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Update from Kolkata! |
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hello everyone! We have arrived safely in Kolkata! It is like a different world here in this city. The population here is 14 M, and the weather, food, and culture is also very very different. We are situated in West Bengal, so the language is also different. But there are many people who speak English here, so we do fine. We are currently working with YWAM King's Kids here in Kolkata. They have a shelter here for street kids that can come in to the shelter, get clean clothes, meals, teaching about Christ, and a lot of love. They wash the kid's clothes every day, so when they come in, they can always have clean clothes. They also give the kids baths and tend to wounds and other needs. The ministry team staff here is a pretty hardcore awesome group of people. There are 2 other teams here. A DTS team and another team which I am confused about who they're with... Today we are going to orientation to work with the Mother Theresa orphanage here in Calcutta. If we can get in, then we will work there on Monday. Tomorrow is a fun day. Brandon and I are extremely excited about tomorrow. We are going shopping, to the Ganges river, to a mall, possibly to see Batman 2, and to eat at Pizza Hut. So pray for safety as we're in town and also that we would be refreshed and enjoy the day. We are all healthy, praise God! We are fighting satan at the end of outreach because we are very tired. We know it is the end, but we both want to end strong. The States has been on our minds quite a bit lately, but we don't want it to distract us from the work that God has for us here. Every morning here at the base, we join the staff with Bible study, prayer and intercession, and worship. It has been refreshing to worship in a more corporate setting. There are people working here from all over India and the world. The spiritual atmosphere is very different here. It isn't as demonic feeling as I expected, but I think it is just because I haven't been as sensitive to it here. The kids that we are ministering to are very receptive, and our prayer (the ministry team and our team) is that the kids will take what they are learning back to their families. Several nights a week, the team staff will walk down the streets and visit the families of the kids who come to the shelter. This helps to build trust with the ministry team, and also allows them to show love. There are so many people living on the streets here. I have heard of this kind of situation, but I have never experienced it first-hand. It has been eye-opening, and I realize that it takes very stout people to do the work that is being done here. Amazing... We have 8 more days here in Kolkata until we begin our very long journey back to the States. Pray that God's will would be accomplished, and that He would open Brandon and I's eyes to see what He is doing and our purposes here. Pray that we would be able to begin to process everything that has occurred on this trip, and that we could apply what we have learned in our lives. For me, I want this trip to be life changing. I have learned so much, but I don't want to lose it. So pray against the evil one who would steal everything He has taught us. Pray that God's Truth and His purposes would be ingrained into our hearts and that He would be glorified through us. Amen. Keep praying for us, and I'll keep you posted! Rustin |
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Update! |
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Click here to view images hello everyone!
The past 3 days have been wonderful days for ministry. On Sunday, I preached at church and then in the evening, we went to a village. We had 4 cups of chai in the village because we visited 4 different houses. It is custom here in India to offer chai to welcome people when they visit. Ashu said he wouldn't be able to sleep that night because of all of the chai he drank.
On Monday, we linked up with the women's team and went to a town about an hour away. A pastor, Monoj, lives and works in this city. The girls had a time for women's ministry in which they spoke to the women and then spent time praying with them. During this time, Brandon, some of the ministry guys, and I went on a prayer walk around the city. There is quite a bit of spiritual diversity there. We passed by Muslim Mosques and also very large Hindu temples. There is only one designated church in this town. Monoj was telling me that he started leading a church in his house, and now there are so many people that we need to pray that God would provide another place to have services! After the ministry at this town, we went off to a village that was quite far. The roads up to it were extremely bumpy, and Ashu didn't even know there was a village there! He said that there hasn't been much contact with the Gospel at this village. But when we arrived, we found there to be a few believers. Brandon spoke, and then we all just spent time praying with different people. The Spirit was really moving powerfully through the people. Alot of the women were crying and falling over and unable to stay up. It was very refreshing and encouraging to see that God's presence was there in our midst.
Yesterday, we went to the same town where Monoj lives. The women did another teaching / praying time and Ashu, Monoj, Brandon and I went and got ice cream. =) That evening, we went to a village that none of the ministry guys had ever been. Alot of the people in the village had never seen white people before, and for many of them, it was their first encounter with the Gospel. It was a very neat experience, and there was a great response. Ashu said that there will be a house church there soon.
It has been very encouraging because we are now beginning to see what we thought we might see. God has still been speaking greatly into my heart. He is still teaching me so many things and reminding me of things that He has already taught me.
We have decided that we will take a train to Calcutta and then fly back. We leave on the 16th and will arrive back in Nagpur on the 26th. We arrive back in the States on the 29th. While in Calcutta, we will be working with an orphanage, doing some shopping, and some other ministry of which I do not know the details. I am excited to go!
I have attached some pictures. The first is of some monkeys that we saw in Yavatmal. The second is of the guys from the farm and skills training center. The third is shoe box distribution that we did 2 days ago. The fourth is of me sharing my testimony to some of the guys that crowded around us yesterday during the women's ministry. And the last is of a house in one of the villages.
Continue to pray for us! We want to see God move even more than He has.
Rustin |
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India Update! |
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Click here to view images hello everyone! I believe that it is time for a short update!
Brandon and I have arrived back in Wardha after being in Yavatmal for 2 weeks. A DTS team from the States came for the last week, so we were able to partner with them in ministry for a time. It was good to be able to spend some time with westerners! We did a program in a nearby village for a group of school students. It was difficult because they were not very attentive. But God knows all, and He is in control.
Today, a girl's team from the States will arrive. Brandon and I know 3 of the 5 women who are arriving. This week will be busier ministry-wise. We are speaking this morning at church, and we also have plans to visit several villages this week.
We are both healthy. Brandon was sick for a day last week, but he is much better now.
I have a peace in my heart about what we are doing. I believe that we are in God's will, and that we just need to continue to persevere. We have decided that we are going to Calcutta for a week. We will be traveling with the girl's team and working with an orphanage. I am looking forward to Domino's and McDonalds! The dates for this are the 15th - 26th. We are taking a 20 hour train, and we won't be accompanied by an Indian, so just pray for us as we travel and for the ministry that will take place.
From the support from everyone, Brandon and I have enough money to buy the ministry a new motorcycle! We talked with Ashu last night about some of the needs for the ministry, and they are in need of a motorcycle. We are excited to be able to do this, and I want you to know that the support you gave was a blessing not only to us, but it is overflowing to the ministry here! =)
God bless and please continue to pray for us!
Rustin |
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India Update - Monkeys |
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Click here to view pictures Hello everyone!
I first want to thank everyone who wrote us back after I sent the last update! Your words were encouraging, and they uplifted our spirits. It is so good to know that so many people are praying for us!
For those of you that I have just added to the list, this is the 3rd update of Brandon and I's journey in India.
We are now in the city of Yeotmal. It is about 2 hours from Wardha where we previously stayed. Joshua lives here, and we have had a lot of time to spend with him. While here in Yeotmal, we have been able to participate in ministry at the skills center at a nearby farm. The farm is a place that young men go to learn skills and to learn about Christ. I planted a tree at the farm 2 years ago, and it was really cool to see it! It has grown to be taller than I am!
Tonight we went to a nearby village and had "Sunday school." We told the kids a few stories from the Bible, then spent some time in a family's home praying for a lame man who had, 6 years earlier, fallen a couple of stories and now is mostly paralyzed. We really felt that God wanted to heal him. Brandon and I even got him off of the bed and started trying to walk with him. But he had several gods in his home, and Brandon and I believe that God didn't heal him because he was putting other gods before Him. He believes in Christ, but he is not obeying God by having the idols, which creates a door for evil spirits, in his home. I pray that he will have conviction concerning the idols so that God can completely heal his body. Please pray for him! We will hopefully be going back. The woman that we went to the village to work with told him that he needed to get rid of the idols in his home, so we leave the rest up to the Holy Spirit. God is in control! Haleluiah! Also at this village, 2 elderly people accepted Christ! My prayer is that they really truly understand and are effectively discipled from this point on.
Before we came to Yeotmal, we had an interesting opportunity in Wardha. We went to a school where a man named Jayandra teaches English to a group of students around the ages of 17-22. He opened the doors to let us speak to them about Jesus, and then there was a question and answer period after I spoke. It was really exciting to speak truth to the lives of some students around our age who, for some, believe in many other gods. A few days before we spoke with the students, God healed Jayandra of a pain that he had in his stomach. God is doing a work in Jayandra, I believe, and I pray that it continues to grow and that his faith would increase.
Two days ago, Brandon and I worked in the ministry center here. There is a kitchen upstairs where we are staying that was completely full of items. It was basically being used as a storage room, and we helped them move everything downstairs so that we could clean up the kitchen so that it would be usable for ministry teams. It was nice to sweat because of actually doing something… not just because it is so hot!
We are crying out to God for Him to move. And I have faith that He will accomplish His work here. We are still not sure what His will is in different areas, but I believe that when the time is right, He will guide us. Pray for discernment on our part, and that God would confirm in our hearts what He wants to do. God has been teaching me so many things while here. It has been an incredible time to spend away from the busyness of the States and of day-to-day life. We are pretty uncomfortable here physically, but I believe that partly because of that, God is drawing us to Himself. I praise God for the work that He is doing in my own life. I don't know His plans, for my ways aren't His ways and my thoughts aren't His thoughts, but I trust in Him who has called me here.
Please pray for us. Pray for discernment, strength, and peace in our hearts. We want to know His will and do it. That is the cry of our hearts. Thank you for your prayers!
I have also attached a few pictures! The first one is Brandon, Joshua, and I hanging out. The second one is of Brandon, Jayandra, and I after we spoke with the English students. The third is of the ministry team in Wardha. And the last one is of Brandon and some of the kids that we get to hang out with in Wardha. Enjoy!
Crying Out,
Rustin |
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July 8 |
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My grandmother bought me a daily walk bible before I came and it’s probably the absolute most important thing I brought. I have never read my bible so much in my life as I have this summer. It has a devotion written for each day of the year with a few chapters to read as well. It holds me very accountable… along with my cabin buds. Every day I read I find God is answering the exact need I have in my heart. Even though I’m about 18 days behind… I’m a somewhat of a completely different person to say the least. |
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