India 6/16-6/26/08

On June 16th, Alex and I set out to be a blessing to those we met in Muklingia, Orissa India. However, God had a different plan in store for us. Our mission (so we thought) had to be put on hold due to a death in Pastor Brown Naik's family, his sister-in-law Lalamani. She died from complications of malaria. One full week of weeping, wailing and grieving. People came daily to help them cry. The tradition is no one in the house hold is to eat meat, or leave the house except to attend Church, until after the final memorial service. The memorial service concluded with over 2000 people having come by on that final Monday June 23, 2008 to pay their respects. It was like no other memorial service I had ever seen.

Sunday June 22, we attended church services in the village. This small building, a little bigger than our garage, held approximately 70-80 people. No pews, only a mat on the floor to sit on. There was a table at the front, with a podium. The pastor welcomed everyone, and then without a worship leader, began the most beautiful, wonderful worship service my heart had ever beheld. One bongo drum, one tamborine, and a multitude of voices as one, lifting up Praise to Jesus, their savior! Though they worshiped in their native tongue, and we had not a clue to what they were singing, Our spirits knew, and my heart was at home in their worship! In a culture that offers little hope, their worship begat HOPE! A breathe of New life filled the air! The Holy Spirit had come! To be there at that moment, worshipping with them, feeling the presence of Our Lord in that place, it was absolutely Incredible! Home with the Lord!! Worshipping in Spirit and in truth. We were the ones who were blessed! It became a giddy joy! To witness true worship, in the midst of persecution and poverty, sung from the center of their beings....with all that they were....they worshipped!

Amidst the mass amount of visual stimulae, beyond all the incredible differences between our culture and the India culture, through massive mental sifting, that went on for days after returning home, the One thing that stood out profoundly, that I always want to remember, was their INCREDIBLE worship!

W - Wonderful, worthy, wholeheartedly

O - One offering, ordained, overflowing

R - Resurrecting reverance, a refuge

S - Spirit filled, santified

H - Holy hope, honor, hearts desire

I - Imperishable in this

P - Place...Precious, Praise & Power

The last two days in India, we did get to spend time at Moorshead Memorial Christian Hospital which is springing back to life by the grace of God, after sitting dormant for almost 30yrs. We celebrated the 1st graduation of Nurses since it reopened in 2003. We visited the Dugudi Orphanage and stayed with the orphans at Nanda Orphanage. They too, worshipped every morning, and evening. Those little ones sang at the top of their voices. God blessed Alex and I by allowing us to see and be a part of His plan for true worship.

We were blessed to watch God at work, against all odds, in a tiny, unheard of village, half way around the world. God Lives and has not ceased his work. The seed is planted and a mighty plant grows as written in Matt 13:31.

He Reigns!