So, getting back to the team that visited us from our home church-
Previously, I had been part of and lead a couple teams here on short term trips to teach new believers and encourage them as they go out to plant churches and proclaim God's kingdom on Earth. Important, but our strategy for volunteer teams when they come is for Gospel saturation. Nothing draws a crowd here quicker than a few foreign faces and some stories to share. The team did a great job the first two days, sharing with close to 400-some people who had never heard before. It was good for them to see how they fit into our strategy of reaching an unimaginable population who have never heard of Jesus. They said it would be much more of a draw for people to come on a trip to be sharing their testimony and the Gospel of Jesus rather than try to teach at a conference or seminar. Some of the members of this team have been on other international trips, and one of them said that this was the best one they had been on. They got to see fruit, and life change in front of their eyes. I thank God for their obedience to come and be part of our work here, and know much more about how to partner with us.
Anyways, the last day our team was in the field we planned to walk through a village area. On the way, we were invited into the house of one of the neighbors of our local CP. We shared who we were and we all drank tea (in 100+ degree heat mind you). One of our team shared his story with the whole family, and then we shared the Gospel of Jesus. The leader of the family said that this was a big decision and to ask him to make this decision now is difficult. He said that what we shared was good, but for him to make a decision would not only affect him but the entire family would be affected also. We told him that it was ok that he thinks about these things. It is better than him saying flat out "no". He is a wise man and a good family leader. Our local CP is going to continue to build this relationship further to be available for any questions that might come up.
We then left and walked through a local village, again drawing quite the excitement. A young man asked us to sit down under his small covering for shade and he offered us water. We offered to share a story. We actually acted out a skit about 3 people on their way to heaven- A priest who talks to God for the people; A person whose parents were religious; and a person who gives much time and money helping the poor. All these people thought that they would go to heaven and have no problem. On the way, they come across a man who wants to go with them. They ask what he does, and he tells them that he is just a man with sin in his life. The three tell him that he will probably not get into heaven, but he can come along only if he walks behind them a ways. When they get to the door of heaven (another of the team stands there as Jesus) all try to get in by knocking, but there is no answer, even when all three bang and yell. Just as the three are discussing why the door won't open, the sinner gets on his knees before the door, confesses that he is a sinner and asks Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus opens the door and welcomes him in with a hug, to the astonishment of the three (and many of the audience). We then explain to them about each person and then give the Gospel. There were people everywhere, about 200, and we were in the middle of the village road. People were climbing onto walls, into trees and pushing in close to see us and hear what we had to say. The young man who first invited us to sit accepted the salvation as did about 4 others- right in front of the entire village!! Our CP said that many times people are too shy to come forward in front of large amount of people as that, so the ones that did must have really been feeling the call from Jesus. We asked them how they all felt, and they said they felt peace. What a blessing to see eternal life change right in front of us like that! We moved on after some time and were invited into a house that was newly built and they were celebrating the opening. They counted it good luck for foreigners to come in to the house. When a house is new, before Hindus move in they have the local pundit come and do puja (hindu worship) in the house for a whole day while neighbors and family and friends come by. We were able to come in and witness some of this. We know that when they do this, they are inviting many kinds of evil into their home. This day, however, the Lord had us there. They actually asked us to pray a special blessing on the house! We all did, so Jesus' name has been proclaimed in this house. We prayed that they find peace when hearing the name of Jesus and that prosperity will come to this family and house in His name!
All in all, the trip was great! Thank you FBC for a great visit and for proclaiming the name of the Lord to the ends of the Earth! You may never know how many lives you actually affected, but the results and the glory belong to the One True God, and He will bless you for your obedience and faithful service!
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