Ministry: Updates

Updates: October 2008
Bomb Blasts in Assam
Date: 10.31.2008
Dear Prayer partners

Today is the saddest day for the state of Assam.

I was sitting in my office in Guwahati working on my computer this morning. At 11:30 a.m., a huge blast shook the whole office. The tube light in my office came off. I ran out with all my staff and saw black smoke and flame just one block away on the road. I saw one person with jean lying with his stomach open and a lady with her skull blown out. They were dead. I recognized that it was a car bomb.

The crowd yelled and shouted but no one had the courage to go near the fire. The fire spread from one car to another. Nearby buildings were all full of smoke. The Police came with fire brigade after an hour. It was too late. Everything nearby was destroyed. We had dead bodies splintered all over the street. No body knew how many died. Some told me that few families who were in the car waiting were wiped out. I had seen these scenes in the TV but to see with my own eyes was very painful.

After an hour, I discovered that there were 5 bomb blasts all over the city and 11 bombs including other cities in Assam. Total death tolls rose to 66 and total injured are more than 300.

Later in the evening we discovered that two of our own boys from our Christians L.M. hostel were missing. Some of the staff rushed to hospitals. After hunting through several hospitals, one of the students could be identified by the wallet in his pocket. He body was completely disfigured beyond recognition. We could not find another. There are several bodies which are beyond recognition and some were scattered into pieces. Sorry for the gory details. Their families have been informed and they are likely to come today.

Pray for the situation. Different political parties are trying to make score out of it. Some political party have declared closure of the city and asked for the President rule.

I am concerned for the TLA training program that starts from Monday (Nov 3) in RRTC, Shilling. All delegates have to travel through Guwahati. Our resource persons, Pastor Lee and Mr. Scott Johnson are arriving tomorrow to Guwahati. Please pray that I will be able to received them and take them to Shillong.

Please pray for the peace and wisdom of God to prevail.
Update October 2008
Date: 10.11.2008
Dear Friend,

We have just returned from quite a long and exhaustive trip. On our way to Kohima, we had three times flat tires and then finally one SUV hit our car on the side and smashed the rear right door. Since we were sitting on front seat, we came out unharmed. Praise the Lord!

In Kohima, we ministered in the Nagaland EGF conference. There were 121 delegates. The theme of the conference was to “Preach the Word” (2 Tim 4:2). All the delegates returned with a commitment to spread the good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have uploaded some pictures on Picasa. In order to see, please click, or copy and paste on your browser

http://picasaweb.google.com/TLAministries/NEGFConference#

Unfortunately, AK could not get the Visa for Bangladesh and so he had to cancel his trip. In stead, he attended a Medical Board meeting in Jorhat and was able to preach in two morning devotion. Please pray for the four Baptist Mission Hospitals and their Nursing Schools in the Northeast India which are undergoing crisis. The Nursing schools are at the verge of closing and the hospitals are running in loss. These institutions were started by American missionaries in early part of 19th century but today they are in bad shape because of lack of leaders with vision and passion for Christ.

We'll be going to Tura on 16th Oct to minister a group of 70 pastors from Garo Baptist Convention. Asangla will take seminars on Biblical counseling and AK will take sessions on Biblical preaching. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Sonam is doing well in her studies at Dordt College in Iowa. Neema and Joshua are also doing fine with their studies in Kodaikanal School in South India. Here are few of their pictures on Picasa.

http://picasaweb.google.com/TLAministries/KodaikanalInternationalSchool#

We are always mindful of you all. We appreciate your partnership. We know that we are not alone in our daily struggle to love and serve Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for India as many Christians continue to suffer severe persecution.

May the good Lord continue to watch over you.

Praying for you regularly.

AK and Asangla
India

Updates: October 2008
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