Bikes

these are the pastors who received bikes provided by Cape Cod Covenant Church.
We bought 4 before we left India, and they were buying 2 more the next day.
They will be used in evangelizing villages and establishing churches.

During the past year they have started 13 new churches and evangelized 40 villages.

The goal for next year is to evangelize 62 villages

home again

I wasn't able to get much on the blog while we were in India. Sorry. We were quite busy, and we didn't have internet for a full five days. I will post some pictures and comments as I recover from jetlag

Good, despite rain

We met for teaching at the Salvation Army campus in Nellore. Their students participated, so we had as many as 100 in the sessions with a normal attendance of about 80.

The problem was that rains prevented about 30 of the pastors from distant villages from coming. We did have about 30 village people here regularly.

We commissioned 4 people who sensed God's call to go and establish new churches.

Today, Friday, is the last day. Tonight we will distribute some bicycles that Cape Cod Covenant has funded. Tomorrow we have a youth meeting.

good start

We had 80 in Monday's teaching. It was a rainy day all around Nellore, which prevented about 50 from coming. The extra numbers beyond our projections were because we also have the Salvation Army students.

Over the weekend we prayed with 16 who committed to Christ. We baptized 5 in a village. Ingrid gave some neat flannelgraphs for children

Time to go

We are packed and ready to leave in the morning. We will meet Joel in Frankfurt. He will be with us the first week, and will hold a one day conference in Chennai on his way home a week from Saturday.

We need your prayers. Who is adequate to such work as training people for ministry? We have neither the capacity nor the strength, but rely on the fact that God's strength is made perfect in weakness.

Forward again

It was so nice to come home from a short break (bright sun and 50 degree temps at Itasca State Park) and find good mail again. We are up to about 2000 on Ingrid's trip! Of course, I am also going, which is more money.

Joel and the church in California will provide a good part of the pastors' conference expenses.

Sorry to keep talking about the money, but it is really remarkable to see how God has touched people's hearts to support the project. We are so grateful!

We're progressing

Ingrid sent a letter about her trip to some friends, and the response has been wonderful. Friends have helped with almost 1500 of the 2500 needed.

Vijay also wrote yesterday that the pastors in Narsapur asked for a seminar while we are in that area. We agreed, of course. It adds to the activities and the workload, not to mention the expenses.

But God has helped us until now, and we continue to be encouraged.

Back to India

We will meet with two groups of young people in India. One is the group that Ron Mancini and Winston taught last April. We will reinforce that teaching and encourage them to move forward, looking at a probable teaching next April.

The other group will be new people further north in Andhra Pradesh.

We will use the Salvation Army campus in Nellore for a week long pastors' conference, continuing our teaching.

Ingrid will hold two conferences for women. She has prepared a good teaching on Ruth and Naomi's friendship. We also want her to meet the young people, especially the young women, to give them further motivation.

Good report from Vijay

Vijay went to Vinjamur for what they said would be a series of evening evangelistic services. When he got there, they decided to do some street evangelism during the day. He reports that 15 people made commitments to follow Christ during his 3 days there.

Milton McElvain and I were in Vinjamur a few years ago, teaching pastors. This is where we were invited to make a presentation in a Hindu girls' school. They sent a question ahead for us to answer, "How can Jesus be God?" I was pleased with the question, and I opened with another question, "How could God become man?" and proceeded to talk about the implications of the Virgin Birth.

Ron reports that we are close to having funds for 3 of the 6 bicycles we want to provide for pastors in villages around Nellore.

Winston plans to return to Nellore around Thanksgiving.

accounting

The project ran about $1000 over the budget. The motorbike was figured at 1500, but ended up costing 1800 dollars. We had not figured in about 200 dollars to rent vehicles for evangelism and village visits. We needed to help provide food for 70 people rather than the 30 we had budgeted for, which cost about 200 dollars. Then there were the "normal" extra expenses, largely because you can't come in contact with the poverty we saw without opening up your wallet.

We were generous with the interpreters and others who helped to serve the students.

It was no surprise (I'm getting to where it never is!) that there were extra expenses. We paid all our bills while we were there, and we will pay the credit cards now when we are home.

Thank you to those who contributed!

Praying

We prayed for each student individually on Friday afternoon. We felt like God guided our prayers, and that some of them had the call of God confirmed in their lives.

We may need to go back and teach them some more, but have not made that decision as yet. We find it better to make decisions at home rather than when we are in the middle of a project.

Poor Kids

We visited some people that our friends in Chennai are trying to help. These children live in extreme poverty. Their parents (and they themselves as they get older) pick through garbage at the dump.

They live right on the Bay of Bengal in Chennai, and there is an outlet that dumps raw sewage into the bay right by where they live. The stench is awful. You can see that some of them don't have any clothes at all. A man swept the trash away from the place where they are sitting just before I took the picture.

Emanuel asked us to pray for these children, so that they will be able to help change their future.

Home

I'm home after a very effective 2 weeks in India. Both Ron and I felt quite satisfied. Of course, the trip home is very tiresome--2 flights of 10 hours each, and then another flight for me to get to Minneapolis, and a 2 hour bus ride for Ron to get to Hyannis. But that's the cost of doing this kind of business.

I'm still amazed at the receptivity, not only of the young people, but also of the older pastors. God is moving, and we want to move with Him

Thanks for your prayers, especially the team from Cape Cod Covenant Church!

End of the trip

Today I taught 50 pastors, but traffic delays and other things robbed 2 hours of the time. Still, it went well, and there was enthusiasm. When I finished, a man came up immediately and said they wanted 2 more days. They are very hungry for the kind of expository teaching that I do. We discussed the possibility of an activity in November/December.
Ron and Vijay came to Chennai from Nellore, and stayed in my room until time to go the the airport at night. Our flight leaves at 1:30 in the morning for the 9-10 hour trip to Frankfurt. Then Ron and I split up and he goes to Boston while I go to Chicago and on to Minneapolis.
It is a great relief to be going home.

This morning (it's Sunday) I preached in 4 different villages, back to back. The churches were simple with grass roofs. Emanuel interpreted me into Tamil.
Ron was preaching in Villages near Nellore. I am in the Chennai area.
It's nice to see the end of the trip coming. We will leave India at 1:30 on Tuesday morning, flying with the sun so we will both arrive home in the afternoon.

Finishing up in Nellore.

Ron finished the teaching in Nellore today with all the young people.

Here he is pictured with Vijay interpreting. There was great joy.

I was here in Chennai teaching a group of 30 pastors. We were in a village that was about 1 1/2 hours away by "auto", the little yellow motorized rickshaws that serve as taxis. We had rain during the night, so there was a respite in the weather, only about 92 degrees instead of 102.

The students were quite serious, and we were glad to find some tables to help them in their note taking. Several indicated a sense of calling to the ministry, and all of them were interested in reaching new villages.

This teaching has been revolutionary for them. It has also been an eye opener for me, realizing that Jesus called the disciples when many of them were quite young. He formed them, and they turned the world upside down.

When I was preaching on Moses it occurred to me that he (symbolically) baptized an entire nation when they passed through the Red Sea. I said to the people that God could baptize an entire nation through them. May it be so!

Praying for 70 people

Today we prayed for each student individualluy
Ron will stay in Nellore. I will teach in Chennai for 3 very intensive days.

We are happy

We just came back (It's Thursday night here) from a recap meeting for the students. 6 students testified to their experience, and it was so very positive. They have been living together for almost 2 weeks now, and we haven't sensed any "murmuring". Rather, their enthusiasm has increased. Most of them have never had an experience like this, and there is a great respect for the teaching of the Scriptures.

Your prayers have been critical in keeping the situation so positive.

The picture is of some of the girls when we were out evangelizing in the villages. They spoke with this woman on the street. We had about 40 people working in 8 different villages.

The Bike

The motorbike is a Yamaha 150. It will be used to reach villages with Gospel preaching and following through to encourage new believers.

It replaces a 10 year old bike that has rusted away from being used in seaside villages. I think Vijay plans to send the old bike to its eternal reward.

Thanks for your offerings and prayers to make this tool available.

Here they are

We have at least 62 people registered, far more than the 30 we anticipated.

I finally got the gadget that connects my netbook to the 3g network in Nellore. This is a relief, and gives me more liberty on posting things.

Today Vijay finally picked up the motorbike. But he brought it to his apartment! I haven't seen it yet. I'll try to get a picture up as soon as it comes.

It's beastly hot. We have over 100 degrees just about every day. Ron melts away more than I do, but it is really quite an experience.

Thanks again for the many prayers that are being offered.

Tuesday evenng in India

You just have to adjust to things taking longer. For example, the motorbike is bought, but it was too late to take delivery last night. Then there was a general strike today, which closed the dealership. All the shops in town closed down until evening to protest high prices.
We also got a card to connect the laptop to the 3g network in the city here, but the network is so new that the places where you buy the time for the network don't have the appropriate card yet. This has prevented us from experimenting with skype communication so far.
But we are not discouraged at all. When we see the energy of the students, and when we see how people are responding in the villages, we realize that we are in a special time of responsiveness in this part of India.
This evening we had dinner at Vijay and Rebecca's house. It was so pleasant to come into a home.
When we bought the motorbike, it was stressful until the final meeting. There we met an employee who followed Christ, and that made a big difference. We were able to relax.
The previous blogs are a little short on detail. That is because I was sending them from my Verizon phone (which, for some reason, works here). It will only send short messages though. I wanted to get messages out while they were "hot."
We sense your prayers. We feel a spirit of victory. We feel that needs are being met.

We got the bike

Yesterday after several days of frustration we finalized the purchase of Yamaha motorbike for Vijay. He should pick it up today and I hope to have a picutre up.
The Bhagavad Veda has a verse that says "if blood is not shed there is no forgiveness." What a tool for evangelism!

Miracles

A man heard the singing and sent people to invite them to his home. He had broken his back falling from a palm tree. The man received Christ and immediately offered to provide land for a church.
We are feeling pretty good about this evangelization. Right now the group is going into the third village we are visiting this morning. This is a live report.

Direct from the village

THE WOMEN SING WHILE THE MEN DISTRIBUTE LITERATURE AND SEEK THOSE OPEN TO THE GOSPEL. ron and I stay in the car keeping a low profile.
Vijay is in a home that asked for prayer.
God is working.

It's hot

We have now finished a full week and interest is still strong. We have around 65 people in class every day.
Ron and usually take turns and escape to the air conditioned room when we're not teaching.
This weekend the students will evangelize in 4 unreached villages. We are renting 2 vans to transport them.

Thursday evening

Today Ron was particularly funny. It's good that the students respond so well after so much intense teaching.
This weekend the group will evangelize in 4 unreached villages.
Vijay plans to get the motorbike on Saturday.
We sense that we have strong prayer support.

We are well

There was a problem when the account was hacked. My son got it up again.
We have 43 people sleeping at the venue. On 36 beds. The others sleep on the cement floor. Many have already memorized Eccl. 12 and 1 Cor. 13. They are working on Rom.8 now. Lots of energy.

Monday

Ron and I were both feeling well today, and had a full day. Ron taught the first class and the afternoon class, while I taught the session from 11-1.
We went to look at motorbikes, and have our choices pretty much narrowed down. Vijay will have to decide. Everything costs more, of course, but it isn't out of the range of possibility.
In the evening we went back for an hour session. We were going to show pictures, but I had forgotten the plug adapters in the room, so I taught on 1 Corinthians 13.
The students had already learned Ecclesiastes 12 by heart, and asked for another challenge, so we put on the love chapter. I have a list prepared to keep them memorizing as long as they have enthusiasm for it.
It's hot, and it feels good when a breeze comes up.

Sunday

Ron and I both had a rough night on Saturday, perhaps because of something we ate. We had to make adjustments in the Sunday teaching and preaching, but we got through the day, and we seem to be feeling better this evening.
We need your prayers.
I've had some messages that the blog was canceled. I hope it's up for you to follow. I'll be watching to try to solve the problem.

Good Start

We finished the first day. 62 people registered. Most of them are young and energetic. A couple of them are as young as 15. They are also small, so they look like they might be 12. They are responding well. Ron was having fun getting them to give back to him 5 marks of a mature believer from the book of James, and when they finally caught on to the game, they shouted back the answers.
I taught on Zecharias and Elizabeth in Luke 1, and we are having a drama group illustrate it tomorrow morning. Yes, tomorrow, Sunday. We will do it as a kind of Bible class, followed by a regular service. Then a teaching in the afternoon as well.
We have assigned the students to memorize Ecclesiastes 12:1-8. It's ostensibly about being young (remember your creator in the days of your youth) but when you read it you realize it's about being old (the "grinders" cease because they are few!). It should be fun teaching through it.
Cape Cod Covenant has a 24 hour prayer chain going for us while we are here. That gives us fresh courage in the face of the heat. Others are praying as well--in Argentina, Honduras, Pakistan (and the nation of California as well).

Good News

Today I talked with Ron, and through the generosity of Cape Cod Covenant Church, together with other funds from individuals, we have enough money to pay for the project and to buy the motorbike that Vijay needs.

The only possible glitch is that Vijay says we might have as many as 70 people, instead of the 30 we had asked for. When I was thinking about how to cut the number of students, Jesus' words to the disciples when they needed to feed 5000 people came to mind: "You give them something to eat."

So God is increasing our faith and our outreach.

I'm writing this on Tuesday night. We leave on Wednesday. I leave from Minneapolis. Ron leaves from Boston. We will meet up in Frankfurt, and then fly to Chennai together. When we get there, Vijay will meet us (at midnight Thursday) and we will drive a few hours up to Nellore. I hesitate to use the term "crash", but we will get some rest there after the very long trip and a jet lag of 10 1/2 hours for me and 9 1/2 hours for Ron.

Closer to the goal

We have committed funds for all but about 1400 dollars of what we need for the trip. We are praying for generous offerings this weekend.

Ron has a meeting on Cape Cod and I am presenting the project at Anoka Covenant Church.

We're thankful to International Bible Givers for a donation of English Bibles for the English speaking students.

Vijay tells me he has lined up 4 interpreters for us.

The weather all next week in Nellore is sunny and 100 degrees. Maybe Ron and I will lose weight while we are there!

video from India

Progress

We are getting closer to what we need for the project. We still need about 1700 dollars. You can give through the Herald of Faith website, http://heraldoffaith.org/

I am working on a book to help pastors teach through the Gospel of Luke. It won't be ready in time for our school in Nellore, but I expect to have it translated into Telegu and in print by the end of the year.

Ron will teach on James

Today I got most of Ron Mancini's notes on James. It should prove very useful and interesting to the students, and should also give them fodder for their own teaching.

I am teaching the Gospel of Luke. I have been working systematically from the beginning, and have been trying to produce material that does more than state the obvious. I hope to publish it online, perhaps in a new blog.

But you can access the first part at http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AbFdtccavzbAZGNnN3E1MmRfMTdnNDh4Mzlmag&hl=en

video teaching

We have bought a computer and projector for use in India after we have been there. This should enable us to provide ongoing teaching on a regular basis. It can serve as a focal point for the workers who are reaching into the villages, and also allow other teachers to be incorporated into the process.

video teaching

This morning I taught in Chennai, India via Skype. The interpreter was over there and I was at our daughter and son in law's place in Winder, Georgia. It was impressive to be able to do such a conference. Donald Bergagard from Sweden sponsored it and taught the first session.

Technology is nice

On Saturday, Winston will teach in Chennai using skype video. This is a first for us, and a bit of an experiment. Our friend Donald Bergagard skyped yesterday asking us to participate.

It is a technology that has the potential to make us much more efficient, though it can never fully replace your personal presence. Our idea has been to have one person there and the other one present via skype.

Information from Vijay

The picture shows the pastors and leaders who have set a goal of opening up 35 villages to the Gospel in 2010.

Vijay writes:

This week I am planning to visit Vinjamur to baptize four people in a village called Chakali konda.Please do pray for the new souls for Christ.

By the grace of god,I got very good accommodation for participants and hall for teaching of INTENSIVE YOUTH BIBLE TRAINING CAMP-201

Its a catholic organized school called Infant Jesus High school. They converted into teaching camp for nuns called Jesus center.Praise the lord.

I am still working to register organistation Herald of Faith Mission-India

Mancini and Mattsson-Boze

Ron and Winston are going to India April 14 to teach a group of 30 young people for two weeks. They have asked for intensive Bible training. These people are destined to help establish some of the 35 new churches targeted for opening in 2010.

Ron is an Evangelical Covenant pastor of long experience. He was in Uganda a couple of years ago, and has been in Honduras as well.

Winston led the Herald of Faith mission for 26 years, and continues to be active in the training of village pastors.