Old Friends

On Friday night we got to visit an "old" friend that has been very helpful to me in my ministries.  We went to the church of Pastor Ramesh Babu.  He and his wife Lolita teach a small school in their village.  They have around 120 students in four classes, teaching in a pole barn.  The children are Hindu, Muslim and Christian, most of which cannot pay Ramesh Babu's family anything.  The school is not sponsored by a church or any gov't, it is simply held in a poor village where there is no other educational opportunities.  Ramesh is paid whatever they can afford which is often nothing.

Ramesh and Lolita In Action

He and Moses became friends long ago, and if I understand correctly they were friends before they became Believers.  They each became Believers and Pastors separately.  Ramesh Babu is a very intelligent and thoughtful man.  We can't communicate as well as I wish we could, but I enjoy my opportunities to speak with him.

We were invited to speak to his church on Friday night.  I was happy to encourage his church after he has helped to encourage me.  We spoke to them about their struggles as Believers in a society that often rejects them. We reminded them that they are a family, they need to have unity in everything they do, and that others are watching them - some to see how they are going to live and others who are hoping they are going to fail.  We also told them that this IS their witness, not their words but their deeds.

We then joined Ramesh Babu and family for dinner.  It was a late night, but we really enjoyed the fellowship.

Friday night Worship Service