UPDATE - DEHRADUN TRIP (23 - 28 MAY)

23 MAY - ARRIVAL IN DEHRADUN

I arrived in Dehradun on the morning of the 23 May. I taught at the DTS later that morning and at night shared with the students about my pilgrimage. I was privileged to stay at the DTS Centre till the 25th.

 
















24 May - PUSHPA AND MARK'S MARRIAGE

25 May - ATTENDED ANOTHER RECEPTION

                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                     

 
I was taken quite by surprise because the person who took me to this function did not let me know before hand how Hi-Fi function this would be. He did tell me that the Chief Minister and Governor of Uttarakhand would be in attendence. When I got there I was very surprised to be received like a VIP from the time I stepped out of the car - with camera lighrs flashing and videos recording and being escorted to my place - a chair with my name on it. 

I took an opportunity to have my foto taken with the Governor and some MLA's. 

There was an endless supply of snacks and the food was fit for a king.

 

 It was very interesting to see how the other half lives.

26 May - TAUGHT SUMMER YOUTH STUDENTS AT NTC

MUKTI DILAAYE YESHU NAAM

MUKTI DILAAYE YESHU NAAM

The song Mukti Dilaaye Yeshu Naam (Salvation is through the name of Yeshu) is a favorite of most Yeshu bhaktas. It is definitely a "in-your-face" Yeshu song. Therefore, for anyone who is not a Yeshu follower, and likes this song it is considered to be odd. This is the oddity that strikes me about Lux. Lux is Naniji's youngest son. He would never consider himself to be a Yeshu follower yet on Sunday night, again he requested that we sing Mukti Dilaaye. You may remember that I did a blog post recently that he requested we sing Mukti Dilaaye at a satsang and both he and Anju sang openly and loudly. On Sunday night at first we were only three, Kiran, Arjun and me. Arjun left after the 1st hour and for the next hour it was only Kiran and I. For the last hour Lux joined us and for the final song he requested Mukti Dilaaye. 

I cannot but ask myself what is it that attracts him about the song. He knows exactly what he is singing and its not like he doesn't know any other songs. So why Mukti Dilaaye? Is it his way of expressing he desires this mukti? 

Like I said it's not one of your "covert" songs but one that is overtly Yeshu and speaks about the exclusivity of Yeshu - salvation is found through the name of Yeshu. This exclusivity is what most people in the world can't handle, leave alone here in India.

I  remember when I came to visit India for three weeks during June-July of 1997 I learnt Mukti Dilaaye and Kushi, kushi manao in the two weeks I was in Varanasi. The third week I spent in S India in Karnataka. To share Yeshu to those who don't know him I used to sing these two songs - the whole Gospel message is found in these two songs combined. That is a clear indication of it's overtness.

I pray that God may use this song to bring Lux out of darkness into the Light and into eternal life to become a disciple of Yeshu like his mother and sister.

 

THE LITTLE STARS LEAVE

THE LITTLE STARS LEAVE

Today all the little stars left to go home.

The littlest of all the stars, Petal left with her mom to go back to the village.

Sejal and Roshan left with Naniji to go to the village because Sejal has exams to write. When Sejal finishes her exams she will come back with Naniji. We are not sure about Roshan though, because he was not supposed to go back, but his father called and insisted that Roshan comes home. Whether he will be granted permission to come back with Naninji is not certain. We pray that he may come back and stay with us at the least till he has to go back to school.

May God bring all the little stars to himself in his own time.

 

FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

LITTLE ANGEL'S BLACK HEART

When Roshan wasn't around Sejal was a delightful angel but when Roshan arrived she was anything but an angel. She was so unkind to him. She bossed him and scolded him. Seeing this I was so concerned but let it go on with only a chiding here and there. Then I decided it was time to speak to her. So I sat down with her and told her that she needs to repent because of her attitude towards Roshan. She surprised me by saying that Yeshu had already spoken to her and she asked God to forgive her. I was so glad to hear this.

I was looking to see what change of attitude there would be towards Roshan, if there were any. I some slight change but not as much as I was hoping to see. 

Then at the Wednesday night satsang Petal's (Pankhuri's) mom asked us to pray for Petal who was quite ill. We prayed for and then they left for the doctor. After they left Kiran also asked to be prayed for. I then told them (Kiran, Sejal and Roshan) that we will sing a bhajan which is a prayer and while we are singing all 3 of you should call out to God. While we were singing tears began to stream down Roshan's face and then Sejal began to sob loudly and Kiran cried silently. Then I asked each of them to share what they were experiencing during the time of singing.

SEJAL

God revealed to her that she is very proud and that her attitude towards Roshan is wrong. Then the Lord reveled his intense love for her and said that he also loves others as he loves her and she ought to do the same. She cried out to God asking him to remove every bit of pride from her heart. Then she was trying to take a hold of her heart (but was only able to grab a hold of her dress) and give it God completely. Thereafter she experienced intense joy welling up inside of her. Now her attitude towards Roshan has changed.

ROSHAN

Roshan said that the evil spirit came to him and told him that he should stop worshiping God and praising Yeshu. "Previously you used to worship me and now you have stopped worshiping me." The evil spirit told him that he must not think that Yeshu is all powerful because he doesn't know anything and that if he doesn't stop worshiping Yeshu he will kill him with a big bone of a skeleton which he had in his hand. Roshan's reply was that Yeshu took our punishment on the cross and he gives sight to the blind, causes the lame to walk and raises the dead (words of a song "Come and see that my Yeshu is alive" which we sing often) and you don't do these things but cause people to get sick and die. Then he saw that something like fire fall from heaven and burn the evil spirit. 

At last evening satsang the evil spirit was trying to stop him from worshiping - the evil spirit kept on telling him that he must not worship Yeshu but worship him. So we asked Roshan to choose to invite Yeshu to live in his heart. Last night he did just that. During the prayer God encouraged him and told him not to fear because he will be with him.

KIRAN

Kiran also shared that she also experienced the love of the Father and she now received encouragement to continue. She felt that Yeshu had taken a hold of her hand and began leading her forth.

YESHU HELPS SEJAL WITH HER MATHS

Then because of not being able to teach Sejal and Roshan on Tue I gave them Maths work to do. The next day I asked Sejal for the work and she said that she didn't do it. I told her that I won't accept any excuse and until she does that work I won't teach her anything else. I was waiting for her to come to me but she didn't. Her Maths was so overwhelming like a huge mountain looming over her. Then last night she shared in the satsang that during the day she went to a quiet place and cried her heart out to God to help her in her Maths. When she took her Maths book and began doing her work she found it so easy to do. She was so happy and now knows that Yeshu can help her with her studies also. One thing about Sejal is remarkable is that she never neglects to be at the satsang no matter what happens. God is her priority and she remains faithful to him. She now knows that "In me, that is my flesh, no good thing dwells." What a precious lesson to learn at his tender age!

 

SHARING GOD'S WORD WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

SHARING GOD'S WORD WITH STUDENTS ON LEAVE

Today we had the opportunity to share God's word with young people on student leave. A group of about 25 students and 10 staff of the Mini DTS came to visit us today. I shared about being a disciple and the cost of following Yeshu on the narrow road. I also shared with them the story of God's restoration plan from The Garden to the City. During the time of prayer for them God touched a few of them very deeply. We pray that a few of them will make a deep and solid commitment to follow Yeshu as his disciple.

Little Petal is also enjoying the feasting

 

GODLY VISITORS

GODLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE SOUTH

We were blessed by brothers and sisters from South India who were on a prayer trip to Varanasi especially for the elections. It was their first trip to Varanasi visiting the Ganges especially. They were quite burdened by sensing the darkness in this place. While they were here they came to know about us and they spent over an hour just searching and searching and finally finding our place. We had a wonderful time of sweet fellowship. The next day they took part in the satsang and had a meal with us.

  

LITTLEST STAR GETS INTO THE SWING OF THINGS

THE LITTLEST STAR MAKES HERSELF QUITE AT HOME

Petal, for that's what her name means, makes herself very comfortable and enjoys washing the dishes. 

 

Not only does she wash the dishes but she also gets into the swing of things at the evening satsang

 

A VERY LITTLE STAR VISITS

A REAL FAMILY TIME

Today 11 May was a real family time. The smallest of stars came to visit. Remember the little baby that was dedicated to Yeshu - she and her mother came to visit us. At the satsang - it was the first time that Anju, the baby's mother sang out so openly and loudly. Lux, too was singing out very openly while playing the dholak. It was really music in my ears to hear them both who do not profess to be followers of Yeshu sing out so openly the truth of God's word. I read and shared on Romans 10: 1-13. They all listened very intently. We pray that they will also put their faith and trust in the Messiah and call upon his name and be saved. 

Today at the satsang Naniji's 3 youngest children and 3 of her grandchildren (the little stars) were present.

 

 

RECREATION

 

 MINESWEEPER AFTER MATHS

After a morning of Maths some time for recreation. I taught them to play Minesweeper as some time for recreation for them - but later realized it's Maths related. Anyway,Sejal enjoyed it but Roshan, not being able to understand found it boring.

THE HEAT HAS BEGUN

CHANGE OF SATSANG VENUE

Yesterday I decided to change the satsang venue for the duration of the summer because of the increasing heat. So, we have moved one floor down.

 

 

ANOTHER LITTLE STAR

ANOTHER STAR HAS COME

Today the 9 May another star has come. The one about whom I wrote in the post "Little Stars on Earth." Roshan will be with us till 2nd week of May and thereafter return to the village to write his exams. If he does come back after that it could be a more permanent situation where he will stay with us and do his schooling from here.

Now I am helping him and Sejal as much as I can, to teach them something so that they may have a solid foundation upon which to build. So most of my day is now spent on helping them. In the evening they sit in the satsang and hear the Word.