Sick Week!

It's been a sick week in several different ways. The first way (and least important) is the literal way. I feel like the only person to ever get sick on a missions trip....okay that's a lie. I've heard it happens sometimes. The downside of being sick is that you feel terrible. The upsides to being sick are much more abundant. 1. You get to pray a lot more. 2. You're much more grateful when you're not sick. 3. You get to see if your joy is circumstantial or not. 4. You realize that 3am actually exists. Well, it was certainly exciting times, but it was only for one night and a small part of the next day and I feel splendid now! Praise God! I only ate bread and banana's that one day and I'm very happy to be back on rice and curry.

I spent a lot of the week praying and reading. A super-cyclone hit the lower part of India this past weekend. If it had come farther north, it would have put a real damper on the Gospel Campaign this weekend. We were praying for God to redirect it. We only had some wind and mild rains. There's a bunch of other stuff that are all stories in themselves, like Diwali, getting fitted at a tailor shop, and today which is worship a snake day. There's always funny stuff with the kids as well and we got a baby water buffalo. However, I don't have time to go into all that so I'll just share the most important story. It's about a man named something that I still can't pronounce much less spell whom the kids call “Uncle.”

Uncle's family was all Hindu. About three years ago his wife and son accepted Jesus and got baptized. He was holding out though (the men are a little more stubborn). He began coming to church and helping out Pastor Daniel about five months ago. He has been a great help, but seemed unaffected by the gospel. Anyways, Sunday after church I went outside to help some of the men move a concrete slab for the baptismal. When I went back into the church, I saw Uncle and his wife praying with Pastor Daniel. Uncle was sobbing and praying. After that, they joined us for lunch and tea in the afternoon. Although I already knew, Pastor Daniel asked me to pray for them before they left because Uncle had accepted Jesus that morning and wants to be baptized next Monday. WOOHOO! Praise God! I'm super-stoked to see God bringing people to Himself.

I guess there's other stuff, but it's all pretty small in comparison with that. Man! God is good! This weekend is the big Gospel Campaign and we're pumped for that as well. I can't tell you how cool it's been to pray with the women nearly every day for this event. They are so faithful. There is also a pastor coming from the States for this event. Pastor Daniel went to pick him up in Hyderabad today and they will come back tomorrow. I'm very excited to meet him. Please pray for Pastor Dempsey that he would have good health as well and God's words while preaching. There are TONS of things that all have to come together in the next couple days, but none of that matters if God does not move. PLEASE continue to pray for God to prepare people's hearts and that they would come to Him. Because I know some of you are very connected to us in prayer, I have a special request for all of you. Would you please fast for one meal and use that time to pray specifically for the Campaign this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday? Thank!

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Pray for:
-Tabita's husband—salvation
-Sponsors for kids
-Pastor Dempsey—health and message
-Gospel Campaign—souls to be harvested

Praise for:
-Redirected cyclone
-Physical Health—no more sickness.
-Uncle's Salvation! Woohoo!