Off to India

At the moment of this writing our son is in New York waiting for the plane that will take him to Delhi, India so that he can become familiar with the work that his new mission is doing in that significant country.
India is a land that has been what we might call “Gospel-resistant” for many years. It was under the control of the British empire for a long time. It had been touched by people who would know much about the Word of God, but once the land became independent it has been virtually closed to the outside influence of missions.
That is not to say that there have been no Indian Christians. Some of the finest believers that I have met over the years have been Indian Christians. At least two Indian students have touched my life in a most unusual way. They have been young men who have shown startling commitment and significant passion about their service for Jesus Christ. In both cases they have had a wife that shared that vision and were really a beautiful Christian lady.
To add to these contacts I met George and Pat Moodly in South Africa. They were both South African Indians who had sacrificed greatly to serve their Lord and their people.
Even thought the danger to foreign Christian workers was always great, it seems as if there is a movement that makes it very dangerous for Indian believers to live in this large country. Persecution has taken on gigantic proportions and believers have had their lives threatened, their homes burned, and their jobs taken away.
Persecution in the name of religion is an unthinkable thing. What kind of a god would inspire, murder, rape, and beatings? It is never right to persecute a person because of what he or she is. I don’t say this because in thise case the ones persecuted are Christians. It is true in any circumstance for any people.
Our son is going to minister to people who have faced this kind of persecution where they are laboring for Christ. Many of them will have paid a price that none of us has been asked to pay. Ministering there will not be easy for him and will be challenging to say the least. Those Indian workers to whom he will speak will be hurting, discouraged, and disheartened by what has been taking place. Evan (our son) will need wisdom and a special touch by the heavenly father to be sensitive, caring, and challenging to these believers.
He can well face dangers he has never had to face before. I am proud that he is willing to go. I am concerned that he could be in danger. I am convinced that God has a purpose in his going that will revealed in the days to come.

Nature and Disney

In early 1965 our family spent a week in the Denver area. I had meetings, but fortunately the days were pretty open and we were able to do some very pleasant sightseeing.
There was a missionary by the name of John Schlener who was in the conference with me. He took a shine to our kids as he did to all kids. He tried to convince our children that they should pressure me to take them to California after we finished in Denver. His biggest incentive was that he lived within a few miles of Disneyland and they would be able to go there if we came to his house. We left it up to the children to decide if they would rather go to Disneyland or Grand Canyon, etc. They decided on the natural wonders much to our pleasure.
We were pulling a trailer and we parked that in Flagstaff and did some things from there without the trailer. Needless to say, Grand Canyon was no disappointment. We marveled as we travelled around the south rim of the canyon. My children say that I took over a thousand pictures, but that is an exaggeration. I did take a lot thought because it all was breathtaking. My foolishness was thinking that I could capture any of the beauty of the canyon with the camera I was using.
After going to Oak Creek Canyon, Walnut Creek Canyon, and a wild trip up Schnebley Hill we picked up the trailer and headed for Lake Powell. All of these experiences were amazing. We parked right near the edge of Lake Powell and spent a restfull day there enjoying swimming in Arizona and Utah at the same time. Everything about Lake Powell was a veritable “fairyland,” and we were amazed at its beauty.
We left the trailer parked at Lake Powell and rode over to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. That meant another “thousand?” pictures and whatever breath we had left was taken away all over again. Attempts to describe the beauty and awe of all of that area are futile. It was the experience of a lifetime for all of our family. Catherine and I have returned to Grand Canyon on several occasions and each time it is a fantastic experience, but the first time is always the best.
I don’t think that our children were at all disappointed at the choice they had made. I have never been to Disneyland, (I have been to Disneyworld) but the things that are natural inspire me beyond any manmade attraction.
We don’t really know how it is that there is a Grand Canyon. I have heard some very well qualified people indicate their feeling that the canyon was formed during the time of the great flood of Noah’s day. As one looks at the way that the layers of rock and sand are so inconsistent it seems that a catastrophe better explains that. The fossils and shells certainly seem to indicate the presence of the affects of a great amount of water. I am happy to go along with these men and women who recognize the hand of God in Creation and the presence of God in the daily events of life.
We are very thankful that we as a family were able to experience this trip in 1965. We went to some of the area again in 1970 as we assumed that it might be the last time that we would get to do something like this with our whole family. Now that our children are grown, it is great to have these fantastic memories. I still love to look at some of the “thousand?” pictures of Grand Canyon and other places. They may not qualify for any photo contests, but they do inspire this old man, and provide a reminder of the good things that we can have in this life. As good as they are, think what it will be like to spend eternity in that glorious place being prepared by our Lord.