As I exited the plane from Chicago in Delhi, I was greeted by a large tourism sign “Incredible India.” Little did I know how truly incredible my experience would be. In·cred·i·ble –adjective 1. So extraordinary as to seem impossible 2. hard to believe; unbelievable. 3. So implausible as to elicit disbelief.
4. Astonishing.
The sights, sounds and smells
As we loaded our 15 member team and our luggage on the bus, my senses were jarred awake, never to rest for the next ten days. Hazy and humid, the evening air in Delhi was heavy. It smelled of smoke, diesel fumes and sweat. I was surrounded by thousands of people in the airport and on the sidewalks. Taxis, cars, buses jammed together waiting to transport the crowds. The airport roads led to highways filled with traffic traveling on the “left” side. Moving quickly with unexpected aggression our bus pressed ahead and passed other vehicles. Through the hazy yellow glow of headlights and signs it delivered us in front of our first hotel.
In the villagesEvery morning our bus would transport us for 30 to 90 minutes down small dirt roads, across wooden bridges and beside vast tea gardens or fields being plowed with oxen. During the five days of focused ministry, we entered villages where people lived in bamboo houses with thatch roofs and cooked in cast iron pots over open fires. Cows, pigs, chickens and goats roamed everywhere. The scents of plowed soil, smoke and manure mixed with the cool fresh breeze.
Northeast India
Northeast India has a population of over 3 million people and is made up of tribes or people groups, many of whom have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ. With today’s radio, satellite TV and internet, this may seem impossible. But literally millions of people still live spiritually uninformed. The Indian believers that we teamed with were enthusiastic and eager to introduce us to the people of their land.They were our partners and translators as we entered villages where we would meet people in their homes and discuss their culture and spiritual beliefs. The people of the villages were very interested to meet and talk with “the Americans.”
Extraordinary, incredible story
In a village of tea garden workers, I was able to talk with one group of about 25 people. Men, women and children surrounded me as I asked them about their work in harvesting tea. I told them of my work as a young man on the farm and how often I thought about God when working on a farm. I asked if I could tell them the story about the One True God who created the heavens and earth and all the animals and men. As they nodded, many of them sat down around me to listen… (more details on the story later)
As I concluded up my explanation of why God sent Jesus Christ as the solution to every man’s separation from God, I asked if they believed and if they wanted Christ to forgive them and lead their lives. Two women, with tears in their eyes, raised their hands in front of the whole group (which was very bold in their culture.) We prayed with them, recorded their names and gave them scriptures in their language. Then we proceeded to other homes in the village. A few hours later, as we were walking back near their home, one of the women greeted us on the road and held out a gift for me. She held a tattered piece of paper wrapped around some dried tea they harvested. Through my translator
she said with tears, “Thank you for coming to my home. No one has ever explained how we could know God personally through Jesus. Bless you for coming.” Needless to say I will never forget this incredible encounter and the look of appreciation and joy on her face.The harvest in India
I stood on a path looking across acres of rice fields surrounding me all ready for cultivation. Later I stood at the edge of a vast tea garden with lush green bushes that stretched as far as I could see. The tender tea leaves were ready for the first harvest. How could all this work be done? How many workers would it take to cultivate the fields and harvest the tea?
The same question resonated in my head about the spiritual harvest of souls. How could all the people who were ready to listen hear the story of Jesus?
Matthew 9:36-38 says, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’”I thanked God for the opportunity to be a small part of the harvest that is beginning in this land. Please pray with me that the Lord will send the workers and resources needed for His harvest.
