The children sang to us, and we (Allan and Ingerlise Hansen, Alfred Richter from Poland, and I, Anita Busborg) said a few words and prayed with the children. They delighted in our visit – not least in the candy, we had brought for them. We were also glad to see their new toilet facilities, which had been sorely needed.

On the way out there and back again, I noticed something. In Denmark we have an expression that’s – indirectly translated – called “putting it on a sign”, meaning, This is what I profess and I’m proud of it. In the northern and western countries we don’t often put our faith on a sign. We’re often so afraid of losing popularity that we feel uneasy to openly confess that we are Christians. Out there, they do it gladly. People confess that "Jesus saves", "Jesus is Lord" on taxis, buildings, etc. We have a lot to learn from them concerning faithfulness and openness about our faith.

The day after, we attended a church service in Open Door Church in Chennai, which is a somewhat large church to a pair of Danish eyes. The Indians are very fond of worshipping and singing for God. Later that day we also attended a service in the city of Tambaram. This was the first service on new premises for this small part of their church. The heavens seemed open over this meeting, and we experienced a great amount of receptivity for the Word of God.

On Monday we began with a pastors’ seminar in Thanjavur, where approximately 700,000 people reside, and which has a lot of villages around. There are many small congregations and "prayer houses", and the seminar attendees amounted to around 70 pastors. Allan K. Hansen and Alfred Richter spoke, and there was very good response to the messages. After the seminar, our interpreter, Suresh from Chennai, told us that many had been inspired by the messages. We felt privileged to be a part of strengthening and encouraging so many, who, in turn, pass it on to their own churches. This way many are reached with the liberating message of the cross.

They often begin with at least an hour of worship and spontaneous prayer, and they are very alive to the power of God. Peter Raj is the pastor of this church, in which we also attended services in the evening, and my mother and I had a chance to speak to his wife, Carolyn, who ran a form of children’s home in their own house. They had basically decided to take in 8 orphans and make them a part of their own family. I will never cease to be amazed that even those, who in Scandinavian eyes are poor here, still take care of those who are even poorer and the orphaned. We gave Carolyn and Peter a financially helping hand with the tremendous piece of work they are doing with these children, and prayed with them.

Pastors told us in several places that their churches had been exposed to much resistance because of strong demonic power in the city. When we were there, they had an ongoing festival for their gods, whom they carried (and drove) around through the streets, decorated with colors and lights, people dancing and singing in front of it. Someone said well: they carry their god; our God carries us.

In spite of trials and poverty the Christians are happy and particularly hospitable. All the people we visited seemed to exceed their normal to make sure we were comfortable. There is, however, much penury on the streets, and we heard several testimonies that God gave people better conditions since they were born again. They are living testimonies that God takes care of His children.

Tuesday was a day of relaxation (in mission journey standards, which means a lot of time in various means of transport). We drove by car, train, and again in car from Thanjavur south towards Theni. We stopped for a short while in Trichy to visit Pastor John Peter, who is responsible for a prayer house there. At present, about 60 people gather in this local fellowship, possessing only a church building of no more than 200 square feet. They have been working on a new church building, but have come to a halt because of finances. Pray that God may provide what they need.

Our interpreter, Suresh, was our guide and organizer in the place of Stephen Devakumar during our 5 days of travelling. Stephen had bypass surgery on Monday, and he is now (partially) back on his feet, yet with severe pains. Pray that God will strengthen the family in this season.

We had another pastors’ seminar on Wednesday – the second on this trip – this time in Theni. Again, both Allan and Alfred spoke, and people were generally open to the message of the cross. We believe that many were blessed by the message – not because we spoke, but because God’s power works through the message of His amazing grace and the freedom in Christ.

We felt God’s glorious presence everywhere, both during services/seminars and in fellowship with our Indian brothers and sisters in Christ. They place everything in the hands of God in prayer, whereas we, who are used to having all we need and then some, probably put our faith a little too much in our own abilities, because we are, mostly, capable of obtaining ourselves what we need. Our interpreter faithfully fed us with stories about Christians who suffer persecutions of many sorts, but on the other hand also experience God’s miraculous intervention (see separate testimony).

We had a short visit on Tuesday evening at the childrens’ home in Theni with a very warm welcome, where they sang for us at the top of their lungs, and we handed out some Indian cake. But on Thursday we took them out for a full day to a park with several playgrounds and beautiful, green areas, where they could gambol for a few hours. They also had a good meal and desert, and to me it was a blessing to see these great children, whom destiny otherwise would have left in wretched circumstances – probably on the streets – be happy, have the food they could eat, and be taken care of by their spiritual parents. May God also bless you, who have participated with financial support for the children (and all the projects and support for the village pastors, who otherwise would have had a hard time getting by).

After this trip we returned north to Chennai, where we arrived early Friday morning. Here the Indian food from the mid-lands had begun to take its bacteria-toll, because both Allan and Ingerlise became sick. However, God strengthened my father (Allan), so that he was capable of travelling the planned route of teaching, which consisted first of pastors’ seminars – Friday in Open Door in Chennai and Saturday in Peniel Christ Church in Tambaram – then a church seminar Sunday morning/noon, also in Tambaram in Open Door Church with its approximately 250 members. Allan spoke about God’s grace in all of life’s circumstances and about growing in grace and knowledge of God. It appears that many grow up with severe discipline (and not much physical contact where the children are concerned), so they have, if possible, an even greater need to hear about their heavenly Father’s love for them in spite of mistakes and weaknesses.

Alfred Richter spoke this morning in Open Door Church in Chennai, so that 2 churches benefitted simultaneously from our visit. These were our last meetings and seminars on this mission journey, as the last day was set aside for sightseeing before we were to leave for home around midnight. We were, among other places, at the beach (Chennai lies alongside one of the world’s longest sand beaches), where fishing boats lay side by side in countless masses, and the fishermen live in “houses” made from cardboard and straw, and some lived on the streets under blankets, fitted on rods of bamboo. This vision was no less than heart-rending. As far as the eye could see, a grayish mass of dust, garbage, and racked habitation dissolved into the background of crackled plaster work. People sat on the streets, as their “accommodations” (a word I find difficult using in this case) could only house minimalistic existence. The roofs seemed a disorder of any kind of refuse material that was fit to keep at least some measure of rain water out.                  

In spite of these tragic circumstances for many, we have seen several needs met on this journey. Among other things, we have, on behalf of the church, given the finances for doors/windows, paint, and electrical installations in order that they may complete the boys’ sleeping quarters at the childrens’ home in Theni. The boys are at present sleeping in a room that is not prepared for living, so this will be much too cold in their winter. They are now, with FEF and other support, able to finish the new sleeping quarters before that time. Job and his wife have, additionally, taken in 11 more boys, so they are now 22 children. They have a big heart for the needy. Many of the children only had one parent left to care for them, as the father is either dead or an alcoholic and the mother uncapable of taking care of the children. Some have lost both parents.

However, there are still many needs to be met. The childrens’ home in Theni needs toilet facilities for the children, as they at present only have one toilet and one shower for all of them. The grounds, on which they have built all of their present facilities (which includes Job and his family’s very small house, the church building, and the sleeping quarters for the children), is very small and therefore entirely full, so this requires that the neighboring ground is purchased. It would also be nice for the boys to have some of this extra space for outside activities. They don’t have this at this moment.
In Trichy, as previously stated, they are currently unable to complete their church building, and they gather 60-70 people in a room that looks no bigger than 200 square feet. They are humble people who trust that God will take care of them, but this doesn’t make them inactive. John Peter’s own family and some church members themselves built their present humble church building.

As a conclusion, I want to say that I came to India with the purpose of – if possible – be a blessing to others by helping in the missionary work, but I have given thanks to God many times for having been blessed much more myself. When I left the country, I left a little piece of my heart with the people – but, on the other hand, I feel that my heart has expanded since my meeting with them.

In the streams of God’s amazing grace,



View the image gallery here.

While I visited the church on the 8^th - 10th of August the Lord did mighty things and glorified His name in the meetings. It had not rained in this area for many months. The believers of the village work in the fields, and without rain they found it very difficult to earn their living. Some had to find petty jobs while others were entirely unable to find work for their living. 

One day the Holy Spirit gave His word that it would rain that evening after the meetings. Though the weather forecast predicted drought for the rest of the year, I declared what the Lord had said. After the meetings were over, dark clouds were suddenly seen in the sky. Within a few moments came heavy showers. All were surprised and glorified God.

Even after I left the place, I came to know that rain followed for a couple of days and the dry lake of the village was filled with water. I was told that God had given them enough water for the rest of the year. The people of the village testified that it was Jesus who gave them the rain and glorified His name. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.