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Saturday and Meeting with the Pastors
Posted by Ronnie Worsham
Today we got to meet the pastors. The upper room at Sugumar's house was packed when about 50 pastors who work together in a fellowship of independent church pastors came together to share and worship. Looking into their faces, I couldn't but wonder what their lives are like. Some are very poor; some are not quite as poor. All work in villages that are predominantly Hindu. All work under constant threat of oppression and persecution. To become a preacher in India is to become as a beggar, constantly seeking funds to feed families and constantly seeking help to take care of poor church members. On behalf of the church, we presented each of them enough money to buy food for their families as well as giving them a hearty lunch of a traditional Indian dish served at birthdays, weddings and celebrations. The children also came and we fed them and gave each of them a gift as well.
The needs here are overwhelming. Only God can handle such needs. Each pastor has a different story. Some of them are obviously pretty strong. Some are obviously not so strong. All are seeking to share the love of Christ.
Late this afternoon we went to Mamallapurim (hope I got the spelling correct), to see temples carved out of solid rock. These carvings date back some 1400 years and are incredibly well-preserved. It was hard to look at them as we were targets of beggars and vendors. It was also difficult knowing that they represented worship to false gods. Unbeknown to me, one vendor actually told Sugumar that I had asked him to buy some postcards for me. Sugumar did, and it was only when he gave them to me that he informed me that these were the cards I requested. We'd been had. Fortunately, they weren't all that expensive and the pictures are actually pretty nice.
I'm up to three mosquito bites now, probably representing three different diseases I will contract and which will force all of you to take care of me and feel sorry for me. Casey got his first bite tonight at the crocodile park we visited on our way back from the temple excursion. He'll likely only have one communicable disease to bring home to share. Casey is becoming an expert at killing mosquitoes with this bug zapper that looks like a tennis racket. He really likes the buzz that comes with a kill. Frankly, I like hearing it also!
Tomorrow we go to church with Sugumar.
Posted August 09, 2008
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