Greetings From India!

Hello!

It'd hard to believe that I've already been here for over 4 weeks! It seems so surreal! We just finished the first campaign and it was a great experience to see how they facilitate such large crowds and how they do follow-up, etc. It is very rare for a Discipleship Training School to be part of a campaign, so I was very glad to be part of it!

The whole timing of this trip has been amazing as they are currently trying to pass a law that would make it illegal for foreigners to get on stage and preach the Gospel, or even come into India. But since they haven't yet, it allowed YWAM the opportunity to preach the Gospel to thousands of people. This really is an unprecedented time in Indian history as they may only have less than a year before the country is completely cut off from foreigners like China was. But the believers know that that would be fine because they know that the numbers of believers increase when there is persecution, as it did in China. I am so grateful to have a part of this mission thrust!

Life is so simple at our outreach location! We wake up, have personal morning devotions, eat breakfast, do the dishes, and have tribe (our outreach team) prayer and worship. The prayer and worship times has been so special and is probably one of my favorite times of the day. Even though we are in a little tiny room, shoulder to shoulder with only small pillows to sit on the concrete floor, there is no overhead fan, and we have to keep the windows closed because the neighbors don't like the guitar music, it is something that we always look forward to. It gives us a better idea of what it is like just a little bit in persecuted countries where that is the one way for believers to meet. On some days we are singing as loudly as we can adoration to our King, on other days we are weeping in intercession for the Indians, on other days we are just sitting quietly in His presence enjoying Him, and other days we are repenting before each other for wrong attitudes or for isolating ourselves or whatever it was that was going on. True vulnerability in ways I have never seen before. I am so grateful for my tribe! It is going to be hard not waking up and saying "Good morning!" to all of them when this trip is over.

From Monday to Friday we go out to different local villages and invite people to come to the local Community Center or local church for a time of singing, skits and stories that night. "Namaste! Naa peru Sara." (Hello! My name is Sara.") There are so many villages around here! The meeting starts with one of the local men singing some songs in Tellagu, then whomever on our team is leading worship that night sings a few songs (9 of us play guitar). Then someone gives a testimony, we sing another song, someone else does another testimony, we do a skit, and then someone gives the Gospel message. Afterwards we pray for the new believers, and whomever else wants prayer. We had a wonderful miracle happen on the 13th when we went door to door inviting people to the meeting in the evening. The guys in our group stopped a guy that was on a motorcycle because they saw he had a cast on his foot and they wanted to pray for him. So they prayed for him, and he got fully healed! He was so in shock that he just kept walking back and forth (and running) to make sure it was fully healed. It was amazing! And the guys were able to lead him to the Lord as the result of it! During the meeting that night we had him come up and give a testimony of what had happened to him, and apparently he was known in the village as a bad guy which made his conversion even more powerful and effective for those in the village that heard it. On the 24th two deaf people were healed along with a lady that had a broken leg, and a lady with stomach ulcers and pain in her back! Those are just some of the miracles that have happened while we've been out.

On days when we don't go out until the evening, we do group Bible study and discussion, along with more time reading the Bible and praying, doing laundry, cleaning, and discussing what God has been teaching us lately or various other biblical discussions (is the Leviathan an actual sea creature or is it a description of Satan? etc). The quiet times with the Lord have been so special! Whenever we have free time, it is just so wonderful to go sit outside on the roof, with the wind blowing while you're sitting under the palm trees reading the Bible and talking to God and processing with Him. After we do ministry in the evenings, the quiet times of refreshment from the Lord the next day are so important!

On Saturday is our "free" day so we clean the house that we're staying at, do any laundry that needs to be done, catch up on any sleep that was missed during the week, go shopping for any needed supplies, read the Bible, process, and relax. On Sunday mornings we go to a local church and after they do their service in Tellagu, someone in our tribe does a couple songs, someone else does a testimony, and someone else preaches a message. Afterwards we pray for people.

Now, one thing you have to understand about Indians, is that they are REALLY flexible with time. If they say we're leaving at 11, you can almost guarantee that we won't leave until 1-something. And everyday is different. Some days we get up, and immediately leave after tribe time and don't come back until 2, and then leave again at 6. Some days we don't go out until 6. The schedules change so much depending on what the local Pastor at the village says and asks us to do. It's a lot of fun, actually. I'm really grateful to have grown up in such a flexible home because it makes it so much easier! This lifestyle would be really frustrating to someone who is used to having a set schedule just because the schedule changes hourly.

Because we have no couples or children in our group, we have one of the "hardest" outreach location, though in all honesty, this really isn't that hard! There is no AC, hot water, actual shower, or "normal" toilets (squatty potties aren't that hard to use, actually), but even with those "normal" things missing, this lifestyle seems so normal! We are so grateful to be here instead of the other locations just because we know we are getting the real experience. Going back to the states where you can just push a button and have your dishes washed and clothes washed immediately is going to be such a luxury! Our American lifestyle is so spoiled! I honesty could see myself living here or somewhere like this for the rest of my life. This is the type of lifestyle I was made for.

On the 11th I went to read my Bible, and before I even began to read, the verse, "To live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) popped into my head (we had just read the book of Philippians together as a tribe as few days earlier). And usually when that happens it is because God wants me to meditate on that specific verse. Philippians 1:21 is one of those verses that we say a lot, but I know for me, I didn't really understand what it meant. "To die is gain" made sense, but what does "to live is Christ" mean? So I asked God what it meant for Christ to live on earth, and God just wrecked me. Just the sole fact of Jesus leaving heaven was the greatest act of submission and sacrifice possible. He left complete unity with the Father, the best thing that can ever be experienced, because God wanted us to be with Him in heaven. And not only that, but Jesus did it willingly. God didn't have to remind Him everyday, "Remember, Jesus, you have to be joyful in all things, etc", Not only did Jesus obey God by literally sacrificing everything, but He did it willingly, joyfully, humbly, and as a servant. And that same attitude that Jesus left heaven in and lived on earth, we are supposed to be like that now. If God asks me to jump off of a cliff so that one Hindu can come to know Him, I want to be so submitted to Him that I just do it. If God asks me to become a nun in Hungary so that the other nuns in the convent can come to know Him, I want to be so submitted to Him that I just do it and I do it joyfully. There is literally nothing that we can sacrifice that would be worse than what Jesus gave up. That is what to "live as Christ" means.

"May we never lose our wonder - may we never lose our wonder - wide-eyed and mystified - may we be just like a child - staring at the beauty of our King...." That is one of my favorites songs from lecture phase. We were discussing last week about how easy it is to take God for granted, yet that is something so dangerous! There are literally new thing to learn about God everyday, but we grow so lax with Him. He is not this little God that we make Him out to be. He is massive and holy, so holy that the creatures around round the throne never stop crying "Holy, holy holy!" Lord, may I never lose my wonder of you!
"How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers. Everything is made to center upon the initial act of "accepting" Christ (a term, incidentally, which is not found in the Bible) and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls. We have been snared in the coils of a spurious logic which insists that if we have found Him we need no more seek Him." A.W. Tozer

Shortly before coming here, we had a special speaker from the Hawaii base and a worship leader from YWAM Circuit Riders come and share with us. And during one of our times of worship, we went into a time of spontaneous worship and the leader asked God for a song, and God gave her an anthem specifically for our DTS. And these are the words: "Come what may, we will obey, 'cuz our joy is found in giving You praise."
I was just in awe of those lyrics that God gave because it really was exactly how all of our hearts are feeling. We had finished lecture phase, we were "heart and soul" together with our tribes, we knew our position in Christ, and we knew that we wanted to serve God wholly, regardless of the cost. We sing the song on a regular basis here in Asia, and it is just a constant reminder of our desire to serve God and know His heart. Coming here I had thought that this would have been a lot harder, but because God is our strength, and He has taught us so much, it becomes a joy to serve and to kill our flesh daily! What a paradigm shift!

While we were in the city where we did the campaign, 3 of my tribe members, a couple other student and myself went to an untouchable village. They lived far, far away from everyone in little tiny mud huts, and they had a rock that they worshipped as a god. It was so sad. There were only two villagers that knew and believed in Jesus so one of my teammates gave the Gospel to the small group that had gathered (about 14 people - the rest of the villagers were at work). At the end when she gave the alter call, all but two got saved! And while she had been giving the Gospel, she mentioned Jesus washing His disciples feet, and our leader and myself both felt urged that we should wash their feet as an example of how much Christ loves them. Because, really, they are completely shunned from society and no one ever shows them love. We couldn't even invite them to the campaigns because if they came, other people would leave. So this was our one chance to give and show them the Gospel in action. So my leader asked our translators to ask them if we could wash their feet and the villagers immediately refused, because they felt so unworthy and thought we were too important to wash their feet. So we explained what Jesus did, and why we wanted to do it to them, we brought out chairs and got some water, and we got the first woman to sit down and she was just crying so much and as one of us washed her feet the other girls were laying hands on her and praying for her. The guys were doing the same with the men. When we went to get the second woman she just started crying hysterically and speaking rapidly, so we asked our translators tho tell us what she was saying and she just kept saying, "Jesus, You really love me!" It was amazing how something so simple as washing her feet was what really revealed Jesus love for her, who had previously felt so unloved. It was such an honor to be God's hands and feet, and it is definitely something I will never forget! The guys also prayed for a man that had had back pain for 10 years and he got completely healed!

And the day before that when we had gone out, half of our tribe went to one village, and the other went to another village, and both groups cast a demon out of someone! I hadn't seen a fully demon possessed person before, so it was very interesting be part of. Demons like to make such a big show and try to distract by screaming or hitting or hissing or however they can, but they're really just trying to distract you from taking authority over them. Because if they can get you scared of them, then you're not remembering the authority of the One who's name you are coming in. During one of our lecture classes we had talked about demons and how to cast them out, and it really is quite simple. 1) Jesus has complete power and a authority over all evil principalities, and He gave that same power too us. 2) With that authority we have no reason to fear because all demons can do is try to intimidate us - they have no power in comparison to Jesus'. 3) Knowing all that, you simple bind the demon in Jesus name, command it to be still and quiet (no screaming, hitting, etc.), and command it to leave based on the authority Jesus has given you. Jesus name really is the Name above all names, and the demons have to obey. 4) After the demon is cast out (the one we did only took a couple minutes), you tell them what Jesus did to set them free and ask if they want to follow Him (basically, give them the Gospel). This last part is really important because like in says in Luke 11:24-26 "The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first" They need the Holy Spirit to fill that spot that the demon had. The authority that we have in Christ is amazing!

Sorry this is so long, this is only a small part about what we've been doing and learning!

Trip Update

Hello!

I just wanted to give everyone an update on our current plans to travel to India. :)

Originally, mom and I were hoping to go to India in May, but as March went by, and then April, we weren't any closer to leaving. I started wondering at that, because usually when God wants us to do something, everything just falls into place, and this time it was if we were trying to force everything to happen. June and July went by and we still weren't any closer to leaving, and now it’s August.

We have no intention of leaving a moment before the Lord wants us to leave, or has provided for our departure.  So, now we are joyfully waiting on the Lord and enjoying all of the adventures He has for us in this season. I have been grateful to the Lord for allowing us to be here this summer (instead of our plan to leave in May) because of some different (important) family events along with some other unforeseen occurrences. There have seemed to be more opportunities to share God with people here, also.

We have talked to Pastor Diwakar about going in January and he said that that would be a good time as it is cooler (40-50 degrees), and they always need the most help during the school year.

We don’t know why God postponed our trip, but we know we can rest in His timing since He is the One who sent Pastor Diwakar to us, and when it is time for us to go, He will make a way!

We would appreciate your continued prayer as we wait on the Lord for His plan, provision and timing! We also want to thank those of you who have contributed to our work in India and to let you know that all funds have been put aside to be used strictly to minister to the people of India.

In Christ, 
Sara

Pastor Diwakar Visited us from India!

Namastē! (Hello!)

From July 10th-16th we were blessed to host Pastor Diwakar Wankhede from Mumbai, India! Pastor Diwakar is the one that invited us to come and minister with he and his wife in India. It was a wonderful time discussing the Word and getting to know one another better, along with learning even more about his heart for the people and the vision the Lord has given him.

On Sunday, July 13th, he was able to speak to our church about India and share about his ministry in the slums, along with meeting more of our friends and family. Then that evening we took him over to the local Assembly of God church (where we teach children on Wednesday nights), and Pastor Sam invited him to speak to the church for the evening service. Below is a recording of the evening presentation. If you would like to know more about India and the ministry, I would encourage you to watch it! I learned a lot listening to him.

We are so grateful that Pastor Diwakar was able to come and stay with us, and we are excited as we learn more about India and wait on His timing for us to leave!

Phir milēngē! (Goodbye!)

How This Trip Came To Be

Welcome!

Now, right about now you’re probably wondering how this whole trip came to occur. Well, it’s a pretty exciting [and long] story!

In January, mom was praying about going to Kansas City, MO to the International House of Prayer (IHOP) to learn how to facilitate a 48 hour prayer vigil. A couple days later one of our friends called and invited us to go with them to IHOP; needless to say mom was ecstatic with the opportunity and I was excited about learning about IHOP and the different ministries they had. You can read a more in-depth description here at my blog about the trip. Basically while we were there, I was given the opportunity to attend Youth With A Mission’s Discipleship Training School, along with having learned more about IHOP. And mom was able to connect with some people there about doing the prayer vigil. It was a wonderful trip all around.

Fast forward two weeks.

God told me not to go to YWAM; He wanted me to give it to Him the same way Abraham had given up Isaac on the alter. You can read about that here. It was kinda one of those, “Okay, God, what is going to happen now?”

Amazingly, we did not have too long to wait until He answered!  

One week later I was contacted by Pastor Diwakar Wankhede. He had found my blog and read about my going to YWAM and then not going (he has worked with YWAM teams before and his wife attended a local DTS in Mumbai years ago), and since I was not going to be gone for 3 months at YWAM, he invited me to come and serve alongside he and his wife for three months in Mumbai, India instead. How he found my blog, I have no idea, but we started talking back and forth about what his ministry is doing there, etc. We learned about his heart for the families in the slums, and his desire to help them and teach them about Christ.

Pastor Diwakar contacting us was also another answer to prayer that mom had had - she and I were feeling led to minister overseas, and she was praying specifically for a personal connection with someone somewhere to invite us to serve with them instead of going with an organization for only a couple of weeks. God gave us that connection with Pastor Diwakar.

Fast forward to today.

Many emails have been passed back and forth between Pastor Diwakar, my mom, and myself over the last several months. We have skyped with him and his wife, and continued learning more about what they are doing. From the get-go, mom decided that she would be coming with me, and Pastor and his wife were delighted that we will both be able to come. We will be living with he and his wife in their home for our stay there; they live on a main road with one of the “improved” slums opposite of them.

We are looking forward to how the Lord will allow us to serve while we are there, and we thank you for your prayers! Please follow this blog so that we are able to keep you updated about our journey! For His Glory,
Sara & Allison Pennington

Our Prayer Letter

Dear Friends,

We have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the poorest of the poor in Mumbai, India. We have been in contact with a Pastor and his wife who have served in the slums of Mumbai for 30+ years. They have invited us to serve alongside them, and our plan thus far is to to stay from August until sometime in the fall.  We will know more as the Lord directs us.

The women and children of India’s slums are destitute and severely lack the most basic of needs. Children often cannot attend primary school because they are needed to scavenge in the streets. They struggle to have enough to eat each day. Human trafficking is also rampant; children as young as 2 years old have been victims of this heinous crime. Most of the fathers in the slums are drunkards, and spend the evening gambling with the other men to cope with their feelings of hopelessness. There is often domestic violence and child abuse within the homes.

Our primary goal for this trip is to spread the good news by using various ministry outreaches.

We hope to find those who are willing to be taught the ways of the Lord and make disciples of them. Sara has been invited to train women to use sewing machines so that they can become self-supporting. We will also be helping with a kindergarten nutrition and education program for the children in the slums who have been unable to attend primary school.

We have also learned that 2014 is a special year on the Jewish calendar - it is the Year of the Dalet. “Dalet” means “open door”, and is described as a tent door being open for entrance and exit. We are excited because we know that many people may make the decision to “come in” to the kingdom of God this year. Even more amazing is that the people we will be ministering to in India are called “Dalits”!

The Lord calls us to lay down our lives for our friend. Sometimes this means going on a mission trip. We want to put our plans aside and serve the Lord. On behalf of the poorest of poor in India, we humbly ask for your support in prayer.  We ask that you pray for India right now and also put our picture on your refrigerator to remind you to pray often for the needs of the people of India. Please also pray for their government. Colossians 4:2-4 says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.”

May God bless you for your prayerful support.

For His Glory,

Allison and Sara Pennington                                         

Matthew 28:19-20    
                      
Allison’s email is: integritypets@gmail.com                               
Sara’s email is: forever4hisglory@gmail.com