True Missions Story INDIA. For Me, Jesus! (Picture 1)

Transcription

1 INDIA True Missions Story For Me, Jesus! (Picture 1) (Picture 2) (Picture 1) Bob and Marie* had just begun working in a small village in India. The neighborhood was buzzing because they were the first foreigners to ever come there. Everyone was very curious. Dozens of eyes would peer into their front window daily, and the people would whisper loudly in the Tamil language, which Bob and Marie did not understand. One particular little boy would often pop up on the kitchen window ledge and just smile, chatter, and watch Marie cook. He reminded Marie of the little monkeys that came to their windows on occasion. Marie learned how to ask in Tamil, OOn, paar yina? (What s your name?) They found out that his name was Chandran, which means Moon. They also learned that he was working as a servant boy in a house across the street from theirs. He did whatever jobs he was given sweeping, washing dishes, washing clothes, washing their car, going to market, taking out the trash, and the like. (Picture 2) Bob and Marie s two children, Mike and Julie*, became angry when they learned that Chandran slept outside every night on a thin grass mat, right outside the door of the house where he worked. They also learned that Chandran s mother had sold him to that family because she was desperate for money. Her husband had died, and her family of seven were living on the street and were starving. By selling Chandran, they could have some money to survive longer. One afternoon, Marie discovered that Chandran had been popping up in Mike and Julie s windows while they were doing their home-schooling lessons. When Marie scolded Julie about it, Julie said, But, Mom, he has never been to school, and he doesn t know how to read or write. I m teaching him the Tamil HEY TEACHERS! Did you know the True Missions Story illustrations are available in color in PowerPoint ON THIS CD? Look in the folder titled: PowerPoints. Lesson 11: INDIA 281

2 (Picture 3) (Picture 4) alphabet. Julie had learned the alphabet from their next-door neighbors and could already speak simple phrases. (Picture 3) Over the next year and a half, the family became very attached to Chandran. Chandran worked very hard for his owners, but during his free time he would sit in one of their windows. Eventually he worked his way into their front door. He loved to watch cartoons on TV, especially Tom & Jerry, because it was all action and no words to understand. Jerry, the little mouse, always got the best of the big cat, which delighted Chandran. While at their house, Chandran tried french fries and pizza for the first time in his life. He even drank some chilled Pepsi through a straw. Marie s family was able to tell Chandran the whole story of Jesus using a crown of thorns Bob had weaved from a nearby thorn bush. Chandran was amazed by the little illustration Bob used to help him understand the resurrection. Bob and Marie began taking Chandran to church and inviting him to watch Christian children s videos at their house. (Picture 4) Chandran always wore a black string around his neck with little pictures of idols on it. But after hearing the good news of Jesus, he began thinking. One morning he came bright and early, shouting, Oongal lakoo, Jesupa! He was clutching a tiny picture of Jesus that he now had hung on his black string around his neck. He was saying, For me, Jesus! Julie asked where the other pictures were, and he proudly said, Kupi, which meant they were in the trash. The family said a prayer with him, and they were all so happy. One year, the family had to return to the United States. They made sure Chandran understood they would return in two months. Sure enough, when they returned, there was Chandran in their windowsill, bright and early. The next year, Mike and Julie returned to the United States for more schooling. They don t know where Chandran is now, but they know that wherever he is, Jesus is with him. *Names have been changed Information for this story was provided by workers in India and is used with permission from Assemblies of God World Missions BGMC Missions Manual, Vol. 9

3 One particular little boy would often pop up on the kitchen window ledge and just smile, chatter, and watch Marie cook. Lesson 11: INDIA 283

4 Chandran slept outside every night on a thin grass mat, right outside the door of the house where he worked BGMC Missions Manual, Vol. 9

5 He loved to watch cartoons on TV. Lesson 11: INDIA 285

6 He was clutching a tiny picture of Jesus that he now had hung on his black string around his neck BGMC Missions Manual, Vol. 9