Our Sunday in Chennai

Posted by Ronnie Worsham

So, today we went to the church. The church is in a little village outside of Chennai. It is a small one-room building with open-air windows with bars over them. The floor is concrete and part of it is covered with straw mats. The people sit on the floor.

After a 45-minute drive we arrived at the church. Rather than back to the future, it was like forward to the past. It was like something from centuries ago. The children were seated up front. The women sat behind them. And, the men sat in back. They were seated on the floor in neat little rows. The women all had on colorful or plain white saris. They used the top part as veils. Most of the women draped their heads with the veils during the service. Sugumar said the Christian women generally did that in all the churches of India. The church was full when we got there and was overflowing sometime after the service began (sounds like Northeast, huh?!).

We began with some songs mixed with prayers. There was a time for some testimonies and an offering. Thankfully there was some wind blowing through the open air windows, but still the heat with the humidity was stifling. I was very impressed by the people. They generally seemed eager and open. Most are illiterate though and must just listen and trust what's being read. They sing without instruments as they have no instruments or musicians. It was nice though and they seemed to get into it.

I preached a sermon and Sugumar interpreted. Boy, that's hard to do. I suppose it went okay. Casey was also asked to share a greeting. We've had some great laughs at being put on the spot and what we're supposed to say extemporaneously through an interpretor to people we have no read on whatsoever. Casey has had a real laugh because I told the tsunami village people, “I bring you greetings from America.” On the video you can see me hesitate because I started to say from Northeast Church and though these Hindu people would be clueless about that. I thought about saying the United States but instantaneous thought that they probably called us America if they even knew about us. So out came, “I bring you greetings from America,” like I was some politician or ambassador or something. It got worse from there as I stumbled through some words. I'm sure Casey will have fun with that at my expense this Sunday.

But, boy, you can't imagine how taken aback I was by the reception, the parade, the event, and the poor faces I was speaking to with the backdrop being their poor thatched huts. They had put these two garlands around my neck which both had very strong and to me putrid aromas. The humidity was stifling and held the odor right in my face. It also seemed to attract a swarm of gnats. I figured they were tse tse flies and I was toast. And, on top of that, Sugumar told me as we were parading behind our band that they had literally lost everything they owned in the tsunami. So, yeah, “I bring you greetings from America,” was the best opening I had. I've been practicing my political voice though. I may run next time!

Well, back to church. The service lasted about an hour and a half. And, they sat on the floor you bunch of time conscious complainers:)! Sugumar had bought every one a gift of some kind of wrap. I think the women's gift was the top of a sari wrap or whatever. I think the men's gifts was one of their traditional skirts. These are poor village people and they seemed to like them. Sugumar had Casey and me hand them out. It's really funny as he bosses us around. We tease about being his prisoners. We have to be escorted downstairs to his quarters and we are driven everywhere. We really have no freedom. And, in Indian fashion, he just sort of tells us what to do. We just do it and all seems to work. So, we were the official gift distributors. He also had food packets for each member family. He said he gives gifts to these poor people on all special occasions. Wow, Casey and I being in town is a special occasion--”I bring you greetings from America!”:)

We had lunch at a 5 Star Radisson Hotel. He picks those because it's the only place we spoiled, pampered, decadent Americans can eat out here without dying of four or five different diseases at the same time. I insisted on paying for it. There were eight of us eating. I will need church assistance for several months to catch up though. And, this is India.

We rested some this afternoon since I got up this morning at 2 a.m. We then were to go shopping so Casey could buy some token gifts to bring back. Well, they surprised us and took us to the largest Indian mall ever. Now, this was Sunday night at 8 pm and the place was packed. It was more crowded than any of our malls at Christmas. It was stifling! It was warm and had this strong spice odor and was packed. Both Casey and I had to come home and take Prozac. I wanted something stronger but that's all I could get.:) Really, cannot imagine. And, the traffic back home was just as bad. And, by then it was 9 p.m. On Sunday night. I really don't get it.

So tomorrow afternoon we head to Delhi. I'm glad to have come to India and I am so ready to be home! I love you all dearly.

Posted August 10, 2008    |   View Comments (6)

Reader's Comments

Anyway, I keep running out of space. Hold on tight, and remember "Woodstock" and the Wizard of OZ and that eventually you'll be home, hopefully more humble and less mean-spirited than pre-India! Just teasing! Yall be good and feel our prayers! See you later this week! Love, Jack

Posted by Jack on August 10 2008, 02:53 PM

I hear you with tears as I read. Yes, they need money. We can all combine to sell, luquidate, etc. whatever we can, garage sales, ebay. Sugumar's wife sold her jewelry. She can sell mine. We can each pledge to do what we can and turn it into money for that ministry. I ordered the movie City of Joy about Calcutta, Patrick Swayze, trip to the slums of India. I will share it with NE. You are a great communicator from your broken heart. I pledge $50 monthy today.

Posted by Kathy Schubert on August 10 2008, 02:52 PM

its work (must be like India, short on space). Anyway, be of good cheer. We are having a day of prayer and fasting for your mission on Monday. Just think how many sermons you can squeeze out of this! Being weakened by Malaria and other disturbing diseases probably won't be that bad! I thought about you Friday night in Velma. A huge, blackish mosquito was spotted on my arm, just as he finished a big siphon. I splatted his body and my blood all over my arm. I now have a huge, swollen lump

Posted by Jack on August 10 2008, 02:49 PM

Well, I just got back from four days in Oklahoma with the "three sisters". I, too, am overwhelmed and humbled. Just kidding, but thought you needed some levity right now! I just got to read all your blogs. Lesley read the latest one this morning in church. You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone was moved by the overpowering emotions you expressed. Just don't get discouraged. We are weak and he is mighty. We can't do much but God has GOT DA POWER! He has sent you there to do the spi

Posted by Jack on August 10 2008, 02:42 PM

At church this morning everyone mentioned your blog and Leslie actually read some of your longest post and it caught my attention. So I just finished reading straight through all of your posts. I'm actually proud to say it only took me an hour and fifteen minutes :) but I felt that I couldn't just navigate away from your blog without saying something. In one of your earlier posts you said something about your dreams as a young man and the things you said reminded me of my own dreams.

Posted by Matt Clark on August 10 2008, 02:24 PM

God's speed, and stay strong, my brother.
We miss you both.
Return to us safely.

Posted by Mark on August 10 2008, 12:42 PM