August 2004

Dear Saints and Aints.

Shalom!

"I will drink Life to the lees . . . How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
As though to breathe were life."
--- Ulysses by Lord Alfred Tennyson

The evening turns to night. In deep silence the compound lies and naught but the odd dog or leave on bough or vine, touched by a gentle breeze, moves. All but for a few, the kids are asleep.

With solitude as my companion and weariness beckoning me from besides my bed, I look at the computer screen that slowly fills with letters and words that form phrases and sentences - painting word pictures of the events of days and weeks gone by.

The soft hum of the air-conditioner sounds to me like the “Hallelujah chorus” . . . and its “cooling virtue” creates an atmosphere - made for writing . . .

It is amazing what one can pack into 2 1/2 months – the time since I returned to India. Like Job of old I can say, “My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle”; except mine - end in hope. In the evening I am not sure I lived that day – to judge by what I accomplished. Though the kids and staff feel my “presence” alone is my “greatest accomplishment” and even were I to do naught else but sit in my easy chair – it would suffice . . . I, of course, beg to differ . . .

“To die to sleep . . .” may be appealing to a Hamlet but to me -- to live, to dream to work . . . Some of our young staff is recording the Mawchi New Testament for Talking Bibles, India. This should be completed by the middle of September. The added bonus is that before reading they thoroughly check it and correct whatever mistakes crept in. My dream now is to get it printed again; this time the people who were first against it -- are now in agreement with me. By the end of October we should be able to submit it to whoever is interested in publishing it. That may take time. Years ago we submitted the parable of the Ten Virgins in Mawchi to Scripture Gift Mission for printing. After two years of waiting I sent them a letter expressing my fears that, should there be any further delay in the printing, the five wise virgins too might run out of oil. This speeded things up and – a great tragedy was averted . . .

Besides preaching, teachings, learning video editing – painstakingly slow – I gave a series of books by Dr. Holdcroft and at least one of Dr. Roger Stronstad’s (two friends) for translation into Hindi. My dream is to get them printed here. Of course that too will take time.

I also have done some traveling . . . A few days ago I went to visit a village in the interior - some 3 hours distance - with one of the staff. The conditions in some of these places are appalling and the poverty is even for me beyond words to describe. Yet people manage to survive and that at a level that is hostile to anything that moves and breathes . . .

On the morning of the 22nd, August, one of our men, Bujya Desai, died. He has been with us since we began the work here on the farm in 1982. He had a heart attack and a stroke due to hypertension and diabetics. He was in the neighbourhood of 55 . . . Tuesday, August 24, 2004 – was the funeral. The incredible financial difficulties of the past several months and Bujya’s sudden death made our staff consider their “mortality” and, for at least some time there was peace in the “community”. Our Father’s wisdom and love are beyond words; when “I will guide thee with mine eyes” proves futile -- he gives everybody the “shock treatment”; if He did not love us so much He would not bother.

The troubles, difficulties, the messes I got myself into due to sin, stupidity or even kindness, the fears and the whole gamut of human experiences – the negative variety – have been incredibly good and beneficial for me as they threw me upon God; I wrestled with Him like Jacob of old and – He gave me a new name – now I am working hard to live up to it . . . And when I do something incredibly stupid or even without the “incredible” I raise me glass in celebration of my humanity. I am just another little “hee-haw” that God chooses to use when the need for one arises. It is liberating! No pretense! Saints, I love this mess and chaos called – life!

It is at times of difficulties, times such as these that having helped young men into position of leadership, having laid the burden upon younger, stronger shoulders proves wise and prudent. I now reap the benefits of that decision I made many years ago. Now I can sit on the sidelines and watch them work and take control.

The other day I had a long chat with Yohan as he shared again with me his hopes, dreams and aspirations for the homes and the kids. Listening to him I concur with my spirit - I made the right choice!

Nevertheless he needs your prayers for courage and wisdom in handling the difficult situations he finds himself in. As our land gains in value, he faces ruthless business-men and would be businessmen that want to take advantage of us in our need.

Another need for prayer is a little boy, Rajkumar, age 7, who suffers from “brain tuberculosis”. I never heard of such a thing; but then my knowledge of such matters is limited to laying hands on people and – pray . . .

As for our financial update, the following from the Bible will suffice:

Part I:  I Kings 17:12.
Part II: I Kings 17:13.

Culling gems out of my mother’s “chest of wisdom”, the following is a great comfort to me: “When there is no money in the house there is a devil in the house. When there is too much money there are two devils in the house.” Here is the good news -- we have only one devil in the house . . .

Saints, I lie not, it is a delight to have you as friends and supporters, to have you on our side. It is the certainty of your love and care for us that helps us through the rough spots and the difficult times. You have been incredibly faithful.

Over the past few months I have again and again seen the power of prayer in action; the power of prayer of ordinary people – me included - but extra-ordinary because of their relationship to God. Sure we make our needs known to one another for how else can we pray intelligently? However we need not persuade people of our needs – only God! For this reason I beg you – pray for us!

In His great love.

Frank.