You Never Let Go

On our drive to the slums on Sunday, we stared out at the crowds of lost people and felt a conviction to be silent. I think our Father gave us this time to prepare mentally and spiritually for the service. We have been learning a lot about the power of silence. I love the way Alex put it: “Don’t be afraid to be quiet”. Our Father speaks in “gentle whispers” (1 Kings 19:11-12). We will hear Him when we are still and silent. On arriving at the ministry, we were directed to the top floor and began singing songs. These children love singing! “Uncle, uncle, can we sing ‘Running Over’?” The slums ring with their voices every day as they praise our Father. Today we told the story of Jonah and had the children act it out. They loved it! Laughter seized the room when the giant fish vomited Jonah out onto land. They learned about our Father’s continual pursuit after our hearts and His unceasing mercy. After the story was told and retold by another child (whose name is Sindhu), we played “Aunty and Uncle Says”, which is our adapted form of Simon Says. We headed back home and enjoyed a great meal of tandoori chicken, lemon pepper chicken, sweet and sour chicken, butter chicken and chapatti. It’s a good thing Chelsi, a vegetarian since the age of 13, began eating chicken on this trip! While we expected to go to the village on Monday, we were notified that plans had changed. Flexibility is essential! So we started Monday morning with reading, tea, and a traditional breakfast of idli, sambar, and vada. We got the opportunity to spend time with Monny, Latha’s 18-year old nephew, at a coffee shop. After, we went to the ministry in what we like to call The Mystery Machine because of its resemblance to the vehicle in Scooby Doo. We taught the children the present and past tense after Tori recited the the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Our father is really doing some amazing things here. We have so many ideas that He has poured into us and we can’t wait to share them with the children. Whatever you’re doing, it’s working. These children’s lives will forever be changed, as will ours. Thank you for all of your encouragement and prayers.

Grace and Peace.