July 17, 2008 – Chennai, IndiaLast night shortly before midnight, I had already brushed my teeth and was just about to change for bed, when the faintest knock occurred on my door. Reminiscent of Poe’s dolefully dramatic but wonderful rhythmatic The Raven. ” . . . suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. ‘Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door – Only this, and nothing more . . .” Unlike Poe unfortunate character I was correct, no raven, only two boys. One of them the neighbor from across the hallway. There is maybe three feet that separate my doorway from his, yet this was the first time that he came over to say hello, and this time only late at night. He was afraid of his parents who apparently do not approve of him mixing with foreigners. I should mention that when I call them boys, I mean they are somewhere in their early twenties, one maybe slightly younger, the other slightly older. He came late at night and asked me not to let his parents know that he had come.
Beyond that I also learned what I already suspected and mentioned before namely that a large portion of the Hindu population of India, although they might have a problem with “Christians” have no problem with Christianity, or Christ. In fact he was telling me how many Hindus prefer the churches and the Christian religious service, because there is time and place for quiet meditation and prayer. When they go to Hindu temple, it is loud and there is no place where they can worship in peace. But they like to come to our worship service where it is peaceful. Nevertheless there are still many who are faithful and convicted and true to the Lord in their service and their lives.