A day of rest (Sat 11 Feb 2012)

A day of rest today after yesterday.

A view of the field by Enosh's house where the crusade was held.  Nearly all packed away now...

Two people came over to the house today for prayer.  Young lad wanted prayer for his studies and had been involved in a fight and had had his face hit.  Face healed.

Another man came who had a Hindu background.  The guy was sweating profusely when we were praying for hi,.  So had to lead him in a prayer of repentance and cutting him off from the former things.  Still had some heaviness in his head but just him being fearful of what disease he might have rather than anything spiritual.

Again, I was so fearful at the start - was yesterday a dream?  Would God do the business again?  And He did.  I don't know how I can maintain this over time.  Good chatting with Peter and he tells me that he travels 1½ hours to the nearest "Healing Rooms" once a month to pray for people so it keeps the gifting alive.

Roy also brought a sobering story about Barney Coombes' son who as a child prayed for someone who was blind and they saw again but today his son not a believer.  I confess that I thought that bringing children on mission so they saw God in action would "ensure" that they'd stay on with God.  But I realise now that I was relying on something other than God Himself.  The truth is I need to be on my knees begging my Father that my children as it's Him who brings them into the Kingdom.  Yes I need to do my part and live my faith but they need to be born of the Spirit and only He can do that.


How I am going to share what I've seen with those at home?  What lessons have I learnt? 

• The people are SO hungry for God.  We have trouble getting to church on time.  No wonder God is delighted to pour out His blessing.
• There was more than a month of prayer and fasting beforehand - they take it seriously that God changes things with prayer.
• We have so much "stuff" that it slows us down from responding to God.
• Faith shrinks when it's not being tested - what in our life is beyond our natural (God given) abilities?  How do we need God?  Are we living like agnostic Christians?

"Youth Blessing Festival" - third evening

Great evening meeting, at least 50 people saved and Roy also asked for those Christians who wanted to follow Jesus day-by-day to stand up.

Then since it was the final night there was a real crush of people for prayer.  They were holding them back but they were ducking under the barriers and shoving and jostling to get closer.

Waiting for prayer afterwards

It must've been like when Jesus went around with people clamouring to touch him and receive healing.  Don't know how many we prayed for.  Lizzie reckons we prayed for 3 hours.  We certainly finished at 1am and then prayed for the helpers as well.

Similar things: headaches, heart pain, back pain, leg pain, child with fever, neck ache as well as prayer for blessing.  By the evening my faith was so lifted by all we'd seen God do that it was a delight and joy to pray.

It was great to see God's Kingdom advancing and pushing back the works of darkness.  It was fab to see the hunger of the people for a touch from God - some waiting three hours "just" to receive a blessing.

My only concern was for the child with the fever who came back again today - we prayed and the child settled again but asked them to come back tomorrow if there's no improvement.  Lord, please pour out your healing on this child.

The highlights included one lady who had pain all over so made me ask if there was idol worship or unconfessed sin.  She confessed to have a really short temper.  So we prayed for her and she just collapsed into the loving arms of the Father.

Another lady felt fear when we prayed for her - so we cast out this spirit and she felt suich a lightness filling her.

Another lady had pain all over so again enquired and she'd had witchdoctors praying for her.  So we asked her to renounce her acceptance of their healing and I think we had breakthrough.

Right towards the end we had a lad with headache and pain all over his body.  Enquired and found out he wasn't actually a Christian.  So we prayed and he felt the pain lessening but it wasn't all gone.  So I asked if he wanted to receive Jesus and receive the rest of the healing.  He said yes and we prayed for the Holy Spirit to fill him and all the pain had gone.

I think what was good was the fact that I just was delighting in God's love for the Indians and His pleasure with their hearts that are seeking Him.  There wasn't a trace of pride tonight - just the joy of bringing Jesus to people.

It was also great to start getting the translators to pray for people with me.  They were thinking only a "great man of God" could do this - and I had to repeatedly tell them Jesus will use anyone who is willing (besides I'd only been doing it for 3 days!)  So got them to pray with me in the same way that Peter was so gracious in letting me join him.  At the end I got Babu to pray on his own - and it was great to see God use him and the faith rise (particularly since he was praying for a friend and so was more fearful).

Lord, please will you help those young men to rise up in You, to do the works You do, to step out and be counted for You.  Lord may they realise that they don't need us - only You.

Jesus said my food is to do the will of the Father and I certainly felt that I wasn't hungry - I was alive!  But I had neglected Lizzie and she was aboslutely shattered.  So I had to ask for her forgiveness for putting others higher than her.

Lord, thank You for the privilege of being Your hands in India.  thank You for sharing Your heart for the people of India.  Thank You for letting me be a part of seeing Your Kingdom advancing and taking ground back from the Enemy.

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"Youth Blessing Festival" - third evening (prayer before)

Wow!  What a day - just absolutely awesome.

First we had prayer before the meeting.  Again, Lizzie and I started with Peter and with one lady with pain all over.  When praying she started shaking - so asked and found out that she'd prayed to an idol (and had in fact asked the spirit to enter her).  So we got her to renounce it and prayed more,  Pesky thing was telling her all sorts of lies and saying she couldn't make him go.

Prayed for goodness knows how many headaches, two with chest pains, two with leg pains, back pain, lump in arm, infertility, one lady who couldn't raise her arm, two with indigestion, students asking for help with their studies and many asking for blessing (including lots of people asking is to bless their little bottles of oil).

To be honest there wasn't a clear breakthrough on the lady with the arm and i confess that when praying for the ladies with indigestion I listened to the voice that said "Jennie's got indigestion and that's not got better" and so I doubted and did not see complete breakthrough.

*Also learnt that the side rocking with their head means "yes" - whereas for us it would mean so-so.  So all the other nights when I'd been praying and asking the interpretor whether they felt better I saw the "so-so" response from the individual and didn't believe him when he said that they said it was all better.  Funny now.  So all those prayers where I didn't feel there was complete breakthrough - there was.  God is good - he gets the glory!

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Shopping, baptisms and more prayer

Bought Lizzie a punjabi - Chundra (Enosh's wife who came with us and ensured that we didn't get ripped off as tourists!) was very kind and treated Lizzie to a second one.  I gave the rest of our Indian money to Enosh - I just couldn't hold onto it when God's doing so much here - my money will be going on the Kingdom.

Great to commission one of the church leaders at the conference.  God was very gracious and gave me a word for her after looking at her Sari (black, red, green - the black indicates the darkness, the red - the blood of Jesus and her blood shed for the Gospel and the green is the growth that will come out of her sacrifice).

After the conference we baptised the first five of the people who became Christians at the Youth Blessing festival (the rest are to be baptised on Sunday).  I love how they baptise people as soon as they can after their conversion.  We got to pray for them.

Then got to pray with Peter for a few people later on in the afternoon for a few people.  Really good as after a sleep I can almost feel like it's all a dream.  So it's good to pray with him so that my faith is built up.  Once you see God working it become easier to trust and believe Him to do the same again.

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Pastors conference (Fri 10 Feb am)

Roy's teaching

If we don't hear from God then the church will remain just the same.

eg Methodists hear from God at start but 150 years still the same

10 years ago 30,000 people groups had not heard the gospel, now it's down to 8,000 people groups.  So probably another 10 years before Jesus comes again.  We need to use that to rescue people but we won't do that at the current rate and certainly won't do it with more effort - but only by listening to God and being obedient.  Hence, it is vital to hear from God.

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People were coming to the church for prayer during the Pastor's conference.  Peter was very gracious and asked me to join him.

First lady was brought by her Christian friend.  She was from a Hindu background and had two tumours.  Prayed for her and she felt the pain decrease - asked if she wanted to accept Jesus - she said she would if healed - but challenged her - and she accepted Jesus , the pain went and the tumours started decreasing.

Second lady had neck pain and a tunour on her front.  God healed both.

Next lady had heart pain - but God broke my heart and I found myself praying that God would cut her off from a spirit of rejection.  God is good.  My faith has risen from its low this morning.

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Peter's teaching:

Seek out those with maturity who are further along the path than you and imitate the,

However, look beyond the gifting and look at the character.  Since in the long-term only those who carry the character of God will continue their ministry to the end.

Similarly, share those things that God has given you with those around.

Finally, when imitating be who you are - your unique character that God has given you.

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"Youth Blessing Festival" - second evening

So tired this morning - the meeting finished late with much prayer for people then diiner meant it was at least 12.30am before we got to bed.

It feels a bit like a dream - did He really use us yesterday?

We had prayer for people in the church before the meeting which had a little more time.  Peter was so kind in training us up.  We got to pray with him for people as he talked through it and we saw God do many things our faith rose and we then started praying for people on our own.

Saw God do so many amazing things such as healing a ladies hearing - but again it was very mixed.  For example one lady her eyesight was healed as was her neck but still had a headache.  Another ladies knees were healed but her back wasn't...

Faith was certainly rising as we saw Him do good things - but I realised that so was my pride and I wasn't being broken for those who didn't see breakthrough eg mute baby and gall stones.

So asked God to break my heart for the people - that I would see the people that Jesus loves and not as stepping stones to success in healing.  That I would seek to know Jesus more rather than many people healed.  That I would be obedient rather than important.

Not surprisingly with a prayer like that we didn't see much breakthrough during the night - not even for headaches*.  Lizzie prayed for a baby with fever who was screaming and the baby calmed down and went to sleep.  I also saw a lady with a sore back get better.

But I did have much more of a heart for those that didn't see breakthrough and that's more important.

Good to also hear that the guy who I prayed for who couldn't raise his arm had more prayer with Peter and saw healing.

* Again when asked by the translator if it was better they just did that so-so side head rocking motion.  Something cool is going to be discovered later - you'll have to hold on though!!

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Second visit to orphanage (Thu 9 Feb pm)

Visited the children today when the children were back from school.  Went by little yellow taxi (woo hoo) - but with only five of us in it - it just didn't feel right!!!

It's great to see the children so happy and healthy.  They are clearly well loved*.

Was asked (with about 2 mins warning) if I would like to talk to the children.  Some frantic praying and felt I was to talk about the upside down kingdom.  So stood on my head and asked them about who was most important in Jesus' upside-down kingdom.  We started with the First minister and then down to Enosh and Roy and then one of the strongest lads and one of the prettiest girls** - each time asking the children whether that was the most important person.  They quickly got into the game of it - saying "no!" each time.  Finally I picked up one of the smallest boys and said he would be the most important.  You could see them asking why.  So I said that who of them would've sat perched on the arms of a strange white man like this little boy?  It's because he simply trusts - that is why he is most important.

So great to do assemblies again and then we got to pray for and bless the children afterwards.

Sorry Lord that I was looking earthly praise from Roy and Enosh afterwards.  I have a gifting but I need to hear Your applause.  I need You to change me so I have just one desire: to please You.  But I need to hear You applause and delight so I don't look elsewhere.

*If you want to support them go to hope4india.org.uk - £15 a month is all it takes for their housing, food and schooling. 


**I don't think it was coincidence that when I chose a girl at random it was the one who probably didn't think of herself as pretty - I think God is very good.

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Reflections on healing

Peter's better after having Delhi belly in the night and morning*.

Took the opportunity to chat with him about the whole healing thing last night.  Was really glad I did as he related his journey how he had prayed for hundreds of people and seen nothing, but then one day in church a lady said she'd had a terrible week do he asked if he could pray with her.  He only remembered after he was leaving church so ran back in and prayed for her and she became like paralysed and said "the Holy Spirit is all over me!" She seemed very happy so he asked if it was OK if he could go (!) and as he was leaving the second time the ladies friend asked him to pray for her and a similar thing happened to her and then later that day someone phoned him and the same thing happened when he prayed for her over the phone.  But then nothing again for three months!

But what did help was not going after the healing but going after God - so he got teaching by those who knew God (eg Heidi Baker) to get deeper himself.

Something else he said which was helpful was a lot of healings didn't occur straight-away but when they woke up the following morning.  So it's a case of praying and trusting God to do the business.

I feel encouraged Father and I'll pray more - but more than that - I want to know you deeper.


Also it's such a place of contrasts:

• We prayed and saw one person definitely healed and three other not.  What do we do with that?
• Amongst the pastors there was one man who brought his baby to Roy in celebration of the fact that they conceived after he prayed for them last time.  But then there was another pastor who after 7 years still remains childless.
• Three people in Enosh's church have been healed of HIV when they came to Christ but yet four other haven't.

I guess we rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep - beyond that I don't know.  It is a question of trusting that God is good and sovereign.


* Don't you think it's funny that someone who's been used by God to heal so many amazing things - is then laid low with Delhi belly?

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Pastor's conference (Thu 9 Feb am)

Roy's teaching:

Jesus in heaven, God has sent His Holy Spirit to do what Jesus would do if he were on the earth.  BUT WAIT!  Jesus said we would do greater things than him.

The measure of how much we understand God is according to how much we trust Him.

• God is good (Ps 34:8)
• God is love (1 Jn 4:8)
• God is kind (Rom 2:4)
• God is gentle (Mt 11:29)

So rejoice in your trial (Jas 1:2) as God works in them to produce fruit.

Only get muscles when exercise them - in the same way faith only exercised when tested.

We know all things work for God for those who love God (Rom 8:28).  If we trust Him then there is peace in our hearts since we know it's for our good so that we'll be conformed to the likeness of His Son (Rom 8:29).

Jesus did a lot of things that were unexpected (eg walk on water).  How would he have known to do this from reading the Old Testament?  So how did he know?  The Holy Spirit!

Only did what he sees the father doing (Jn 5:19) - not everything he could see to do...
Only say what the Father tells him to say (Jn 8:28-29)
How did he know what the Father wanted to do or say?  Prayer!  How?  He listened (Isa 50:4-5)

We should spend at least half our prayer time listening.  We need to put aside our shopping list and ask what is on His heart today.

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"Youth Blessing Festival" - first evening

Feel more comfortable here - got to do some silly tricks (eg wobbling pencils) with Enosh's children - realised this is more me!

Crusade in the evening - lots of singing - fantastic that they were singing Indian worship songs (originally they used Western songs).  Roy preached on the prodigal son and about 40 people got saved.  Then pray for the sick.  I was originally going to work with Peter - but ended up on my own with Lizzie.  People asking for prayer for their arm (couldn't raise about head), ear pain, head pain, as well as asking for help getting jobs, blessing and general help with studies.

Didn't see complete breakthrough on any of them - translator (a boy) was saying that some of them said it was better - but didn't see it on their faces*.  repeated praying, calling out but not complete healing.  I feel like I was saying the words - key phrases I'd seen used or read about but that I didn't know God.  I'm focussing on technique rather than the Healer.

Felt discouraged but more so - felt that I had let down God - people were calling out to Him and got me - and didn't see God's power.

Father, please don't let them think less of Your name.

Asked Lizzie to lay hands on a lady's throat and pray for healing and she felt it was better and actually looked like it.  What is God saying?

Great to encourage Lizzie and remind her how much God has used her to heal people (eg Levi when crying at church, us giving birth to Josiah and Hannah, and my friend Katie who got pregnant).  But why did God not use me?

Yes - I don't deserve it - but these people need you Lord.  Is it so Lizzie sees her dad fail and so doesn't feel so bad if things don't work?  Or to teach me humility?  Or to remind me that my job is to prepare my children to do Your works - not create my own kingdom?  I don't know.


But I do know that I need You more and I want it for the people - that they would see that You're a great God and put their trust in You.

* They rocked their head from side to side when asked whether it was better.  However, later on I'll discover something really cool - watch this space.

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First visit to orphanage (Wed 8 Feb am)

Was feeling a bit stuck in - but found out that there is a Hindu communist group that would use white people to stir up trouble if we went out on our own.  But Enosh took us out on the motorbike up to the orphanage.

Only 3 children there as the rest were at school.  Lizzie rightly noticed that they were very small.  The 12 year old boy was, at most, up to Lizzie's chest.

It's very humbling seeing their houses: the family has one room with a bed, 2 plastic chairs, a 2 ring stove with a gas bottle, a toothbrush and maybe 2 sets of clothes in a wardrobe.

But it's also quite liberating realising that we don't we don't need much to live and to live happy.


Not sure what effect it will have on Lizzie.

The boys dormitory:a pile of bed mats (they sleep on the floor) and a spare set of clothes each.

Roy & Peter are preparing so it's just me and Lizzie sitting around.  Lizzie's finally asked if she can play on her DS (which she'd been thinking about for ages!)

Father, help me make the most of this time with Lizzie and not see it as "dead" time - but as focussed time with Lizzie.  Help Lizzie to process what she sees and to step into the spiritual life you call us to.

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Reflections: Tue 7 Feb (eve)

28 hours and we're here - the tiredness and disorientation.  The recovery from the reckless driving.

It's hard not knowing any of the language and feeling a bit trapped since we don't know where to go.

The crusade is tomorrow and I'm feeling inadequate - like a locust in the presence of giants.  Satan reminds me of my failure on Friday.

Help me to realise that I am a new creation, I am accepted and conversely there's nothing I can do that will make me good enough.

Father, Lizzie's been teary.  I just ask that You would give her peace.  Father that You would use her in a Lizzie way.  Father that You would help me to be a channel of Your grace, to be her encourager, her support.


There's nothing we can do except be willing to let You use us.  Thank You that You want us to be Your co-workers with You.  And in our weakness You are glorified.


I do also feel like I'm praying into the air - like I'm not conscious of Your presence.  But then I wonder do I really know You - I mean do I know You personally and intimately.


Have I spent time doing things for You, praying to You for things but not actually getting to know You?


I feel that there is so much more - are You calling me to intimacy?  And how would I do that anyway?


Maybe it isn't a doing but just being in Your presence.  I don't know how.  You're going to ahve to teach me and lay into the enemy that says I'm destined for a second class Christianity - that nothing will change - that I'll just revert to this state of doing...

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Travel to India (all 28 hours!)

 

Leaving at 6am to catch a bus to Oxford.  Shame the 6.15am bus didn't seem to exist... 

Oh no!  Missed the bus to Gatwick.  Waiting for an hour in our thin clothes (with a door that doesn't close).  Good job the toilets were warm.

On the plane to Dubai.  See the excitement!  See the squashed seats.  Feel the DVT begin.

Driving from Hyderabad airport to Kallur in the Khammam district. 145 miles - but 7 hour journey due to the state of the roads and the slow trucks that have to be overtaken (rather recklessly!)

Remarkably few horn uses during this clip....

View Larger Map

 Love these little taxis - not quite sure just how many people they squeezed in there!
If it wasn't taxis it was motorbikes or bicycles

 

Is it me or is it a bit chilli?

At 30ºC I don't think so.

Here at last at Enosh's house.  Time for some sleep.

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Pre-mission thoughts (6 Feb 2012 am)

First page - always hard for a perfectionist!

I guess I want to capture my feeling, thoughts, prayers at this moment.

It's been a hard run-up and I've got down from all the people who have said it's mad (eg B) or told us all the dangers (eg M) - I feel sometimes that no-one can see the vision. But sometimes I begin to doubt whether I've done the right thing.

First of all we're going during a "crusade" week and so won't see many orphanages (the whole heart Lizzie has of being a teacher and carer for little ones). Then we're not on the same flight as Roy. Then realising that a week is too short. Maybe Lizzie is too young.

But it comes down to - am I trying to obey God?

Yes. I am David preparing Solomon to build the temple. I am trying to prepare Lizzie for her calling.

And are You in charge? In which case you will use this time for your glory and our good. You will use it to sew things into Lizzie's life - that couldn't be done otherwise.

Lord, I offer this trip to you - we are here for you - use us for Your glory (not mine).Realise also how I'm starting to treat it as "my" mission trip. eg How can I speak a word to the pastors [at the pastor's conference]?

The need to be important is large at the moment. I've lost sight of this being for Lizzie and of pouring myself out on the "insignificant".

I need Your help to encourage Lizzie to step forward and seize the opportunity. I need Your help to train her in ministering in the Spirit (and frankly I need Your help to know how to do it myself!)

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Intro

Welcome to this blog detailing John & Lizzie's trip to India in Feb 2012.

For a long time Lizzie has felt called by God to go to India like her hero Amy Carmichael. So I finally arranged to join Roy Young from Garston Community Church (GCC) as he regularly goes out to support the work of Indian Christians amongst orphans, widows, lepers and the like.

I first heard of GCC's work through Jenny Gallimore who was at Kings Bible College (now Kings Theological College) with me as she went to GCC and also went to India with Roy during bible college.

I am reproducing the entries from my diary/journal as they were written over the trip and in some places there will be vulnerability and confusion. I am trusting that you will handle with care.

It is my prayer that you will be encouraged and challenged and God would meet you in these pages.

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