Three days of the conference in Belur, state Karnataka, were filled with God's blessings and anointing. The large church building was completely packed: over a thousand people were inside and many people were listening from the outside. The sound system worked well and delivered messages and worship far away.
Christians from different areas of the State of Karnataka came for the conference. Some of them traveled by train and some by bus. One church rented a bus and brought 50 or 60 people from another border of the State and it took them 13 hours to ride! Christians in India are hungry to hear God's word and they love to worship. Joyful worship could go hours after hours without stopping. We would say there was not enough space to move, but people could even dance: the crowed was clapping and jumping together. Without air conditioners, the temperature inside of the building with a crowd over a thousand people was really high. Indians survived easily at hot temperature, but for us it was a challenge (we just came from Russia, where the temperature dropped down to 40 degree F)
In the after noon, Pastor Don and Yuriy led the men conference upstairs (on the roof of the building). The women annual conference was held in the main hall. Olga and one local woman were speakers for ladies. The Holy Spirit touched hundreds of people's hearts.
Olga and her translator Sinchana. Sinchana and her husband are Pastors in another city. She speaks fluently 5 languages! She was a huge blessing for all the people at the conference. People from different states in India speak different languages. Praise God, our translator had an ability to translate for many of them.
At the women conference: ladies are seating on the floor. All the men went up (on the roof) and left more space for women.
The church building and a tent. People could get a shadow during the day.
Lunch time! People are getting ready for a delicious meal! Every one was served a nice meal at the conference. The big team worked hard at the kitchen. Most of rice food was prepared on fire outside.
On the picture above, you can see a big line of people, but all the lines were moving fast. We were amazed of the team work of all kitchen servants.
Yuriy enjoys fellowship with pastors during the short breaks time. Some of them could speak English and share their experience with God.
People were seating everywhere... and eating lunch
We noticed that men worked hard to prepare tons of delicious rice for the big crowd. We could smell food around: they prepared it outside of the church building during the conference.
Beside the rice, potatoes were piled out, cooked and served for lunch or dinner.
We are different but we worship together to the same one Almighty God! Different cultures, different colors of skin, age, and height, and shape, and language, and so on and on. We are united through our Savior Jesus who died on the cross and rose for the salvation of all the nations.
On the picture below, we are with the local Pastor's family who hosted the conference.
Thanks God for all the blessing at the conference. We believe many seeds were planted in a good soil and will bring harvest for the Kingdom of God in His time.
At 7 o'clock in the morning our friends brought us to the airport in Bogota, Colombia. It's time to go home. Everyone is tired and satisfied about what was done during the last week.
Bogota city is located in the mountainous and at this trip, as never before, we experienced a hard breathing all the time due to the high altitude: not enough oxygen to breathe.
Driving up to the steep incline.
After four days of the conference, we ministered in churches few times on Saturday and Sunday (pictures above and below from different churches)
Also, we had a privilege to minister to pastors from the hard to reach areas. They arrived from the area where is no electricity yet, no roads, no any civilization so far; many of them came from jungles. We prayed with them. God gave us a strong word of encouragement for them. Our God is going to do something very special at that areas. Our God is God Almighty!
That's Olga helping in the kitchen. On that small kitchen we prepared meals for our big team.
On the picture above, you can see that onstruction work is almost done on this project. The church in Bogota has a large lovely heart for the street children and already has many projects for them: this building should be used for children as well.
What kind of work is going on the hill? Potatoes harvest! People are picking potatoes. They got many bags (sacks) of potatoes. Praise God for a great harvest!
At the last day, we participated in the children ministry. The church purchased gifts for kids who live far away on the very hill. That community has its lighthouse (I didn't see any river around...)
On the top of the mountains was cold. Colombians do not have any heater systems (normally, they wouldn't need it). They have had warm clothes. Also, many of them kept mouth covered by scarf.
Games and New Year presents! Children had a school break in January.
What is in?
