Winter 2014 - India Update

This email contains sensitive information and phonos.  Please do not post online without Sarah's permission. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. India Winter 2014 A Muslim Mission The continuous snow is undoubtedly a shock from the Indian heat I was soaking in just weeks ago.  I recently returned from a Say Hello trip in which I spent the month of January with one of our partner ministries.  One Muslim woman in the ministry's center, a twenty-seven-year-old mother of three, has faithfully been coming to the center for several months. She mastered their beautician courses, empowering her with skills she can use from her home to help provide income for her family. She also excelled in English classes, and before the end of our time together, she eagerly shared with us a paper she wrote (below). In it, she described at length who she has come to know Jesus as--not just a prophet as her faith teaches, but the Son of God!  Thank you for your support as I work for the sustainability of ministries that allow us to embrace the lives of precious women like this one with life-giving Truth and Love! Support My Mission Work   |   Forward to Friend   |   Friend on Facebook Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|**|END:IF|* *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|* unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Giggles and Desert Dust: A Story of Jesus' Love

Their giggles lifted with the dust as they scooted apart on the dry desert dirt, splintering themselves into two groups.  Mukesh, the oldest boy, sat gangly and proud, enthroned in a chair facing them.  They squirmed with delight as the story unfolded.  "One day, a group of children came to Jesus."  The group with the tiniest children bounded in front of Mukesh.  Delighted with his role, Mukesh responded to as Jesus, opening his arms to the tiny ones before him.  "But the people with Jesus pushed the children away, saying he had no time for them."  The older children jested playfully at the tiny ones, sending another cloud of dust into the crowd.  "Jesus loved the children, though, and blessed them!" 

As if they'd just heard the unimaginable, their eyes rose slowly above the dust, flooding with an almost-tangible awe.  Their dirt-smeared faces brimmed with desire for Someone who would courageously defend His love for them that way.  But they would never even dream of that.  Not a Banjara child.

Despised as the untouchables of society, the Banjaras are believed to be under a curse of by-gone generations, a pronounced judgment of a cowardly king who feared dethronement after the loss of a war.  Legend holds that because the Banjara people made the weapons for the lost battle, they were punished with a curse that ousted them from society and forbid them from owning land or even living in homes.

With sun-worn pieces of fallen billboard plastic draped over bamboo frames, their makeshift huts now nestle into abandoned lots between apartment buildings.  Squatting on the unowned land, they have no rights to electricity or water, forcing them to walk to wells to draw the day's water.  By night, fires crackle outside each hut, the only light glowing in the eerie darkness.  Mystic chants to faceless gods pollute the shadows as drunkenness drowns the tears of broken hearts and hopes, shattered by the curse that culture continues to hold over them.

The caste-bred culture of India pushes the untouchable Banjara children away. Challenging the local culture, the church began reaching out to the Banjara children in the face of opposition.  Compelled by the same Love that drew the children in and blessed them, the church not only reaches into the villages to share the Love and Hope of Jesus, but also draws them out of their segregate communities to attend school.  Defying those who fear they'd fall under the same curse if they tried to help the Banjaras, the church is educating the first generation of Banjara children not only in reading, writing and arithmetic, but also in relationship with the One who said, "Let all the little children come to me," (Mt. 19:14).

For children like Mukesh, the church has been life-giving.  Abandoned by his despondent parents, Mukesh was left to beg from the families of his desolate village.  In desperation, one of the fathers brought Mukesh to the church's school, begging the pastor to admit him.  Now receiving a proper education, nutrition and Cristian discipleship, Mukesh has found Life - life abundant and free.

The red stone school rises as a testimony of how the church has challenged culture for hundreds of children just like Mukesh.

• Pray for courageous leaders who will not be afraid to challenge local culture to cultivate Kingdom culture.
• Pray for compassionate leaders who will see beyond cultural norms to the things that break the Father's heart.
• Pray for rising generations to find freedom in Jesus from bondages of generations past.

A Thousand Thanks

This email contains sensitive information.  Please do not post online without Sarah's permission. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. India Summer 2013  A Thousand Smiles. A Thousand Thanks. It's been nearly 7 weeks since I hugged and held these precious ones.  I was strong as I said my see-you-laters to the Banjara children I had fallen in love with over 2 years ago, but crumbled in tears as I breathed my most desperate prayers for God to feed them, protect them and continue to nurture their hearts with His love.  As I now sit with my leaders to pray about where God would lead me in the future, I am again filled with gratitude for YOU!  Thank you for sharing in this journey, and thank you for your prayers. Watch their stories  » Friend on Facebook | Forward to Friend  Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|**|END:IF|* *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|* unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Summer Update

I recently traveled 9 hours out of Jaipur to visit and encourage village pastors and a church. Walking as far as 20 kilometers and news spreading only by word of mouth, more than 60 people showed up for service, and after the service, 15 people were baptized!  It was an incredible, humbling experience. Where did I go? Our camp for the slum children brought Bible lessons to life through clowns, crafts, skits, music and even photography classes! Your generous support supplied the camp, including 5 digital cameras for the school to continue teaching photography. Thank you for giving! See more pictures! Full Tummies Throughout the week, I travel to our villages early in the morning with breakfast for our kids. While school is on break, risk of malnutrition rises.  Pray that our Father provides for them! Go Royals! I went to my first professional cricket match!  From learning the rules of the game to watching the most interesting "cheer leaders" I've ever seen, the day was a hit!  Let's go Rajasthan Royals! Fun in the Sun We had over 100 children join us for 2 weeks of summer camp.  With temperatures soaring over 110 degrees, they had a blast playing with soap suds, water balloons and soaking sponges! Download Prayer List Friend Me on Facebook Support My India Work Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* *|LIST:ADDRESS|* *|END:IF|* Unsubscribe | Update Subscription Preferences *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*