ministry in Shibnager

On Monday, Phil and I travelled to the southern islands outside of Kolkata. It was quite an experience as we travelled 4.5 hrs by vehicle, then a 45 minute boat ride followed by a 30 minute ride on a bike to where we met up with the evangelists that minister in this remote village area. The children sang for us as we were crowded into a house and they also sang inside, outside, upside, downside happy all the time! These children are sponsored thanks to the generous giving of the sponsored children of Partners. One of the evangelists that work here is Biswanath Mondal who has one lame foot due to polio and another man who lost his arm in an accident while travelling on a city bus. It was a testimony to the fact that uses those who the world might consider the weak to do his mighty work! Phil and I shared with the children that we are all part of God's family because we are all adopted into it. For lunch with ate rice, lentil, fish, sweet tomatoes and rice balls filled with sugar!

Yesterday we arrived in Kolkata after a 9.5 hr flight from London. I had the opportunity to share the Lord with a university student by the name of Radika. Pray for her that she will one day be radical for Jesus! We got to bed around 3am local time and I preached at 9am at the English speaking service at Carey Baptist Church. I felt as God was giving me the adrenaline and strength to preach as I spoke. It was truly a blessing to minister to them. In the afternoon, we visited some of the very poorest areas of the city as well as Mother Teresa's home for the dying. The one thing that you are faced here with is the mass of humanity everywhere. People come in from the villages and sleep on the streets in the city. I even saw people sleeping on roofs as well. So many are caught up in the worship of Calli, the goddess of the destruction of evil. It is so sad to see even the young going in bringing sacrifices of incense and flowers to these gods that are dead and have no life in them.

Traffic is insane and I mean insane! I have never seen anything like it. The road is a free for all for everyone to walk on, bike, drive, buses fly through. No one uses their mirrors, its all about the horn and they honk incessantly. They also believe that they must give the right of passage to anything or bad will come to them. One man told us the story how a city bus slammed its brakes to let a cat pass by at the expense of his passengers at 2:30am. One young mother's baby dropped to the floor of the bus out of her arms to cuts and bruises, but thankfully ok. It is so much of the fears and false beliefs that keep so many of them trapped.

We are 10.5 hours ahead of Ontario time and tonight, Tuesday, we take an overnight train to the north after we visit another ministry right here in the city that ministers to children. It began by simply providing meals for them and it has blossomed to over 1000 kids!