It has been a privilege to spend time with Fredrick and Reeba this weekend and week, planning for our missions’ trip to India. Last night, the eight of us who are going to India had a meal out with them and began to make more definite plans for what we will be doing out there:
Our time there will involve visiting a number of different churches, speaking to pastors and women’s groups, visiting the tailoring programme and orphanages and also visiting people (especially Hindus who may be afraid to come to church but who are seeking God) in their homes. Fredrick and Reeba have kindly visited people while they are here, praying for those who are not well and who need God’s healing and help.
It has been good to talk about life in India in order to prepare ourselves for the trip. Bangalore is a city of 9 million people (London’s population is just under that) and Fredrick has spoken of the differences between ministry in the city and in rural areas (which the team hopes to visit during the second week.) Indian values are very family-oriented and British influence can still be seen there (they drive on the left and their electricity supply runs on systems adopted from the UK), but of course, the Christian population is in a minority compared to Hindus and Muslims and there can be real opposition and persecution to Christianity.
During their stay, we tried to show them some of our local history, taking them to York, where we had lunch at Betty’s, a very famous tea shop with Yorkshire and Swiss roots:
… as well as educating them about York’s ‘chocolate history,‘ including the influence of the Quaker families Rowntree, Cadbury and Fry in running a successful business whilst pioneering revolutionary care of the workforce (instituting pensions, holiday pay, sick pay and accommodation which included leisure facilities.) Garry was particularly impressed with the notice giving the health benefits of chocolate (!) and Fredrick and Reeba enjoyed decorating chocolate lollipops, telling us that chocolate is not particularly popular in India, with sweets and cakes being made there in abundance, but not chocolate.
We also showed them some of York’s famous churches, including York Minster, first opened in the 7th century, so an iconic landmark in York’s history.:
Please pray for Fredrick and Reeba as they continue to visit friends and family in the UK before returning to India next week where they, like us, will be busy with plans for Christmas celebrations and outreach. Pray for them as they plan for our trip in April and for us as we save money, pray and prepare for our visit there. We have given them a financial gift to help purchase more talking Bibles and sewing machines for the graduation in January and are looking forward to being able to partner with them in their different ministries in Bangalore and beyond as we go into 2017.