Twelfth day

Today was the day we were wrapping up. So the schedule was wonderfully relaxed, and we were able to enjoy a visit to a small island opposite the main island of the Andamans. There we looked at ruins where the trees had grown into the old buildings. There were also many deer roaming wild. It was lovely to get some fresh air on the boat and then take a dip in the sea, together with our beloved sister Prabha.

This afternoon we enjoyed a meeting with the owner of the hotel. He was a Christian and wanted us to bless his business and his staff. We performed a drama piece and prayed for every member of staff, together with prophecy. Everyone prayed along with the prayer to give their hearts to Jesus. Karel received a word of knowledge about back pain, and it turned out to be about the brother of the person he said it to. He was called and healed over the phone.

There was a farewell service with the pastors. Each pastor received a table and a chair, because they needed them. One pastor had never learned to wash feet and put it into practice straight away. It was a completely new revelation for him, how Jesus came to serve instead of being served. When we came outside, it had rained again. It was the rainy season during our trip, but every time we were outside there was no rain. When we were inside it rained, and when we came out it was always dry. God was really giving us a wink. Prabha told us that many missionaries have come from abroad, but she had never seen anyone in whom the Holy Spirit was so strongly visible. Our prayer had also been that they would see Jesus. People were talking about this, and Prabha overheard it.

If your interest has been stirred by what you have read, there are new opportunities to visit these gypsies and come on a mission trip, so that you can see for yourself what God wants to do through us, as ambassadors of the Kingdom.

We also want to thank everyone for your support in prayer, encouragement and gifts.

In the evening we again had many inspiring conversations with Prabha about God's work among the gypsies, and together with her we discussed some plans for the future, including new mission trips and building wells and toilet blocks for a colony that has no clean water and no way to go to the toilet. On our last visit the women had not been able to relieve themselves for four days, because there was no toilet facility. Last summer there was a heatwave, and the local population had cut off the water supply to the gypsies, so they had no access to clean drinking water. This caused a lot of disease, and mothers had to give their children contaminated water, so babies died. Prabha prayed for many babies who had died and some were raised from the dead, but many had to be buried.

To prevent this in the future, clean drinking water is essential. A well with water storage and a toilet block costs 1,600 euros in total. We hope that as you read this your heart is touched for the people in the colonies, so that we can provide for their basic needs and prevent further deaths from lack of water. If you would like to donate, click the following link and put in the description: water + toilet for gypsies.

Below are photos of a well and toilet block already built in one of the 22 gypsy colonies.

Prabha has worked very hard to get government permission to put these facilities on the gypsies' land. She has also drawn up a good plan over the past few days. She said: “If I do something, I want to do it excellently for God, and I dare not spend a single euro wrongly, because I have to give account to God for it.” We have great confidence in Prabha and see God doing a mighty work among the gypsies.