MISSION JOURNAL - NOVEMBER 2007

Sunday, November 17, 2007 One by one, we began to see the not so smiley faces of our teammates as they arose from their sick beds and ventured out into the hallways and the breakfast room. You could tell by many of their expressions that although they felt good enough to get up, they were not all completely over their struggle. And for most it was a "two steps forward, one step back" day. Unfortunately a couple actually felt a bit worse, but these were the ones who succumbed to the dreaded disease most recently.

With the pastors' conference behind us, some of the team who were feeling a bit better and did not get to go to the ocean yesterday wanted to go. So Dr. Pete and a handful of intrepid explorers set off with our Manna Ministries Guides for the beach. It was a different beach than we were at yesterday. Saturday's shoreline was all but deserted except for the fishermen. This sandy coastline was filled with Indian families out playing in the water and enjoying the day. Interestingly, no one had on bathing suites, and most had on long pants and shirts... It really was a strange beach experience.

The roads we traveled as we approached the ocean were dirt roads, flanked by rice patties and fish and shrimp ponds. The villages we passed through were obviously very poor economically. Many of the people worked in the seafood processing plant nearby, or in the fields and ponds. It is really a simple life... they don't really have anything except maybe a hut, an ox perhaps, maybe a bicycle and each other.... but in spite of their economic situation, they are always friendly and welcoming when we encounter them.

When the cyclone hit here several weeks ago, many of the dirt roads washed away and we saw evidence of areas recently rebuilt. Speaking of cyclones, we heard today that the death toll for the one that was supposed to hit our area and went to Bangladesh instead was now over 2000. We praise God for his mercy. Please pray for the devastated and heartbroken people of that area.

We laid low for the rest of the afternoon and gathered our strength for this evenings crusade; the last on this trip. Expectations were high, both for the crowd AND for what God was going to do. A brief shower fell just before we headed for the bus causing us to increase the fervency of our prayer for good weather.

As we approached the grounds, it was easy to see that this would be our biggest crowd in Nellore. The chairs on either side of the center ground section were just about filled with more coming in. The music was going, the crowd was clapping along as they sang their traditional festival songs. As Dr. Pete took the stage he was once again ceremoniously escorted by a drum corps. A large wreath was hung about his neck (momentarily) as Bishop Ernest, the head and founder of Manna Ministries moved to the platform to begin his opening remarks.

He talked about unity and thanked those in Nellore who made this event possible. Then he had the crowd face each direction, north, south, east and west, raise their hands and bless all sides of the city. It was powerful. Lester and Holly took the stage to begin ushering in the Holy Spirit with song. Just as they began, the rain began to fall... lightly. They continued on and when Dr. Pete rose to begin his preliminary remarks, the rain stopped! We didn't see another drop until just at the end of the testimonies when it began to rain hard. Praise God our prayers were answered and the huge crowd stayed through the end.

Pete spoke with a smoothness and clarity that was evident of the anointing that he carried this night. He recapped the main points from the nights before and assured the people that it did not matter what they had ever done they would be forgiven in Jesus... once again, when the call was made to accept Christ into their hearts the response was spectacular. Thousands and thousands and thousands of hands all across the field said yes as they reached out to touch heaven. They came forward,cramming in as close together as possible, nearly the huge section in front of the stage. Many chose not to come to the stage in light of the congestion, but stood instead at their seats to meet Jesus, and that is just fine with us.