Hi everyone! It’s Ben & Jaimie here. This is the first time we started to post on Priority One Worldwide as our primary communication avenue.
Ben & Jaimie’s December in Nagpur, India
This month we were invited into the homes of church families, traveled 10 hours by car through rough jungle roads to visit a neighboring mission, were greeted by Jordan, John, and Tina, and participated in many Christmas activities!
Welcomed into the Homes of Church Families
Jaimie and I are beginning to feel very welcomed in the New Bidipeth Christian Church. Near the end of last month we were invited to a birthday party for a 7 year old. I was asked to teach a Bible study and chose the passage in scripture where Jesus sends his disciples out and tells them to bless the homes they are welcomed in. It’s so encouraging to be invited into the homes of fellow believers; Jaimie and I can easily understand why the disciples came back telling many positive stories and celebrating. We too felt so loved.
Then again on the first Sunday in December, Jaimie and I were invited to the home of the Robinson’s. Mr. Robinson and I discussed many things. He was an open book and it was very refreshing having open conversations with a fellow Christian. During our discussion about his single life, gin and tonic (my input), and brief family history, Jaimie was bonding with his wife trying on many Indian dresses.
Just last week they invited us back along with Tina, so we are becoming friends quickly 🙂
Visiting Another Mission
Tina, a great family friend, arrived on Saturday, Dec 7th and all three of us left for Damoh the same day. While we were in Damoh, we also met up with Jordan (Jaimie’s sister) and her husband John. All three of them came to visit us in Nagpur, too. While we were in Damoh, we did many things including spending time with the children, teaching in the local church and watching a Christmas program. We had such a great time.
It was so refreshing to be welcomed by Vivert and his team. Anyone wanting to visit India on a mission trip should take the time to spend a few days with them and the children in their care. While we were visiting, we toured a Hindu temple and watched a service, I got a haircut (where they punch your face and call it a massage), drove motorcycles, played with children, and Jaimie and I were given teachings of Jesus on video to share with the local church in Nagpur. The videos were in both Hindi and Marathi, the state language of Nagpur.
Back in Nagpur
We were back in Nagpur for the last half of December. We visited a monkey temple where the group carefully walked barefoot through a temple overran with monkeys watching eagerly to steal anything that resembles food from your hand, bags, or pockets.
John and Tina were also able to speak in the local church! John presented a message on the marks of a true Christian, and Tina gave her testimony. It was a great Sunday and I think a great experience for everyone! Jaimie and I were so grateful for their visit and it was so encouraging to spend time with friends and family sharing the same passion for missions.
Ben & Jaimie Personal Events
All the good stuff was covered , but for those of you who want to know some personal events in our lives through December – here they are. For Christmas, Ramesh & his wife made me a custom tailored shirt and bought Jaimie a traditional Indian dress called a sari (see the picture). We were also invited to the wedding reception of a friend in the office. (see the blurry photo of one of the dancers) It was awesome! The picture you see is a man dressed up standing on a cube of ice. And one more last thing – a car hit us on the scooter last Sunday…. and drove away! (We’re okay, nobody fell off or anything.)
