Here are "snippets" from his emails about his trip:
Thursday July 12: Departure day
We will be in Mumbai, then Pune, Solapur, and Aurangabad
It is monsoon season right now so the weather will be interesting.
Sunday July 15
My group will be lead by two former Muslim leaders who have become followers of Jesus and by a young man who is focused on Muslim ministry. I really enjoyed some good talks with him today
We are a block from the ocean in our guest house. The waterfront is where everyone comes to walk in the morning and evening. It is fun walking along and seeing the amazing variety of people
Monday July 16
This morning we woke as usual to the comfort of our ice cold AC room. The first step out of the bedroom into the kitchen is a quick reality check as the humidity hits you. The mornings are
pleasant, doing our bible study on the balcony with hundreds of birds in the trees on our block, including many parrots.
Wednesday July 18
Josiah’s half of the team stayed in Mumbia:
The highlight has been our time with the believers here who come from Muslim backgrounds. There are three fellowships, or house churches that are connected to the Church here
in Mumbai. The leaders are all from highly educated orthodox Muslim backgrounds. These are people that led thousands of Muslims (in one case over 50,000). Now they are living in obedience to Jesus under strong opposition from their families and friends. Instead of leading thousands and enjoying material wealth, they lead 10 to 15 people each and live
very simply.
It was so humbling and precious to spend time with 14 of these brothers and sisters today, sharing our lives over hot chai tea. We had a beautiful time of prayer together, praying for each other and for our world. It was a scene that we will never forget!
Mark’s half went on to the city of Pune:
Those of us who traveled to Pune have visited several sites that are actively ministering to the needs of those affected by HIV/AIDS. Today we met with people involved in the commercial sex industry, including men who were made eunuchs by their families for religious reasons. Most of these served as temple prostitutes and now have been put out on the street to try to make a living on their own. Extreme darkness, but the incredible light of Jesus is shining His love on these precious people. There are some very committed believers among them who are ministering grace, mercy and love in amazing ways. Some of these eunuchs are finding freedom and acceptance in Christ for the very first time.
Friday July 20
We said goodbye to our friends in Pune and got an early morning start for the adventurous journey to Solapur. Though only a two-lane road, at times the intrepid drivers managed to fit 6 or 7 vehicles across, incuding the shoulders on both sides and the grassy fields that border the road! It looked like big city traffic transplanted in all its glory onto a little country road. Driving will seem so boring in California now.
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