April 2003

Dear Saints and Aints.

Shalom.

“I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
Elijah – (1 King 19:4 ;)

Sharing the sentiments of Elijah of old I flop, though not under a tree but in the old wicker chair – my “musing chair” – in the garden, close my eyes and just sit there. No angel appears – or if - then it is in the light cool breeze that gently caresses my face as if to wipe away the cares, concerns and problems of another day. The smell of greenery and soil are a balm to my troubled mind.

There are days and then there are “other” days. Today was one of those “other” days . . . My room, though comfortably cool due to a new cooling system installed, seems claustrophobic in my present mood. The garden is a good place to be this late at night.

Next to me Junior, an old dog who outlived his usefulness to his owner and hence was bestowed upon one who accepts anyone in need, flops down with a sigh that echoes the way I feel. Once in a while he opens one rheumy eye to see if I am still there and being assured of my presence – goes back to sleep. “Most of us could learn about our relationship to God from him”, I muse - just sit in His presence. “Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.” That is what I came in the garden to find.

Thinking of God, I lean back in my chair and look up into the star filled sky. I am rewarded with an awesome panorama consisting of myriads of brilliant twinkling lights that slowly move across the heavens. A stately procession! Intimidating! A sight that made the Psalmist exclaim: “What is man in thy memory a man that thou mindest . . .” I suppose it is to teach us to put our petty concerns in perspective. 

When tired or sick or as I am getting older, my relationship to God or my love for Him does not diminish nor change only the way I express it does. To mind comes the story of two old friends. One night she whispered to him,” John, kiss me the way you used to do!” There was silence. After a while she said, “What’s keeping you, John?” He replied, “I am looking for my dentures.” The same with me - sometimes now, when I want to commune with God – I have to look for my “dentures”. But then, the earth even at the height of winter still has the sun as its centre . . .

On the 5th of April the President of the Maharashtra Congress Committee (Congress is a major political party) “honored” some six social workers for our “great contribution to society”. I hate this sort of thing. I don’t mind somebody giving me a hundred thousand Dollars to pay off our debts but just to be paraded and congratulated for the work we do is something else. The real value of what we do is something he could never acknowledge—bringing boys and girls in touch with Jesus Christ. But Yohan, ever practical, persuaded me with the words, “Endure it. It might come useful.” So I did.

The end of the academic year has arrived and but for a few kids the place is again deserted. I now know how grandparents feel when they see the tail light of the car that carries the grandchildren home -- disappears around the bend . . .

The place looks as if a tornado went through it .. . . and we have about 2 months and a lot of work to fix the damages. What puzzles me to no end is why people like to write their name on anything and everything. I only like to see other people’s name on the bottom of a check. At times I think we should open the dormitory as an “Art Gallery” for the summer months . . .

There is much of news about the war in Iraq but very little about ours . . . We are constantly “at war” with one thing or the other. The Wisdom of Solomon is insufficient for these things. I wonder how Noah dealt with the woodpeckers in the Ark. Certainly; they are more daunting than the winds and waves outside.

Yet many beautiful and encouraging things come out of this place. This year we will have four young men in Bible College; two of them in their second year. One, who has been here since 1984 or thereabouts, on Sunday, followed the Lord through the “waters”. Other young men are doing “their bit” for the Kingdom of God in various places around the country. Others, who have left and found gainful employment outside, express their gratitude – which I want to pass on to you – for their time here. A number of newborn babies make their presence known in church by sound and smell. Yohan seems to be turning into an Ornithologist – he learns how to deal with “wood peckers” . . .

The presence of God, the majestically moving stars, the “gentle touch of an angel” – the cool breeze and the companionship of the old dog all “conspired” in bringing to my heart a beautiful sense of peace. Tomorrow we will deal with the problems of tomorrow. It is with reluctance that I finally go back inside but feeling again equipped to handle almost anything.

One of those “anythings” is planning a furlough. Time, at my age slips by quickly and so I better acquaint you with my furlough plans well ahead of time. All going well I will be in Canada starting January 2nd and ending the day after Palm Sunday. (I will spend Christmas in Germany with my brother and his family.) Dawn Steinke from the BC District is again looking after my itinerary. She did a great job the other times I came on furlough. As I wrote to Dawn, if Jesus had no problem to be in the midst of two or three neither has His servant. I will travel any distance – even only for one meeting - to meet as many friends as I can and visit as many churches as time permits. I pray that I will be a blessing.

But please be kind to me! At one church a pastor made me out to be a combination of Elisabeth Elliot, Mother Theresa, George Mueller and other Greats and was disappointed when my “oratory skills” didn’t match his expectations - as if the value of a deed depends on the ability of a man to express it. People who are good at making speeches go into politics; not into the Ministry. I have a one track mind: “The utter faithfulness of God!” My stammering lips are fully adequate for this proclamation -- as it is backed up by irrefutable proof of that faithfulness.

Irrefutable proof of your faithfulness to us is this place – a blessing to so many. Besides those “Known Saints”, I also wish to thank all the “Unknown Saints” who un-acknowledged faithfully give and have given their support to us in different ways over a long period of time. Thank you ever so much.

In His great love.

Frank, Yohan and the Prem Sewa Family.