Friends and Family,

This is my third try to get this done.  The other two tries were lost because loss of electricity halfway through.  Aargh!

Thanks to all for your prayers on my big trip yesterday.  I started off preaching in a 7:30 a.m. worship service and then headed on to preaching at 4 baptism services (total of 176), 2 church dedications, the opening of a pre-school and community center, and several stops at congregations along the way, ending at 10:00 p.m.  The growth is not only in the new areas but also in the local congregations as most of them have now outgrown their facilities and were requesting help to expand.

I thought I could give you an idea of the different contexts of the baptism services by sharing the topics I developed at each spot:  Baptism as covenant with blessings and responsibilities, Baptism as protection from evil spirits, Baptism as entrance into God's family with pastors as "elder brother," and Baptism as living in the promises of God.  Two of the services
were held out in the open under a tent, as they are in totally new evangelistic centers.  Much of this new work is carried out by teams of youth, trained by our pastors with the support of agencies like Mission India and the United Evangelical Mission India.  The seminary also gives priority to the graduates of these programs for entrance into the church's pastoral and deaconess training programs.

I found most striking how many of the converts were youths.  They are giving up all the government support that is available for the "dalits" ("untouchables") and forbidden if one converts to Christianity.  Dr. Waldo Werning and Dr. Gene Bunkowske were along for part of this itinerary, and Gene was particularly struck by one very old man who took baptism.  We interviewed him as to why he had come for baptism at his age, and he simply testified that Jesus had come into his heart and he had to be faithful to him.

The two church dedications were efforts of the congregation themselves, with no help from LCMS.  The typical practice here is that congregation members commit themselves to add one month's salary to their usual tithe so that they can build their chapel.  I'm struck at how beautiful they build their worship facilities in these villages.  I preached how our chapel is a little taste of heaven with all its beauty and celebration of God's loving Presence.  The people really want to do something that is worthy of God's Name.

Both chapels had beautiful tile flooring.   I was reminded of an incident early in my missionary service.  I had received a $3000 gift from a congregation and recalled a very poor village I had been to the previous week.  I told the pastor I had
this gift and he could meet with his congregation leaders to decide how to use it for the benefit of the people.  I thought they would return with an idea of restoring some dilapidated huts.  Their decision was to use the funds to cement the floor of their chapel.  They wanted to do something that would benefit everyone, I presume, instead of causing dissension over whose personal need was the greatest.  I was surprised at the decision and questioned the pastor about it.  He simply replied, "Let these people sit on cement for one day a week like the rich people do." Yesterday I was thinking similarly:  "Let these people sit on tiled floor like the rich people do."

In three of the villages they had organized great fanfare for our arrival.  They decorate us with huge, fragrant garlands, use marigold petals as the path to the chapel/tent, shower us with petals along the way, and have a band with bells and drums leading the way (in one place even firecrackers) as we wind through the village.  I always assure LCMS visitors not to be
embarrassed but to accept these luxurious receptions gracefully.  They have nothing to do with us personally.  People simply want to take this occasion to honor and celebrate what we represent:  the LCMS World Mission that brought them new life and dignity in the Gospel.

There's more to write, but I'm going to stop with this now.  I have to get off to my visit to the deaf school in town.

God bless.

Herb