Josh, Emma & Josiah Hamby       Population: 1,049,700,118 (July 2003 est.)

     P.O. Box 1268 Wetumpka, AL 36092            Religions: Hindu 81.3%, Muslim 12%, Christian

          hamby_in_india@hotmail.com                                      2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, Buddhist 2.5%

                                                                                  Languages: English enjoys associate status but

                                                                                                   is the most important language for

                                                                                                national, political, and commercial

                                                                                                   communication; Hindi is the national

                                                                                                      language and primary tongue of 30%

                                                                                                   of the people; there are 14 other

                                                                       official languages.

 

All is well.  We have contacted our people in India and all is well there at the School of Christ.  All of our directors are fine and I am pleased to tell you they have went to the disaster areas and are praying for families that have lost everything.

I will be leaving for India on January 31^st.  I will be in the area hit by the storm.  Please continue to pray for us.  These great people need Jesus and we pray this is the open door needed to share the gospel.

We returned safely from Bihar safely and I thank you for your prayers.  It was a horrendous journey.  The very first morning I woke up sick to my stomach.  After reading the local paper, I discovered 26 locals were hospitalized and 3 children had died from the same symptoms I was having.  The place I was staying was very impoverished.  90% of the people in Bihar live every day without AC power.

It seems the people do not eat meals.  When I asked a lady, “what time do you eat?”…she did not know what I was talking about.  The people in Bihar just eat small bits of rice throughout the day. They are very small people.  I was referred to as ‘fat’ several times.  Very humbling for me.

The school was started with 24 pastors and evangelists.  Very dedicated men, excited to be at the School of Christ.  In my honor they sang a traditional song in their native Bihar tongue, such a beautiful song.  Though the land is poor, it is their land and they have a sense of pride for it.  This state borders China and Nepal, Bhutan is very close.  Oh that God would move in this country.

Without you, we could not be here witnessing the great things God is doing. How thankful I am that He has chosen me to carry out his work in India. I must do all I can with this opportunity given from Him!

In Christ,

Josh and Emma Hamby