Zac's India Mission

This week was filled with many great memories and events. On Tuesday I celebrated my 24 birthday in India. It doesn't seem that crazy having a birthday but a birthday in India is not just a birthday, its a big party. Its a good thing that David and Sheela didn't know that my birthday was Tuesday until morning devotions when Manee told everyone that it was my birthday today. I looked at Sheela and she had this surprised look on her face. As soon as we left from devotions Sheela began planning my party for lunch time. When all was said and done lunched was served for over 50 people at the studio, the cake was made, and had a present to open. I can't even imagine what it would have been like if they would have had several days to prepare for it. 

Wednesday I spent the morning playing and being with the kids at Oasis of Love. I got the idea to make a poster for the school with all the kid's and teachers faces making the outline of a cross. So I had to go and take the pictures of the children to start making the poster. I had a great time with the kids playing cricket and then also teaching them a few songs to sing. I taught them Jesus Loves Me. 

Thursday I went and finished taking pictures of some of the kids that were not at school the day before. Then I had to pack up my things before leaving on the train for Bilaspur where the Christian Fair took place. The train was delayed about a two hours and we finally boarded at about 9pm. We arrived to Bilaspur at about 5am and I was wiped out. We went to Sheela's brothers house and that is where we stayed for the weekend. About 9am we left to go to the fair which was about a 45 min drive. The place where the fair is held is an island that is created by two rivers. There are no bridges that go to the island but the water in some places is about knee deep so people can walk across. Other ways of making it across are canoe (with about 20 people crowded on it) or a water buffalo cart. The first time across we took the canoe because we were with David's brother Ajai who was the main speaker at the fair. He had special privileges so we were able to only have 6 people in the canoe so that it would not flip over. The second time across, which was at 10pm, David and I took the water buffalo cart across. It was pretty crazy  because we could not see where we were going and we thought for sure we would end up soaked in nasty water. 

A little side note before going on: This Christian Fair is held ever year and this year was the centennial. Before going there was projected to be about 80,000 people attending. After the weekend I heard that there was over 100,000 people on the island over the weekend. Picture no bathroom facilities for 100,000 people for a week. HAHA!! The river, the forest, the sandy beach, the walking paths, pretty much everywhere became the bathroom for 100,000 people. For that reason and many others is why some people won't step foot in the water, but for the majority of the people the river was not only the bathroom but also a swimming pool, laundry room, drinking water supply, and fishing hole.  

For this weekend this island is transformed into a village. People bring their tents for various businesses, tents to sleep in, tents for restaurants, and etc. Anything that you would find in a normal city you would find on this island for this weekend only. Luckily I was with the right people for the fair and the Lall family was given a special tent with a few beds, some chairs to sit on, and a fan which was very much appreciated. Because during the long sessions of preaching and singing competitions all in Hindi I spent a lot of my time in that tent sleeping, reading, and taking pictures of the incoming crowd across the river.  

Now a little information about the fair. The atmosphere of the fair was more like a state fair in the U.S. Many people walking around shopping for things, meeting old friends, and watching events and competitions. The difference was that it was a Christian gathering of all denominations from all over India. I have been thinking and I could not think of a single Christian event that would compare to this. I'm not what it would have been like back in the day when their were big tent revivals in the US but I think that it was like that but multiplied 100x because of 100,000 people. David, Sheela, and grandma Pushpa (David's mother) received special awards for lifetime Christian service. The last two evenings there was a special guest, a famous singer/actor, by the name of Vijai Benedict who in the last 10 years has became a Christian. He was there to sing a few songs each night. Many other pastors/evangelists of India were there and were recognized for their service for the kingdom. Now that I have experienced this weekends event Ajai wants me to write up my thoughts and experience to send to Christian Standard or to the Horizon to be published.

That was my crazy week and this week will begin the busiest of my time here. Next weekend the CCV team comes to help teach the guys at the studio how to operate some of the new equipment that they have recently received. So I am looking forward to seeing the three guys this next weekend. Well thank you all so much for your continued prayers. It doesn't even seem possible that I have been here over a month now. One prayer request that I have is that I wouldn't grow complacent now that I have been here for this long and just wait for the time to be over, but that God will continue to challenge me and teach me whatever lessons he has for me to learn. 

Thank you so much and tune in next week to see what happens to Zac in India. Make sure  you take a look at the pictures I have added in my photo album.