India - Reader's Digest Version

Event: Youth-o-Ramah
Location: Raghunathpur, India
Dates: Left Chicago September 27; returned Oct. 8; actual event ran Oct. 2-6.
Who I went with: Janelle and Caleb Bislow.
Purpose: A gathering of 13-35 year olds of the Missionary Church in India.

Some Highlights:

• Two days spent in London seeing buildings older than when Columbus landed in the New World (my most favorite were Westmister Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral).
• Our entire travel time, in a car, flying, or on a train was over 35 hours one way.
• India is a beautiful place with beautiful people. At first sight, it looks and smells so different that you aren't sure. The more time you spend there, the more you see it.
• 400 youth show up, some traveling as long as 30 hours on a bus or train to get there. We were expecting 200-250.
• The youth sat in 7-8 hours of worship and teaching every day and ATE IT UP! I guess when you live in a country where there isn't a church on every corner (anywhere from 1.8-5% Christian) you take advantage of diving into the word when you're with other believers.
• I love working with Caleb Bislow. He's an evangelist. I'm a discipler. He's a preacher. I'm a teacher. We both have a passion for students. He's the real deal. Janelle and I loved our time together.
• Over 70 students chose to become Christ-followers for the first time.
• One gal, Pinkie, came from the Northeast. She belongs to a Hindu family, and she herself is a Hindu. Her friend brought her. During the week, I experienced a transformation in her which climaxed on Friday morning as she stood before the group in utter brokenness explaining that Jesus had come to her in a dream and told her that He was the answer. She couldn't believe she had waited so long to ask Christ to enter her life.
• Logan is the pastor of the Hastings Chapel Hindi Fellowship in Calcutta. God has given him a gift of Healing. We saw it in action. This guy isn't Benny Hinn. He's one of the most humble, kind-hearted, and normal men I've met. The members of his youth group remind me of my group back home.
• Ravi is training to be a jockey in Calcutta. It's a five year process, and horse racing is a big deal. This 16 year old came out of a Hindu background. He returns home committed to "hold the ropes" for his Hindu family, showing and telling them about Jesus Christ, and praying for them to see the light of Christ.
• God has strategically placed Joshua in the Northeast. He travels from village to village, tribe to tribe, sharing the Gospel. He and the others of the Missionary Church have planted over 40 churches and started many more home fellowships. They are now preparing to take the message in to two different bordering countries that are very closed to the Gospel.
• When asking Joshua and Apurba if they face much opposition, they responded, "no perseccution. Just individuals being kicked out their homes and shunned by their families." We have nooo idea as "American Christians".
• Pinkie (different fromt the one above) and Prianca (20 and 18 years old) live at the school where the event took place. Janelle and I fell in love with these gals. Prianca said that her time in Janelle's sessions and spending time together helped her see that she was valued and special to God and His plans. Before we left these gals, who didn't have much, gave us several gifts, including a picture of two cats that was hanging in their house. It will now hang in ours, even though I hate cats.
• Sonmoth is a 40 year old doctor. When he became a Christ follower and "took baptism", he got various tattoos. His mom tied him down and poured acid on his tattoos.
• Pronoy Sarkar, our host, was good friends with Mother Teresa. He once received a special award from the pope himself. This 70 year old has served God faithfully in India. You've heard of Billy Graham? Yoda? Gandalf? Blah.

An incredible time. I kept a journal throughout, and will be posting it in the days to come.
For those who were faithful in prayer, I can tell you that it was an incredible experience. God moved, and the fruit from this event could potentially be far reaching and significant for the Kingdom of God!