John and Judy Sytsma working in India

From John and Judy Sytsma 

Dear Brethren and Friends,                                                                                                 

God has been very good to us.  Since our last report Judy has continued on her recovery from Tuberculosis.  As you may recall, Judy became ill on our last trip to India and a clear diagnosis of her illness was not obtained until after lung surgery to remove a tumor that was suspected to be cancer.  But God has shown great mercy in this matter.  Not only was the tumor not cancer but was clearly diagnosis as Tuberculosis and after a period of quarantine and treatment she has progressed well on the pathway of recovery.  She needs to be on the local health department supervised treatment for only a couple more weeks. 

Many things have happened over that last few months.  India has grown continually more unstable.  But even all the present instability and uncertainty is being used by God to test His people and prove their faithfulness and at the same time it has revealed in some cases, those who do not seem to be genuine in their desire for truth but had rather hoped for some material gain. It is a real joy to see God working and producing real zeal for living for Christ and His kingdom. At the same time it saddens us to see others fall away.  I think in times like these, whether here in America as well as India, God’s people will need much prayer and wisdom as they are pressed to work much harder than they have had to in the past, so they can supply their own needs and have extra to be a blessing to others. 

Concerning the children, it has been a blessing to see them learning English and starting to read God’s word for themselves.  Only a short time ago they knew no English at all.

Ranjit reading the Bible  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2W30p5ytn8

 Probably the thing that encourages me most are the scriptures they are memorizing by heart.  Apart from certain complete chapter portions, most of the children are able to answer over one hundred questions with verses directly from the Bible, along with the scripture references where these verses are found.

 Gita is here reciting less than half of what she has learned.  (Utube does not allow the full length)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wKvtD5RZw4

Children reciting the books of the Bible  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2lsXD1FWxo

God has also been faithful regarding the physical needs of the children.  The children have been growing and in general are in good health.  Disappointments have also accompanied the blessings. About four weeks ago one of the young boys, Sunil Boro who was only 8yrs old, was allowed to go with his elder sister to their native village to attend her wedding.   Before reaching their village, Sunil came down with a high fever and soon died.  This has been a shock to all of us. But in many of the villages in India there just is no medical help available.  So many people die as we would say needlessly.  How many opportunities we have to show compassion for physical needs while bringing the true gospel message that will by God’s grace save the souls of many.

Brethren continue to pray for these children.   Sometimes I think about the future and what God can do by His power with some of these children for the spiritual welfare of many souls for His glory.

We had planned to return quickly again to India but God’s providence changed our plans.  But it has been good to be here in another way, to have the privilege of seeing God at work here in San Antonio .  What God has been doing at Grace Community Church in the inner city of San Antonio has been such an encouragement to us, that God is not done with America .  Sometimes in the past I had been tempted to think that God was maybe pretty much done with America and was going to work mostly in other parts of the world.  But seeing a steady stream of people (mostly young people) coming under conviction and then come to faith in Christ is thrilling.  God is not done with America . He is such a BIG GOD. 

Brethren please continue to pray for us.  I am hoping that maybe next month, Bro. Pat Horner and I can make another trip to India .  There are so many things that need attention over there and although we are able to have much communication by computer, it is not the same as in person.  We so continuously need more wisdom.  Please pray also on my behalf for God’s blessing for business stability in our troubled economic times.  God has been so good in supply our needs although it is requiring much extra time and attention to these secular business matters.  But having to do so myself, has also served to be useful in pressing others especially in India to do the same.   It is becoming clearer and clearer to me that without a disposition to work hard and diligently we will never have the opportunity to be a blessing to others.  So many are living to get, not to give.  Jesus was constantly confronted with this same problem.  Lord, help us to be more Christ like.

Please continue to pray that God would restore Judy to full health so she may accompany me again on future trips.  She too, has the added burden of seeing her very religious, but yet unsaved father of 84, beginning to fail - seemingly quite quickly - in mind and physical ability.   

I will close for now.

May God Richly Bless   

John and Judy