This week has been so full that if we were to tell everything, it would take 10 pages, I’m sure; not including any of our personal thoughts about everything we’ve experienced. Thus, I have made an executive decision to only tell you small portions of a few of the significant events and leave you wondering in suspense about the rest until we return home (this is to ensure that you will invite us over for dinner to hear stories!)
Among others, this week marks the arrival of Mr. Allan Graham, long-time (20-25 years) friend of Pastor David and his father. Allan is from Chicago and comes to visit the church and ministry here almost yearly. He will remain here with us for 20 days. On Monday night, after an evening out with his family and us, Pastor David traveled the 3 hours to Chennai airport to pick up Allan. Unfortunately, Allan’s plane was delayed and he did not arrive until Tuesday night; so David had to wait in Chennai for the whole day.
Although he had to stay away an extra day, David did not want to cancel the village meeting planned for Tuesday, so he made arrangements for Chelsea and I to travel by auto with his close friend, Mr. Andrews, and bring his niece, Chandana, with us. The village was just 20 minutes outside the city and called, “Little, little Nellore.” Chelsea and I had an amazingly delightful time fellowshipping with these believers: listening to their songs and worshiping the Lord in our own languages, sharing from the word, praying for their needs, and enjoying dinner with them.
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| Singing "Ancient of Days" to the jungle rhythms of the tribal Indian people. |
Seeing the eager faces of these first and second generation believers never gets tiring. I love being among them; to physically reach out and touch them (while praying or just to shake their hands); to watch as they squeeze their eyes shut to sing with all their energy; to see their faces brighten or their brows knit as they strive to grasp the truths about their Lord and Savior; and to experience their eager and simple faith as they timidly or forcefully reach out, asking for prayer.
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| Our substitute translator, Mr. Andrews |
We missed David’s presence, but greatly enjoyed Mr. Andrews, who did a fine job translating for us (especially Chelsea’s message from Matthew 21 about Jesus clearing the temple and how we’re now the temple of God, which Jesus is just as zealous about cleaning), and entertaining us with his jokes and lively manners. He is the principle of a school and (to my great delight) an avid lover of music and musical instruments.
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| Riding in the auto on the way home from Little, Little Nellore |
This evening was a great adventure, encouraging and strengthening to both our spirits and our bodies. We pray it was the same for all who attended.
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Maundy Thursday: Celebrating the night of the Lord’s Supper.
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| Left: Rev. G.Devaraj spoke on Jesus' surrender: "Not My Will"; Right: The choir in their "robes" help lead the congregation in Telugu songs (many of the pastors can be seen on the stage) |
Many pastors here in Nellore have joined together to support one another and stand united as the body of Christ. Pastor David serves as a catalyst for this group and the Secretary of their recently formed group: The United Pastors’ Fellowship of Nellore. On Thursday evening they held a joint public service, United Holy Communion. Chelsea and I immensely enjoyed watching and participating as people glorified the Lord (at 300 decibels; meaning it felt like rock-concert volume) through songs, teaching, taking the elements, and more. In addition to the rare experience of seeing leaders and members of multiple denominations teaching and agreeing with each other, we found several parts of the program to be particularly memorable.
Towards the beginning of the program, we sang a newly learned song in Telugu and then got to relax and soak in the rest of the service. Most of it was in Telugu but several speakers translated small portions of their messages to English for the benefit of out-of-state Indians and us. Following the main message, the leaders of the United Pastors’ Fellowship knelt on stage in front of their many peers and washed one another’s feet. This means that Baptists were washing Pentecostal’s feet and Evangelicals were washing Lutheran’s feet, etc. The Indian culture greatly values giving and receiving proper honor, so to watch them demonstrate their willingness to serve one another was a truly monumental sight.
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| Center: One pastor washing another pastor's' feet; Sides: the pastors are deeply affected by this act |
Another very symbolic and impactful part of the service was called the “Hand of Peace.” A highly honored couple within the Christian community, Pastor & Mrs. Sundara Rao (whom we’ve enjoyed developing a friendship with through Pastor David’s introduction at the beginning of our trip), walked down the center aisle of the gathering hall, clasping hands with each person sitting in the aisle seat and saying “peace be with you” (in Telugu, except to us :). Those people then turned to their neighbor and repeated the gesture and phrase; and they, in turn, follow suit—one after another. Thus, a wave of peace spreads across the room to the outer edges. May the peace of the Lord spread across the earth in this same manner as Christians join hands with one another and reach out to bring the truth and love of Christ to the nations.
At last we come to the actual sharing of the bread and juice. Sitting in a crowd of believers from an entirely different culture, I realized that Christ truly did reveal a great mystery to the nations: a united group of people, formed not by national boundaries and allegiances, nor from cultural habits, nor agreements, nor level of knowledge, nor language, nor line of work, nor any other natural connection, but formed by a deep love, gratitude, and commitment to Christ with the same hope of Salvation through Him alone. As I share in the symbols of the united body of Christ, I am experiencing a part of this absolutely wondrous mystery of Christ as it is being revealed. One day I shall rejoice in its full revelation at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9).
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| Suhasini serving bread David serving juice |
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Good Friday – Hmmm… while it was happening, no one but the angels in heaven and the Father would have called it “good.” Satan saw his kingdom collapse; the disciples and followers thought their hopes of a kingdom were collapsing; the leaders and crowds were plagued with guilt… Yet now, I can declare it “good” and join all of heaven in saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise…[for]with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:12,9-10).
In the late morning we gathered at the church (Hebron Prayer House) for a special service which focused on the last 7 phrases of Jesus while He was hanging on the cross. Congregations all over Nellore were holding similar services. Chelsea and I sang a Telugu song about the suffering and death of Jesus and the hope which His sacrifice gives us. Then we spent a few minutes explaining to the church the events of the Holy Week from Palm Sunday to His death. Several other melodious Telugu songs and then Pastor David gave a stirring message on how the Gospel of Salvation was portrayed in each of the phrases which Jesus spoke. Through each of these he inspired and challenged the listeners by applying them to daily life.
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| Bethany explaining the locations of Jesus' ministry and final days |
During the service, it started to pour down rain. This is the first rain we have had since the middle of February (two late-night drizzles). It was a tremendous relief and blessing to us Northwestern white girls who felt ourselves grow stronger as the temperature dropped almost 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and our senses rejoiced at the sounds and smells of the rain. The timing was perfect: it was almost as if the sky was weeping for the death of the creator of the world, just as the sun had hidden its face and the ground was shaken to its core 2000 years ago.
After service, Chelsea and I pulled several of our young friends onto the roof to join us in reveling in the cool water as we danced in the rain.
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| We shall always be little girls, delighting in the wonders of our Father |
Friday was also Pastor David’s Birthday. In true Indian style, they sang to him at the end of service (which quite took him by surprise and delight) and then the extended family shared a fluffy white cake after lunch.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PASTOR DAVID!
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| Birthday party! |
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| Mr. Allan Graham |
Finally, Friday also was our first opportunity to meet Mr. Allan Graham. Due to his extra lengthy flight and his advancing age, he needed a little extra time to rest and adjust after arriving Tuesday night. Together with David, us three white folks traveled to Downie Baptist Church of Nellore for their evening English service. Chelsea and I listened in wonder to an amazing English song that tells about the purpose of Jesus’ death (we recorded it, so you can hear it once we get home). We then participated in the service by singing “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.” Mr. Graham was the guest speaker and we watched in delight to see how an experienced western visitor interacts and communicates in this culture. We greatly look forward to spending more time with him over the next several weeks.
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To hear more…come find us in June!
Andariki Vandenalu!
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| What-up? |
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