Thank you so much for supporting me on the trip to Hanamakonda, India. The Lord was amazing in providing the funds to go and was definitely working though your prayers. God opened the doors for 33 people to serve him in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Banjara people. We were able to split our group into two teams, one going to Hanamakonda and the second going to Miryalguda, six hours to the south. Splitting the group into two teams enabled us to share the Gospel with 7,906 people of whom 1,397 accepted Jesus as their savior. I was completely overwhelmed by how open the people were to hearing of Jesus and his love for them. It was clear that the Lord had been working for some time preparing the Banjara people for hearing the gospel. God made amazing use of the travel time to India enabling us to minister to people on the flights over, while in the Tokyo and Taipei airports, as well as our layovers in Singapore. We spent six days in Hanamakonda visiting villages and sharing the gospel during most of this time. We went out each day as nine different teams, each with two Americans, one of two translators, a pastor from that area and some of the local Christians. We drove by jeep to the villages sometimes as far as 30km away. Most of the villages were clusters of single room homes, with thatched or tile roofs and mud walls. The villages were bordered on all sides by farmland used to grow rice and cotton. Most of the people we meet were Hindu and worshiped demons and gods because they feared their wrath. When we arrived in each village we got out of the jeeps and walked though the village as the local Christians sung songs of praise and worship. Often a crowd would form around us, curious to know who we were and why we had traveled to their village. After being introduced to the people we would testify to how the Lord had transformed our lives and of the amazing love and grace he had shown us in our own lives. Then using the EvangeCube as a visual aid, we would share with them about God and the love he has for them, displayed by sending Jesus to the earth to die for our sins. This amazing message of love and compassion touched hearts and brought joy to the people. One opportunity to share that I will never forget was with three elderly women who had never heard the name of Jesus. One of the women, upon hearing of Jesus’ death on the cross, began to weep, as she understood the magnitude of His sacrifice for us. Two of the 3 women professed faith in Jesus as well as several people from the crowd that had gathered while sharing with them. Many of the people we spoke to and passed on the streets appeared to be weighed down by the cares of life, which was distressing to me. It was a praise to continually see visual changes in peoples’ demeanors as they heard the gospel and accepted the free gift of salvation and were set free. We held a celebration at the end of the fifth day; rejoicing in all that God had done during the week. Over 600 people were brought from the surrounding villages to the celebration as we closed the trip with an amazing time of praise and worship. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go on this missions trip, my heart for world evangelism has forever been changed. Enclosed is a Rupee to remind you of the hearts that were affected by your generosity and prayers. Thank you again for sending me on this trip and I am looking forward to the next trip I am called to. |