life, youth conference, etc.

Hello Everyone. I havnt had too much access to internet lately, thus the lack of updates and delay in responding to emails. Last night was the RAVE youth conference finale, which went really well. I’ve been really busy all this last week with doing things for the conference. With being sick all week with a cold, it was a whirlwind of a week, but it went well. During each day of the conference I helped lead musical worship in both the morning and evening sessions. On Tuesday I fully lead the morning session. During the days I did different things, as going to breakfast with friends from the church, ate lunch in the church cafeteria, rest and hung out. Everyday there was a contest called “RAVE Idol” in the veins of American Idol. Three others and myself were the judges of the contest, which was set up exactly like American Idol. They especially wanted me to be a judge because I am American. At first I wasn’t too excited about being a judge, but it ended up being a really good time. The night of Wednesday was a huge blessing, the last night of the conference. At the end of the message, there was an extended time of prayer. I prayed over 5 or 6 boys during the time. God was moving, and it was a very powerful time. Near the end I ended up talking with a guy named Paul, whom I met a few days before. I talked with him and another guy named Mark. Mark told me about a ministry that him and his parents do at their house on every Sunday night where they invite people on the streets of the city, rickshaw drivers, street children, etc, over to their home to worship God. He invited me to come, and I will try to next week. It was really encouraging to hear him talk about their ministry, and I am excited to join them next week, and possibly more in the future. I talked to Paul for awhile about his conflicts with his parents. He is 19 and living with his parents (as is customary in India). His parents are Catholics, and are far from supportive of Paul now attending the Assembly of God church. He started coming to the church 2 months ago, and God has met him there in powerful and mighty ways. His parents are fully against him going to the AG church instead of Mass with them. They have threatened to kick him out time and time again. He was trying to hide from them about going, but now is quite bold with them about it., which I think he is going about in a wise way. I then met a man and his wife, Russell and Jane, originally from Lakeland, Oregon, but have been living in India for 7 years, and Kolkata for 2. They also have a 12 year old daughter. The man helps the church out with some business aspects of an orphanage they run, and him and his wife both work with the deaf people in the church and in the community. It was really good talking with them, and hope to talk with them more in the future.

Ive had numerous talks with people at the church, which has been really enlightening to hear the stories of the people here. More on that to come.

Ive hung out with all three of the teams here from APU some. Mainly with the India/Bangladesh team, and the Bhutan team. Adam Carpenter, the head of the Office of World Missions at APU has been here as well. It has been really nice seeing all of them. Team Bhutan went with my host brother and I to the AG Bengali church yesterday and also went to the RAVE finale last night.

Now that the conference is over, I am looking forward to a new pace of life here, and hope to start my internship with CINI here really soon.

Hope all is well with everyone. Thanks for tuning in. Blessings.

Scott