DAY 14

The last day to tell the Good News started slow. Richard and his translator, Rakesh, could only find a ride part of the way to their destination. So they decided to take a shortcut down a narrow road.  Within minutes they meet a family of about 6. The father was a rice farmer who said that he was poor. So Richard told him the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand as a way to show JC’s concern for meeting the needs of people who follow Him. Before the story ended the crowd grew to about 23 women, teens and children. Rakesh told them why he had chosen to follow the Lord. The family was delighted by the presentation. They requested someone come and teach them more about G.

As Richard and Rakesh moved on to their destination, they met several more people and told several Bible stories. But their last visit proved most fruitful. Outside on the main street was a man sitting on a table. They engaged in conversation with him. Richard started telling a Bible story.The man named Shiv-nath invited them to his home. After finishing the story, a presentation was made explaining why JC came down to earth to die for our sins. In a country of millions of gods, it was made clear that the creator was the only true one. Shiv-nath said he wanted to know this G. So he confessed his sins and prayed to have JC in his life.  PTL!

This will be the last update from Richard. Tomorrow he catches a plane for home. Please continue to pray for Tom as he travels on.

DAY 13

Richard and his national translator, Rockesh, walked the streets in the countryside on Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM.  They spoke with many people from a repairer of fishing nets to the owner of a construction company. They shared the Good News with over 50 people!!! Many of them gathered around as Richard and Rockesh entered a new part of the street. At one location, 12 people either stood beside or sat on a platform as Richard told the story of a demon-possessed man named Legion. At other locations, Bible stories were shared about David and Goliath, the woman at the well, and Lazareth walking out of a tomb. Rockesh, as an Indian national, had several opportunities to give his testimony of why he believed in JC.

Overall, Richard and Rockesh found 3 people serious about wanting a follow-up visit. They also gave away 2 Bibles to people requesting them.

Please pray that the 3 mentioned above would commit their lives to follow JC.

DAY 12

Richard, Tom, and 17 others traveled about 2 ½ hours outside the city to a new location in the countryside. After lunch foreigners on the team were paired with Indian partners. Their assignment was to walk the streets in a mapped out area to engage in as many gospel conversations as possible.

Richard was paired with 2 translators. At the first house was a man struggling to find peace. He had a conflict with his neighbor. The 2 translators told of how JC had given them peace even among strife in their own lives. Next, the 3 visited a family of about six. They too admitted to wanting happeness and peace in their lives. Richard told the story of Jesus calming the wind and the waves. He explained peace only comes in the storm with G’s son in your life. They walked about a ½ mile and saw many M’s leaving a Mosque after prayers. An elderly M man stopped and talked with them. He opened up about having heart surgery when a pacemaker was implanted. The group told the story of the woman with 12 years blood issues to encourage him to trust in the Lord for his health needs. Their last conversation took place when talking with a grandmother who stood by the gate at her home. She spoke about love for neighbor, family, and friends. As they talked, Richard and the 2 translators started drawing a crowd of young people. So Richard told the story of the 5 loaves and 2 fish as a way to show how much JC loved and cared for all people.

At about 5:15 the skyes turned dark and the 3 some returned to their hotel for rest. Please pray as the big team goes out again tomorrow.

DAY 11

Richard and Tom began the day with an hour drive outside of a major city. They went to the same cell group as the day before. It was Tom’s turn to teach for 2 hours. He taught about the disciples cross, which showed by reading the Word daily and prayer, one could stay in close communication with the creator.

After lunch, they along with the local M, visited some of the cell group member’s homes. At each home, it was the member’s responsibility to gather neighbors and family to teach the Book. Most of those who would come were unbelievers. But since Richard and Tom were present, they were given the opportunity to tell Bible stories. They choose stories of lostness from Luke. Tom taught the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin. Richard taught the parable of the lost son (prodigal son). After the presentation, an invitation was given. Two ladies raised their hands. The wanted JC in their lives!!! The angels in heaven were rejoicing.

The next house they entered offered another opportunity to tell the same stories. No one responded to the invitation. But some seekers in the group requested prayer for a son suffering from depression and a small child with hearing loss. Both were prayed for.

DAYS 8,9, & 10

Tom and Richard returned to the first city they visited for a debriefing. Jared flew back to the USA while Phani went to visit relatives.

The next day, Tom and Richard continued their trip to a new city to work with an M couple. Thursday morning they went out to a town about an hour from the main city. 10 people came to a weekly B study. Richard had the opportunity to teach for 2 hours. Those in the study learned how to tell G’s story by making a simple drawing. The people also learned a more detailed version using copies of black and white line drawings. Each person was given a set of 4 drawings. Several in the study seemed eager to share the stories that they had learned with non-believers.

After lunch, Richard, Tom, the M couple, and 2 nationals went visiting. They started at the home of a believer. His mother was there. A prayer was said for her to believe.

Next, the group went to see the son of another member. The man they visited was very depressed. His wife had left him. He had a drug and alcohol problem. He listened while Richard told a true story about a believer who had been healed from paralysis.  This was meant to be a message of hope by trusting in JC. Unfortunately, the man barely responded to what was said. The final visit was to a member’s home. The lady had a 6-year autistic son she was caring for. The husband had practically walked out on the family. The group prayed for her as she struggled to make ends meet and care for her child.

Day 7

Richard, Jared, Tom, Phani and the local M began the day with tea and coffee at a restaurant.  They met with a local pastor who had started a B study in his home.  But only a few believers attended. He had a burden to expand the study by reaching the lost of the community. Those from Round Rock and the M encouraged him by making suggestions on how he might accomplish his goal.

Then they went to a local temple for some site seeing. Those of this religion worship millions of gods represented by the idols seen at the temple. They were saddened by the fact that many hundreds of people frequent this temple in hopes of pleasing their gods.

In the afternoon Richard, Tom, Jared, Phani and the M went to a shopping mall to tell the Good News to merchants and shoppers. Richard and Tom were able to talk to Ali who was a clerk in a shoe store. They explained about the creator who showed His great love by sending His son to pay for the sins of the world. Surprising, Ali agreed with everything they said! But then he would always go back and say that the Son was just one of the great prophets. He never recognized Him as higher or equal to the creator. Tom and Richard thanked Ali for his time and left him with a tract.

Please pray that Ali would come to know the truth in the near future.

Day 6

The 4 from Round Rock went to church Sunday morning. Around 40 locals were in attendance. The worship service lasted about 3 hours. During that time, Richard, Jared, Tom and Phani listened to an inspirational testimony from a young man who at one time thought of taking his own life. But through the encouragement of a local Christian, he began reading a Bible. He realized how sin had corrupted his life and turned to JC to save him from the consequences of hell. Today he is ready to go out and serve the church wherever he is called to go. The group from Round Rock was recognized and Tom sang a song that he composed during a training session last week. Lastly, the pastor delivered a powerful sermon on how it was the local churches role to be directly involved in starting new work throughout India.

After the service, lunch was served which consisted of rice, curry and lentils. During that time the 4 had a chance to speak and encourage 4 future church planters from the church.

Day 4 & 5

On the fourth day Jared, Phani, Tom, and Richard finished up there training.

On the 5^th day, they went to a new city of 10 million people. The M who they are working with took them to a popular city park. There they shared the good news with merchants selling shawls and handicrafts. Tom had success in talking to a seller named Ankit. The man talked about his family creating marble masterpieces to sell. Tom then used the masterpiece theme to talk about how God wanted to create a masterpiece within him.  After a 45-minute discussion, Ankit accepted JC.

Richard talked with another merchant, Javed, from Kashmir. Richard explained the good news to him by drawing a simple picture showing how we are all separated from our creator by sin.  The only way back was through JC. Then the translator gave a fuller explanation.  Javed seemed to be open to a follow-up visit.

Please pray that Ankit will hold true to the faith and Javed will be interested in learning more when revisited.