We have had a very peaceful Christmas
celebration in our house in the forest. The house is full of joy. The
grandchildren are great. We have even been skiing in the mountain
area. The roads were covered with ice and when we wnt home I lost
contoll of the car and the card ended in the ditch. A friend with a
big tractor help me back on the road again and we all reached home
safely!

Our joyful Christmas celebration stands
in stark contrast to the message I got from friends in India this
morning. My longstanding friend Zephry sent me this text message on
my mobile phone:

Bimbadhar reports fundamentalist
violence in Daringbadi. Read Indian news. 1 killed and 4 churches
destroyed, curfew/war like zone. Pray!

By the grace of God I was able to
connect to Internet through my new mobile phone at the house in the
forest. I have been able to visit some Indian websites to read about
the situation in Orissa. I also was able to receive this email about
what is happening to our friends:

I have
just received a phone call from my friend Bimbadhar in Orissa
and he asks for urgent prayer. Yesterday and today churches in his
district Phulbani have been attacked by fundamentalist forces. many
church places have been destroyed and equipment vandalised. There are
unconfirmed
reports of people being shot  and killed, and many being beaten.
There is an atmosphere of fear among the believers  and many
have left their homes and fled to the mountains. Even in his own town
people are scared to live in their own houses at night  and have
been living elsewhere.

I URGE ALL OUR FRIENDS TO PRAY FOR THE
BELIEVERS IN ORISSA AND ALL OF INDIA!