Update on India
After almost a week of seeking direction, we (Dustan & Darlene) have made some decisions about our upcoming trip to India. As those of you that follow us know, we recently traveled to Malaysia to register for our visa into India. We were turned away at the door.
“We no longer issue visas into India to people in Malaysia on a tourist visa,” the nice young Indian lady told us.
Now what?
Well we returned to the room and started praying. We had felt a twinge of something in the spirit ever since we arrived. Perhaps this was it. We hadn’t come to Malaysia only for the visa, as we needed a new Mic for our camera and were required by Thai immigration to leave for a day, but we knew this could drastically change our direction. We changed to a cheaper guesthouse ($10 a day) and wrote an email to our partners with one request: pray.
And you did. We got emails and comments from many of you giving us great encouragement and good advice. With your prayers and ours, Wisdom came quickly, and we realized that God was working out something for our good and the good of our work in India.
Let me explain…
The world is changing. Yes. It. Is. A few years ago getting a visa into India was a breeze. Now, it’s getting harder. A few years back you got 30 days on entry into Thailand over land, now it’s fifteen by land. Wars are birthing and raging in the middle east, North Africa is unstable, disasters are stacking up, and the Gospel is needed like never before. It is a shock to us to realize that at the flip of the wrist nations can close; that the burning of a vendor’s cart can ignite nations to Revolution. Now with Japan’s terrible earthquake/tsunami/nuclear/blizzard disaster we are overwhelmed.
We NEED laborers, foreign and national, who are totally dependent on God. We MUST preach this Gospel. It alone can change hearts and give the Hope needed in such a sabotaged world. We need to plant churches worldwide that can feed the hungry, pray for it’s leaders, and be the light in the darkness. We are ONE body, and every church, from New York to Cairo to Chiang Mai CAN do all things through Christ.
These are a few of the things God has told us. He wants us to focus on raising laborers, not dependent on us or our money, in America, India, Ghana, and Thailand. The Lord showed us that we need to secure longer visas for these countries. If we were to continue with our current plans our work would be limited to one month and would cost thousands more than before the visa rejection. That’s just bad stewardship. Not to mention our Thai visas are out too.
Therefore we are rearranging our schedule and moving our ministry in India to July. Since we have to be home for our brother’s wedding in June, we are moving that trip up one month. We will return for the wedding and get our India, Ghanaian, and Thai visas. Another great thing about doing it this way is we will get longer visas (one up to TEN years). While in America we will FINISH this years video project, minister in homes, churches, and in media, and then be back on the road in July, God willing.
We’ve booked our round trip tickets already. We depart Asia early April and return early July. From there we will pick up a young Thai man joining our team in July and head into India for extended ministry work. We will have a full six months, which if needed can be extended, to expand the Kingdom of God. Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and then to West Africa. Non-stop, Revolutionary Life style!
Thanks for all the prayers. They really do help. This journey has been six months long so far and you have been with us every step of the way. Without you we could not do this. We depend on your prayers and support, you depend on us to take the Gospel to those without it. It’s a great partnership.
Our flights to the USA and back to Asia cost us around $3,000 (including a trip to the Southeast USA from California). We have purchased these tickets already using money we set aside for our ministry in India and Ghana, but need to replenish this money before we return in July. If you have not already, would you please consider helping with this? Any gift small or large would be greatly appreciated. For those of you who have already given, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You bless us with your generosity and love for God. May God bless you abundantly and may you have all sufficiency in all things at all times so you can abound in every good work. May you have more than enough for you and your family and enough to be generous in every situation.
We will be available for speaking engagements in California from mid April to mid May and will be available in the Southeast and other areas in June. If you would like us to come speak, email booking@revolutionarylife.org and we will get back with you as soon as we can!
Blessings from Asia. We love you!
Dustan & Darlene Stanley
