It took only 40 minutes to make the trip to the Convention site, a journey that took an hour yesterday.  But, that 40 minutes was the beginning of a long day.

It was long, but it was profitable and full of blessing.  Let me recount it.

First we enjoyed a fifteen minute worship segment with a capella singing.  Then a CCC indigenous fellow gave a devotional.  Though he was from this country he spoke through an interpreter, either for our sakes or because he didn’t speak the language of this state.  That took 45 minutes. 

Immediately after this, Bill stood to deliver a message on John 14.  That took us to tea break - 1/2 hour or so of fellowship with CCC leadership - a man named Thomas Pycad, one named Velukumar, another named Itte, and another named Chacko.  Good men all.

Then back to the meeting room for a workshop session based on John 14.  At this meeting only men were present because their wives were meeting with Luana and Kim.  Oh, I forgot - the men were instructed by Sunny, the coordinator of the convention, that they were to care for the children while their wives met.  I have several priceless shots of these gentle men holding their tiny babies and children.  You should know that the Berean Fellowship in India has a great future because of all the young children in the homes of these young pastors and wives.

Lunch followed this session.  It was now 1 p.m.  For two hours, more or less, after lunch there was almost a forced rest period.  Sunny ushered Luana and me to a room with two chairs and two single beds and practically commanded us to relax.

But, at about 3:30 Bill and I began to interview each of the 15 graduates.  We were assisted in this by Itti - the Cluster Field Trainer, Shrikanth and Venkat - the ILA trainers and leaders of the district in which these pastors will work, and Velukumar.

It was a draining 2 1/2 hours.  But at the same time it was a special time because these were the students Mark and I taught last October.  It was a special privilege to lay hands on each of them at the close of their interviews and pray, committing them to our God and asking his blessing on them and their families as they go out to the field.

The interviews put us a half an hour late for the evening session, but this was not begun until we made our appearance.   By that time I was utterly exhausted and emotionally drained, but Bill prayed up enough energy for me to get up and preach on  John 15.  I cut and pasted in my mind, because dinner was supposed to be served at 7:30 and the message was timed for an hour (30 minutes times 2 because of the translation needed). 

At one point Sunny, the translator, leaned over to me and muttered, “It’s dinner time.”  But we have such a great working relationship that I laughed and said, “I’m almost finished,” and went on.  I finished at 7:45. 

God was good.  I survived, and so did they.

It’s now 10:26 p.m. on Wednesday.  I think I’ll go to bed.

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