My computer that i burned up in Burma, then got fixed in Bangkok, is on the fritz again. Once in a while it will boot up when pressing down hard on the area between the touch pad and space bar. It seems to be directly over the hard drive, so i’m thinking it’s some kind of problem with the connection to it. On the internet i see where there is a Toshiba repair shop here in Pune so happily take it there. The man runs the disk check program and looks at a few things, then says that this is an Asian-made computer, so he can’t fix it. Hey man, tell me that at the first alright? I do appreciate your trying to fix it for me tho 🙂
I go to the Marathi church on Spicer campus, and am allowed to give about an 8 minute testimony about the work i’m doing in spreading the 1858 Great Controversy. The people seem genuinely interested. There was a special appreciation ceremony for a student from Kenya who sold more Marathi SDA literature last year than anyone. The main sermon was by the Literature Evangelism Director calling for more people to enter the LE work! I was amazed how God worked it all out, for me to be there on just that day when everyone’s minds were directed to the LE work already, and that i could play a small part in it. Thank you Lord.
I spend a few days with a family near the Union headquarters. It is lots of fun to play with the kids, and i get quite lonely for Japan at nite when everyone has gone to bed. The father’s belief on just about everything is the same as mine, and we have deep, interesting talks about the 3 Angels’ Messages etc. He has had quite a hard time from his SDA brethren, but he still goes to church and works with and for them. At the Salisbury Memorial Church i have the opportunity to give a 15 minute talk during the mission report time on Sabbath morning. I give my talk, ending with the train story from chapter 30 of the 1858GC. The people seem quite interested.
In Sabbath School there is a couple from Egypt that i had seen at Spicer Church last week. Then they had raised their voices against there being a personal Holy Spirit. Today they spend a lot of the class time pushing that doctrine, but everyone shows them their error. Sorry that some of the words/way things are spoken tend to make a bad impression i’m afraid. After the lesson i try to talk calmly to them about this asking if they agree that SDA church is in a Laodicean state. They agree, so i read paragraph 5 of chapter 32 of the 1858GC which shows that it is the Laodiceans who get shaken before the loud cry can go forth. They both perjure themselves when they cry out that “SDA is Babylon”. I referred them to what they had just said that SDA is Laodicea, but they both just repeat that it is Babylon. I throw up my hands and close the book saying that i can’t talk with people who change their opinions so quickly. This won’t be the last time that i come across this couple…….
I’m invited to lunch with a group of around 12 people, people i’m told are all really seriously studying and trying to follow and spread the Spirit of Prophecy material. The lady of the house asks if i want one dish, i say no. Soon, while my head is pointed down at my plate and i’m hungrily shoveling it in, i see something coming at my plate. Thinking it might be a dog or something, i quickly pull my plate into my chest. Just then, the lady of the house drops a large serving of drumstick curry all over my backpack. Ut oh. I thot everyone would get angry at me, but no one says anything. Later in the day the opportunity presents itself, and i apologize. I realize that everyone thinks i intentionally pulled my plate back, and that i don’t understand the Indian style of saying “no” while meaning “yes”. Well, i DO understand that style of living, but don’t live that way myself, and think it is best if all those aiming for heaven let their “no” be “no”, and “yes” be “yes”.
They have prepared a Bible study/worship service in a local park, and i ride with them. In getting out, i see a sign where it says “2rupees for entry”. I tell them that i cannot enter, but don’t let that stop everybody else. No doubt they are all going to be very upset at me. But wait, nothing is said, and they all get in the Toyota SUV again, and head for a hill overlooking the city. The view is awesome, and the fresh air and light drops of rain make for an excellent place for a meeting. I’m told later that everyone was affected deeply that even in small matters we should be faithful, and that if we are faithful, God will bless abundantly 🙂 We sing and read chapters 30 and 34 in the 1858GC. They are mostly interested in 34, and in the comparison between this book and the corresponding part in Early Writings. We clearly see that there is no such thing as a “fourth angel”. Even several weeks later some of the 12 or so who attended said that was one of the best times they had ever had in studying God’s Word. Thank you Jesus for providing the place and the words. Also thank you for moving one brother’s heart to make a donation to the printing of the GC books here in Pune.
The next day we go out in front of a large Protestant church waiting for the people to come thru the front gates when leaving, so that we can hand them a pamphlet about the Sabbath and last day events. I’m very nervous at first, but after seeing the first person not bite my head off, even smiling in fact, i get courage and can smile nicely while handing them out myself. It is FUN! Nearly everyone takes the pamphlet, and one man even asks me to pray for his wife who will have surgery the next day. After this church we go to a large Catholic church, and the attitude is a bit different – most of the people take it, but a much larger percentage are not interested. Many of these people have a cross tattooed on their wrist.
This day brings me a pleasant surprise, as one man on the Salisbury Park campus agrees to translate the 1858GC book into Punjabi. He wants his translation advance quickly, so tomorrow i’ll happily turn it over.
My first time to Bombay (Mumbai) in 8 years is by bus. A very cold bus. I wait where i get off for my internet friend to come and pick me up. His family arrives in a 3-wheeler rickshaw, and we head for a birthday party at the large Seventh-day Adventist high school in Sandapar. Our driver hits a man who is walking across the road in front of us. Actually, he hits the man’s carrying bag. He stops, and the two get into a huge scuffle, even our driver taking off one of his beach sandals and slapping around the guy he hit! What a crazy country. I think about taking a picture, and think better of it. When around 30 mostly young men have gathered around, i get a bit scared, and ask my friend if we should quietly leave out the other side. He says it will be fine to just stay, and his advice proves correct, as an elderly man in white separates the two, and our driver gets back in his machine and rearranges his collar like all this has been a huge bother to him (when it’s his fault), and within 30 seconds we are at our destination. No need for a TV here for entertainment – ha!
After the birthday party i’m suddenly requested to give a study on the Great Controversy book, and am told i have up to one hour (9pm-10). I don’t think it best to have a long study after eating, and this late, but talk for around 40 minutes to them. One man later states his appreciation for my stopping early 🙂 There seem to be 3 families here who are very serious about studying, and then there is an elder’s family also. The others don’t seem to be as well acquainted with the truths for these last days.
I take my computer to a repair shop my friend has used before. The building is just garbage, but their shop is nicely air-conditioned, and nicely appointed, so i hope they know what they are doing. In the evening we take the train and taxi to the central Bombay English church, and i give a talk. The building is old and interesting, but there are very few people present. After the meeting 3 young men ask me quite a few questions, and the pastor’s wife is also very interested. The taxi ride back to the train station is one of the scariest rides i’ve ever had outside of an amusement park. It feels just like you ARE the pinball, and you whizz thru traffic bouncing off things (bit of an exaggeration, but you can imagine it, as there are plenty of dents on all the cars to prove what happens commonly). His lights are off “to save the battery”, but that doesn’t prevent him from flashing the lights and pounding on the horn anytime he feels like. The train ride home is a bit crowded, but not like when coming. There are no doors on the train, and when coming in close to the station, everyone getting off bunches up near the doors – and then PUSH! It is crazy getting off, and then another huge PUSH! as those getting on do what they have to. One sitting man offers me his lap, and for just a second i’m bewildered, as this has never happened to me before, but soon the neurons click, and i smile and shake “no”. I DO appreciate the gesture tho 🙂
Bombay is quite hot and humid, and the overhead fan is always on full blast in the apartment. The layout of the apartment buildings is similar to Japan, but the maintenance is nil. It wouldn’t surprise me if the whole complex of 5 story buildings fell down with just a mild shaking underneath. Sure hope that doesn’t happen. My friend has ADSL, so i happily get caught up on some internet things i had been wanting to do, and purchase my ticket to London for July 13 for 14,300Rs. That is a good price.
My friend tells me early Sabbath morning when leaving that he has to go to work for a bit before coming to church. I’m still mostly asleep, and doubt my ears. Unfortunately i find out later that this has been going on for years, and everyone in the church knows about it – and he is an elder! Later i have a deep talk with him, but for now his job and money are more important than keeping God’s commands. I faithfully tell him that he must repent and follow God, or resign from his position so that the displeasure of God will not be on the congregation. You are in my prayers friend!
The family greets me very warmly back in Pune, with the 4y.o. boy especially getting excited to see me 🙂 I meet a man who says he can do Flash animation, and we discuss this GC movie. A email from the family i stayed with in Malaysia, telling me how the Literature Evangelism work is going strong there, and that they are wanting to see the work move faster, so are thinking of paying for the printing of the Malay GC book themselves, makes me very happy. Making me even happier is news that the printer i used before in December last year to print 2,000 English ones, a Protestant man, is interested in the Seventh-day Adventist truth now! God, please, please direct this man to your kingdom, and keep the darts of the enemy away.
On the 28th i get the first of the 10,000 English GCs to be printed here in Pune. The blue paper is awesome, and the overall quality is 86-92 points by my judging. There are some creases inside, and some of the covers are cut a bit crooked. Once in awhile there is a drop of water or ink or something inside the books, but overall – very nice. I hadn’t expected them to be stitched with thread too, that is an extra nice touch T-san!!!! This way they should last for a long time even in the heat of India.
My friend paid 105 rupee last week to ride to my other friend’s house near Spicer College, so we turn down one man who quotes 150Rs. A young man says he will use a meter, so i get in. What a cheat! He has the meter set on 150%, so when i get off it is showing 164. He asks for 160, and i pay him, but tell him this is poor business, to set the meter fast. I tell my friend later, and he says that if you do lodge a complaint, you will have to go to the authorities many times, and in the final judgment, you won’t get your complaint upheld anyway, because the govt. authorities are in cahoots with the business people. Let it go. It burns me tho that it costs more to go 16km across town than 160km down to Bombay by bus.
The lady of the house has left the SDA church again in my absence to Bombay. Seems this Egyptian couple gave her lots of material from adventists4truth web site, (most of which says that SDA=Babylon), and she fell for this lie again. So sad. What is sadder, is that she shows such little confidence in her brothers and sisters, that she didn’t counsel with any of them before making this drastic move. Always studying, but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Altho i have a bit of a fever, and haven’t been able to eat for 24 hours, God has opened a door to go to Spicer College, and give a testimony and introduce the 1858GC book and anime to the students. It is a Wednesday nite prayer meeting, so less than 100 attend, but God blesses, and 48 books are sold 🙂 The next day is spent in bed, and then i’m feeling much better by evening, and almost back to normal, but weak, on Friday when i go to Salisbury Memorial Church, and in front of maybe 180 people, give a testimony using the chapter on Covetousness in the 1858GC. I tie it in with my own life, how i used to be money-crazy, but that the Lord has slowly led me out of that covetous spirit, and that we must keep his Sabbath even if our job requires otherwise. I was told by 2 different people later, that usually after 5 minutes of preaching everyone is fidgety, but this nite, even the young people were very quiet. Just this once we decided we would give away a free, newly-printed GC book to each family, and we gave out around 80, with some kids coming up later to ask for more (sorry guys!). It was quite interesting to see that many of the leaders did not stand up to receive their free book.
The next day i was privileged to hold a study circle in the church in the afternoon. We studied The Shaking in the GC book, and of the 20 or so in attendance, most of the people seemed to be quite interested in the discussion, and took part. Two people looked to be wanting to cause a ruckus, but the Holy Spirit gave me an answer that enabled us to continue the lesson. Later i did learn that these two like to cause distraction in study groups, and promote their own ideas wherever they go.
The Egyptian couple come over to the house where i’m staying, and give their take on why there is no Holy Spirit as a separate entity. I’ve seen it before with these anti-trinitarians, and after about 2 hours of talking, ask them a direct question: “Is Jesus Christ God?” They hemmed and hawed and looked at each other and down to the floor and finally the husband said: “We can’t say”. It was the most awful/pitiful look i’ve seen from any Christian since the pastor of the church in Osaka, when saying he would go along with whatever the church board decided, answered my question about following even if they decided to keep Sunday with: “That would never happen”, knowing full well that will happen one day unless they repent. Anyway, this Egyptian man wrote later in a email that whatever way they answered would be misunderstood, so they preferred not to answer. He qualified in his email that Jesus was God by nature, but not by identity, whatever that means. Sir, your God and my God is different. Jesus Christ is God 100%, no qualifications necessary. He has always been, and except for the short time he was in the grave, he always will be. He has life in himself, and is just as much God as the Father and Holy Spirit (oh, that’s right, you don’t believe in a Holy Spirit). Please repent! When i knew you were from Egypt i was excited, thinking we might be able to work together getting Ellen White books spread there, so knowing you are following a different leader is all the sadder 🙁
My last Sabbath in Pune is spent at Spicer College Church, where they are having the Lord’s Supper. Not finishing until 1:50, i believe it is the latest i’ve ever gotten out of church in my life. A very interesting thing happened while standing around after washing feet – a young man came up to me, and asked me if i was Daniel Winters, and if i knew him. Yes i am, but no i don’t – sorry. He is the son at the place i spent 4 months helping his pastor father in 1998! What an amazing thing! I’m a bit dumbstruck, altho i thot he might be going to school here. While heading back to the church building, i ask him for forgiveness for anything that happened back then, and he assured me that he had never had hard feelings against me. Thank you Lord, thank you for that experience, and thank you that no hard feelings were harbored. Please bless this young man and may he win many souls to your kingdom.
I take shelter from the rain near the cafeteria, and a former pastor from America comes up to me and we have a good discussion, and the day winds up with me and seven pastors-in-training going to his place to study John 11 and chapter 30 of the 1858GC. The discussions are quite good, with only one of the young men being a drag on the meeting, but most of them are really interested in the Word, and soak it up. One of them wishes that i would stay in Pune longer to help them study more. I’m greatly encouraged as i hear stories about them going to an unentered part of town, rent a hall, hold meetings, help the people physically, and hear that quite many in that area have accepted Christ as their Saviour. Wow! What an army for the truth our young people could be if trained properly!
Sunday morning i say goodbye to my “home” for the last 10 weeks, and go to a Brother’s house in Salisbury Park Campus. He is a professional audio technician, and it is interesting to see his hardware and software. In the evening he works up a rig in his home, and we start recording the 1858GC in a semi-professional manner. I’ve had the audio up on the web for quite a while, but hopefully this will sound better if (when) we make a movie, and hopefully he will also be able to add a music track to it, so that those listening to it will not have to just hear my voice.
The original plan was to leave India the 11th, but one strong Brother was supposed to come to Pune on the 11th, so i extended my stay 2 days. However, his plans changed, and i don’t get a chance to meet him. Just have to attribute it to God’s mysterious workings. Bombay gets rocked by train bombs just one day before i’m scheduled to go there. Showing the Indian “no-logic” is still in force in places, some people take out their frustrations about the bombs by throwing rocks at buses. Go figure.
I still have one more thing to accomplish, and that is to help the little church in Bombay know what they need to do about their elder. We have a nice meeting, and the advice is accepted. They are really serious about following Bible and SOP counsel, and i pray they have strength to follow it. It would be nice to meet the young man who works in an animation factory, to see about making this GC book like a professional movie, but this problem with the church is more pressing, so i will have to put off the movie for this trip. Hopefully God will lead to something next time.
Next morning we see the little factory where garment patterns are made to be sent to the garment workers to have the final product shipped to Dubai. The Brother who owns this business is downsizing it, and trying to figure out a way to move out into the country. I was surprised to see his “sweatshop” having an airconditioner, and the room being more pleasant than anywhere else these young men might be working at. His reply? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Amen. God is and will continue to bless this business. Thanks for taking me to the airport Brother. My feelings this time are much, much different than 8 years ago. Then i was so happy to be alive and leaving this country. This time i’m wondering when i will be back, and concerned for the Little Flock left behind.
NOTE: Post written July 26, 2006