Today we had our last training of this trip. Though there is always the temptation to slack off at this point, I think it’s safe to say that none of us did. God was still faithful in giving us the words to say and in giving us the energy and mindset to finish this trip just as strong as it had started! Sam even felt led to change up his sermon a bit for this training, reminding the people of the importance of taking the call of making disciples seriously. During the training, I became friends with some of the little girls and boys who were sitting behind me. It was so encouraging to see them being trained up in the truth at such a young age! (Especially after the horror of seeing the children at the temples being trained up in a false religion.)
I also got to talk with Sister P, a young woman who translated part of our training. She told me her testimony which blew my mind and really expanded my view of how God is working in India. She mentioned that her parents are still Hindu and that she and her brother are the only believers in her immediate family. She said that this caused some issues in her family since her parents don’t agree with her or support her choice of living for Christ. I was able to pray with her that she would remain strong in the faith and for her parents to come to know Christ. She then told me that it was so inspiring for us to have come all this way to be here with them for God’s glory. If only she knew how much we have been inspired by them and their faith!
After lunch, we said goodbye to Brother E and his family since it was time to part ways. We then met partners D & A at a coffee shop where we got to talk with them, ask them questions about the work here, and pray with them. In the middle of conversation, Brother D said, “By the way, elephant.” In response to which Sam ran outside and proceeded to hop on the elephant with the rider helping to pull him up! We all got a kick out of that.
D & A then dropped us off at the airport and then we hopped on a plane back to Delhi. Joey and Logan were able to share the gospel with a secular Indian man named Ramneek on the plane. The man seemed very receptive and even accepted a Bible the guys gave him! They told him to read the gospel of Mark and he said that he would.
We hung out in the airport until our flight at 4am and should be home by Sunday night! We are sad to leave… all of us agreed that we don’t want to. This has been such a great opportunity. I thank God for all He has opened my eyes to on this trip and for how He has chosen to use me for His glory in India.
As someone who was very scared of going to India beforehand, I would encourage everyone to go. It definitely was not as scary or dangerous as I thought it would be. There is no reason to be afraid when God is in control! He will use you in ways you can’t even imagine if you just take the steps of obedience to go as He has called us to do. Not only that, but it will stretch your faith in a way that can’t be done from the comfort of your own home. Isn’t the gospel worth a little discomfort, travel, and time?
As our time in India has come to a close, please keep these things in your prayers:
⁃Pray for Sister P to be an example of Christ to her parents and that her parents would come to faith.
⁃Pray that God would work on Ramneek’s heart as he looks into the Bible; ultimately that he would come to faith.
⁃Pray for our partners as they continue the work here, and for the Indians to be receptive to the gospel.
⁃Pray for the disciple makers who have just graduated to actively apply what they have learned from their training, making more disciple makers.
⁃Lastly, please pray for us to come home changed! Pray that we wouldn’t leave what God has taught us behind in India, but that we would bring it with us and not simply coast back into normal life.
Thank you so much for your prayers while we were overseas! It was so encouraging knowing that there were people back home supporting us through prayer.
See ya soon!
Shelby
E3 Global Teams 