(Sunday, January 26, 2014) Tomorrow we come home! It seems like the time has gone twice as fast this year, but that could be because I’m only here half as long! It’s different for me to have a shorter visit, but it’s worth it to have Nancy along, and having more conferences would have cost more so this worked out just right.
I’m VERY satisfied with how everything went. All was beyond expectations. Our theory of 2-day conferences instead of 1 day conferences worked very well. We trained 866 men and women, almost double the number if we would have had smaller one-day conferences. Plus we had them for twice the number of sessions. That gave me double the teaching time with each group, more time to get to know them and they to know me, and I didn’t have to give the same talks every day (just every other day). The only ‘negative’ is that is cost more to feed and house the people overnight. But it was worth it!
One good way this trip was different was that I didn’t get sick! I don’t think I even lost much weight. Getting sick on Indian food for a week isn’t a diet I’d recommend, but it is very effective if you want to lose a lot of weight in a short time! I’m glad I didn’t need my personal nurse for that!
The highlight of this trip, the best and worst thing that happened, was Moses’ mother dying. Clearly God wanted us here for this, and to be alone with Moses for the week after it happened. His mother had something to him the last time she saw him about us being like parents to him now. He doesn’t really understand what she was saying, but God does. Talking at the funeral, burial, and then the sermon this morning on how we know we have eternal life and what it will be like was a stretching but rewarding experience, certainly one I’ll never forget. I’ll use this morning’s sermon at Main St Baptist Church next Sunday. I’ll be on the church web site afterwards.
This is my 7th year coming to India, and I’ve spent a total of over 6 months here and have spoken to 3300 men and 933 women during 84 days of pastors’ conferences. I thank God for this privilege and opportunity, and you for your prayers and gifts that make this possible. It is by far the hardest thing I do all year, taking me to my limit and way beyond, but when I am weak then I am strong! I look forward to working on the 2 new books they would like to have. Pray God would provide the time and finances to do this.
Please pray for our trip home starting tomorrow! We leave at 3 PM our time (4:30 AM Monday morning your time) to begin our 42 hour journey home. Once we fly out of Mumbai things should go smoothly, but there are some major possibilities of difficulties before that happens. Pray God would have mercy on us and His angels would go ahead to prepare the way for us!!!
2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What does God allow into your life to show you that you are weak? Are you learning to lean on His strength through these things? Spend some time now thinking and praying about this.