Linda Maslen

Our final day of teaching in Hyderebad and in India. In this picture you see the Indian ladies praying for each other, the Indian men did likewise.  You have no idea how difficult it was to get to this point. Indian culture is such that prayer is a crescendo of noise and we had to teach them to listen to God to get His direction and then pray in the power of the Spirit simply. We did make it in the end so we saw several healings, pains in kidneys, legs, arms healed. Lots of words of encouragement and prophetic words and pastors who were so excited that God would speak to them.

We have said goodbye to Mark Aldridge now he has head off to Dubai whilst we prepare to set off home in the morning.

Janaki has been part of our journey all the way along, she is a phenomenal women of God building networks and churches and really forging the way forward for New Wine in India. We leave with love in our heart for her and our Indian brothers and sisters. I think we will all return. So we leave having met amazing new family members but also looking forward to seeing those that we left behind in Britain.

Yesterday 16th Nov was the start of a two day conference for pastors and leaders in Hyderabad at the Centenary Baptist church. It was a wonderful light airy building which meant we felt a lot freeer and cooler. As usual our day had begun with the team gathering for worship and prayer.  To say we are all well would definitely not be right but we were all heading in the right direction.

The sessions of the day were for Mark Aldridge to lead off with Kingdom ministry, Mark Miller and I to do hearing God’s voice and the practical sessions before closing for the day. This is by now well worn territory. Or we thought it was! We still have no rupees, Mark’s prophecy was right we will leave India having never possessed one!

To begin the day lots of people were delayed the traffic around Hyderabad was very slow so people were late and the impact of the banks not having rupees was definitely causing issues so we were well over an hour late starting. We began with about 30 people but through the day that built to 80

As we began the practical session on hearing God’s voice a disruption occurred from a group of Indian pastors who were not convince Holy Spirit ministry was for today. They felt that God’s voice was being manipulated. I think thy were cessationists, believing that the Holy Spirit was given for a finite period of time whilst he early church was built and not for today.

Thankfully we quickly addressed the session and Mark concluded talking about love and the how the spiritual gifts build up the body of Christ.

It all ended well, we returned to the hotel where a wedding was taking place outside. Steve Hartnoll managed to bribe the hotel into giving us 100 rupees so that we could get a tuk tuk to the restaurant we  were eating in. The Paradise was wonderful and I enjoyed a bit of spicy stuff for the first time since being ill.

Today was an early morning flight from Rajahmundry to Hyderabad ready to start a 2 day conference tomorrow. The airport was interesting as we were greeted by armed guards at the airport door and had to show proof of a flight before being allowed entry. That did mean though that the airport was less crowded than we might have expected.

Once in Hyderabad it was a delight to meet up again with Mark Aldridge and to be welcomed to the hotel by him. Since then we have been reporting back to him all that has been going on these last few days. Felt a bit like the disciples coming back and reporting to Jesus after he had sent out the 72.

Our health is gradually improving and Mark M and I are now pretty much well. Steve has still been suffering though so please do continue to keep us in your prayers.

After eating some bland! lunch we ventured out onto the streets of Hyderabad for a bit of retail therapy. Though it is a bit difficult as the Indian Government have taken back all high value notes in order to stop black money (money on which not income tax has been paid) Most people seem to see this as a good thing, but there are 8 hour queues outside the banks and atms run out of money almost as soon as they are stocked so most of them are empty most of the time. This means we have yet to acquire a single rupee!  Thankfully we have been able to use our sterling and cards to survive at the hotel. But that’s no good for the little market stalls with there very Indian clothes and souvenirs. Mark M reckons we will leave India without ever having owned a rupee.  I think he may well be right.

Mark M has decided to get some clerical shirts made over here. I think the tailors were a bit bemused by the strange collar but just four hours after the order was put in and the material chosen the prototype was brought for measuring. Mark

This evening as with the whole team gathered together we ate dinner and then had a time of worship and prayer. These times have been so precious for the three of us in Rajahmundry and it was wonderful to have Mark Aldridge join us.

Time now to head bed another full day tomorrow.

Today it felt like we were all well on the mend so after our time of worship and prayer we headed out this time with a hired driver into the great beyond our drive was predicted to be 40 mins but actually became over an hour because we got lost.

Anyway by the time we arrived unfortunately Steve had taken a turn for the worse and after our opening session had to go back to the hotel. Mark and I too began to feel queasy again and the smell of curry emanating from the kitchen did not help our sensitive bellies. But we were determined not to let it beat us so after rousing worship India style we headed in to our first session on church unity ably lead by Mark. I followed up with Solomon and our call from God to not only see people led to Jesus but to be salt and light and change the world for the better just like Solomon. Then into Isaiah 61 and the need for us to release those who have been captive, those who have been broken and those who morn into the the ministries of rebuilding the broken wall and the devastated cities.

This took us into a session learning to hear Gods voice and modeling to our Indian family what it means to be filled and to minster in the power of Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit was of course very present and a guy with a sprained knee had complete healing following a word of knowledge and a further word of encouragement proved to be spot on. I always expect that God will do these things but somehow am still very excited when He does. After the teaching they we had two volunteers and the pastors listened to God and then shared what He gave to them. Again they were mindblowingly accurate, and we once again were filled with joy. The pastors were just amazed that God was enabling them to do this. It was hugely encouraging.

Sadly by this point the virus kicked in again, Mark felt it most acutely but I don’t think I was far behind so we had to leave early allowing some of the Indian team to finish the session.  We would have loved to stay but I think maybe God had wanted the Indian team to begin to take over some of this ministry for themselves.

The beauty of this stuff, listening to and responding to God is that it takes us as His disciples on a whole new adventure.

The afternoon and evening has been quiet, which for any of you who know Mark, Steve or myself will know is a miracle. We have done a bit of reflection learned a bit more from each other. But we are really hoping that tonight will see the final end of this bug.

Tomorrow we head out of Rajahmundry  to Hyderabad for another larger pastors conference, its a bit of a ‘red eye’ flight. Please do keep us all in your prayers and especially pray for our healing.

This morning began with us all reassuring ourselves that we were well enough to be up and about. We breakfasted together and then had a wonderful 45 mins time of worship, praise and prayer together. This has been the start of every day other than yesterday and has absolutely shaped the ministry of the day.

Our morning church appointment was 40 mins drive away in a little village, the church was like a little breeze block garage over open ground with the people sat on ground sheets. I spoke on the woman who anointed Jesus Luke 7. We gave everyone little multi-coloured crosses that we had taken to bless them and ended with prayers and blessings over everyone that wanted and needed prayer.

The afternoon took us to a community that supports those suffering for leprosy. It was wonderful to hear them worshiping together but when all hands were in the air it suddenly hit me most of the hands did not have five fingers, in fact many had non, only stumps. The poverty in this place had to be seen to be believed. I took a slight detour as we were giving out cakes, down the alley way were tiny shelters, with maybe a bed mat. Their are children in the community being cared for by parents or grandparents of sufferers, they are educated in the community too. This must surely have long term impacts on these little ones. My heart broke, my Father’s heart breaks! Poverty and disease the work of the enemy at its best. Yet the grace and love of the Christians who do what they can under such difficult situations pervades even this dark enemy territory, and the peace and joy of knowing Jesus was on the faces of the people even through their suffering.

During the afternoon session Mark spoke on the Father’s love, on how unconditional and accessible it it. He referred to the song Good Good Father and translated into Telegu it sounds like Munchy Munchy Abba. The team really liked that so we have kind of renamed the song for now.. Munchy Munchy Abba.

This evening we set out on what we thought was a 40 minute drive to another church service but ended up being and hour and a half. But again we had a wonderful service in the moonlight in a little village enclave. 35/ 40 people gathering to worship a handful giving their lives to Jesus. Just as I was leaving I was asked to bless a whole family who have decided to turn from Hinduism to Jesus, what a privilege!

Now back at the hotel with the mosquito gel finally removed, showered and having had a dinner of cornflakes (non spicy food is not easily come by and my insides are still a bit delicate) its time to give thanks for the healing of the team, the privilege of being able to serve these people and the joy of being able to share about our Munchy Munchy Abba. 

We began yesterday with a trip to a school about an hour and a half away. Traveling on roads in India is an experience that is difficult to describe unless you have been there. There is a very different rule book to our road code at home. The size of the trucks hurtling along beeping alongside the millions of mopeds and tuk tuk’s the overtaking and closeness of proximity that everyone drives in. Not to talk of the cows, dogs, people, chickens, pigs that run into the road.  Lines down the middle of the road appear to be a decoration rather than something that divides the flow of traffic. Needless to say our trip was hair raising. This is Mark’s first trip to India and it was pretty amusing watching his reactions.

Our first call was to a school in a village set up by Janaki our host. The kids looked beautiful in their school uniforms. Many of them were from Hindu families. We explained the Christian message and a number of them responded. We were asked to pray for all the teachers and they invited Jesus into their lives. Janaki will be beginning discipleship with them when we have left.

We then went on to lead at a smaller pastors conference set up for pastors in this rural area about 40 were there. Its encouraging that the split male and female is around 50/ 50 though most of the women are evangelists and bible women, women who teach from the Bible. Led by the Lord our first session was on unity. Mark spoke on Psalm 133. I shared how God is blessing us in Halifax as we are working together in unity. Then on to the afternoon session on hearing Gods voice. There is a real hunger here to learn more about the Holy Spirit, how to be filled with Holy Spirit, gifts and ministry in the Holy Spirit.

Our final trip of the day was to a rural church to lead a meeting there. The church was overflowing, Steve preached a Gospel message and a number responded. We had a lot of folks come forward for prayer ministry. Sadly our digestive systems then began to have an adverse reaction to the food we had eaten and Mark and I were particularly badly affected. So we needed to abort our ministry time and head back to the hotel.

Today we have needed to stay in our hotel rooms close to facilities. As the day has gone on we are all feeling a bit stronger so are hoping to be back ministering again on all cylinders tomorrow. Please pray for God’s continued healing and for our strength to return.

Today we were privileged to led over 200 pastors and church leaders at a New Wine leadership conference. Gathered together under a tin roof in this chapel we spent time worshiping together in Talligu the local language. Mark, Steve and I then led a slightly more lilting, by comparison, version of Bless the Lord. Then it was kick of, who is Holy Spirit, What does he do, how can I be filled with the Holy Spirit and the basics of healing prayer ministry.

Language is a challenge somethings seem to translate well but many of the examples and illustrations I would use at home would not be appropriate for this context. But it was all very well received.  The practical session of trying to get three hundred people to divide into threes and fours did not work that well !  Something to think about for another time.

By the end of the session they were praying for each other and a number seemed to be receiving healing.

On the fun front Mark and I decided to venture out for a late afternoon constitutional… my it is busy out there. The traffic is scary, I have no idea how the Indian traffic system works, it does seem to work but to an outsider looking in it is mad. Then obstacles along the way ranged from cows and dogs to school children and open drains. We took the decision in the end to not cross any roads.. so we did a big circular tour!

Time for bed now. Hoping for good rest. Please continue to hold us all in your prayers. Tomorrow we are at a school early, then another pastors conference then an evening meeting..

Psalm 19 : 1- 2  The heavens are telling the glory of God •
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. One day pours out its song to another •
and one night unfolds knowledge to another.

It’s just one day before I set off on my trip to India with New Wine. I can’t believe how quickly the weeks have passed since I was originally asked if I would go. I am heading oiut with Mark Miller and Steve Hartnoll and we will meet up with seasoned New Wine International net-worker Mark Aldridge when we arrive.

So the bags are packed. Handovers have been given to those who will carry on the work at church, at Saturday Gathering, Thursday Gathering, the Gathering Place and home.  Having preached twice this weekend about stepping out of the nest, of allowing God to challenge us beyond where we might be comfortable. I now must put it into practice.

I am looking forward to what God will do, looking forward to what it means to be His hands, His feet and His voice in a different country. I am looking forward (maybe with a few nerves) at what His challenges to me will be.

I have no idea how frequently I will get on line but I hope to maintain the blog on the journey and will share with you as I am able what is happening.

For those of you who pray please keep me, Mark, Steve and Mark in your prayers.

Holy Spirit we want more of you.  Lead us on we pray. Amen.