Week 19

Last week I had something to do everyday, which was a first.  I was so exhausted by the end of the week!  I don't remember specifics.  I taught my two deaf students, I shopped for Christmas gifts, and I went to the American club for a birthday party.  I had mentoring meetings as well.  I woke up at 7:30am nearly every morning, which I really only do for Friday's gathering (which I also attended last week).  So with that out of the way, below is a list of items I would love for you to petition the Father for.

1. Next week a camera crew is supposed to come and film a typical week in my life here.  There are a few problems, the biggest being the possibility of a rally next week.  If that is the case, the week will consist of staying at home and pretty much being uneventful.  Please petition the Father that He hold back the rallies until the week is finished.  This filming is important for the Deaf workers to bring in more recruits for the kingdom.  Also ask Him that the week go smoothly.

2. My time here is almost up.  Ask Him that wrap up goes smoothly.  Ask Him that I don't forget to say what needs to be said to Deaf people here.  Ask Him that I'll be ok with leaving (I love the Deaf here, and I'll miss them!).  Ask Him that my time in India my last few days will be worthy of His kingdom.  Ask Him that my flight back to the states will be well and void of problems.

That is all for my blog.  There will be 1 or 2 more of these and then homeward bound!  I'm excited to see all of you back in the states so I can tell you all about my adventures abroad!

Week 18

Yes, last week is the week to praise the Father!  We had two successful dunkings, plus a third who was hearing who got dunked by my supervisor.  This was a time of great joy!  But of course, nothing goes without hiccups.

Originally I was supposed to dunk six deaf people.  One just stopped showing up at the meetings to schedule a time and place for the dunking.  So now down to five.  Then two more were convinced to wait by another leader until December 25th.  They look up to the leader more since they knew her for years and received instruction from her all that time.  I have no quips with this since they will still get dunked in time.  So petition the Father for those two!  The last one to get cancelled was the one that burdened me most.  In a freak occurrence that happened to my friend, his true motives for accepting JC were revealed.  He wanted to go to America, he wanted money, he wanted the prestige of having relations with Americans, he wanted food.  He equated JC with comfort and success.  This was a sad revelation to me, and a heavy burden as well.  This one was different as he was not the one to cancel, but I was.  He proved himself to not be ready.  But I am still willing to teach him if he wants for the little time I have left here.  Please petition on his behalf that the true motive for accepting JC is JC Himself!  Now the remaining two I was to dunk have definitely shown me to be ready, and what a joyous occasion it was!

They got dunked Saturday at 4pm my time, 5am Eastern time.  These two were my first dunkings, so I was excited for a very good reason!  I had them say a little about what they were like before JC, then I petitioned the Father on his behalf.  Then I dunked him in the name of the Father, the Son and the Spirit.  Whoo hoo!  The second dunking had a little hiccup, in which his head hit the bathtub.  It wasn't a hard hit, but it prevented his head from going under!  So he moved forward a little and... successful dunk otherwise.  Whoo hoo!  Afterward we sang songs of praise.  This was a joyful day.

Again, please petition the Father for the two yet to be dunked, the one that just stopped showing up for some reason, and for the one that is not yet ready and hasn't properly received the good news.  And ask Him to make ready my heart to leave this place in a few weeks, knowing contentedly that I have finished the race here and did what the Father asked me to do.  The work here is incomplete, but I know I have fought the good fight here and did all the Father asked me to do.  Here's to the Father willing that my last few weeks be filled with His glory!

Week 17

Wow, another late blog.  That means, yep you guessed it, nothing eventful really happened.  So I'll do this one on petition requests just like last week!

Let's begin with last week Thursday.  We met with the three Deaf people to talk about dunking.  Thank you for your petitions for that!  We were surprised that day, because those three brought some friends with them.  It turns out they are also new brothers and in need of dunking too!  Which means the number of people getting dunked has gone up from three to six!  Whoo!  So we would appreciate your petitions for the next meeting Thursday to discuss the location and time of the dunking, which has already been determined.  We're excited!

As you may have heard from my mother, there are a lot of protests happening around this time of the year, with elections and all.  The protests here are violent and sometimes people get hurt.  So long as I stay inside during these protests, which are announced at least a week in advance, I shall continue being safe.  But please petition for my safety, the safety of my supervisors and the safety of my Deaf friends.

Regarding the petition request of the new brother that was kicked out on the street last week, he is now safe and staying under the care of one of the shepherds in the city.  But continue petitioning for him because my supervisors said it's common for this kind of thing to continue for at least six months.  He needs to be strong and firm in the Father during this time.

One last thing.  Read Matthew 9:37-38.  As of right now, the only people working towards the Deaf all over the world in the company I'm currently under total to a measly 45 people.  Please petition the Father to send more workers for the harvest all over the world!  Speaking of this, I'm also thinking of a career in this same company for the rest of my life as a harvester of the Deaf.  So please petition the Father to steer me towards this path if this is His will for me.  Thank you.

Week 16

Yes I know, this blog is late.  However, not much really happened last week.  I simply attended the usual gathering Friday and taught them a story.  So this post will be dedicated to petition requests.

Please lift up our new brother.  He is hearing and his family kicked him out of the house.  His dad broke his cell phone.  He has decided to live on the streets.  His friends are mocking him.  He needs comfort from the Father.  He needs to grow as a brother.  He needs a place to stay.  So please lift him up in all these regards!

Please lift three deaf people up.  They, too, became my new brothers.  They will be coming over Thursday (11/7) in order for me, a deaf brother and my supervisors to teach them the importance of getting dunked in water.  We will be teaching them of what to expect from what may come.  To our knowledge, their family does not share their sentiments.  So please lift me, my deaf brother and my supervisors up to teach the three new brothers the correct lessons.  And lift the three new brothers that they will be understanding and know what JC wants from them.

That's all for this blog post, so please be in constant petition for us.  Thank you!