Ten full-length days before we leave India. I can’t believe that our time here is already so close to an end. I feel like there is so much more to do. Ever since I settled in here I have felt a weight on my heart.
There is nothing in my life in the United States that is difficult. Day to day, year to year, all things can be managed with a strong will and a little bit of time. In this country you must compete on a grand scale, and if you are not competing for a “good life” then you are giving it all up for the Lord, in the case of Christian leaders.
Havilah, the daughter of Jayakumar and Prima, explained to me a little about the education system that she graduated. When she was in tenth grade she had to take a standardized test, along with 500,000 classmates. She told me that this year, the percentage of passing students was 51%. By U.S. standards that is not a great number to brag about. Havi passed the test of course, then she took an aptitude test in which she scored in such a way that she was given the opportunity to study Dentistry. Student’s here aspire to study Dentistry so that they can move to the U.S. and make far more money there than in their home country. In fact, Havi told me that most students aim to take their degrees to the States because of the money. Although she was only accepted in Dentistry, she pleaded for a more serving type of medical study. After being scolded for turning down the acclaimed study she’d been accepted in, they allowed her to study Speech pathology and Audiology. She also plans on staying in India to serve people in her own country, as she has a heart for the country and the people. She also speaks five languages including English.
Rajesh, one of the students in Alan’s classes left his five year old child with the grandparents so that he could continue studying God’s Word at the school here. His wife has come along with him to study as well.
Many of these students at the school already were leading at least one church. Key words are, “at least”. Some had planted a church and were completely uneducated of the Bible or Theology beyond what they could read themselves in their own daily time. Upon meeting Jayakumar they were invited to study at the school to be educated for the betterment of the church as a whole.
Jayakumar has a real desire to educate the leaders of India’s current church, as well as those who will be leaders in the near future. I am told that Uncle Jay will not turn down a student. There have been numerous times that students have enrolled without any way to cover the costs of living and study materials. There is a terribly great need for money, not for taxes, or bills or any of that sort; for the education of the uneducated. Money intended for the education of those who WANT and NEED to learn more about the God of creation. Uncle Jay is only the founder of the school in Bangalore. He no longer wishes to be a part of the staff, as he once was. He wishes to build new schools and new connections and new students.
How can one complain?
There is nothing in my life in the United States that is difficult. Day to day, year to year, all things can be managed with a strong will and a little bit of time. In this country you must compete on a grand scale, and if you are not competing for a “good life” then you are giving it all up for the Lord, in the case of Christian leaders.
Havilah, the daughter of Jayakumar and Prima, explained to me a little about the education system that she graduated. When she was in tenth grade she had to take a standardized test, along with 500,000 classmates. She told me that this year, the percentage of passing students was 51%. By U.S. standards that is not a great number to brag about. Havi passed the test of course, then she took an aptitude test in which she scored in such a way that she was given the opportunity to study Dentistry. Student’s here aspire to study Dentistry so that they can move to the U.S. and make far more money there than in their home country. In fact, Havi told me that most students aim to take their degrees to the States because of the money. Although she was only accepted in Dentistry, she pleaded for a more serving type of medical study. After being scolded for turning down the acclaimed study she’d been accepted in, they allowed her to study Speech pathology and Audiology. She also plans on staying in India to serve people in her own country, as she has a heart for the country and the people. She also speaks five languages including English.
Rajesh, one of the students in Alan’s classes left his five year old child with the grandparents so that he could continue studying God’s Word at the school here. His wife has come along with him to study as well.
Many of these students at the school already were leading at least one church. Key words are, “at least”. Some had planted a church and were completely uneducated of the Bible or Theology beyond what they could read themselves in their own daily time. Upon meeting Jayakumar they were invited to study at the school to be educated for the betterment of the church as a whole.
Jayakumar has a real desire to educate the leaders of India’s current church, as well as those who will be leaders in the near future. I am told that Uncle Jay will not turn down a student. There have been numerous times that students have enrolled without any way to cover the costs of living and study materials. There is a terribly great need for money, not for taxes, or bills or any of that sort; for the education of the uneducated. Money intended for the education of those who WANT and NEED to learn more about the God of creation. Uncle Jay is only the founder of the school in Bangalore. He no longer wishes to be a part of the staff, as he once was. He wishes to build new schools and new connections and new students.
How can one complain?
(There are two other posts following that we put up on the same day)
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