THEIREXPERIENCE

Here are some short quotes from previous volunteers:

“The lost have faces now, and they have names, and now they have a place in my heart.”

“You owe God everything you have. I’ve heard that a million times, but going overseas teaches you that.”

“One thing that I will definitely take from here is the realization of the lostness of this area. It’s not real unless you come see it for yourself.”

“It was so encouraging to see that nothing can black out the ray of light that shines from God.”

“After being part of SA101, I now know that there is nothing else I can do with my life than to spend it reaching out to the people of South Asia. This is what I was made for; this is what I MUST do.”

STORIES

A South Asian Summer

The stories below are all written by students who served in summer 2005 teams.  Please see how their lives were impacted and left a mark in South Asia.

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God impacts a believer through students

One aspect of God’s character that He showed me about Himself is that He is sovereign and knows all. We taught T4T (Training for Trainers) to members of a small fellowship in our apartment complex. The weekend after we discussed how to tell “my story” or testimony, we visited the house of one of the members. She asked us several questions about the Christian lifestyle. The next week at the fellowship, she told us that she realized she needed a change in her life. Even though she is a believer, she could not see a difference between her life before Christ and her life after Christ. It was neat to see how God used the T4T training and our conversations with her to show her how she needed to change.
– Brianna
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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He has only seen a Bible in the movies

We met her at the hospital when we were volunteering. She was a part of the crowd that had gathered to watch us paint. Because she spoke English, we were able to strike up a conversation. Rupa was at the hospital to visit her grandfather. The next day, we visited her grandfather and met all her family members who were there taking care of him. They were all happy to have some American friends! Rupa and her brother were very interested in American culture. I asked Rupa’s brother if he had ever seen a Bible. He said no, but that he remembered seeing one in the movie “A Walk to Remember.” I couldn’t imagine if the only exposure I had ever had to the Word of God was from a short movie scene!

– Stephanie
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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Sosma prays for family and neighbors

I remember one day specifically when I was telling Sosma my story – how I came to know Christ. I mentioned how, before Christ, I was scared, and how later I realized only He could take away fear. She stopped me and said that she was scared, mostly because of money problems and their house situation. Sosma is dealing with landlord trouble because of her faith. So, we found the Scriptures where God promises to take care of us and supply our needs (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6). This gave her the biggest smile! She was then able to share this with her friends. She is spreading the news that peace only comes through Jesus! Seeing how Sosma’s heart is broken for the people around her is amazing. As she told us about her family, she wept over her husband’s heart. She wants very much for him to see as clearly as she does. I don’t know where he is in his relationship with the Lord, but I know with the way his wife prays for him, God will do incredible things there.

– Meghan
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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A Muslim man asks God’s forgiveness

They were Muslims and believed in Muhammad. We planned to meet a week later for dinner. After the dinner, he turned to Deuteronomy and Malachi and tried to tell us these words were pointing to Muhammad. The discussion got a little heated, so we prayed aloud, “Lord, as we are reading your Scripture, please help us to know what the truth is.” He believed Jesus had already returned a second time and was buried in Kashmir, India. We started looking at passages about Jesus coming back. Acts says He will come the same way He left. After more discussion, he asked, “So, you are saying that without Jesus I will go to hell?” We walked through the requirement for salvation – to believe in His name and repent. He asked us to pray that God would forgive him. We walked through the “Roman Road” and asked if he wanted to pray. He responded that he had prayed in his heart for God to forgive him. Hallelujah! He began weeping uncontrollably over what he had done to God and his family. (They grew up in a Christian home before converting to Islam.) We left their home rejoicing in God’s mercy and sovereignty.

– Cassi
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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Slum children find joy in fruit and fun

On Wednesdays, our group would buy fruit at the fruit market and take it to slums. The kids went crazy when we came. They would crowd around so close and grab at us and holler. It was so humbling to see how excited they got over a piece of mango. The last Wednesday we went, we played “Duck, Duck, Goose,” “Ring Around the Rosie” and “London Bridges” with them, and we sang “God Is So Good” in Hindi. It was amazing the joy they got from it and the joy it brought me watching them laugh and play. That was one of the most fun times of my trip.

– Jamie
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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Students volunteer at a Nepali orphanage

God amazed us this summer with His divine appointments. I literally “ran” into a lady who owned a Hindu orphanage and invited us to come volunteer at the orphanage. So, we went a couple of times a week and were able to teach the 65 children there about Jesus as we played with them. We also got to share Jesus with the leaders of the orphanage as we helped them with administrative work like writing grants and making a new brochure. Please pray God will continue to bring Christian volunteers to serve in this orphanage and other orphanages and hospitals in South Asia!

– Jen
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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An Indian believer endures beatings

Another team member and I traveled with a national believer to sewing clinics in two villages to share with the girls. On the way, the national believer showed us two places where he had been beaten because he was a believer. As we returned to the city, he asked me if I would return to India – because there is a great need for laborers. I told him that I am willing and ready, but “Enshallah,” which means “If God wills.” His response pierced my heart and the Holy Spirit used it to increase my faith in Him. The believer said, “I do not know if I will be alive or dead, because I am a believer; but I know this, I will see you again, sister.” The sacrifice for being a follower of Jesus is greater than we, as Americans especially, can fathom. This brother was truly willing and ready to live for Christ and to die for Christ. He is boldly living and proclaiming the Gospel, despite persecution. Just as Christ suffered, so shall we as believers share in His suffering.

– Julie
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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Cheese balls lead to a wonderful surprise

I got lost one day after walking some students home after class. As I passed a small shop, I noticed a bag of cheese balls hanging in the window. I decided to pass up the snack and get back to the lodge. A few days passed and I got a craving for cheese balls, so Kevin and I went to that shop. As we were looking at the items in the shop, the shop owner said in a slightly low voice, “Jesus Christ.” Kevin and I looked at one another and thought maybe that we had heard him wrong. Again, he said, “Jesus Christ.” So, we asked him if he said Jesus Christ, and he said yes. He was so excited to meet other believers, he told us. He was extremely excited to show us his Bible. Kevin and I told him we would return with our friends. We went back to the lodge and told our friends. Everyone was so excited, since until this time there were no known believers in this village. Our believer friend and guide discipled and trained the man over the summer, to help equip him to share the Gospel with the people around him.

– Brandi
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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A Sikh friend hears the gospel fully

Kevin and I were sitting outside our apartment one day, talking with a couple of university students. As usual, the conversation involved Arnold Schwarzenegger and “Baywatch,” which is their view of America. I was able to start talking about my faith with one of our Sikh friends. About this time, nearly a dozen of our friends came outside. For some reason, they ignored me and the friend I was talking to, and they focused only on Kevin. It was as if God put up a wall around us just long enough to share the Gospel fully. God worked out miracles every day for us in our relationships with the university students.

– David
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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A Nepali girl gives her burdens to Jesus

We asked Rupa if she had read the Bible that we gave her. She said yes, but that she found it hard to understand because it was in English and not in Nepali. After dinner, we went to a coffee shop. Then, in walks our other teammate – holding a Nepali/English Bible that she had just bought for a souvenir. Willingly, she gave it to Rupa instead. Rupa was so excited to get this gift! A Nepali believer that worked at the coffeehouse came and sat down with us. We explained to Rupa that we were all Christians. “Maybe I will become a Christian, too,” she said. “What do I have to do?” Gladly, we shared the Gospel with her. A Nepali friend translated every now and then to make sure that Rupa understood. Rupa prayed and asked Jesus Christ to be her Savior. After she prayed, Rupa’s face looked totally different. The whole time that we had known her, Rupa had looked so burdened. Now she couldn’t stop smiling. She was glowing with joy! Jesus was appealing to this girl, because He offered to make her into a new creation! The old was gone, and Rupa had become new!

– Stephanie
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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A teacher causes students to question

One of the most surprising things about India was the openness of the people to the Gospel and spiritual things. One of these people was the director at the school where I worked. She was very open to discussing spiritual matters with us. She even told us that she used the Bible while teaching English. Because I knew this, I was able to use a Bible story in one of my classes. The director at this school also made a very bold statement in one of my classes. She said that she was born a Hindu, but she is not a Hindu now. She said she believes in God though. This caused confusion in many of the students. They did not understand how she could not claim the religion she was born into. It was a blessing to see how God is at work in the director’s life and how her one statement caused many others to question their beliefs.

– Brianna
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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Mountain porters find new life in Christ

We were given porters to carry our bags up the hill to our destinations. J.P., Ryan, Leigh, and I were appointed two Khatri men, Indra and Dahn. We trekked to our first destination and taught in the school. There, Indra, our 27-year-old Hindu guide, began asking questions about Jesus. We were very excited and prayed that the inquiries would continue. We trekked on to our next destination, where we also taught. One day, Leigh and I went to teach. When we returned, Ryan shared that Indra and Dahn had asked Jesus into their hearts! How amazing! We began to disciple these two new brothers in Christ. It was great. They were so fired up for following Jesus Christ. They kept asking questions about Scripture. The road was not easy to this newfound life of Indra and Dahn’s. We continued to pray with and for them. They found comfort in this. On one of our last journeys, we met up with a believer who helped a great deal – translating the Word and interpreting its meaning. We continue to pray for our new brothers in Christ and are very encouraged that we will see them in heaven with our heavenly Father.

– Beth
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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A Muslim woman reads Bible stories

We had been teaching two Muslim sisters English. We learned that they were very religious, devout Muslims who were not open to our faith. We also had been visiting an orphanage every Tuesday and decided one day to invite the sisters. One sister did not enjoy it, but the elder sister loved it. Fatima told us she was coming with us every time. That next Tuesday, we brought a children’s Bible in Hindi, the language of Fatima and the orphanage children. We prayed that Fatima would read a Bible story to the children, which would minister to them and her. We picked a New Testament story and prayed over it. When we asked her to read to the children, she agreed. We turned to the story we had chosen, but when we handed it to her, she shut the book and opened it to the first page. As she read, she taught the children what certain things meant in the stories. By the end of the trip, she had read almost half of God’s Word from the Old and New Testaments. We left without seeing Fatima make a decision for Christ – but knowing that God’s Word does not return void.

– Keri
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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A student waters the seed in a Nepali heart

I was heading back to the hotel and saw a pair of eyes looking at me from behind a counter. I stepped up to the shop. Her name is Bimala. She spoke broken English. We became friends instantly. The next time I visited, her cousin Sangita was there. Because we are all in our 20s, a natural friendship developed. I was able to share my testimony with them. They shared their Hindu beliefs with me. One thing that Sangita told me made a huge impression on my life. She said, “I love the Christian religion.” When I asked why, she said that Christians do not have many religious activities and regulations to follow. She also noticed a foreigner (she assumes all white-skin foreigners are Christians) taking a hurt Nepali child to the hospital. She loved this; she said that it would be unclean for a Hindu to associate with that caste. She went to church once with a friend. She noticed that everyone loved each other despite their caste. Through this conversation, God taught me that He has already been speaking to her. I was there to water the seed. I believe she will be the harvest in the future.

– Jen
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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An Indian woman teaches what she learns

We taught English in several homes, but one home was especially encouraging to me. In this home was Sosma, a mother who had been a believer for about six months. Her daughter, Pooja, was also a believer. Her husband was still in the learning process. Sosma’s passion was so exciting to see. She has shared with her neighbors, and several have come to know the Father through her. When we would visit her home to teach her English, many neighbors would come and visit – it wasn’t often that white girls were in the neighborhood! This worked out great because we used Bible stories to practice English, explaining the things Sosma didn’t understand. What was so incredible about this was that she would then turn to the other ladies who only spoke Hindi and explain it to them! She would learn things about hope or peace – she really liked the story when Jesus calmed the storm – or God’s power and love. Being able to encourage and teach her, and then see her encourage and teach others, it was awesome. It showed me clearly how important discipleship is in the kingdom-building process.

– Meghan
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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Students rejoice over God’s provision

We quickly decided to check out the cake shop down our street. We met the worker, Mongo, and continued to go regularly for ice cream and a visit.  Mongo was Buddhist. We tried to share the Gospel, but it was hard to communicate with our lack of Nepali language. Two days before we left, Joy and I gave Mongo a Bible. We read a little bit with him but never confirmed that he understood. Something was telling me to go get my national friend, Jeevan, who is a believer. It was awesome! They instantly became best friends. Jeevan agreed to go to the cake shop weekly and teach Mongo the Bible. It was such an answered prayer that has comforted us in knowing that God provides for all, because He loves all. I trust that the Holy Spirit will speak through Jeevan to show Mongo the way to eternal life. This happened the day before we left. I had been pretty disappointed, because I felt like my time with Mongo was rushed and ineffective; but God came through and provided someone to continue that relationship. We are all so thankful and rejoice over God’s amazing timing and dedication.

– Cassi
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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God teaches a student to love as He loves

One thing I learned about God this summer is love. Not just the love He has for the people here, but the love He has for me. First John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” I read the book “A Love Worth Giving” by Max Lucado, and God showed me that I first need to receive His love in my life if I’m ever going to love these people the way He does. That was a big lesson for me to learn, because I don’t feel like I deserve God’s love a lot of times. We actually never deserve it; He offers it freely and unconditionally. That’s how God expects us to love others as well. The hardest part about this summer was leaving the people I’ve grown to love and not knowing if I’ll ever see them again. My prayer is that God would reveal Himself to them and remove the blinders Satan has put on their hearts and minds. I’m thankful that God allowed me to come and be used by Him; but I’m so happy that it’s Him doing everything, and it’s not anything I do. All I have to do is be obedient.

– Jamie
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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She gives Jesus credit for answering prayer

My teammate and I invited her to go out for coffee. She opened up and told us that her boyfriend had committed suicide a month before. She thought she might be pregnant and sometimes thought about killing herself. She asked what we thought about abortion. We advised her not to get an abortion and shared with her some Scripture. We prayed for her in Jesus’ name. We told her that if she gave her life to Jesus that He would take care of her. “Really?” she asked. “You know this confidently?” My teammate shared personal testimony of how Jesus had taken care of my teammate during a rough time. We gave her a Bible and promised to meet again. A week later, we took her out to dinner. At first, it was a little awkward; we were feeling the language and culture barrier. Then, my teammate asked about the baby. Rupa’s face broke into a huge smile. “I have good news,” she said. “I am not pregnant!” This really was good news in a culture where a girl is kicked out of her family if found pregnant before marriage. “I know it is because you prayed to Jesus for me.”

– Stephanie
Serving in Nepal
Summer 2005

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Tent dwellers hear gospel for the first time

We three girls and a national believer trekked through villages to share a cassette about Jesus, and our testimonies as the Holy Spirit led. There was one particular group of people, a nomadic people, who live in tents because they are often moving with their animals – sheep and goats usually. We went to the first tent and were invited in. They were excited to hear these stories. It was their first time to hear the name of Jesus. The men went to the other tents and gathered all the families. We sat on the grass with men, women and children and played the Jesus story again. We shared, answered questions and prayed for them. Though no one decided to become a believer, God is at work. Every house – or tent – who heard the tape of Jesus’ life responded with great excitement and hunger. The people are starving for truth. They asked for a cassette, so they could play it over and over again. Praise His name! Pray for the people of this village. Pray that the seeds planted would grow!

– Julie
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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A Hindu woman sees a difference in Jesus

On a visit to a neighbor’s house, our neighbor’s grandfather began to tell us many stories of the Hindu beliefs. At one point, he moved on to talking about Christianity, saying the whole point of the Bible was the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. He also told us that Jesus was just a man who had finally “realized” God. We began telling him that was not right. We told him what the Bible was for and who Jesus is. He argued with us until his daughter, who is not a believer, said, “No, Dad, it’s not the same. Jesus was God from the very beginning.” Wow, what a blessing to see how God is revealing Himself to this lady. She has realized that Jesus is not the same as all the other gods.

– Briann
Serving in India
Summer 2005

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