Today we woke up to a monsoon. It seems today the rainy season arrived! We got ready and headed to one of the house churches here in town. There were about 20 people (maybe) there total. This church was held at a meeting hall that is sometimes used for weddings. The grounds were beautiful! After singing several songs in Hindi (one of the languages spoken here) and This is the Day in Bengali, the pastor of the church took prayer requests. The two most touching were from a man who's brother is sick, but b/c of financial help from the church, he is getting better and able to receive treatment and from a little boy (maybe 11 or so) who asked us to pray that his entire family would come to a knowledge of Jesus' saving grace! Wow!! We then prayed "Indian style" which means everyone voices (out loud) their prayers all at the same time. It was very cool to hear all the voices and all the languages in one room being said! Then A. preached a great sermon on the tower of Babel and our choices/motives. Then we were able to spend some time speaking with the people in the church. It was a great time of fellowship.
After church, we headed back to the guest house to eat a Bengali lunch. It consisted of rice, a sauce made from smashed chickpeas (I don't remember what it was called), vegetables and chicken. A. showed us how to eat Indian style with our hands, but none of us were brave enough just yet to try it. Then we had some time to meet in groups to plan for tomorrow. Bill, Kevin, and I spent time sorting medications and other medical supplies to get ready for our clinics this week. We packed one small suitcase with all the thing we would need for our pediatric clinic tomorrow and another one with the things for the adult clinics on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mary and Christy met about the sewing classes they are going to work with and Cheryl and Ellen met about the henna party we will be hosting later this week.
After those meetings there was just enough time to fill water bottles and head to the evening house church. This one is held on a roof top in the same general area of the slum school we will be working at this week. The rooftop is just an open roof - no sides to keep you from falling or anything! The house belonged to a woman and her daughter who were considered wealthy. It is amazing of what they consider wealthy to what we American's consider wealthy. There were pipes and wires hanging out of the walls and ceilings. There were few decorations on the walls (if any). There were several goats and bunnies (and maybe some other animals) that were kept in the house. This house of this wealthy woman would have been condemned in the USA!!! And yet, the group of children and young people were simply happy to have somewhere to meet to worship!
First we were able to be a part of the children's SS class that they do for an hour. There were probably 40 children there. The children sang several songs for us (all with hand motions) and then we taught them "Deep and Wide". Then they split into 3 groups for Bible study. Since it had been raining earlier they spread several tarps out on the floor of the roof and the kids sat there. The youngest kids learn a story and then spend time coloring. The older groups spend time in study and then memorize a Bible verse. It is amazing how attentive the children are during the Bible study time! After the children's classes, there is a group of young adults that come for the house church. Church is also normally held on the rooftop, but it started to rain again and so we had to take the service inside. The 7 of us on the trip were honored and given chairs to sit in instead of sitting on the floor like the rest of the attendees. After several songs in Hindi and Bengali, prayer requests were again taken. One of the girls in attendance shared a praise that her unbelieving brother who does not approve of her coming to the church actually drove here there that night! After again praying Indian style, Mary was able to share her testimony. Then the pastor of the church taught a story about David and Goliath. He spoke about having faith, fighting the fight, and then finishing strong. It was a very encouraging message! Several of the girls in the church told us they were so glad we were there, that they have spent many hours praying for us as we prepared to come! They were excited that we would be at the slum school tomorrow so they could see us again.
After trekking through the mud to get back to the car, we went to McDonald's for dinner! Yep, that means that I have now been here for 4 meals (not including breakfast) and have eating once at KFC (which was better here than in the states I might add), and once at McDonald's (the chicken nuggets tasted just like at home!). We all also had an ice cream treat while there! Then we headed back to the guest house to finish up preparations for tomorrow.
And now, I am going to go to bed before I fall asleep at the computer again. Sorry there aren't pictures today. They are all on my phone. I will try to get them onto my computer tomorrow and add them in here. Up tomorrow... teaching at the slum school tomorrow morning. We will teach K1 and K2 from 7:45 - 9:30 (ish). Then Kevin will teach a short devotional to kids. K2, 1 and 2 classes are until noon. Then we will break for lunch and then teach sewing and crafts in the early afternoon. Tomorrow evening we will be hosting a pediatric clinic!
After church, we headed back to the guest house to eat a Bengali lunch. It consisted of rice, a sauce made from smashed chickpeas (I don't remember what it was called), vegetables and chicken. A. showed us how to eat Indian style with our hands, but none of us were brave enough just yet to try it. Then we had some time to meet in groups to plan for tomorrow. Bill, Kevin, and I spent time sorting medications and other medical supplies to get ready for our clinics this week. We packed one small suitcase with all the thing we would need for our pediatric clinic tomorrow and another one with the things for the adult clinics on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mary and Christy met about the sewing classes they are going to work with and Cheryl and Ellen met about the henna party we will be hosting later this week.
After those meetings there was just enough time to fill water bottles and head to the evening house church. This one is held on a roof top in the same general area of the slum school we will be working at this week. The rooftop is just an open roof - no sides to keep you from falling or anything! The house belonged to a woman and her daughter who were considered wealthy. It is amazing of what they consider wealthy to what we American's consider wealthy. There were pipes and wires hanging out of the walls and ceilings. There were few decorations on the walls (if any). There were several goats and bunnies (and maybe some other animals) that were kept in the house. This house of this wealthy woman would have been condemned in the USA!!! And yet, the group of children and young people were simply happy to have somewhere to meet to worship!
First we were able to be a part of the children's SS class that they do for an hour. There were probably 40 children there. The children sang several songs for us (all with hand motions) and then we taught them "Deep and Wide". Then they split into 3 groups for Bible study. Since it had been raining earlier they spread several tarps out on the floor of the roof and the kids sat there. The youngest kids learn a story and then spend time coloring. The older groups spend time in study and then memorize a Bible verse. It is amazing how attentive the children are during the Bible study time! After the children's classes, there is a group of young adults that come for the house church. Church is also normally held on the rooftop, but it started to rain again and so we had to take the service inside. The 7 of us on the trip were honored and given chairs to sit in instead of sitting on the floor like the rest of the attendees. After several songs in Hindi and Bengali, prayer requests were again taken. One of the girls in attendance shared a praise that her unbelieving brother who does not approve of her coming to the church actually drove here there that night! After again praying Indian style, Mary was able to share her testimony. Then the pastor of the church taught a story about David and Goliath. He spoke about having faith, fighting the fight, and then finishing strong. It was a very encouraging message! Several of the girls in the church told us they were so glad we were there, that they have spent many hours praying for us as we prepared to come! They were excited that we would be at the slum school tomorrow so they could see us again.
After trekking through the mud to get back to the car, we went to McDonald's for dinner! Yep, that means that I have now been here for 4 meals (not including breakfast) and have eating once at KFC (which was better here than in the states I might add), and once at McDonald's (the chicken nuggets tasted just like at home!). We all also had an ice cream treat while there! Then we headed back to the guest house to finish up preparations for tomorrow.
And now, I am going to go to bed before I fall asleep at the computer again. Sorry there aren't pictures today. They are all on my phone. I will try to get them onto my computer tomorrow and add them in here. Up tomorrow... teaching at the slum school tomorrow morning. We will teach K1 and K2 from 7:45 - 9:30 (ish). Then Kevin will teach a short devotional to kids. K2, 1 and 2 classes are until noon. Then we will break for lunch and then teach sewing and crafts in the early afternoon. Tomorrow evening we will be hosting a pediatric clinic!
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