It is Sunday afternoon in Kakinada and we are waiting to go to the Gootam home to visit with them and have dinner. We had a great service this morning with a full auditorium as is normal here. We will leave here with mixed emotions, ready to be home but wishing we could do more. As they thanked us for coming today Bro. Gootam again said: "If I could keep him....I would." Makes me feel good anyway. We are anxious to be home. Elaine says Charlie Grace is missing her granny....I think it is the other way around!
A bit of bad news for our work here. The trip Monday to teach preachers at Khamaam has been canceled due to some violence there. A group supporting a separate state in that area have disrupted all activity in the area, blocking highways and attacking people and property. Much damage has been done and no one knows about how much loss of life. We are informed it is just not safe to go. All the roads we would take to get us there are blocked anyway. I am disappointed and I know the 75-80 preachers who planned to be there that day are also but it is not to be. Some of them have to travel quite a ways and may already be on route. We pray for their safety. This country is so divided into factions -political---social---and religious, that something is always "stirring" and often "erupts." It makes us realize the urgency of the preaching of the gospel through out the World. The ONLY answer to this life and the life hereafter is Jesus Christ.
We were originally going to stay Monday night with the preacher in Khamaam and then preach in some villages on the way to Hyderabad on Tuesday but now will not be able to do that. We have arranged to fly out of Rajamundry Tuesday instead of driving on through that area. That gives us an extended waiting period for our flights out of Hyderabad but should be much safer. We are hoping that the uprising does not spread to Hyderabad as there is some disruption there also. At least we do not even have to leave the sirport.
The brethren here have arranged a special service of the Kakinada church Monday night and have asked me to speak. We will pray a lot for peace in India. I include in this posting, a picture of Elders, Deacons, and preachers of the Kaninada church. Also other pictures of preachers workshops, etc. Pray for our work here and for peace in India.......His Servants; Jim and Elaine
