Heagy Updates
The Heagy Family is currently serving with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) overseas. This is a place where we share their most recent update from the field.
January 23, 2010
Hi Everyone!! Happy New Year and "Namasthe" from Belagum, India. As I write, our team is on the road to an afternoon of village to village ministry in the outskirts of Belagum. We arrived in Belagum yesterday evening after an uneventful, 8 hour drive from Hospet. It actually wasn't that bad of a day. We lunched on the way and made it before dark, which was nice. We spent this morning at a 98 year old leper hospital. Wow. What a history. This was a Christian facility that has housed and rehabilitated lepers for almost 100 years. There remains about two dozen lepers which we sang to and prayed for. Unbelievable. They're in the last stages of treatment and are almost considered pure. At the end of our service, all of them wanted to accept Jesus. All the teams hearts broke as we prayed for these broken, ostracized people. Most of their limbs had been cut down to nubs, both hands and feet. As Brian prayed over one man, he folded what remained of his fingers in prayer. Most of his nose was gone and what remained of his nostrils were filled in with bulbous flesh. It was a very moving morning and we were so blessed to be there. I just really cannot believe that in the 21st century there is still suffering, both physical and emotional, these poor people still have to endure. We learned that there are medicines to eradicate leprosy, but often so much damage has been done to these people before hand. Their suffering is so sad. Please pray that the truth presented in our visit today penetrates their hearts and that they experience deeply the healing love of Jesus. Also, pray that they will fully put their trust in Jesus as they complete their treatment and hopefully return to their villages.
Our last day in Hospet was spent visiting 7 villages that had suffered from a flood back in October. Levees had broken and this massive area was covered with water 3 stories high. Over 250 villages were affected. The government brought in some assistance to villages they could access. But it's not America. They don't have boats and helicopters to bring things like clean water and food. Over 200 people died and much livestock. All the people lost all of their possessions. We distributed sleeping mats (quite similar to beach mats) and light towels. It continues to amaze me beyond belief to see the humb le circumstances these people face. We accompanied a pastor that visits 30 villages every day by bicycle. He rotates and manages to visit each village twice monthly. These villages are not close together, AT ALL. He has no money for a motorcycle. So he packs his tambourine and Bible in his messenger bag and goes. I'm sure his days are 12 plus hours. He was very encouraged to have us accompany him. He had been going to these villages since last March. Often, the people would not welcome him. Sometimes they'd tell him not to come back. Then, the flood happened. God used this tragedy for good. Many of the villages were now open to the message of the Gospel. He's just one of so many saints that are quietly doing Kingdom work in this nation with no glory at all. Another pastor that accompanied us this day had been beaten twice. Once, he was beaten so badly he couldn't walk for a month. I just keep asking myself, "What are we doing to further God's Kingdom in the states? And are we willing to suffer like these gentlemen for Jesus' to be proclaimed?" Please pray for Pastors James, Ragu and another that I can't even spell. They really are saints and deserve to be honored and blessed in this life for all they do for God.
To refresh your memory, this city of a million is at the heart of the Hindi prostitution trade. We will be ministering to women of all ages that have been prostituting themselves since early adolescence. This is a religions practice that dates back to Old Testament times. Families offer up there girls at a young age, usually between 5 and 15, to be temple prostitutes. This will be, by far the most challenging spiritually. We'd continue to solicit your prayers for both spiritual and physical protection. Team unity has definitely been attacked most severely this week and it stands to reason as we're in such an area of demonic stronghold. Please pray for maturity, unity and people that are quick to forgive. This continues to be a challenge in so many ways: physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, you name it. Someone back in Kona said that if we survived India, our follow up year of service would be a breeze. We're understanding why.
I've included more ministry photos. Please enjoy and use them as prayer reminders!!
BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU.
~ Janell for the family
