Excerpts from Rev Tharp's Travel Diary

Excerpts from Rev. Tharp’s travel diary:

Fri., Feb. 23^rd, a few minutes past 11:00 pm I could tell that our plane was descending. The minute I got off the plane and into the jetway, I knew I was in a world different from any other - different from Cuba, South America, any place in Europe, and any other place I’d been in Asia. Sat. I arrived in Varanasi and we had a delicious lunch at a hotel where they knew Dr. Masih. Sweet/Sour Chicken and rice, and some of the finest Indian bread I have ever tasted. Most of all, I enjoyed the cold Pepsi. The drive from Varanasi to Allahabad is three hours and the road is the main connecting route between Calcutta and New Delhi - many trucks. Many people on bicycles pulling carts full of veggies for market and women carrying loads on their heads. Many loaded donkeys, water buffalo everywhere. Arrived in Allahabad about 4:30 pm. The Seminary campus is an impressive 9 acres with many old Colonial British design, elegant trees and beautiful flowers. Dr. Masih took me to a Dr. to help my cold/throat. Mon. Feb. 26, service in the chapel at 9:00 am. Every seat filled, when children were excused for S.S. their empty seats were filled by people waiting in the foyer. My interpreter is the Dist. Supt. of the Evangelical Churches of Northern India. He was good and I preached on Rev. 2:7. The congregation listened enrapt. It was a beautiful thing to see and feel as truth came home to them. Feb. 27, a powerful service tonight. Attendance is holding to around 600-700. My voice was a bit better and I preached freely on II Chron. 7:14 with the greatest response yet. I went to the chapel to intercede in prayer while counseling went on. I had the privilege of joining one of the seminarians who led a young Hindu to Christ. The gentleman renounced the false religion and clearly confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but he asked me to pray for lingering bondage, which I did and he seemed at peace. Mon. March 5^th, about 200 gathered near Dr. Masih’s home to say goodbye to Dr. Sam and me. They formed a circle and sang to us then wanted us to sing to them and pray for them before we left. Dr. Sam (Kamaleson of World Vision) is a powerful singer, a rich baritone like Bev Shea. I passed on the song, but did pray for them.

I arrived in Bangalore at 8:15 pm and Bro. Hary and entourage were on hand with flowers, then to the hotel. Tues. March 6^th, we took a taxi to the hall that had been rented for the seminar. There was a streamer on the building, the registration tables were busy. All chairs were filled and several were standing. They sang lively worship choruses (Let Us Come Into His House, What a Mighty God We Serve, Majesty). The little girls are so pretty with their jet-black hair and beautiful smiles. When I smiled back at them, they just beamed, then would come up and jabber in Tamil when I was free to mingle. Of course I’d jabber back in English just as if I’d understood what they said. The Truth on the Holy Spirit was anointed and just as powerfully received as given. Testimonies to this would pour in to Bro. Hary. March 7^th, after speaking on Prayer, about 50 people lined up to be prayed for. A Mrs. Taylor from Australia attended both days. Said it was sure a strange thing to have to visit India to hear the powerful truth she’d heard.

March 8^th, at the Taj Mahal I engaged a young man to take pictures and carry my case and inform me. I was unprepared for the art (stone engraving and colors) in the Taj. After the Taj we passed a Pizza Hut and I had a delicious meal with an ice cold Pepsi. Drove past the old Agra Fort where the mogul trained and housed his soldiers in the 17^th Century. Got to Delhi late, but the hotel manager had a car to whisk me to the hotel. I marvel at God’s grace to anoint me in a country strange to me. I marvel at the hunger of the people here for the truth. And I marvel at the power of prayer to reach across the Continents and bring to bear on the Word to be preached/taught in power here in South Asia. Thank you Lord for your plan of intercessory prayer. March 9^th, Lord, I’m trusting you to get me home safely tonight. I know it will be a 30 hour day. Finally airborne in a DC-10 for Detroit, MI. I simply can’t sleep despite my loss of sleep. We got into Dothan after 11:00 pm. I asked Maxine to prepare me a hamburger before I went to bed.

India Recollections Thoughts Upon My Return from India