To you who have invested in my involvement with women in India; whether you have prayed or given supplies or money, your investment, plus the investment of others has multiplied. Thank you for partnering with me and EKTA India Missions! This coming February, 2012, will be my third visit to India as we continue to develop the ministries that were planted.
You
have probably heard me tell before, how teaching handcrafts to women
opens the door to the Gospel. By working alongside local churches, we
work together to reach women for Christ in a non-threatening way. I was
first a part of this ministry in 2009 and the group of women that came
are still meeting monthly. The crafting was merely a vessel to carry
the Gospel.
Last
February, we visited Herbertpur in north India where two women’s groups
were started. We will return there this coming February to not only
teach crafts and share the Gospel, but also to more fully develop
women’s ministry, the Aruna Project. What I have been looking forward
to sharing with you is this project in the Dehradun/Herbertpur area.
God
put this vision in our hearts. We are partnering with our partner
Pastor Rajeev and his church, Ebenezer House of Prayer and other leaders
in the community, who are involved in the development. We are not
ministering TO or AT the people, but WITH them. Who better to know
their needs and cultural nuances but the nationals? In this way, the
ministry is more culturally compatible and has stronger ownership in the
community.
The
Aruna Project will be a place that provides training for income
generating crafts and skills while teaching women about the Gospel. We
will start with teaching tailoring skills on treadle machines and will
include worship time, Bible teaching and of course, tea breaks. Love
that chai!
Our
journey to India this February 2012 will be more than a regular mission
trip, it is also a vision trip. We will have a crafting program for
women as we’ve done in the past. But we will also be spending some time
in discussion and prayer with our India partners as we go forward with
the Aruna Project.
When
I first went to India in 2009, I went because I could teach knitting.
When I went in in 2011, it was to teach foundation pieced quilting but
also to develop a women’s group. And when I go in 2012, it is to
develop a Women’s Ministry Center and oh yeah, teach crafting too! It’s
not about the knititng or sewing, it’s all about following where God is
leading.
So
many exciting things have been developing since last February, and many
times I wanted to share them with you. I believe that my partnership
in India is long term (God willing) and I will update you on what’s
happening in India regularly by email.
I
do appreciate your prayers. Our partners in India and we have
committed to fasting prayer as we seek God for guidance on this project.
I have also committed to fasting and to prayer as I seek God’s
leading. Would you be willing to pray for this ministry too?
I
hope that you will partner again with me. You are as important a part
of this ministry as anyone else. Our roles are just different - some to
pray, some to support, some to go. A beautiful way of doing ministry -
together while using our own gifts and abilities.
If
someone had told me in 2009 what I would be going to do in India in
2012, I probably would have been too afraid to go! Thank God that he
only shows us a little at a time what he wants us to do. That has been
my prayer this year, that God would go before us and that we would
always follow where he leads. May it be so.
Thank you,
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