India May 1, 2013

This morning Viji’s wife Gigi came by in an auto (as they call it – auto rickshaw) on her way to the college where she teaches, and picked me up so I could go to the Meenakshi Amman Temple. As I mentioned, this temple was built in 1560 AD. The temple attracts 15,000 visitors a day, around 25,000 on Fridays, and has an annual revenue of 60 million. There are an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple, and it is on the list of top 30 nominees of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” The annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival, celebrated during April-May, attracts 1 million visitors each year. After the driver dropped Gigi off, he took me to the temple so I could take some photos. When I was finished the driver took me back to the hotel, where I had a great afternoon rest. Yet another 105-degree day – the heat really takes it out of you.

Viji came by around 6 p.m. and picked me up to go to my last speaking engagement at a church in Madurai. It is a small church, still under construction, with a roof, but there are no funds yet for the walls and floor. Again we had a great time sharing the Gospel. Most of the congregation was Hindu, and hopefully we planted a seed that the Lord will increase. We prayed over many of the people, and afterward we all enjoyed dinner. There were many kids there, and they all wanted to shake my hand or touch me since most of them had never seen a foreigner. When you see these happy little kids, you see why Jesus wanted us to come to Him as little children.

Tomorrow I will be headed home. If it is God’s will, I should arrive Friday afternoon. I’m going to miss preaching every day – it has been a real joy.