Enjoying the jungle!

Not sure I know how to fully grapple with the emotions and thoughts I’ve had over the last 3 days as we’ve wondered the countryside, driving and walking through the tiger and elephant  jungles of eastern India to visit the area villages.  I’ve had hospitality like I’ve never encountered:  being greeted by tribal drums, followed by tribal dances with the women who then wash our feet and hands, moisturizing them with Tameric lotion.  Then come the children to lay a garland of flowers around our neck while bending down to touch our feet as a sign of respect.

In these villages I’ve sat in churches that are anywhere from 2 to 15 years old, meaning that some of these churches have no believers that are more than 2 years old.  I’ve worshipped in churches that have a building and I’ve sat outside in the great outdoors with churches that only have a slight roof over their heads.  I have felt caught somewhere between the book of Acts and the Old Testament, hearing stories of incredible healings as witch doctors families turn to the church to pray for those they are unable to heal.  And then I hear of a herd of 50 elephants stomping through villages over homes of those that are persecuting the believers of Jesus, while walking right by the homes that belong to Christians.  I have learned what it means to be prepared in season and out of season to give a reason for the hope we have, being asked spontaneously to bring a teaching – this to a crowd of mainly illiterate people that  have very few Bibles.  I have sat in one of these villages as the first white person to enter their village, in a crowd that has never once before heard the name of Jesus Christ – an almost unfathomable thought for us from Canada.

Yes you might imagine it is just a bit overwhelming to attempt to take that all in and sort it through in one short blog entry.  I suppose however, that should you continue to follow my blog, you will slowly have my thoughts coming out as I return to Winnipeg next weekend and continue to dwell on the richness of these past few days.