INDIA TRIP - PART TWO

Pastor Jordan preaching at Thanjavur in SE India.

  The last area where Blake and Jordan visited Deaf was in SE India at Thanjavur.  Here an elderly deaf man, Meshak, had stood faithfully as a Christian for many years.  Slowly the work for deaf has been growing there.  A young new pastor has recently come.  He has quickly learned sign language, and loves his work with the deaf people there.

  A new church for Deaf has been donated.  On December 6, when this picture was taken, the concrete roof had just been poured.  The walls are made of thousands of bricks. The church has since been plastered both inside and out.

Probably the first Adventist church building just for Deaf in the world - as it appeared the day after the concrete roof was poured in Dec. 2002.

  There is an interesting story about a single lady in Thanjavur by the name of Sumathy.  In 2000 she was baptized as a Christian.  She knew it might make things difficult for her to find a husband, but she was determined to follow Jesus.  Later she was cast out of her home because she became a Christian.  Now God has honored her decision, and she is currently training as a full Bible Worker to help lead others to Jesus.

Sumathy stayed true to Christ even though cast out of her home for becoming a Christian. Now she is training as a full time Bible Worker.

Pastor Jordan (left) who is deaf - with the new pastor for Deaf in Thanjavur, Pastor Manickaraj

On the right is a pioneer Christian deaf member in Thanjavur, Brother Meshak. Meetings for Deaf have been held in his living room.  On the back wall, you can see some of the well-worn picture rolls used for years in teaching people about Jesus love.   Another picture of Sumathy, who had been helping the elderly Meshak in his home.