Final Blog for 2009 India and Africa travels

Hi team,

Karman, Randy, Rob and I are home and rested and I wanted to make a final blog entry for this phase of our trip. First of all, we want to thank you all for standing with us in prayer. I have never experienced such grace on a trip in my life. It was full of opportunities for things to go wrong (like 48 chances to lose our luggage or miss a flight), but everything was smooth.

We stayed in two of the filthiest dumps we have ever seen and didn’t get sick. We named the one in Nigeria “The Pit of Despair”. We ate food that scared me with every bite, but, we were healthy as a horse. (Check out the picture of the counter where the waiters pick up the food from the kitchen. This is what the diners can see. I couldn’t bear to look into the actual kitchen. By the way, I decided to take a walk this day rather than have lunch. The good news is I lost 8 pounds on the trip).

We were in the kidnapping capital of the world in Nigeria but had no incidents (The 100 soldiers armed with machine guns who were with us everywhere probably helped that one). There were death threats from the Hindus, people were beaten, but no one was seriously injured and no one so much as approached Karman, Randy, Rob or me with violence.

Beyond all of that, the ministry exceeded our wildest dreams. Never have we seen more openness to the Gospel. I wish you could have been there to experience it. This message of Jesus Christ is a miracle. Hindus who came to the festivals in spite of threats, would hear the message of Jesus and rush to the alter. They would forsake all other gods and commit themselves to Jesus Christ. It was so moving to see them finding hope in the only One who can really give us hope. No Hindu god can save.

No Muslim god can forgive sin. Only the One true God, Jesus can utterly transform the most hopeless, desperate person into a new creation. Watching it happen before your eyes is surely the most beautiful sight on earth. I am sure that if Osama bin Laden was at our crusade, he would have given his life to Jesus. No one could resist His love and power.
Beyond that we saw miracles in a way that awed Randy and I. It was like we were among the 70 Jesus sent out to heal everyone who was sick. There was no end to the miracles.

Below are a couple of pictures of one little girl who I referred to in earlier blogs. I had prayed for her twice and Randy had prayed for her once. To our knowledge at those times, nothing happened. But the last night of our trip, she came to the platform healed.

I stood behind her and whispered into her ear; “one” and she would repeat “one”, “two”, “two”. I actually started jumping up and down and shouted “This is a miracle”. A few minutes later I prayed for another deaf and mute boy. Instantly one of his ears popped open and he could hear. My voice was the first he heard. I heard his first poorly formed words. It was beyond incredible. I posed for a photo with him too so that I could show you all. One Hindu boy came forward for prayer. My translator said, “He is an unbeliever”. Jesus instantly healed him and he instantly became a believer and gave his life to Christ. One boy whose finger was injured and wouldn’t straighten was healed in Randy’s hands. It went on and on.

I can tell you that I am forever changed. I have seen the love of God poured out in a way that I am afraid nothing else will again satisfy me. I crave for more. I honestly can’t wait to go again. To see Jesus set people free from sin and judgment, to watch Him heal their bodies, their minds, and their broken hearts. It is the best. The good news is that in just over two weeks, I am leaving for Nigeria and will have the chance to preach again at a Reinhard Bonnke/Daniel Kolenda crusade. I think they are planning to do a web cast of that crusade which would allow you to watch it live if you want to.

So once again I thank you. This is your harvest. You joined in winning these precious people to Jesus. Your prayers called the great miracles into being. No doubt one day when you stand before Jesus, He will show you just how powerfully you impacted eternity because you were faithful to pray. Prayer is the currency of the Kingdom of Heaven. Prayer is what must precede every move of God. It was prayer that made all of these wonderful praise reports possible. With that said, please continue to pray for me as I prepare for Nigeria. I leave on March 8 and return the 18th. More details to follow.

Much love and gratitude,
Dana

Last Update from Dana...for now

Dana and Karman in Nigeria

(2:32 am CST) From somewhere in India... "Greetings in the powerful name of Jesus. We are Just leaving the crusade field... 100 people gave their lives to Jesus this evening. Tonight we saw Jesus heal at least 3 deaf people, including the little girl I was praying for. One was a boy who was a deaf mute. He received healing in one ear and spoke. I heard his first word. Several people had their sight healed. A tumor disolved beneath my hand on the neck of a little girl. Without exaggeration more than 150 people were healed today. I am undone. There are no words for what we saw tonight. Randy and I saw every person we prayed for instantly healed except one lame woman. It was amazing.

The total for the week we saw 1900 people come to Christ here in India. Two I can remember were healed from the effects of stroke. One was an older man who's right side of his body was affected. He was healed. One young man had a fever for 3 months and exruciating pain in his arm... instantly healed. A family of kids 3 who had the same breathing problem were all healed. Scores healed of back problems knee problems, lung problems, chest pains, asthma. One Hindu boy came forward for prayer. I don't remember what for but Jesus instantly healed him and he instantly responded by giving his life to Christ. Probably 10 or more had their eyes healed. I am in Frankfurt waiting for my last leg home. Thank you all for your prayers. We really felt them"

Karman is on her way home...

Hi prayer team... I'm on my way home today, so here's my last update. I think it would be better not to post a picture for privacy and security reasons. Wow, was that exciting to read what was posted for Dana about India!!!

Another airport...Istanbul this time. The NLT conference ended last night around 10:30pm. We have been worshiping God in Arabic, Armenian,Turkish, Russian, and more! It often brings tears to my eyes even to be in the same room with these people. What they have given up for Christ... Family, houses, land, personal security for themselves and their children...

Mark 10: [29] And Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, [30] will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property-with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life.

Yesterday I was speaking with a Palestinian woman. Her church has been helping a couple of young Christian women (Muslim converts). They are being hidden in in various homes of church members because their Uncle and other family members suspect them of Christianity. Several male family members have decided to kill them... But another idea now on the table is less harsh. Disfigure, shame and ruin them by throwing acid on their faces. It is not an unusual story in this part of the world.

But these national ministry leaders are not stopped by hardship. I love their adventurous spirits - they come together in this difficult spiritual climate not to huddle together in fear, but to raise the bar on intimacy with Jesus and effectiveness in ministry! Woohoo for the heroes on the front lines of our faith!!! You inspire us to pursue a life with God way beyond our current boundaries and capabilities. I will follow you as you follow Christ!

Snake in the grass

Today's update came in 3 short messages from Dana...and one from Evangelist Rob Welch's wife Emily...

"Hello friends and prayer partners!

I just spoke with Rob a short time ago, and he asked me to send an update of the ministry in South India.

Overall, there is a very good response to the Gospel at the festivals, though the attendance has been significantly lower than expected. Rob says that on average, half or more of the people in the crowd respond each night to the invitation to receive Christ. Both Rob and Dana have seen upwards of 70% response on various nights! The leadership conferences have gone very well, there have been many people who have received healing in various ways, and one-on-one witnessing opportunities have been very fruitful. He expressed deep gratitude for all of the prayers that have been offered for him, Dana, Randy, and the others who are ministering with them.

That said, there is sad news in that Rob senses a dramatic change in the spiritual climate of these areas he has previously visited. As many of you may know, hostility against Christians on the part of the Hindus has sharply increased in recent months in various regions of India. Rob and his close friend, Pastor Raj, who is ministering with and translating for Rob, sense a high degree of spiritual warfare in the areas of Tamil Nadu they have been working in, and that there is much fear of persecution keeping people from coming out to the festival events.

Hindu community officials are "cracking down" on the churches. They have denied the For His Glory team permission to use the grounds they requested, and instead are sending them to less desirable venues. An auto rickshaw driver whose vehicle displayed one of the advertisement posters for the festivals was run out of town and beaten. Another challenge has been dealing with some of the local pastors involved with the festivals who wanted money from For His Glory in exchange for bringing people to the events.

Rob was quite upbeat on the phone, though, and said he has had much time to seek God in prayer, and is trusting Him with the results of the trip. He asks for lots of prayer for the final two nights of the festivals, that the Lord will break through the spiritual bondage that is trapping the people in darkness. Please pray that the Gospel makes it into many hearts, that many ears will hear and that many lives will be changed for the glory of Jesus in that place! Prayer is an essential part of this battle.

We can't thank you enough for all of your prayers. Rob gets back home to the States on Tuesday, and hopefully we'll get more details then!"

In Christ, Emily Welch

The following messages were sent by Dana who finally had Blackberry service...

(6:32 am CST) "Last night almost everyone Randy and I prayed for was instantly healed. From asthma to backs to knees and eyes. I was so in awe that twice I stopped to ask/tell Randy but couldn't. It turned out that he was seeing the same things. We later learned the host church had been praying two hours a day for the past year in preparation for this crusade. We haven't had Internet to send you updates, but in this town I have my blackberry working. Blessings."

(7:38 am CST) "Ben, here is a little more. There has been great opposition to our meetings. The Hindus are making death threats to the organizers. People are also being warned not to come. All that said, Jesus is doing an incredible work here saving (I would guess) every lost person that comes and healing almost everyone. I have never seen anything like this.

We are healthy and strong. Tomorrow we speak in churches in the morning and then the final meeting tomorrow night. I am particularly praying for a certain deaf girl to receive her hearing and an 18 year old who hasn't gone through puberty yet. Just now, the crusade was interrupted by a snake in the field of our meeting. I hope it isn't poisonous. I will preach in a few minutes from now and then we will pray for the sick."

A couple hours later I received this message from Dana's Blackberry...

(10:28 am CST) "Tonight a deaf lady received her hearing and there were scores of other healings. More than half the crowd responded to alter call."

We're sorry there are no photos of the ministering in India, the team has not had Internet to upload them. We hope to have some posted soon!

Finally!! First Pics of Karman

Hi everyone! Karman here again...can you believe it took me 30 hours to get to my destination in Turkey! PHEW!

Praying for her knees

Love Feast!

Kindergarten Teacher asks for blessing

A church where Dana was speaking

Reflecting in the Airport

From Karman...

So I'm sitting at the airport in Mumbai. It's 3:37am and I am waiting for my flight to Istanbul. This is my first chance to reflect on India. It's crazy there!

A riddle for you: What do people, cars, buses, ox driven carts, trucks, goats, bicycles, motorcycles, cows, and auto rickshaws have in common? Yep, they are all playing chicken with each other on crowded roads!

Indian food is YUMMY. And the women dress like princesses, with colorful saris and jewelry on their ears, noses and toes. When we went door to door in the village sharing Jesus, praying for people and inviting them to the festival, we were warmly received by all.

Working side by side with the pastors we met, especially Pastor Raj, was a real privilege. It's time again to pray for the lost and hurting that Dana will be ministering to each night. May this land of worshipers find the One True God who is worthy all praise, through Jesus!

India

Hello everyone! Karman here with a short update..

Yesterday we arrived in Chennai, India, and early this morning (Sunday) we flew to Madurai (see photo on top). Dana gave an encouraging message on faith to an Assemblies of God church here, and it was warmly received.

This was our first experience with the Indian people, and we loved them! After church they had a "love feast" featuring homemade local cuisine. As you might guess, we pray fervently over our food here! It was fun trying to pick up sauce covered pieces of spicy chicken and rice without utensils...Right hand only people!

Randy Barr and Rob Welch joined us and we had a great time catching up. They preached at a different church this morning, and prayed for many people. Tonight, Rob will be the main speaker at the festival. Starting Tuesday, there will be concurrent festivals, with Rob leading one, and Dana and Randy leading another.

On Tuesday, I begin the trip to Turkey. We're so grateful that you are in this with us. We have been very conscious of your prayers, and over and over again they have lifted us up and encouraged us.