| The Father's House - India |
| We Currently Have 45 Precious Children in India |
| The Beginning- February 3rd, 2005 |
Dear Father's House Family,
My cell phone rang at 4:30 AM this morning. It was Vance, Laura and Pastor James (the Indian pastor). They were at the airport and the TEAM was getting ready to leave Chennai (it was 4:00 PM Thursday afternoon there). They will arrive in Atlanta 24 hours later at 3:00 PM Friday afternoon.
Vance was extremely emotional. I could hear great joy and great suffering in his voice. They had just said goodbye to the children. The children (ages 5 to 14) were crying and holding on to them and calling him daddy.
I was in a Sunday morning service with Brother Todd Linn at First Baptist Henderson in early January and his message was "joy and suffering." The Holy Spirit seared into my heart during the message that this Word was for us and that this would be the year of GREAT JOY and GREAT SUFFERING.
We cannot truly taste of Him without tasting both.
Vance announced that we now have twenty five children. Yesterday we had fourteen. Jesus sent eleven more just a few hours before Vance and Laura were to leave. We have prepared for twenty. Many of the children are tsunami victims. Jesus wants us to take them all. That is His heart.
Who can we say no to? Who would He say no to? If we will be willing He will provide a way! So Pastor James and Ruth will have the honor of shopping for more beds and clothing. We will be expanding immediately.
There will be hundreds in no time at all and there will always be room in "The Father's House" in Jesus name!
Most of the children are complete orphans (no mother or father). A few of them are semi-orphans (one parent has died). One lady brought her child just a few hours ago. Her husband recently died of a heart attack and she had no money or food for the child. He was starving. She had already heard that we would love him!
Vance said that they all have what Heidi Baker describes at "orphan mentality." They will not stop eating. A very tiny five year old girl ate two huge plates of rice last night and two huge plates of potatoes for breakfast. He said that a grown man would have had trouble eating that much. But the children are starved physically and emotionally and they have not made the transformation to God's "sons and daughters" in the house. They do not realize that there will be food tomorrow too! So they feel that they have to get all they can now! Nothing has been certain in their little lives!
But ther Hindu necklaces that were around many of their necks have been removed and are being replaced with the love of the real Father and the shelter of The Father's House will be home. Our mission is to bring the good news of Jesus Christ. The purpose of this home is to love, love, love these children and release them as part of the next army that will reach India for Jesus. We are asking God for a tidal wave of His glorious presence to sweep over these children and this nation. Please believe with us for the glory of the Lord to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Hab 2:14).
Pastor James got on the phone and said that God had answered 30 years of prayers for him and Ruth. They graduated from college in 1975 (with studies in early childhood development). They have prayed since then that God would allow them someday to have a children's home. He was so excited and praising God! He said there are other homes in the area but that "our love will be our publicity." He said that he loved the children but that he was praying that God would break his heart like that of Pastor Vance. He shared that Vance and the TEAM cry all the time and that the town is talking about the new home where the "Pastor's heart is broken and cries all the time."
God, break all of our hearts for the things that break your heart!
We will plan a meeing for The Father's House with Vance in Henderson in a couple of weeks. There are over 300 pictures and much to share. Thank you family for your love, prayers, fasting and financial support! God has honored your petitions, intercession and giving. You are the best!
Unity in the Body of Christ from many denominational backgrounds. This is His heart!
God's richest blessings,
Lisa
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