and sad-looking boy. I have been praying for him since my first week, that he would open up and that Jesus would do a transformational work in his life. I have seen the Lord move immensely in him at Sunday School – he brightens up when we speak with him, and he seems to have responded well to the games and activities that we play. For this I praise the Lord. However, Samuel really seems to be struggling with anxiety or some sort of other burden when school time pulls around, and I have not seen him respond to Jesus yet either. Please pray for the Lord's outstanding work in all these areas of Nelson Samuel's life, for the glory of God. Please pray that such a work might be a great example to Samuel's younger brother Isaac.



This Sunday morning I also came to realize how much love the Sunday School teachers have for the children at NLA. I knew before that they were excellent and thorough teachers of the Word of God, even with the limited teaching materials that they have. More than once I have brought up a Biblical topic to which the older children already know the background of. But today I was assured of the very caring and decidedly loving hands that I am leaving 'my kids' in. Actually, I am more 'returning' them than handing them over J. Please pray for complete wisdom and strength for the Sunday School teachers. The Lord is doing a great work through them.



I would request you finally to please pray for the dear children who did not make a commitment to follow Jesus this past week. There were actually several at class last week that are not regular Sunday School attendees – and for them this may have been the first time hearing the Gospel. Please pray that the seeds of the gospel may take root and come to full fruition by the power of the Holy Spirit. Please pray the Lord's fullest blessing upon each of the 44 children (and perhaps a few unrecorded visitors) who have come to Sunday School at any point this past Summer.



Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being involved in this work of the Lord. Marie was sharing with me yesterday afternoon of how many Christian men in India start ministries, or do some sort of time-consuming activity for the gospel. She commented that "they give their Youth to success in their field, and then give their old age to the Lord". I was reminded of Jesus' teaching of the one son who obeyed his Father in a better late than never sort of scenario. NOW I have no idea of the details and the attitudes behind each man's work, and it would be hypocrisy and heresy for me say that pursuing excellence in one's chosen field is not of God. However, I am certain that you will be blessed when you live out your full life for the Gospel of Christ and for the exaltation of His Name and Truth. Whatever field you are in, whatever persons and ministry the Lord has enabled you to come in contact with, we are called by Jesus to live each day in the perspective of His cross. The implications of it cast a distinct and life-giving shadow upon the use of our time, money and energy.

God's recent protection - can I get a 'Thank You Jesus!"

Dear family,

Tonight I saw the Lord's protection in an outstanding way!

I had just come upstairs into our empty 3rd floor apartment this evening, as Choir practice with the Youth had ended. I sat down at my computer to finish off a music presentation that I was making for Church. It was about 9:15, and Marie had not yet come upstairs from her clinic. Kishore was out on an errand. Suddenly, the telephone bell rang. (Note: there is a telephone system set up between the downstairs hospital and our apartment so that the nurses do not have to run up the stairs every time we need something or vice versa. Normally, we (the upstairs) ring a sort of doorbell and then pick up the receiver.) This evening, the reverse happened. The bell rang a few times, paused and then rang again. I got up and stepped towards the phone, but decided not to pick it up. 'If the nurses’ need something that badly, they would call again' I thought to myself, and went back to my work.

Another minute later the bell rang again, and again. Then it dawned on me - it wasn't the phone bell ringing, it was the doorbell! Wondering who would visit at such a time of night, and curious as to why they would ring the doorbell (Note: any visitors to the house so far, being family, have just walked right in), I headed towards the drawing room. There I found a thin, young-looking man, whom I estimate to be about 4 or 5 years older than me, standing in the doorway. The man asked- 'Could I have some water?' To this I gave a distracted 'What?’ Again he said, 'I would like some water.' "I don't think that we have guests coming" changed in my mind to "The back door is locked which means I am trapped in here should this man intend to harm me" in a split second. I was all alone, 2 floors up from help, and in an enclosed space made of cement walls which could muffle cries for help.

As these thoughts passed through my head, my attention was drawn quickly to a movement outside the drawing room window. It was Marie, followed by one of our most imposing-figured paid staff, Rajama. Marie had finished her work downstairs - a patient had collapsed just as she was about to pass through the locked gate, which guards the stairwell. After all hands had gone on deck to attend to the patient, Marie was probably exhausted from a 14-hour day of work. She was probably thinking about the next task ahead of her in the day when she encountered the man in the doorway (curiously, he had hardly moved from his post near the doorbell). Over the next 10 minutes a puzzled (yet extremely frightful) Marie interrogated the young man, who was held in the tight grip of Sergeant Rajama. During the whole kafluffle, I must say that the fellow appeared quite innocent, although few details of his reason for being on the 3rd floor of Suma Hospital seemed plausible to Maire. Geepers, the guy stood outside the OPEN door of the apartment ringing the doorbell for 5 or 6 mintues, and he actually apologized to Marie. To this this Rajama responded in Telugu - "I could smack you on the backside of your head and then say I am sorry, but would that make the situation better?" :) Marie too threatened to release the man to the police, but in the end let him go. I have the feeling that he was sufficiently frightened by these two dear women. Note: Do not aggravate an Indian Mother, unless you are prepared to deal with the consequences. It’s like messing with a mother bear’s cubs – You just don’t do it J.

The conclusion that Kishore came up with, upon his return to the apartment, was that I somehow gave the boy my usual, friendly Leona smile during my short, 15 foot walk from the Church building to the apartment stairwell. Thinking that I was supportive of getting to know him a bit more, the man slipped through the open gate while the collapsed patient was being cared for, and made his way upstairs to me.

In all their years in this apartment, Marie and Kishore have never had a 'surprise visitor' like this one. In their sincere concern, they have set up even more guidelines for my safety. I am to keep even the front door locked, when I am alone. I imagine as well that they will be even more conscious of visitors in the hospital area, a veritable feat for a maternity clinic which services a culture where everyone and their in-laws (actully, probably especially their in-laws :) ) come to visit the new baby the day after its birth. I should mention that about 50% of the citizens of the city of Hyderabad are Muslim - a fact that has kept Kishore and Marie on edge about my safety since the day I arrived.

I don't think that it would be a mission trip for me as a Morris daughter, if I had not encountered some sort of significant danger here in India :). Please refer to my sister Alicia's tale of the 'soap bottle that saved her life' while doing construction work in Mexico, or to the brief encounter Alaina and her female DTS teammates had with some sort of African tribesman, late one night when inspired to pray. It would seem, as you well know, that our Lord is in the business of protecting His children from disaster. Even from my naïve point of view I know that God has kept me in the palm of His Hand, partly due to your vigilant prayers. As Marie says when provoked to praise by the everyday workings of the Lord, "THANK YOU JESUS!"

Amen. Thank You Jesus.

And thank YOU for praying, friends and family! With 11 days left to go, you have been an active part of this mission internship. I would hesitate to do anything drastic for the Lord without your prayer backing.

With love,
Leona

Sunday School

Dear family in Christ,

I would put forward one more prayer request for the week. This Sunday (my 2nd to last in India), I will be gearing the entire hour and a half of Sunday School around giving your life to Christ. To this point, I have cafefully worked through with the children the idea of who Jesus is, and the transformation that takes place when we ask Him to forgive our sin. I was so thankful to find out that the Jesus film has been translated into Telugu (the heart language of most of these children). I will be showing the first half of the movie this week, then in what should be a clear summary of the lessons we have learned.

I will be letting the children know that if any would like to talk more about recieving salvation that they can stay afterward and talk with me and the Sunday School teachers. This is by recommendation of the Sunday School Superintendent, who feels that many children (especially the older girls) have been closely impacted by the past 8 weeks of lessons, and that several might respond.

This then is the prayer request: that the Holy Spirit would move with such freedom and power this Sunday that many souls would be won to Him, and thus lives committed to exalting Him for all eternity. My heart cries for this for these dear children. 40 different little ones have attended Sunday School at one point or another since I have been here. They are so precious - each with different personalities and needs. Some are outstandingly thoughtful, bringing me gifts... and I really feel closely tied to 'my older girls' who have positively blossomed under a mentor closer to their age and enthusiasm.

Would you not only pray that God would save these children, but that He would raise them up as leaders for the country of India? Pray that they might make change for the Lord in the Indian government system, medical system, families, churches and NLA ministry for years to come? I have a vision to see these children go on to do great things for the Lord. Such vison might find a beginning on Sunday.

May I reassure you, that you have been and are being used by God for His marvelous work. There is no greater pleasure, no higher calling then to follow the Lord. His service is the lifeblood of the Christian walk. Sharing His Truth is like tilting a mirror so that a caveman might see the light of day for the first time. It is refreshing to be in the presence of the LORD. However, refreshing does not begin to describe the glorious peace of being used as the hand of God in the work that He has specifically laid out for each one of us.

If I have learned something from my trip to India, it is this: The Lord is good. In Him our sins, our failures, our dreams and our deepest inner longings find their end. Our life is raised through His perfect Son to heights which we have never known, and never could know through this old world alone. And God is real - The application of HIs Truth in our lives is anything but boring and everything which fits together in perfect detail, should we be conscious to recognize it.

May God's blessing be upon you, even as you pray.
With love and thanks,
Leona

Note: I have included a few pictures of a MEHENDHI hand painting party which a few girls from church invited me to. It was held in epectation of one of the girl's public engagement to another wonderful young adult from the church. It was quite fun.

Prayer Requests

Marie and Kishore purposefully give me prayer requests, through confidence in the answers to prayer that we have seen since my arrival here.

Here is praise:
1. Those 4 pits had their bases laid in great timing.
2. Rain was not a problem, and fell at just the right times - for both the land and the New Life Associates Organization. You farmers might be happy to hear that! :)
3. The Lord's clear and continued presence with us.
4. Protection from all animals, with water snakes and cobras in particular.


Here is prayer requests:
1. The healing and full recovery of Mrs. Kristie Deo Presad - a Church member who has been hospitalized with a pelvic infection. Last week she was unable to retain any food or drink - 1 drop in would lead to 4 drops coming out, said the concerned Marie who rushed to her side.
2. Recovery of all removable metal, cement-laying forms from the pits at the site. We discovered that 12 of them were partially buried in mud, and at 1000 rupees a borrowed piece, they are a fair laibility. 8 of the 12 have yet to be removed. Please pray that when the time comes to return the forms to their owner, that each would be in excellent condition... a challenge for the workers who step on them, drop them and yank on them as the need arises.
3. Quick and good completion of the 2 outer pits to be drained and laid.
4. Quick and steady laying of pedestals upon the bases in currently completed pits.
5. Faithful and hard-working attitudes among all staff. A new crew arrived yesterday to speed up the inner electrical and bricklaying inside the 3-storey hospital building which is already erected paralell to the Church. The 4 workers brought with them about 20 family members and a tv. That's the requirement of hiring casual Indian work, I suppose. Please pray that none of these new additions to the construction site would be detrimental to the work there, but that it would multipy its efficiency X2.
6. Kishore's recovery from hia 3 week cold. (A cold in India... isn't that silly! :))

There is a lot of work to be done, but the Lord is SO gracious and SO able to accomplish it all. My prayer is still that the Lord would enable me to see the laying of the Church foundation before I go on Aungust 8th.

With a heart prompted to trust by our Lord's great works,
Leona

Under Authority

Today at the construction site I learned a valuable lesson through my own self-will. I was helping out at the pits - turning the electricity current to the water pumps on and off via a switchboard. This is quite the process when I help - Men will be shoveling mud out of the pit. A mechanic will be in the pit moving the pump's nozzle around and cleaning it of weeds etc. every so often. Marie will stand at the edge of the pit, supervising the workers and managing the different activities going on in the pit. Then I sit 15 feet or so away with the switchboard and in view of where the pumps empty their water.

To me the process seems like an opportunity for independent and success of the job - I try to watch closely the end of the pump's disposal end, and quickly shut of the current when the water stops flowing... otherwise air gets into the hose and disrupts the machine. I think that this is normal... a way to excel at the small tasks. However that doesn't always work in this Indian situation.

I am supposed to respond only to Marie's call to turn the current on or off, as she knows when the men inside the pit have lifted the pump nozzle out of the water for cleaning. She also keeps an eye on whether water is flowing out of the disposing hose. This means that if you came to the New Life Ministry Centre Construction Site when this is occurring, you would hear - "Yellow On"... "Right Red"... "Bankle (Stop in Telegu)"... "Yellow Off" all within a few minutes time. At these times I am also looking directly at the water's flow, so I quickly shut off the water right before Marie's call. This disturbs things. Marie repeats herself, worried that the water has stopped running, when really I have purposely stopped its flow. This happened enough times today that the aggravated Marie called Thomas over to be the second caller who would give Marie's messages to me. Imagine the inefficiency! I continued my pattern of promptly/prematurely turning off the water. Thomas said, "Off, OFF:” And I sell-willingly replied, "I already did". Once I said that, the awareness of my rebelliousness struck home. I sat, facing away from Thomas, looking toward the job I was doing on my own. Then, a few minutes later I turned, by the Holy Spirit, so that my shoulder was down toward this second supervisor. Words of apology flooded to my mind, and when He was free I began - "Thomas I am sorry for not listening to you the first time..." Here he cut me off, with an understanding hand wave. I was free.

It doesn't matter what the problem - rebellion out from under authority is not an option. Petitioning - yes at times is appropriate. Prayer is recommended at all times. But PRIDE must go. Always.

It so happens that later on after Marie overheard this humble request for forgiveness, that she ended up giving me the chance to direct the water's flow independently. And so I see, as that 'Are-you-with-me?' Preacher Biblically prompts re. Authority, you cannot be blessed until you are under it.

I intend to stay here under authority. It is pretty safe and secure. Not to mentioned I surrendered to my Savior unto being here.


Here is the latest picture of Kishore, Marie and I at a family engagement. It was quite humid that day. :) With love, Leona

Lessons from Sheep

This afternoon I went with Kishore to the Construction Site. I avoided being down by the pits because of the bugs that are now
plentiful with all that stagnant water. Water is in the pits all the time - either being drained out of pits or refilling through ground supply the pits that have bases already laid in them. It is a funny picture, the huge cement blocks submerged in water like a sunken ship. However extra water once the bases are laid is not a problem, they just add less water to the cement mix when laying the pillar upon the base, So I guess the prayer request for the pits is that the water will not be such a significant slowdown for the middle Church pillar laying, whenever that time comes around.



A second update about the pits is that significant progress has been made in laying the forms! 4 of them were laid yesterday. The 1st floor of the Pastoral centre was also laid… a job that
went late into the evening. So Marie and I bundled up so that only our faces showed… me in my camping gear (so that I now feel so validated in bringing running shoes with me on my trip J) and Marie in this super-cute red scarf thing. She is already one of the cutest people I know… so to see her swaddled up in the late-night Indian air was pure fun! Kishore bought us biriyani (chicken and rice, cooked into a fabulous and famous dish) and we ate inside the car – picnic style… it was pretty sweet. I especially enjoyed seeing the stars…There is the same Maker and Sustainer of the Heavens in India as in Canada!



1. Please pray that the remaining 4 pits are dug out and completed with ease and speed.

2. Please pray that the 6 pillars which now have forms in them wil be filled before water floods them again and the walls collapse – which would bring work back to stage 3. Please also pray for safety - 6 water snakes and a male cobra were spotted this week in the very area where we work and/or supervise. The water snakes were all killed (and I actually got to play around with one… looking at its teeth and such – they are not poisonous), and it was actually quite bonding to be one of the shrieking women to scatter when the men in the pits motioned to throw one of the slithering creatures at us. However, cobras are deadly I believe, and more of these 7-8 foot reptiles have been found and killed on the premises of the construction site – one near where I have played Hide N' Go seek with the workers children before. So I appreciate the protection that you send all of through Jesus J.


On to a personal lesson from today. As I stood by the front gate to the compound, the Lord taught me many a thing through a passing herd of sheep that a man and his son were directing.



1. One of the best qualities about humans is our dumb-ness.

To get back to the road from the field where they were grazing, the sheep had to cross a small raised strip of land and then a ditch. The first few sheep of the herd caught on that it was time to move to different pastures and bee lined through the brush and over the difficulties to get back to the road. Other sheep unwisely started to follow each other along the strip of land until they congregated at the tip of the incline, where they began to mill around, bleating, with no where to go. Even as this happened, more sheep followed the line of other sheep right into this sorry mess. I watched this happening and shook my head in amazement. "Sheep really do follow their unwise leaders into trouble" and, "sheep really are dumb" was the comments going through my head!

As the Lord is our Shepherd, why would He ever want sheep? Why wouldn't he choose the graceful cranes that descended upon the brush beside the sheep. Perhaps the cranes are cocky. In any case, dumb sheep do make for good followers. A crane doesn't need a master: it flies to wherever it would like, eats what it would like, but is also on its own to be protected from danger (and may I also add, mates with whom it would like to mate with). All of these things, for a sheep, are instead chosen and provided for by the shepherd (this is also shown by the speckled-sheep policy that Jacob used).



2. Being a shepherd is definitely a dirty job.

As the early Jewish occupation was shepherding, I can now see why the Egyptians ate at a separate table from Joseph's family, prior to the Israel family reunion. I can see now how clear the heart of God is for the humble, as the angels first appeared to lowly shepherds with news of the virgin birth (not the educated, wealthy, or prestigious Isrealites). The gospel is 'for all people'. May we be quick to wish to share it with people of all states of society. As a fire might quickly spread from one revived heart to another worn out soul, may we be ready to recognize the Spirit's work in any sinner who is tired from carrying the load of sin, thereby that penitence and faith might lead these beloved persons into relationship with the Saviour who would hold them securely.



3. Jesus is shhhing us, waving His hands at us, and throwing rocks at us... in that order.

In order to direct the sheep according to his will the shepherd mad a sort of shhtttttt-shhhhhtttttt noise with his mouth. It sounded a bit like a rattlesnake, actually. He also raised his hands straight above his head, waving them, and made the noise again. The shepherd wanted his sheep to move on from the soft yet hilly bush land, to the well-defined yet bumpy road. Several sheep took notice of the master's gentle voice. His raised hands were also difficult to miss for those sheep that had their eyes on the mster. Those who noticed his directions, the master lead on to the next stage.

I thought to myself "That's it? That doesn't sound right? Doesn't the Shepherd go after His one little lost sheep, and He is leaving a good handful of distracted sheep in this bush land!" You see, one particular group of sheep had been munching among some fairly tall weeds. When the master called with his gentle whisper, they were more interested in their stomachs than taking care to follow him. When he raised his hands, it is possible that the sheep did not even see the Shepherd's shadow because they had their heads bowed down in their food. Now they were left behind. In fact, I thought that this was the lesson... "The disobedient sheep did not choose salvation"

However, I was wrong. After a few minutes, the shepherd returned. He had given them time to live in their stubbornness, although I would not say that the Shepherd seemed happy with their initial reply of 'no thank you, the grass is just fine'. The master picked up a few stones from the ground - pebbles, really - and tossed in the direction of the stubborn sheep. According to his aim the shepherd's directive pebble fell just short of actually hitting the sheep. It put the sheep on edge, and they soon found their way through the bush, over the strip of land and over the ditch as well.

I also notice that pattern by which the sheep jumped over the ditch: the first few boldly going on before with much time in the first and second critters. When the pathway became clear, sheep began crossing the raised incline in pairs, with a single sheep crossing every so often. The stubborn sheep, when they crossed had to figure out the way across the ditch again, as they waited too long to follow in the steps of the first sheep.



It amazes me how the Holy Spirit can show such truths to me in such an understandable way. As I pondered beyond these revelations I concluded:

It is certain that on the road, the sheep would be under more direct sunlight, have less respite from the heat, and would have to struggle more to get food and water. However, it was time for a new segment of their journey - and among all the different surroundings and obstacles there would be the same Master and the same Master's son with them. The role and character of the master is as leader, director and provider. Thus the Master planned where the sheep would rest when the day is over. He knew how to get them to their destination. And it is was Master who would keep His sheep until their journey's end.



That is a pretty deep lesson from a flock of sheep. It certainly is a gracious Master that we are following, who is here with us.

Beautiful weather. Please keep praying.

Hello beloved blog-readers!

I apologize for my delayed posting. I bring you the fabulous update that the Lord is still beyond comprehension AND still working in Hyderabad.

The weather here has been absolutely beautiful for the Rainy Season (also called 'Winter' here. :) . We have about 5 minutes of downpouring rain every 4 days or so, which has been great for draining the pits and laying the bases for the pillars. Here is of the picture of the Church site as of last week. Since then 3 more bases have been laid (count 1 to the left and 2 to the right of the wire form sticking out of the 1st pit in this picture), and all but one of the pits that are dug so far are scheduled to have bases laid in them as of 4 days from now.

Then will come the task of laying the actual pillars. After that a machine will come and move the 15 foot mounds of dirt pack into the pits that it came from. Then a machine will dig the other half of the pillar pits. You see, the Church pillars are also being laid in stages according to location. The outer pits are being completed first.

As you can see, even with all the fabulous weather, work is incredibly slow-going here. For example, to drain the pits 7 or 8 people form a line to move one container of mud at a time. Take a look at the picture here. The line will start with a few men shovelling within the pit, snake up along the bamboo ladder and end with three or four women place along the mound of dirt (like the woman in the picture). It is almost painful to watch. However, as Marie said to me today: "I believe that the Lord who gave this vision will bring it to fulfillment". That statement came in the context of her sharing her stuggles with international support raising. On a very real and honest level, when Kishore and Marie come to the U.S. and Canada to request financial gifts from people for their minsitry, Marie feels a great amount of stress in being a burden to the people who house her, along with the jet lag, continuous drives, etc... After my own experience with jet lag and the extremely hospitable hostess that Marie has been to me I am beginning to understand what she means.

New Life Associates as a mission is similar to the mission that Kirk and Deborah Baker and their family serve with in that apart from personal connections, you wouldn't find their name on commercials. Without 'championing their cause' too much, I do think that is is important to say that I have found the current extent as well as the potential reach of New Life Associates to be wide and significant in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Kishore's training and heart to apply the Word of God in the Christian life has led him to a television ministry that reaches 3 million people internationally, and I also know that he has had an impact on the changed mindsets of many Indian Chirstians in our area when it comes to promoting social responsiblity (who's previous lack thereof 'cheapened' salvation to a raise-your-hand-if-you-want-a-healing-from-Jesus gospel). I should say that such preaching still exists, and there are those who incorrectly promote the gift of God's eternal life among the blessing-hungry Indians without explaining the life change that should follow one's conversion. I guess that this also happens in Canada on a much smaller scale (both population-wise and publicity-wise). For both countries I would request prayer.

On a personal level I have come to know God's gracious love as my righteousness and strength in some fun ways this week.

Oooh, and I musn't forget, Marie let me roll out and fry the chapates tonight for dinner... just as long as I didn't prepare hers :). I will come home skilled in at least three Indian Kitchen activities: chai tea making, mango cutting and chapate frying! You are more than welcome to invite me over to do any of those three things, provided you bring the milk, mango or wheat flour respectively.

Signing off for now!
With love and thanks to you,
Leona

Happy Canada Day friends and family!

It’s Leona here...as thankful for you and for the opportunity to be in India as ever. There was actually a procession and fireworks on the road in front of the Church this evening. Although it was for a Hindu marriage ceremony, I think that the Lord was so thoughtful to have sent me such a lovely Canada Day treat. Even as I leaned against the edge of the balcony watching the lights, a family of three exited their apartment, each one dressed fully in RED! Whoo hoo! I hope that you were able to gather together & enjoy the festivities & fellowship.

This afternoon as I sat, feeling the waves of (only) my second major episode of Indian stomach upset so far, my mind drifted back to the Telegu Church service that I attended today. A family of four (with a son and daughter both in high school) approached me. After introductions the mother implored me saying, “Please pray for my children… daily.” Then again she said, “Daily, pray for my children.” My response was “Yes, while I am here."

To me, this request epitomizes a major view that Christian Indians hold, or at least Christians in the New Life Community Church - We MUST HAVE God’s blessing. We WANT God’s blessing. In Sunday School my first week I was slightly astonished to hear the Indian Sunday School teacher tell the children directly: ‘You should ALL bring your offering next week, We Need blessings from God. So, we should not come to God empty-handed’. During the regular Church service adults and children are reminded of this as well. There is a special offering each week where giving congregation members will go stand at the front, present their gifts, and have read aloud the reason that they are giving thanks to the Lord. I have seen students bring special monetary offerings to the front in response to the academic success the Lord has granted them. I have also seen parents give special donations as a thank you for the healing that the Lord bestowed upon them.

My first reaction to this was… {Aren’t we supposed to keep our gifts to the Lord secret?} Over time however, the Lord has reminded me that early Christians brought their gifts to the Lord in a public way (although some unsuccessfully). It also seems very logical to me to so clearly link in our minds the blessing of the Lord with giving all that we have to Him. The New Life Community Church sure is teaching their children the dual pleasure & responsibility of giving to the Lord. Perhaps modern-day Western children could do with having this concept emphasized. (Note: This is me with a day-old baby in the maternity clinic. I haven't figured out how to hold them so that they don't cry yet. :))

Here is a clipping of Warren W. Wiersbe in his commentary Be Determined:
“When God’s people start to decline spiritually, one of the first places it shows up is in their giving. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). The believer who is happy in the Lord and walking in His will has a generous heart and wants to share with others. Giving is both the “thermostat” and the “thermometer” of the Christian life: It measures our spiritual “temperature” and also helps set it at the right level.”

My Mom has said for years: “You can’t out-give God”.

Wiersbe goes on to say that giving is a secret of staying fresh as a Christian. Those who only recieve can be like reservoirs - with sort of stale and polluted water. However, those who both recieve AND give are like can be channels! Doesn't that make so much sense :)! I can't help but think of the pits at the Ministry Centre, curiously dark and some which have been full of ground water for so long that large weeds have grown in them.

The current problem at the site is having enough workers to empty the pits and set up the pillar forms before they refill with water. But please also pray for hard-working, committed workers... they are a little difficult to find around here, it seems.

Overall, I am thankful today for the clear reminder of our need for God’s everyday supply (aka. Blessings). May I encourage the wonderful Christian parents in my churches back home, to continue on teaching their children (and showing them) what it means to give to the Lord. May we all clearly meet with the Faithful One this week – to both give and be blessed.