Romans 1:19-23 (New International Version)

19since what may be known about God is

plain to them,
because God has made it
plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world
God's invisible
qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been
clearly seen, being
understood from what has been made, so that men are
without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified
him as God nor
gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and
their foolish hearts
were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they
became fools 23and
exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made
to look like mortal man
and birds and animals and reptiles.

I thought I would share what we saw when we arrived in Mumbai Sat. night. Our plane landed around 2 a.m. so by the time we were on the road to the hotel it was probably more like 3 a.m. There was a huge festival in full swing that week which we experienced first-hand during the ride to the hotel. People were dancing in the street with painted faces, drums beating and cars decorated with images of the god I have pictured here. There were homemade temples to the god and parades carrying statues of the god.

Coming from America, it was quite shocking to see so many people worshipping something that was so obviously made up by man. My thoughts kept going back to Moses coming down from the mountain after God gave him the Ten Commandments only to discover Aaron and the Israellites worshipping a golden calf that they had made from their melted gold.

The thing about the Indian people was that they so clearly knew there was a God, they were just deceived as to who God is. There are so many in India who are so poor that they are looking for a god to rescue them and to provide.

This elephant/man god was on almost every billboard and on buses and buildings all over the city. It would be like Americans putting pictures of Jesus on every political billboard and advertisement in the country.

Although the festivities reminded me alot of Mardi Gras, the feeling was much darker. You could feel the deception that these people were under. It was quite an uneasy feeling and you just wanted to open their eyes to satan's hold over them.

This was our first full day in India. We had planned on ministering to about 150 children at the Priscilla's Childrens Home with a VBS program. When we arrived, we discovered about 300 children who were extremely excited to see us! Everyone rushed to shake our hands. The children were either orphans from the boys and girls homes, children from the surrounding neighborhood or street "beggar" children (we had about 34 beggar children attend). We were able to teach them the creation story, John 3:16 and presented the gospel through J.J. the clown. We also entertained with games and crafts. There was a small "riot" over the J.J. balloons which got a little out of control and there were way more girls making braided plastic bag necklaces than I and my teammate C.J. could help but it all worked out in the end. God is good! We are so blessed!

"...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

Half past the ends of the earth. That is where we traveled to spread the gospel. India. Halfway around the world. An amazing place. An amazing people. It was almost like we traveled not only in distance but in time. Back in time. There were not many modern conveniences in this country but the people didn't seem to notice. They were so gracious and hospitable. We, as Americans, were treated like rock stars. All the children wanted to shake our hands, all the adults just stopped and stared in amazement. I thought we were going to this country to bless others but I think we were blessed more than they were!