E-Pray September 2014
Dear Epray Friends,
Thank you for praying for the last few weeks as the boys headed off one-by-one… They are all doing well and John & I are adjusting, thankful that Jake will be home this semester! There is still about a week before John goes so please keep praying that we will finish all we have planned to finish before he goes. Thanks!
We were so grateful for the opportunity last month that Josh had to share of some of his experiences while on his trips to Thailand & India he did through his internship last year. One story was really amazing and he said that I could share it with you. It is just SO encouraging to see how the Lord has plans for us and for those around us and for those in unreached villages! I will have to do some summarizing so I will do my best!
There were just a handful of guys on the team, mostly young men in their 20’s, and one really great guy who is in his 60’s, we will call J. One of the purposes of the trip was to bring gifts & shoes to the people of a very remote village in the mountains, and get a better understanding of how receptive they would be for more visits. Once they arrived at the spot where their vehicle could go no further, they unloaded and waited for a long time for the arranged travel companions to join them to help carry all of their supplies down the mountain to the village. Well, as often happens in India, and by that I mean always, things didn’t go according to plan so the people waiting with them told them to go on ahead and they would send the companions after them with the supplies as soon as they showed up. So, they started on their journey.
It was a very difficult trek, even for the strong young guys. The terrain was very steep, and at some points really dropped straight down, with jagged rocks and scratchy tree branches across the paths. This climb really took its toll on J. He had slipped several times, his legs & arms were bleeding, and his muscles were quivering. What made it all even more challenging was that it was hot and they had finished up almost all of the water that they had with them. They had more but it was up waiting for the helpers to carry down.
They had already hiked what was supposed to be a 3-hour-hike for 5 hours and there was one occasion that J told the young men to just go on without him. He just didn’t know if he could go any more. The boys didn’t say anything, but Josh & one other just sat with him and rested. After about ½ hour they all started out again.
They felt a great relief when they saw that they had finally reached the village! They entered with their guide, but couldn’t really talk with the people, as their translator was coming with the others. They sat, rested, & waited… they were pretty hungry & very thirsty, but they still had to wait for their supply of water to come as there was no clean water in the village available for them to drink. They waited & waited. Finally when darkness came they made themselves a spot to sleep on an empty slab of concrete and slept as best they could. Morning brought the same waiting, and finally, after several hours, their companions arrived with the supplies! Josh said that he has never been so appreciative of clean water!
Finally, they were able to do what they came to do… they handed out the gifts and supplies and then a few of them shared some short messages and they did a skit for them, but what they experienced from the villagers was actually very little interest or interaction. Josh & the others were wondering… was this whole trip worth it?? After all the effort they had made there were only a few people who even cared to listen.
Oh… I guess I am going to have to finish this amazing story in next month’s epray as we always try to keep it to only one page & I have reached the end of the page!
To be continued…
Thank you, as always, for caring and praying for us and all the ministries of SERVE India! Blessings!!
His joy, Love,
The Nanda’s