Sent: Sun, Sep 25, 2011 17:34:30 GMT+00:00
Subject: Re: India Team Update 3
Greetings Friends & Family!
We began our day today by departing at 5 am for the train station! Our
luggage was carried to the train on the heads of porters, and we
traveled to Agra.
Once we arrived, we celebrated in a time of worship with the church here
at Agra, and were blessed beyond belief to see and hear of their faith,
to share in worship, and to encourage our brothers and sisters.
Kurt, Allen and Todd all shared our love for them and from the Word.
Todd preached from Psalm 133 about how we should be dripping with the
aroma of God, and this should be an act of worship to God as well as a
testimony to the world around us.
As far as the tourist side of the day we:
Visited the Taj Mahal
Toured a Marble and Semi-precious Jewel inlay factory
Saw the poverty in India
Witnessed the procession of a Muslim wedding
Rode in bicycle rickshaws
Did you like the king cobra snake charmer? I will see your king cobra,
and raise you a king cobra PLUS a boa with a snake charmer! As far as
animals go, we also saw monkeys, many cattle, wild boars, pigs, goats,
chickens, horses, donkeys and camels.
To end the days journeys, we met for our team time, and Ben led us in a
devotion. He taught us from Joshua 1:6-9 and Philippians 4:6-7
challenging us to trust God with our fear of the unknown, and to truly
follow wherever He leads us.
As we sat discussing the day, and I reflected, God opened my eyes to the
true symbolic beauty of the Taj Mahal. Over 365 years ago a reigning
Muslim Mughal King set about to build the Taj Mahal as a tribute to his
love for his bride. She closed her eyes and died from childbirth before
it was finished, and it is now the resting place for the two monarchs.
As I thought of this beautiful love story, God reminded me of His great
love for us and that He is our groom, and He is preparing a place far
more majestic than the jewel incrusted pristine white marble for us in
Heaven. And more than that, this place is not a mausoleum of a love
story ending in a tragic death, but rather the beginning of new and
everlasting life.
We thank you again for your prayers, and ask that you pray for the
church in Agra. That they will live their lives as a sweet aroma of
praise to God, and that men will know they are Christians by their
continued love.
Praising Him,
Shandi Harris
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