Update for the Last Couple of Days

Hello all!

Thank you so very much for your prayers! I have so much to write to you!

I could not write on Sunday because the internet shop was closed.

Sunday:

I was able to preach at two churches, each one having around 150 members or more. It was awesome! I preached a message that I entitled : "God's Most Valuable Player". The first church that I preached at was right next to one of the largest stadium complexes in India. They love soccer and cricket over here. My main texts were 1 Cor 9:27ff and Hebrews 12:1-3. My main points were 1) Starting the Race 2) Running the Race 3) Finishing the Race 4) Winning the Prize.

Between the times that I preached at the churches, I was able to go to several households of Christians to encourage them.

House #1) Was the house of one of the members of the church I preached at. The lady's name is Christie. She has 4 children, and her youngest has heart valve problems. She said that he is too young to go into operation so we prayed diligently for him.

Next we toured the stadium complex.

House #2) This was a house in one of the 80 Rongmei villages here in Imphal. It was a Christian family that is the only Christians in this village. They are suffering much persecution. They have been basically excommunicated from buying and selling in their village. Their son was beaten almost to death. The police have had to come out, but they don't do a thing, really. They have only stopped a major attack on this house. The son that was beaten is now in the south of India going to a bible college in order to be an evangelist/pastor. The villagers have been severely harrassing this family. They have had to fix their roof several times and are praying for a stronger roof, because the villagers have been throwing bricks and other heavy objects into it. One nearly killed one of their children. It was such a blessed time. They had three children in the home, all who spoke good English. They gave their testimonies and I began to cry. They are standing stedfast in their commitment and confession of Christ. They put us all severely to shame.

House #3) A 70 year old woman who is dying of breast cancer. She has been a Christian evangelist for 30 years in India. Her husband is a pastor in a small village. They kept on wanting me to touch her breast in order to experience her condition. I finally relented when the woman herself wanted me to in order to be a testimony. It was hard as a rock. My translators and nationals wanted me to encourage her and pray for her. I straight up said, "I have been asked to come over here and encourage and pray for you, but I need you to do that to me!" She was like a spiritual giant! She was very happy that I asked her that request. She had me sit in front of her while she switched between holding her hands out over me and laying her hands on my head. She prayed for like 10 minutes over me, weeping and wailing as she called down blessings and petitions over me. I have never EVER had anyone pray like that over me! I broke down and wept as this spiritual woman lifted me up to the Father. I did have a chance to encourage her though. She said that before she died that she wanted to have a church building constructed in that village. I told her that she has already been used to construct a church, by her tireless efforts to evangelize the Indian people. I did pray for her and encourage her in the word, also.

Monday:
Monday was called "black Monday" because the 15th of October is the day that the state of Manipur was introduced into India, and all the Manipuri people hate that day. Everyone in the whole city striked. It was crazy. This place is a huge hustle and bustle that makes New York city seem like Hickville USA (sorry to those of you who live there...). But on Monday, it was crazy! No one was driving or in the shops, they were all closed! Since we couldn't get a bus we went to the surrounding villages around our hotel. I even was able to preach at a Brahmin household and the 25 year old and 28 year old sons believed into Jesus for eternal life! It was an awesome day of door to door evangelism, although it rained for a portion of the day. I saw many people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ from Hinduism. The internet cafe was closed.

Tuesday:
Yesterday saw us go to a Rhongmei village. I was able to go to the chief of the village's house and give my evangelistic presentation. He believed into Jesus Christ! Wow! This was a small village of Rhongmei, only about 29 houses, but with the chief being a Christian, the outlook for that village is good. Please pray for him that he will openly confess his faith to the village and stand firm in his conversion. There are many pressures and conflicts for conversion in India.

In the evening, I was able to go to a Rongmei church to each curry! It was awesome curry! After that they put on a small show for us, with singing from a teenager gospel group. I got back to the hotel too late to go to the internet cafe. They actually have roll down steel doors in at the entrances to the hotel that they roll down at 9pm. I guess they don't want armed robbers coming in at night to cause trouble with the guests.

The prize of today was seeing an 84 year old man and his sons and his son's friend coming to faith in Jesus! Someone else in my group saw a 112 year old man come to faith!

Wednesday

Today was a great day! (Although it is just starting for you!) I saw many people come to a saving knowledge of Christ. God has given me a few different techniques of sharing, based upon the audience. I have spoken to teenagers, children, women, working men, and older folks. I have tailored my message to them. The evangecube is also a great tool that I have not failed to use in my evangelism. Today was very fruitful. Already many thousands of people have heard the life giving message of Jesus Christ! And hundreds have come to faith!

Tomorrow
Please pray for me as I go out for a half day of evangelism. After that I will be having that conference withover 100 pastors/evangelists. I need your prayers as I teach them Free Grace Theology.

I will try to update tomorrow to tell of the conference.

Please continue to pray. My stomach is feeling much better, as evidenced by the fact I had two large plates of curry last night.

Thanks so much. Please stand stedfast with me in prayer.

Antonio